Marion Institute Blog
Inventor Jordan McRae and Shawn Frayne, developer of the flutter technology (Case 12) have designed a new type of technical construction kit which makes it possible to play and power small electronic gadgets with solar energy. With this kit, even small children are able to connect some LEDs to a power source.
The mere idea of providing a construction kit with elements to harvest renewable energies as an edutainment game for adults and children is innovative and worth mentioning within the Blue Economy. But an even more important aspect is the business strategy followed by Jordan and Shawn.
They turned to the internet platform Kickstarter and published some sketches of their project in order to raise money for the final design of their product. After only a few weeks they could find over 1000 clients who pre-purchased the modules. Thus the prototyping and production of the first lot could be financed without depending on the favor of creditors or investors.
For more information, please visit blueeconomy.de.
Beyond exercise, gyms have proven to be an energy-intensive business. People usually go there by car and burn calories on electricity-driven devices. Efforts have been made recently to recover the energy released by the visitors in order to find and make use of new renewable energy sources.
This was not the aim of Marcia Kilgore from Canada, she rather developed a consumer product which makes it possible to improve fitness and health simply by walking, for example while going from home to the office, from shop to shop or on the beach. Five years ago she designed a shoe with a special sole which strenghtens feet and leg muscles while protecting joints and sinews due to a shock-absorbing effect. And they look fashionable!
Marcia designed a single product with multiple benefits, combining fashion with clear benefits for health and even fun for the consumer. This brilliant combination makes her innovation worth mentioning it among Blue Economy business models.
For more information, please visit blueeconomy.de.
WHEN: January 26th, doors open at 6:30pm and the film begins at 7pm
WHERE: The Parish House Auditorium at the Unitarian Universalist Church located at the corner of 102 Green Street in Fairhaven.
In order to continue the powerful effect of this important yearly gathering in our region, The Unitarian Society of Fairhaven and the Marion Institute are co-sponsoring free monthly films that relate to environmental action and community building to create positive change in the world. The films will be shown on the fourth Thursday of the month at alternative sites. This month's film is Y.E.R.T. (Your Environmental Road Trip), an amusing and provocative documentary of a year long road trip taken by three friends to all fifty states in America in search of extraordinary examples of individuals who are tackling solutions to the world's environmental crisis. In viewing this award winning film, you will be surprised, amused and educated at what they discover.
We are very happy to announce that several friends and ally organizations currently have job openings.
The Trustees of Reservations
After twelve years as the Trustees president, Andy Kendall, its dedicated and passionate president is stepping down. So along with several other job openings the Trustees are currently searching for a new president.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE JOB OPENINGS >
Solar Mosaic
Billy Parish, former Connecting for Change Keynote speaker, and his team at Solar Mosaic are building a platform for people to invest in solar power, revolutionizing the two biggest industries in the world: energy and finance. And they are hiring.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE JOB OPENINGS >
The Mycelium School
The Mycelium School, an eighteen-month self/enterprise incubator for 18-30 year old entrepreneurs is looking for a Chief Entrepreneurial Catalyst.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS JOB OPENING >
Round the Bend Farm
Round the Bend Farm seeks a farm apprentice and resident foodie to join the farm manager and one to three interns. Participate in the holistic experience that is diversified small farming in hopes of building confidence and skills to prepare you for an independent future.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS JOB OPENING >
For this cold season (at least in the Northern hemisphere) we are happy to present an innovation which can keep your homes cosy and warm in a really sustainable manner. Reidar Berglund from Sweden uses cellulose waste from paper mills to produce a cheap, local and natural insulation for buildings.
As an energy consultant and engineer, Reidar came up with his innovation when looking for a local material of no value which is fully natural, reusable and recyclable to save costs in heating homes in the North of Sweden. He developed a production method to generate an airy cellulose fluff from waste fibers similar to diapers, mold-free and easy to apply even to retrofit old houses.
Even if Reidar does not invest into publicity by himself, word has spread about his innovation up to an international level, with projects realized in Norway and Germany... and the Royal Palace in Stockholm!
For more information, please visit www.blueeconomy.de
Cambodian Living Arts is looking to hire a Marketing Officer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This person will assist the Communications Manager with CLA's Living Arts Tours and Performing Programs. We are seeking someone who shares our passion for the arts and culture of Cambodia, is highly organized and motivated, has experience in the tourism sector and is prepared to work in a fast-paced, dynamic and growing organization. For application instuctions and to learn more about this position, click here.
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