Passive solar design is quite possibly one of the most efficient building techniques ever. Yet we rarely see the conscious implementation of this timeless way of building structures which are in-tune with the energy balance of their environment. Thanks to our dear friend Thomas Wagner, we got a firs hand look at innovative solar design in action.
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Technology
6/1/2011: The Culture of Trust, Innovation Tools and the Social Web.
This event explores the value of trust in the highly connected world. We also discussed how innovation tools have put us in closer contact with one another and how they have changed the structure and hierarchy of project developing.
What is the current state of innovation tools? Is the best way to create a breakthrough still a skunkworks project? Or have collaboration and innovation tools reached a level of sophistication where they provide a sensible alternative to the old school method? How does social media factor in?
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4/6/2011: The Next Big Thing Isn’t a Thing
On April 6th SVII hosted Bill Veltrop, a leading “architect of generative change” and a co-founder of Monterey Institute for Social Architecture. Bill revealed his daring vision of “regional metamorphosis” and the transformation of our myriad social systems from finite to infinite games as a pathway to the Age of Conscious Evolution.
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MASDAR CITY, UAE: World’s First Carbon-neutral, Zero-Waste Community
Karin Larsen, Masdar City Project
Masdar City is the expression of a vision. It represents Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted response to the challenges facing a sustainable future. The Masdar Initiative and Masdar City are positioning Abu Dhabi as a global leader and hub for the research and development of renewable energy and sustainable technology. The funding for Masdar comes from the Abu Dhabi government.
Masdar City’s aim is to become the Silicon Valley for clean, green and alternative energy. A global centre where over 1500 companies will converge to address one of man’s greatest challenges. A city where current and future technologieis will be funded, researched, developed, tested and implemented. Masdar’s mandate is to champion renewable energy technologies, and to contribute to the diversitfication and sustainable growth of the Abu Dhabi economy into one that is industry-led and knowledge-based.
For more information, see www.masdarcity.com and www.masdar.ae.
Karin Larsen is the US Sales Representative for the Masdar City Property Development Unit, where she develops cross-border strategic partnerships and business relationships between Masdar City and US companies. Prior to this, she was a Senior Vice President at Gulf Capital Private Equity in the UAE where she analyzed and executed investment opportunities in energy services, alternative energy, and technology/media. Previously, she established i2i Capital in Hong Kong, a boutique private placement and investment firm serving SMEs in Asia. In the cleantech sector, she has worked with companies active in electric vehicles, coal gasification, plastics recycling, nanomaterials, and water filtration.
Appetizer Story:
Developing Green Innovative Communities with Dr. James Caldwell