PRODUCT
SNAPPOWER GUIDELIGHT
Starting at $15, this outlet cover features three built-in LED lights that automatically turn on and off based on the lighting in the area. They cost less than 10 cents per year and last for more than 25 years, making them a sustainable alternative to any nightlight. Plus, the installation takes seconds and requires no wires or batteries. snappower.com
BOOK
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS WITH BOTH EYES OPEN
Written by a team at the University of Cambridge, this book takes a technical look at how we make stuff, and, as Bill Gates (who endorsed the book) wrote on his blog, asks: “How can we meet the growing demand for materials without destroying the environment?” Available for free online at withbotheyesopen.com.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
CAUSEGEAR
As this clothing company points out, there are 2.8 billion people living in extreme poverty today. In order to help, CAUSEGEAR pays 5 times the norm to crafters in India, which “has more people who make $2/ day or less than any other country,” to create clothes designed in Chicago. Their vision is to eventually transform 1,000,000 people trapped in extreme poverty into self-sustaining workers. causegear.com
PROJECT
THE PHYSICS FACTORY’S PHYSICS BUS
U.S. Battery donated several of its deep-cycle batteries that work in concert with a solar panel array mounted atop a school bus, which traverses the country teaching young students about physics, solar power, and sustainability. This museum-on-wheels was such a hit that the non-profit is looking to create another. Learn more and donate at physicsfactory.org.
PROGRAM
IMPERFECTLY DELICIOUS
Compass Group USA and Bon Appetit launched this program in order to fight food waste by purchasing deformed produce that might not meet the industry’s strict cosmetic standards. These companies are rescuing such produce to incorporate the fruits and veggies into recipes in their thousands of kitchens. bamco.com
ORGANIZATION
THE BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY COALITION
With heavy hitters from around the globe involved (Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, and Bill Gates, to name a few), this new group is collaborating to work toward widely available, reliable, affordable energy that doesn’t produce carbon. Technology, research, and thoughtful investments are all part of the plan. breakthroughenergycoalition.com
