A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of chatting on the phone with internationally acclaimed and award-winning activist Van Jones about his book The Green Collar Economy.  Van was both informative and funny – at one point comparing clean coal to having unicorns pull our cars.  I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to the interview as much as I enjoyed talking to him.  The Green Collar Economy has been endorsed by Nancy Pelosi, Tom Daschle and Al Gore and both Van and the book have been written up in both Time Magazine and The New York Times.

In addition to being an author, Jones is the founder and president of Green for All, a national organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.  For more information on Green for All, go to www.greenforall.org.

Van Jones

1. Hot, Flat and Crowded – Barack’s favorite economist is a hot author lately, and between his tomes on the Middle East and takes on the world, this is a must read. 

2. Green to Gold – If you are someone at a decision making level in your company, no matter what industry, this is a must read.  It’s the new Bible of green business.

3. Natural Capitalism – Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins and Hunter Lovins are three of the smartest people in the green space and they’ve been doing this for years.  This amalgamation of thoughts from the three pundits is rife with information vital to understanding how the world economy will change over the next years.

4. The Green Collar Economy – Van Jones doesn’t talk about it, he IS about it.  This book discusses where he sees potential for growth and how he would like to see the new “Green Collar Economy” produce high paying jobs for those who are in poverty.

5. Cradle to Cradle – This book isn’t just a story, now it’s a level of certification.  Cradle to Cradle is so entrenched in the mission that it isn’t even made of paper; it’s waterproof and biodegradable.

6. Exposed – If you knew what was in the chemicals that you use or what went into making your favorite products, maybe you would think twice…

7. The Thrive Diet – Throw those so-called diets out the window.  If you really believe that just changing what you eat and not doing anything is going to work, don’t bother.  Thrive is written by ex-Ironman Brendan Brazier and tells you how to save money and eat foods that that will help you physically AND mentally.

8. The Green Parent – Going green at work is fine, and in the home it makes sense, but how am I supposed to be green with kids?  Jenn Savedge has tackled these problems for years on her blog and continues with a great text.

9. Go Green, Live Rich – Plenty is said about how going green will help the world, but how about helping yourself?  David Bach, author of the Automatic Million, describes how going green can save you serious cash. 

10. 2012 – Daniel Pinchbeck’s effort has been lauded as visionary and trashed as psychadelic babble.  Either way, it’s a fascinating read, and love it or hate it his voice is a vital one in the green scene.

You’re in California and you have a business.  You’re trying to figure out how you can make a positive environmental impact despite the fact that you can’t get your computer network to run on the power created by the intern you’ve made ride an exercise bike attached to a turbine.

We’ve all been there before.

Well maybe we haven’t ALL been there before, but if you are allow me to make two suggestions I’m sure you’ll see what I mean.  For Better World Books’ purposes, since we aren’t located in CA and since we have a number of fixed costs related to UPS, we have to deal with the inherent carbon emissions created by our company.  We choose to deal with these emissions by making donations such that all of our shipments are carbon neutral, a reality achieved with help of the lovely folks at carbonfund.org.

However, if you’re a business (or resident, for that matter) of the aforementioned sunny left coast state, allow me to enlighten you (using renewable energy, of course, and a halogen idea bulb at that): Village Green Energy.

Village Green, created by three guys with great commitment and too much education, is a group that offers “REC’s.”  An REC, or Renewable Energy Certificate is a purchase that not only offsets the carbon that you create, but actually ensures that part of the energy you use is from a renewable energy source.  In that way, not only are you offsetting the carbon output of you (whomever you are), but you’re actually reducing the emissions that get into the air and simultaneously reducing your dependence on fossil fuels (look at you, you multi-tasker!).  First of all, imagine the impact you can create, just by making your own effort.  Next, imagine the kind of positive press that can create (if you don’t believe me, re-read this post a few times, it’ll start being clear…)

Get more info at their website.  Take a deep breath, doesn’t the air seem that much fresher?

An excellent highlight to the conference was our very own Xavier Helgesen’s presentation on Green Business Practices. The conversation covered an excellent and wide array of topics including many of the efforts the BWB is making to be a greener company everyday. We had a great time discussing the concept of being a carbon neutral company and how carbon credits and investment in alternative energy practices are rapidly becoming integrated in daily business practices across the country. It was also an excellent opportunity for blossoming entrepreneurs to get some great feedback on the difficulties and finer points of starting a socially conscious business. WorldFund’s Michelle Viegas was also attended, which enabled some excellent discussions on the differences between the non-profit and for-profit business worlds.

It was wonderful to meet representatives from all over the country and I am grateful for such a warm welcoming from the whole Idealist crew, DePaul University , and everyone who attended the conference.