The future comes fast.
We keep stepping forward with clients and partners into an ever-evolving future that’s fast becoming the present, advancing innovative sustainable solutions to energy, water, land, and material needs.
Two decades ago, I joined international directors of the newly merged company, Jones Lang LaSalle, as we gathered at INSEAD to discuss our future. A consultant named Chan Kim suggested that two movements were underway that would transform societies; one was the internet, and the other, environmentalism. Today both have become mainstream, reinforcing each other to support sustainable solutions.
Intelligently managed and enabled networks of people and systems are central to today’s society.
|
|
|
|
Last week, Greenleaf and its energy partners presented intelligently designed energy systems to the healthcare industry at CleanMed, discussing how microgrids comprised of cogeneration, storage, renewables, and intelligent switchgear improve economics and resiliency to address the increasing risk of grid outages. See our presentation and microgrid white paper here. Fittingly, the conference keynote speaker discussed disruptive technologies that are transforming societies, including energy storage.
|
|
Innovative Energy Management
Energy Storage has been called the ‘holy grail’ of clean energy, and its technological advancement and declining costs are becoming a game changer in stationary and mobile applications. Intelligent Generation is at the forefront of innovative energy storage management, optimizing financial and operational performance of energy systems for retail, industrial, and institutional customers by delivering a proven value stack (e.g. wholesale power market revenues, retail cost savings, backup power). IG’s microgrid application at Abt Electronics and application at Solberg Manufacturing represent how enterprises are profiting by controlling their energy.
|
|
Intelligent Water Management
Similarly, Opti’s Intelligent Water Management systems have been deployed to optimize the performance of water storage facilities in more than twenty states, saving communities and enterprises capital and operating costs, as well as losses from flooding and other threats. Greenleaf assists Opti in Chicagoland and Midwest markets where Opti’s technology can enhance the performance of both grey and green infrastructure via intelligently designed solutions.
|
|
|
Illinois CURES
The Illinois Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES) is being established at the University of Illinois under the leadership of Dr. Don Wuebbles, Professor of Atmospheric Science and Greenleaf Board member. Greenleaf is honored to support Don with this effort as it reaches out to include key partners for the Center that will address both large as well as small city needs. Dr. Wuebbles recently wrote on "Health Impacts in a Changing Climate" in Beyond One Health: From Recognition to Results.
|
|
Healthy Soils for Healthy Waters and Healthy Foods
The HSHW Symposium in March drew nearly 900 expert participants and producers to Ada, Ohio in the fifth of our annual series that promotes integrated whole systems approaches to sustainable agricultural production. The agricultural industry is responding to consumer and community demands for food grown in a manner that protects soil health, water quality, and food nutrition and safety. Read more about the 2018 event here.
|
|
Future Values Symposium
Capital markets drive business decisions including investments in ESG elements (environmental, social, governance) that contribute to a sustainable enterprise. This year’s Wealth Management Conference at DePaul University is led by Mr. Bill Obenshain, chair of DePaul University’s Center for Financial Services and a Greenleaf Board member. The first day will profile climate and water talks by Dr. Wuebbles and Brian Richter, followed by investment leaders, including Matthew Weatherly-White, discussing how they build long term value for their clients with attention to ESG principles. The second day will engage researchers for peer review on their ESG investment theses of study under the direction of Dr. Ali Fatemi, Editor of the Global Finance Journal. Please join us on November 1st.
|
|
Tesla: Inventor of the Modern
Greenleaf congratulates Board member Dick Munson (Director, Midwest Clean Energy at Environmental Defense Fund), on the publication of his book, Tesla: Inventor of the Modern, a biography of the mastermind who brought us the electric motor, long-distance power transmission, radio, robots, and remote control - and a clean-energy pioneer.
|
|
|
|
|
The future is protected by those who care, especially when partnering with many in close collaboration toward an important shared mission. James Duncan of Nature Conservancy of Canada led a large flotilla of conservationists in the protection of Ontario’s most precious natural landscapes, including Trout Bay and Wilson Islands on Lake Superior, where I had the pleasure of working with him for many years. James passed away recently, and we miss him dearly. The best way we can honor James is by continuing to take steps forward to protect the lands and waters of Ontario’s Natural Heritage in the Great Lakes that supports a diversity and quality of life found in few places on Earth. I am pleased to support NCC's James Duncan Memorial Fund which recognizes James' commitment to and passion for conservation in Ontario and will further conservation efforts there.
|
|
|
|
Finally, Barrett Hazeltine delivered his ‘last lecture’ on May 8th, after teaching thousands of young entrepreneurs and innovators at Brown University; one of my most treasured experiences at Brown was helping Barrett design Engin 90. He is a giant among teachers and servant leaders, having guided young minds in the fields of engineering, business, and social enterprise, making an impact around the globe. The lessons from Barrett are many, but certainly one is to consider how we serve society in an appropriate way with our gifts and talents. See this link to learn more about everyone’s favorite professor and friend at Brown, Dean Barrett Hazeltine.
|
|
Let’s stay strategic in our present actions, as we step forward together into the future, engaging respectfully across disciplines and interests toward a healthy and sustainable world. We appreciate your collaboration with Greenleaf Advisors and your support to Greenleaf Communities.
John A. Andersen, Jr.
|
|
|
|
|
