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Environmental Entrepreneurs: Mexico’s ‘Échale a Tu Casa’ Builds Green Houses
Mexico needs 9 million new homes in the next 20 years to keep up with demographic demand. Yet construction of millions of houses could have significant negative environmental impact. ?chale lowers the environmental impacts of its homes by including features like rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient stoves and composting; all at a low price.
- Categories
- Education, Environment
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ViewChange Video of the Week: Burning In the Sun
An entrepreneur decides to return to his homeland in Mali and start a local business building solar panels - the first of its kind in the sun-drenched nation. Burning the Sun tells the story of Daniel’s journey growing the budding idea into a viable company and of the business’ impact on Daniel’s first customers in the tiny village of Banko.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment
- Tags
- rural development, solar
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How to Save Rural Kenyan Farmers $200 Per Year
An innovative natural resource management program in Kenya is smartly integrating efficiency improvements into already strong agricultural programs. Leveraging the profit-enhancing work underway in programs, such as TechnoServe?s dairy development work in Kenya, makes products like solar more accessible for families in rural communities.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Energy, Environment
- Tags
- rural development, solar
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Technology for the People: Notes from the ONE Africa Symposium
The first-ever ONE Africa Symposium in Johannesburg, South Africa was designed to highlight novel technology and innovations unleashing Africa’s economic potential and promoting sustainable development. The 300 attendees were a cross-section of innovators, policymakers, students and academics. Two innovators: Sproxil and Transparent Aid, stood out.
- Categories
- Environment, Technology
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Deep in the Amazon: Ouro Verde’s Quest for Preservation, Profit
The Brazilian state of Mato Grosso ("tall trees") is named for the majestic Amazonian rainforests, but also has one of the highest rates of deforestation in Brazil. Luis Laranja started Ouro Verde, which buys, processes and sells high-quality Brazil nuts and products, while profitably preserving 1.3 million hectares of Amazonian forest.
- Categories
- Environment
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Hapinoy Is An Open Source Model for Low-Income Markets
Through its network of suki stores, Hapinoy is able to offer other products and services that do not currently reach the BoP market. The founders liken Hapinoy to the iPhone. As the iPhone is an open-source platform for apps created by outside programmers, Hapinoy is a distribution vehicle for products to the BoP developed by social entrepreneurs.
- Categories
- Environment
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Awakening a ’Sleeping Giant,’ Microfranchise as a Distribution Platform
Hapinoy is an example of a conversion franchising model that attracts existing, independently-owned businesses to a standardized network. The company negotiates bulk product purchases via supplier contracts with Nestle and Unilever, among others. Products are purchased in bulk and distributed via ’Hapidelivery’ to a network of community stores.
- Categories
- Environment
- Tags
- distribution
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Guest Post: Reflections from Center Stage at the 2011 World Future Energy Summit
It’s a long way from E+Co’s headquarters in Bloomfield, NJ to center stage at the magnificent Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. But as a result of the focus and commitment of E+Co staff and the dedication of more than 200 energy entrepreneurs in Africa, Asia and Latin America, E+Co was one of the finalists for the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP).
- Categories
- Environment