Top ten companies at West Coast Green Conference 2008

Some of my favorite products and companies I visited at the West Coast Green Conference 2008 in San Jose were:

1.Sungevity, one stop solar power for your home. Provides quotes using satelite information.
2.element four, the watermill: creating water from air.
3.Ecosmart, An ingenious alternative to the standard fireplace, no chimney or wood required. Locally distributed by Marin Outdoor Living in Greenbrae, California.
4. Bay Friendly Lanscaping and Gardening Coalition ,Support to create healthy environments in your backyard and beyond.
5.Cool Roof Rating Council, cool roof= a lighter colored roof will reflect more light thus keeping homes cooler and use less energy.
6. Storm Sustainability , rain water harvesting.
7. Green Design Systems, “Straw Wall”, a prefab version of straw bale construction.
8. Symbios Holistic Development : Beautiful Green Roofs! Keeping your home cool with an amazing roof garden…
9. homeZ , Home diagnotic services; see how your home is performing, get an action plan for saving opportunities, and a get a menu of cost-effective suggestions for your house.
10. Dunn Edwards Paint, I’ve always loved their paint pallet and great prices for professionals, but now it’s clear they are great green resource as well.

The Challenge

“Dare Greatly.”  The theme from this years West Cost Green Conference in San Jose from September 25-27, 2008. I am touched, moved, inspired, in awe, enlightened from being part of this experience. My personal dare is to take this energy of opportunity and keep it alive with in me and by passing it on to others. To go to this conference and learn, share, and energize is one thing….to continue the learning, sharing and energy everyday is truely what will make a difference in my world and hopefuly in yours.

At West Coast, I saw amazing innovations like the watermill which is a devise that makes water from air. I listened to Al Gore and Jerry Brown energize the conference with hope and courage for the future. I exchanged ideas and made connections for continuing our conversations for change in our lives, our businesses, the environment, and the economy.

There were two ironic moments while at West Coast Green. First, as I sat there in the auditorium surrounded by thousands of people full of love, courage and optimism for the future of our environment, Al Gore reminded us that in that very moment in Washington DC, the politicians were meeting to discuss the 700 billion dollar Bail Out for the US economic crisis. Al Gore said that it is in fact a “green revolution that is the answer to the US economic crisis”. 

And just for a tease, here is the introduction from Al Gore.(I’m hoping that someone will post more video from his speech.)

The second ironic moment came as I returned to the main trade-floor after Al Gore’s speech. As I passed another section of the hall I heard the rambling rhythm of a foreclosure auction. The contrast of the meaning of each event was vivid. One so sterile, rushed, full of chaos, lost hopes, and bargain hunters; the other hall full of a buzz of greatness, purpose, abundance, generosity, innovation, and harmony…

For a taste of what happend this weekend in the San Jose Convention Center:

Here are some of the products exhibited: