Scott Cooney, Author at Ecopreneurist

Scott Cooney

Scott Cooney (twitter: scottcooney) is an adjunct professor of Sustainability in the MBA program at the University of Hawai'i, green business startup coach, author of Build a Green Small Business: Profitable Ways to Become an Ecopreneur (McGraw-Hill), and developer of the sustainability board game GBO Hawai'i. Scott has started, grown and sold two mission-driven businesses, failed miserably at a third, and is currently in his fourth. Find Scott on Google Plus

Mobile tech empowers residential energy efficiency

June 24, 2016

by Scott Cooney

Energy efficiency is, hands-down, the most effective way for us to get to a low or no carbon future. According to an analysis by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (see above), it’s the absolute cheapest source of energy, by a 3 to 1 margin, that we can explore. It’s (relatively) easy, it’s inexpensive, and the technology is proven and effective already. Yet the industry remains nascent. Part of the challenge is that people are unaware of the opportunities. In terms of greening a…

What’s the ROI / payback period of LED light bulbs and other green upgrades?

February 18, 2016

by Scott Cooney

Saving money and saving the planet are both great objectives for businesses. Luckily, they go hand in hand, as many sustainability upgrades pay for themselves very quickly with the energy and water they save (like LED lights, energy star appliances, water saving devices, and the like). But how does the green-minded business manager prioritize the wide variety of ways to green one’s business? Payback period and Return on Investment (ROI) are two measures used to determine whether something is, financially speaking,…

How to Green a Coffee Shop: Top 5 Strategies

January 29, 2016

by Scott Cooney

Throughout history, coffee shops have been where citizens gather to change their society. In the 1700s, coffee shops were where the fires of the American Revolution were fueled. In the 1800s, coffee shops were where laborers debated their rights during the Industrial Revolution. Today, as we too fight for our right to a sustainable society, coffee shops may yet again become one of the most important small businesses in America. If you currently own, or plan on opening a sustainable…

Own Less, Do More with this Sustainable Business

December 2, 2015

by Scott Cooney

We’re big fans of conscious consumerism here on Important Media, and we love learning about brands that are doing sustainable business right. We met the fine folks from Nomadix at Wanderlust Squaw Valley (CA), and were instantly intrigued by their awesome products and #ownlessdomore attitude. Doing more with less stuff is the ethos behind Nomadix, offering a line of versatile towels with purpose. Designed by outdoor enthusiasts Chace Petersen, Zack Helminiak and Hunter Robinson, the Nomadix towel can be used for sweaty yoga, laying on the…

Ecopreneurship Profile: The PlanToys Story of Sustainable, Healthy Toys and a Triple Bottom Line Company

September 18, 2015

by Scott Cooney

Occasionally we profile companies we love here on Ecopreneurist. Recently, I had the pleasure to interview Kosin Virapornsawan, current business development director of PlanToys, a sustainable toy manufacturer. Sustainable Way, Sustainable Play: PlanToys Company Profile and History “When they started the company (Plant Group),” said Virapornsawan, “the first investors had an architecture background. After they started the founders really wanted to do something really good—they wanted to help kids—to educate them, to get them excited about sustainability. They used their…

Clean Tech Internet of Things Startup Aims to Ease Drought Conditions

July 23, 2015

by Scott Cooney

NASA stated that 2014 was the “Earth’s warmest in 134 years of records”, and 2015 is set to be even hotter as the Earth’s average surface temperature continues to rise. Water conservation efforts are popping up all around California, as the state grapples with the effects of climate change. As the state’s snowpack has diminished year after year for the last few decades, state lawmakers have stepped up and finally put some concrete plans in place. Last year, Governor Jerry Brown…

Wanderlust: Yoga, Art, Mindfulness, and Sustainability

March 4, 2014

by Scott Cooney

Wanderlust’s second Oahu festival took place the weekend of March 1st on the fabled North Shore at Turtle Bay Resort. Andrea Bertoli of Vibrant Wellness Journal and I were graciously treated to a press pass to the event, giving us access to yoga classes, nature walks, educational “talk story” sessions with local progressive leaders, and social events catering to the yoga demographic. We sat down with co-founders Jeff Krasno and Sean Hoess to discuss yoga, sustainability, and conscious entrepreneurship.…