Low carbon living
|
At Laughing Mind, we're constantly experimenting with techniques, systems, habits and products that enhance our capacity for Low Carbon Living, at work and at play, noting that many of these also have beneficial impacts as a form of lifestyle medicine, where our habits can be tuned for health+environmental benefit with small changes. It's all part of our alignment to the positive patterns of a B-Corporation, using business as a force for good.
Here are some of the patterns we use in our daily practice and business operations as part of our own exploration of #lowcarbonliving: 1. Telework every chance we get: because sitting in a car or commute is a waste of your precious moments of living - find a Smart Work Hub near you and give a telework day a go, build up over time; 2. Prototype Digital First as a Workspace Option: our collaboration habits are rooted in our daily routines of occupying physical workspaces - what becomes possible if you start with Digital First, taking physical workspace patterns and applying them to online practices in the formation of new habits? 3. Pioneer distributed work practices, near or in-home: Find local talents, leverage them to the hilt and create new possibilities + economies in the world around you - 4. Buy local, support local, startup local: boosts local economies, reduces food + produce miles - if it can be grown in a backyard, give it a go! Boulder, Colorado shows why it matters and how it can be done with a bit of self-belief and vertical integration; 5. Cycle if its under 5km to destination: your legs+heart+lungs+wallet will thank you, as well as your kids+community as you demonstrate a positive #lifestylemedicine choice- make it an easy choice with an electric bike; 6. Preferential charge from Solar+Storage: boxed sunshine is a wonderful thing, made possible by our Goal Zero Alliance and the gear from our online store, powering up our daily creations, adventures, connections and collaborations - it's a low cost entry point to solar power; 7. Leverage the value of your resources: got some old tech lying around? Find a new life for it in a reconsidered role. We're not the only ones that cottoned onto the value, versatility and joy factor of a Type 3 VW Transporter; 8. Seek lighter impact choices: we've always kept a strong thirst for learning, with much of it happening through great resources from groups like Alternative Technology Association 9. Simplify: Is option A enough? Is option B overkill? If it took Steve Jobs years to buy a sofa by asking the fundamental question of "why is a sofa', there's no harm in asking a similar question before you act; 10. You tell us yours..we'd love to hear them at #lowcarbonliving |
The solar-enhanced roof of our mobile office, looking back at Tesla Motors at HunterEVFestival 2014. Solar+Storage before the Tesla PowerWall announcement.
|
why?
Laughing Mind was started in 2004 after returning back to Australia from a self-supported walk through Sagarmatha National Park, done as a break from management consulting work at SMS Management + Technology and in time for the Everest Summit 50th Anniversary.
We were able to witness first hand the impact of deforestation around every human settlement in the area and glacial retreat in the early noughties when comparing historical images of the region. We also saw first hand the enduring grit of the local Sherpas living out their lives in some of the worlds harshest terrain, smiling all the way, in humbling examples of self-determination and resilience, in terrain that would hardly be called 'hospitable'.
Witnessing porters act as local courier fleets, walking up high mountain passes, carrying cast iron stoves whilst wearing thongs and still smiling - it was a poignant lesson in finding happiness and contentment in adversity.
Chasing the family Yak down to pin another prayer flag to it as insurance to prevent it falling off the next mountain pass. Chop wood, carry water.
Lugging laptops, satellite phones and a router to set up the worlds highest internet cafe for the Everest Summit 50th Anniversary teams. Sourcing power from solar with a single light bulb and truck battery to light the night, in a region devoid of energy grids.
All done with a Laughing Mind.
We were able to witness first hand the impact of deforestation around every human settlement in the area and glacial retreat in the early noughties when comparing historical images of the region. We also saw first hand the enduring grit of the local Sherpas living out their lives in some of the worlds harshest terrain, smiling all the way, in humbling examples of self-determination and resilience, in terrain that would hardly be called 'hospitable'.
Witnessing porters act as local courier fleets, walking up high mountain passes, carrying cast iron stoves whilst wearing thongs and still smiling - it was a poignant lesson in finding happiness and contentment in adversity.
Chasing the family Yak down to pin another prayer flag to it as insurance to prevent it falling off the next mountain pass. Chop wood, carry water.
Lugging laptops, satellite phones and a router to set up the worlds highest internet cafe for the Everest Summit 50th Anniversary teams. Sourcing power from solar with a single light bulb and truck battery to light the night, in a region devoid of energy grids.
All done with a Laughing Mind.
