Money: A tipping point for sustainability?

Is money the only thing that stands between a world of good ideas for sustainability, and a world that’s actually sustainable? That’s a tempting conclusion to anyone who spends even a little time researching green projects and eco-innovations.

Ideas aplenty are out there, so what’s the problem? It’s not that most are unworkable in the “real world.” For every pie-in-the-sky proposal, there are plenty of down-to-earth, completely sensible — common-sensible, even — strategies for saving energy, reducing water use, building sustainable homes and more. Who could argue with, say, low-cost, solar-powered LED lighting for the millions who today rely on kerosene lamps to light their homes at night? Or a project to rebuild culturally sensitive, sustainable homes in the Katrina-ravaged Ninth Ward of New Orleans?

And considering the people and organisations who come up with these ideas, motivation doesn’t appear to be a hurdle. Unlike the dot-com tycoons of a decade ago, most eco-innovators in today’s economic environment aren’t in it for the quick IPO and über-early retirement. They’re looking to enact lasting, positive change. We’re talking about generating energy from the flow of waste and drinking water, or installing solar panels on schools and clinics in rural Africa, not the next Pets.com.

So maybe the greater success of all these promising strategies boils down simply to money … that is, having enough on hand to make the greatest sustainable differences possible for the most people possible. If that’s the case, perhaps an extra $1.5 million or so to start — even an extra $350,000 — could help a few of today’s great ideas make it to the next level.

That’s part of the thinking behind the Zayed Future Energy Prize. First awarded in 2009, the awards — $1.5 million for the top innovator and $350,000 for two finalists — are named in honour of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father and president of the United Arab Emirates, and a vocal proponent of environmental protection and sustainable development. The top prize-winner for 2011 is expected to be announced this coming January.

Nearly 400 individuals, groups and businesses submitted entries for the 2011 prize, and the shortlist of 40 they’ve been narrowed down to represents countries from around the world, including the US, UK, India, Netherlands, Belgium, China, Benin, Hong Kong, Brazil, Japan, Denmark, Sweden and Croatia. Judging from just a few of those described here already — d.light, the Make It Right Foundation, Rentricity and Solarcentury’s SolarAid — it’ll be extremely challenging to choose the three that stand out as the most deserving of financial support. Who wouldn’t want to help them all?

In addition to the other entries already described, other shortlist candidates include:

• Princess Elisabeth Antarctica (Belgium): The first zero-emission polar research station.
• First Solar (Belgium): A manufacturer of photovoltaic modules.
• Vestas (Benin): A manufacturer and installer of wind power plants.
• IDEAAS (Brazil): A provider of clean energy for Brazil’s poor.
• BYD Company Limited (China): A high-tech venture specialising in IT, automobiles and new energy;
• The United Nations Development Programme (Croatia).
• The World Wind Energy Institute (Denmark).
• The Barefoot College (India).
• CREDA (India).
• Sulabh International Social Service Organisation (India).
• Husk Power Systems (India).
• Renault-Nissan Alliance (Japan).
• NGK (Japan).
• Tjerk Reijenga (Netherlands).
• Nuru Energy (Netherlands).
• European Climate Foundation (Netherlands).
• ClimateWell Solar Powered Air Conditioning (Sweden).
• Marine Current Turbines (UK).
• University of Sheffield (UK).
• Rachel Konrad, Elon Musk (UK).
• E+Co (US).
• Makani Power (US).
• Solar Electric Light Fund (US).
• Terry Tamminen (US).
• Enertia Building Systems (US).
• Y-Carbon:Tunable Nanoporous Carbon for Electrical Energy Storage (US).
• Kinder/BOEING (US).
• Engineers Without Borders – USA (US).
• Rocky Mountain Institute (US).
• Ferrate Treatment Technologies (US).
• Amyris Biotechnologies (US).
• American Council on Renewable Energy (US).
• Lee Lynd (US).
• Stanford University Global Climate and Energy Project (US).
• Better Place (US).
• Johnson Controls/Empire State Building (US).