The Mesh - Lisa Gansky [67]
http://www.tec-coop.org
ENERGY
Mesh organizations commonly form cooperatives to deliver energy to member-owners. Energy cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open to all individuals who are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. They operate under democratic member control and require equal economic participation from each member-owner. As a result of their group buying power, cooperatives can offer significant savings on the cost of energy to their members. Additionally, they often promote the use of alternative or sustainable energy to improve the quality of life in the areas they serve. In this category, you’ll find energy providers from around the world that operate under a cooperative ethos.
Over the course of a year, one 600-kilowatt wind turbine will produce enough energy to power an average of 450 homes. In 2004, Westmill Wind Farm Co-operative became the first energy producer in southern England to connect turbines to an on-site substation where electricity is metered and sold. Locals were given the first opportunity to invest in the farm’s renewable energy, but by 2008, commercial generation was under way. The co-op now serves over 2,300 members and averts more than 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Westmill Wind Farm welcomes new members who want to learn about wind as a renewable energy.
Ag Energy Co-operative: Canada’s largest farm energy cooperative.
http://www.agenergy.coop
Clean Cities: Organizes a network of volunteer coalitions that promote alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles.
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/cleancities
Community Wind: Empowers communities to develop and own wind energy.
http://www.windustry.org/communitywind
Co-op Power: Promotes a sustainable energy future.
http://www.cooppower.coop
Dairyland Power Cooperative: Generation and transmission cooperative based in Wisconsin.
http://www.dairynet.com
Middlegrunden Wind Turbine Co-operative: Cooperative offshore wind farm in Copenhagen.
http://www.middelgrunden.dk
Peace Energy Cooperative: Member-run co-op that delivers renewable energy to residents in British Columbia.
http://www.peaceenergy.ca
Soar Energy: Member-owned solar and renewable energy buyers’ cooperative.
http://www.soarenergy.org
Sydney Energy Cooperative: Aims to involve Sydney, Australia, in sustainable energy-related activities.
http://www.energycoop.com.au
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives: Represents a nationwide alliance made up of consumer-owned electric co-ops in forty-six states.
https://touchstoneenergy.cooperative.com
Windunie: Group of Dutch wind turbine owners who feed sustainable energy into the grid for consumers to purchase.
http://www.windunie.nl
FINANCIAL CURRENCY
Mesh companies in the financial sector offer lucrative alternatives for borrowers, lenders, investors, and others who enter traditional financial relationships. Peer-to-peer (p2p) lending marketplaces, for instance, enable people to lend and borrow money with each other while sidestepping banks. Through social lending, both lenders and borrowers get better rates than in the traditional banking model. Bartering for goods and services is another alternative financial transaction gaining popularity among consumers.
In the wake of the global social networking phenomena, social lending is starting to ramp up: p2p lending marketplaces have sprouted in Japan, Australia, the United States, Italy, and the Netherlands. In 2007 Germany added itself to the list when a company called smava joined the ranks of Internet-enabled social lending platforms. Think of it as borrowing and lending from your family and friends, except that there are thousands of people who are ready to meet your terms. After registering for a free membership and undergoing credit checks, German residents can lend or request a loan through smava’s online platform. Borrowers post a request ranging from 500 to 10,000 euros, describe