Stories from Bill Roth
Energy
CSR Wins Customers And Sells Products
A Nielsen survey conducted this week points to exploding consumer interest in buying healthy, green products. The even better news for businesses is that 66 percent of surveyed consumers say they will pay more for products and services that come from companies who are committed to positive social and environmental impact.
October 15, 2015
Finance
The $250 Trillion Green Economic Revolution
Editor’s Note: This is the second post in a two-part series on the $250 trillion green economic revolution. In case you […]
September 2, 2015
Finance
The $250 Trillion Cost Of Climate Change And Obesity
The economic ramifications of continuing the 20th century’s economic model, where unsustainable extraction and pollution conveys competitive advantage, are coming […]
September 1, 2015
Energy
Economists Ask If Energy Efficiency Is A Good Investment
As if we economists do not stir up enough trouble by pontificating on national monetary policy, we have now hit […]
August 18, 2015
Energy
Free Utility Customers To Profit From the Clean Power Plan
Editor’s Note: Today at the White House, President Barack Obama and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy released the final Clean Power […]
August 3, 2015
Finance
California Achieves Economic Growth Without Growing Emissions
California is proving to the rest of America that economic success does not require increased pollution. The state recently reached an […]
July 7, 2015
Energy
In Search of the Sustainably-Sourced Guaranteed Lower Utility Bill
The sustainably-sourced guaranteed lower electricity bill is the true disruptive challenge confronting electric utilities and their regulators. Competitors are offering […]
April 28, 2015
Corporate Responsibility
Sustainability Professionals Need to Be Weird to Grow Revenues
On this Earth Day, I want to recognize and challenge the dedicated community of sustainability professionals. What these talented people […]
April 22, 2015
Energy
Solar is Getting Weird
The California solar homeowners I work with are acting pretty “weird” compared to the rest of America. This summer when […]
April 21, 2015
Energy
Sustainable Economic Solutions to California's Drought
It seems my conservative friends can’t send me enough articles on how environmentalists are the reason for California’s water crisis. These […]
April 20, 2015
Energy
Climate Change Puts California Economy at Risk of Collapse
California faces one more year of water supply. The state is in the grip of a record drought tied to […]
March 19, 2015
Voices for Change
American Consumers Gobble Healthy Foods at Unprecedented Rate
The big news from the 2015 Natural Products Expo West was that the American consumer is buying healthy foods at […]
March 9, 2015
Finance
How To Write a Winning Green Business Plan
Editor’s Note: This is the second installment in a two-part series on how to write a green business plan. In […]
February 11, 2015
Finance
How To Write a Green Business Plan That Stands Out
Having a green business plan is mission-critical to your company’s success in the global green economic revolution that has leaped […]
February 10, 2015
Energy
Personal Beliefs, Vaccinations and Climate Change
America confronts a potential measles epidemic because up to 47 percent of the U.S. population doubts the statistical evidence that vaccination […]
February 9, 2015
Voices for Change
Boomers' Sustainability Diet: What Not To Do
Editor’s Note: 3p correspondent Bill Roth used sustainability principles to get healthy, lose 20 pounds and keep it off. He […]
January 28, 2015
Energy
Boomers' Sustainability Diet: Five Steps to Losing 20 Pounds
Editor’s Note: 3p correspondent Bill Roth used sustainability principles to get healthy, lose 20 pounds and keep it off. He […]
January 27, 2015
Energy
Boomers' Sustainability Diet: How I Lost 20 Pounds
Editor’s Note: 3p correspondent Bill Roth used sustainability principles to get healthy, lose 20 pounds and keep it off. He […]
January 26, 2015
Finance
Income Disparity and Sustained Economic Growth
Income disparity is again a front-page political issue. Credit Suisse projects that in two years the global 1 percent “… […]
January 21, 2015
Finance
Nominate Your 2014 Sustainability Winners and Losers
Have you been grinding your teeth all year wishing you had a forum to tell it like it is on […]
December 31, 2014
Finance
How the 2014 Oil Price Collapse Threatens Sustainability
1980 was the last time we had an oil price collapse. Americans buying fuel-efficient vehicles created the 1980 oil price […]
December 16, 2014
Finance
3 Reasons Why Oil Prices Have Collapsed
The oil industry has done a great job of self-promoting their increased production capacity as the reason for the collapse […]
December 8, 2014
Finance
Consumer Behavior Drives Black Friday and Cyber Monday
The sales results of Black Friday and Cyber Monday confirm new consumer behavior — meaning business must change to grow sales. […]
December 2, 2014
Finance
Is the Green Economic Revolution Too Late?
In 2007 I first posted my research forecasting a multi-trillion dollar green economic revolution. By 2014, this projection has been […]
November 17, 2014
Energy
China’s 20% Renewable Energy Commitment Challenges U.S. Utility Industry
The U.S. electric utility industry now confronts a new disruptive business reality from China’s announced commitment to source 20 percent […]
November 13, 2014
Finance
66 Percent Of Voters Voted For 'None Of The Above'
What is an economist doing writing about an election? As a numbers guy, the statistics from the November 2014 mid-term […]
November 7, 2014
Finance
Business Risks and Opportunities in a Carbon Surge Economy
Business now operates within a carbon surge economy: Carbon surge — rapidly rising concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases — is […]
September 24, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Millennial Activists Driving America's Revenue Growth
The millennial activist is now driving revenue growth in the American economy. Their quest for products and companies that are “cool […]
September 15, 2014
Energy
Fast Food Sales: "That's Not Ketchup…It’s Blood"
McDonald’s store sales just took another nose-dive. Global same store sales tanked more than three percent. One investment analyst entitled […]
September 11, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Elon Musk (Again) Demonstrates Sustainable CEO Leadership
Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk has once again demonstrated business leadership by offering a business solution to climate change. Musk’s act […]
June 16, 2014
Finance
Demographic Tumult is Creating a Sustainable Economy
A demographic tumult is pushing America toward a sustainable economy. This demographic tumult is the nexus of an aging boomer […]
May 29, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
California Climate Tax is Reducing Electricity Bills
Have you ever broken out into a smile from opening your electricity bill? I just did when I opened this […]
May 6, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Natural Food Expo: Consumers Demand Healthy Convenience
The food industry’s revenue growth is now being driven by a consumer mega-shift from fast foods to healthy convenience food. This […]
March 10, 2014
Technology
Finance Innovations Offer Guaranteed Lower Commercial Electricity Bills
Guaranteed lower electricity bills enabled by innovations in the financing and insuring of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects will […]
February 11, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Will Coal-Fired Power Plants Become the Next 'Pink Slime'?
Women delivered a strong and very frank message to the business community at the Feb. 6, 2014, EPA hearing on […]
February 10, 2014
Technology
How 'Hybrid Electric Buildings' Will Transform Commercial Real Estate
America’s commercial buildings are on the cusp of being radically redesigned into Prius-like hybrid energy centers. These buildings will create […]
February 4, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Top Four Business Buzzwords For Winning Customers
The top four business buzzwords used today define how sustainable businesses are winning customers in the 21st century. These four […]
January 31, 2014
Finance
Winners and Losers in the Trillion Dollar Green Economic Revolution
In the six years since I published my initial research predicting a disruptive and distinctively green economic shift that I […]
January 27, 2014
Corporate Responsibility
Ford F-150 Pickup Truck Trail Blazes New Green Technologies
Ford is taking another huge leap toward filling the void created by our lack of a national energy policy with […]
January 14, 2014
Finance
Five 2014 CSR Game-Changers
In 2013 corporate social responsibility moved from “do good” actions to a business best practice. The following five 2014 CSR […]
January 7, 2014
Technology
Interview: Ford Solar C-Max Energi Provides Relief from Pump Pain
Ford just launched a concept car called the C-MAX Solar Energi that is designed to recharge its batteries within 8 […]
January 6, 2014
Finance
Five 2013 CSR Best Practices That Grew Profits
Corporate social responsibility made the leap in 2013 from being a “do good” corporate responsibility to a best practice for […]
December 30, 2013
Voices for Change
Five Sustainable Best Practices That Grow Wealth
A common perception is that sustainable purchasing costs more and is a budget buster for households. The economic reality is […]
December 20, 2013
Technology
How to Cut Your Fuel Costs by 15 Cents Per Gallon
Here’s the easiest and least-costly way to reduce your pain at the fuel pump. Every day we collectively waste four […]
December 9, 2013
Technology
The Growth Path For Zero Net Energy Homes
Generation Z, the first generation born in the 21st century, will most likely buy a Zero Net Energy (ZNE) home […]
November 13, 2013
Finance
CA Building Code Revision Will Revolutionize Building Efficiency Financing
California’s massive building code revisions, called Title 24, target achieving sea-changing growth in energy efficiency investments by eliminating the conflicted […]
November 12, 2013
Technology
Building Code Revision Launches California Toward Zero Net Energy Buildings
Starting in 2014, California is implementing a tsunami of building code revisions called Title 24. These revised building codes will […]
November 11, 2013
Voices for Change
Mexico Taxes Soda to Combat Obesity
A food earthquake just hit south of the border. Mexico has successfully passed legislation placing an 8 percent sales tax […]
November 4, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Twitter IPO Controversy Over All-Male Board of Directors
Twitter is about to launch their initial public offering. This public event has brought new focus to the fact that […]
October 8, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
How Sustainability is Growing Unilever’s Brand Equity and Profits
Unilever is a pioneer in the art of winning customers and creating competitive advantage with brand authenticity through their positive […]
September 25, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Unilever, Sketches and 10 Sustainable Branding Best Practices
Consumers are engaged in a search for authenticity that is challenging the sales sustainability of existing brands. According to a […]
September 24, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Rainforest Alliance's Shop The Frog Week
The Rainforest Alliance is proving that green products are a significant opportunity for growing sales even in this unsettled economy. […]
September 16, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Grow Profits Using GM’s Waste Management Best Practices
GM is generating $1 billion annually through recycling and repurposing their waste stream. They are literally turning trash into cash! […]
August 20, 2013
Technology
Green Sells: Ford’s Commitment to Sustainability Drives Sales Success
Ford’s sales growth is proving that competitively priced, well-designed products that are more sustainable will outsell less-sustainable products. Ford’s line-up […]
July 24, 2013
Finance
Having Women on Corporate Boards Increases Profits and Sustainability
Imagine running an oil company where only one or two of the directors on your board have oil industry experience. […]
July 23, 2013
Finance
More Oil, but Higher Prices
Please repeat the words “more oil, higher prices” as you stand at the gasoline pump. These four words are key […]
July 15, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Green Sells: Meaningful Brands Outperform the Stock Market
New research documents that green products and meaningful brands deliver increased sales plus financial performance that outperforms the stock market. […]
June 12, 2013
Energy
Libby Auld: Pioneering the Meaningful Restaurant
The restaurant industry is in a crisis as customers, most especially moms and the millennial generation, question the source and […]
June 12, 2013
Energy
Enterprise-Scale Strategies for Growing Sustainable Restaurant Revenues
The revenue growth of the restaurant industry has hit a “sustainability wall” as it confronts a sea-changing shift in consumer […]
June 11, 2013
Energy
Consumer "Search for Authenticity" Driving Food Sales Crisis
Food sales are in a crisis. Chain restaurants’ growth formula of selling hamburgers, fries and soda at promotional prices has […]
June 10, 2013
Energy
SemiFreddi’s and Crogan’s Green-Certified Food Service Business
“Living in the United States of Food Waste” is how Bloomberg Businessweek defined the scale and cost of food wasted […]
June 5, 2013
Energy
Cancun Sabor Mexicano: Affordable Authenticity
A food revolution is being led by the millennial generation and moms in rebellion against the growing health impacts tied […]
June 4, 2013
Energy
Five Factors Driving the Restaurant Industry’s Sustainability Crisis
The restaurant and food service industry is in crisis. Fifty-five percent of consumers believe American food production is on the wrong […]
June 3, 2013
Technology
Growth of Commercial PACE in California
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing of clean technologies is making a comeback by targeting commercial properties. At the end […]
March 13, 2013
Finance
Interview: Clean Tech Investing Best Practices
Investing in clean tech – successfully – is still a work-in-progress. Numerous publications have recently pronounced clean tech investing in […]
March 12, 2013
Technology
Plug-In Electric Van: Business Fleet Solution to Higher Pump Prices
While the horsepower buzz at the North American International Auto Show was the absolutely stunning Corvette and the Cadillac ELR […]
February 5, 2013
Technology
C-Max Test Drive: Interactive, Fun, Affordable, Fuel Efficient
Imagine cars as “cool” as an Apple iPad or iPhone where you play games that generate real cash rewards or […]
January 31, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Exclusive Video Interview: Ford’s Four-Level Electrification Strategy
KPMG’s recent research, tellingly entitled The Transformation of the Automotive Industry, observes that, “The global automotive industry is undergoing a […]
January 30, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Ford’s “Go Further” Branding Strategy Anchored with CSR and Sustainability
Business Insider recognized Ford Motor Company as one of the world’s top-ten “hottest brands.” Ford’s peers in this ranking include […]
January 29, 2013
Corporate Responsibility
Ford Motor Company’s Sustainability Strategy for Growing Sales
During the North American International Auto Show, I had the opportunity to meet with Ford’s Chairman Bill Ford and CEO […]
January 28, 2013
Voices for Change
This is the End of the Soft Drink Era
A recent Wall Street Journal article questioned whether this the end of the soft drink era. The answer is: yes. The […]
January 22, 2013
Finance
$2 Trillion 2013 Sustainable Economy: Three Revenue-Generating Megatrends
Will 2013 see the global sale of more sustainable goods and services reach $2 trillion? 2011 was a milestone year […]
January 11, 2013
Finance
5 Sustainability Trends That Will Shape Stock Valuations in 2013
2013 will see an acceleration in the investing attractiveness of companies embracing sustainability. The three drivers behind this investment trend […]
January 10, 2013
Finance
3 Drivers That Will Push Sustainability into an Investment Megatrend in 2013
There are three drivers that are pushing sustainability into an investment megatrend in 2013. Driver #1: Emerging sustainability accounting standards […]
January 9, 2013
Finance
Fiscal Cliff Solution: Tax Problems, Not People
The power of sticker price is meaningful to everyone from five-year-olds to CEOs. The solution to our fiscal cliff is […]
December 4, 2012
Finance
Sustainable Fiscal Cliff Solutions
Frustratingly, the fiscal cliff crisis is focused on the wrong problem. The question is not how much to tax the […]
December 3, 2012
Corporate Responsibility
Black Friday: What We Buy Defines Us
Looking for an alternative? Explore the sharing economy Seventy percent of the United States’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is based […]
November 20, 2012
Finance
Despite Increased U.S. Oil Production, Pump Prices Continue to Rise
The International Energy Agency (IEA) World Energy Outlook for 2012 has received tremendous media attention by forecasting that the U.S. […]
November 14, 2012
Corporate Responsibility
Walmart: "You Shouldn't Have to Pay More for Sustainability"
Walmart has embraced making sustainability price-competitive. Walmart’s strategic plan is to increase the sustainability of all of their products, while […]
November 13, 2012
Corporate Responsibility
Four Steps For Growing Sales Through Corporate Social Responsibility
“Consumers want it all,” according to Executive Vice President Jonathan Yohannan of Cone Communications. Consumers want competitive prices, they want […]
November 6, 2012
Energy
Sandy Batters Northeast, Continued Media Silence on Climate Change as a Factor
I write this article as the United States suffers yet another weather disaster. News anchors are describing Hurricane Sandy as […]
October 31, 2012
Corporate Responsibility
How to Become A Walmart Green Supplier
The requirements for winning a Walmart supplier contract are dramatically changing. The following exclusive interview with Jeff Rice, Director of […]
October 9, 2012
Corporate Responsibility
Chipotle's Secret Green Sauce For Winning Customers
Chipotle is growing sales at over a 20 percent annual rate with a same-store sales growth rate of 8 percent. […]
October 3, 2012
Energy
Chipotle: Good Food Wins
Good food promotes health, is produced in a sustainable manner and is affordable. In comparison, cheap food offers a superior […]
October 2, 2012
Finance
Caesars Entertainment’s Sustainability Best Practices
The bottom line for business is that sustainability has to contribute to the bottom line. Caesars Entertainment provides a compelling […]
September 19, 2012
Finance
Practically Green and Gamification: Making Change Fun, Engaging And Sustainable
Business owners are learning that they can save money when their employees engage in sustainable behaviors like recycling or turning […]
September 18, 2012
Finance
Best Practices That Motivate Work Associates And Customers To Go Green
Motivating customers and employees to change their behavior to align with sustainable best practices is a major business challenge. This […]
September 17, 2012
Technology
Four Green Travel Business Best Practices
Businesses spend $230 billion on travel. Traveling to customers and key suppliers is good business, but the challenge is how […]
August 22, 2012
Corporate Responsibility
EcoPulse '12: Three Keys to Growing Green Revenues and Winning New Customers
The global sales of more sustainable goods and services achieved a milestone $1 trillion in 2011. This sales growth train […]
August 21, 2012
Corporate Responsibility
Construction: Increase Profits with Recycling and Reuse Best Practices
Construction managers’ success in recycling and repurposing materials/fixtures can make the difference on whether a construction project comes in on […]
August 15, 2012