Ryan Shelby: Sustainability Designs and Innovations

In March 2010, it will be two years since I started our partnership with the Pinoleville Pomo Nation (PPN).  In these past few years, CARES has been able to work with the PPN to co-design culturally inspired, sustainable housing for their members and secure funding to work development renewable energy power generation systems for their communities.

Now, we are trying to establish a more permanent relationship amongst the PPN, CARES, and UC Berkeley by seeking to create a center in CITRIS that uses the CARES model of (1) Assess, (2) Advise, (3) Implement, and (4) Live Sustainable.

This center is be called Native American Community Assessment of Renewable Energy and & Sustainability or NAtive CARES.  The center will focus on all aspects of sustainability that our tribal partners in Northern California are pursuing: green building, power generation, indoor air quality, water conservation, and economic business models.

I have been able to secure letters of support of the National Renewable Energy Lab , Sandia National Laboratories, and the Environmental Protection Agency to support this center.

I am really excited about our prospects for winning this CITRIS seed funding and I am looking forward to continuing the work that CARES has begun to improve the personal level of sustainability of all communities.