Over the last 20 years, China fed our zombie-like appetite for iPhones, Prada and Snuggies. At the same time, its biggest customer, the US, found itself in debt, under-educated, and covered with recreational tattoos. So now what? Will America wallow in mediocrity like Greece or some C-list celebrity? Or, will our legendary ingenuity save us from Tweeting...and eating our way to irrelevance? Econovation is a bold, witty response to those questions that doesn't rely on miracles or government for answers. It challenges business leaders to think differently about the next decade of the US economy and respond with big, sustainable innovations. Written by Steve Faktor, former Vice President of Growth & Innovation and head of the Chairman's Innovation Fund at American Express, Econovation is a trends book on steroids. It's bursting with practical, thought-provoking ideas no executive, entrepreneur or Fed Chairman can afford to miss. Most importantly, Econovation envisions a very different future. It's one ruled by "producerism", not consumerism. It's a future in which real innovators must do more than slide a greasy finger over the screen of an iPad. Econovation uncovers opportunities in unexpected places. You'll learn how to: Capitalize on a market that will go from making nothing to making everything...for China. Use psychological pricing and some crafty tricks from Google to reduce reliance on tapped-out consumers Sell to consumers whose new identities will be based on what they create, not what they buy, click or super-size Seduce a desperate government to finance your business, then feed you pancakes in the morning Motivate tomorrow's employee with social currency instead of the green, depreciating kind Upgrade your business and your kids with a little help from Mormons and kindergartners with hacksaws Econovation is a fresh perspective on a future we've taken for granted. It empowers readers to think big, dream big, and conquer economic conditions that will paralyze others. With a hefty dose of data, humor, and actionable ideas, Econovation offers insight and amusement in one, convenient place - a rare treat for a business book.

The World Renewable Energy Congress is a key event at the start of the 21st century.It is a vital forum for researchers with an interest in helping renewables to reach their full potential. The effects of global warming and pollution are becoming more apparent for all to see - and the development of renewable solutions to these problems is increasingly important globally.If you were unable to attend the conference, the proceedings will provide an invaluable comprehensive summary of the latest topics and papers.

Living Innovation: Competing in the 21st Century Access Economy explores how the digital revolution has empowered customers, and how organizations have to innovate to gain a deeper understanding of user needs. Stepping away from the traditional mindset of products being the foremost concern of an organization, this book elaborates on how service value and the management of customer relationships are some of the new goals of an experience-driven economy. The ten chapters of this book provide insights and different perspectives into this new economy, including the consequences of the shift away from a product-based mindset, the role of the physical space as a stimulator of innovation and the keys to making service innovation a success.

Most companies today realize the imperative to connect with their customers, employees, and partners through social technologies -Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and elsewhere. But a huge challenge is still in the way: how to build programs and teams for accomplishing all that. While organizations have been fixated on how to use the latest social tool, they've lost sight of how to create a talent pool capable of adjusting to the next wave of technology around the corner. For corporations to successfully transform into social business enterprises they must shift the focus from computers and tools to developing skills and attitudes around technology. Socialized! represents a "playbook" on how to create such a high-performing social enterprise. Filled with clear strategies and real-life stories from visionaries and change makers, the book is designed to help leaders motivate employees throughout the organization to adopt a "social" mindset, ensuring success against the competition.

A side-effect of numerous anthropogenic activities involves unfavourable changes in the natural environment. The acquisition of natural resources, especially fossil fuels, solid waste and wastewater production, as well as emission of gases and particulate matter from industrial plants and means of transport contribute to disturbances in the natural cycles of elements between different parts of the environment. Local changes lead to global effects, changing the composition of atmosphere, its capacity for absorbing the infrared radiation and temperature, which has further repercussions in the form of weather anomalies, melting glaciers, flooding, migration or extinction of species, social problems, etc. These global changes can be mitigated by local remedial actions, simultaneously taken all over the world, including Poland. Only the joint efforts of communities from different countries can be successful in preserving the world as we know it for the future generations. Realisation of this task requires the cooperation of experts across many fields of science, environmental engineering being one of most relevant. It comprises the engineering actions taken to preserve the balance of the natural environment or restore it if degradation has occurred. This monograph presents several key issues related to the actions aimed at mitigating the negative impact on the environment connected with the acquisition and transport of energy, management of municipal and industrial wastes, as well as the impact of the industry on the aquatic and soil environment. This book is dedicated to academics, engineers, and students involved in environmental engineering, who are following the advances in the research on environmental aspects of energy production and waste management.

What becomes of a deep space explorer once a long-settled land is reached? Astronaut Linien Primae arrives on Aesop, a human colony 4000 years in the making. For most arrivals, conforming to the leisure classes is a way of life, all watched over and entertained by Cybernet's Neural Swarm. But a society of docile unquestioning citizens makes for a sickly sort of equality. It's too much like voluntary servitude for Linien... and he wants none of it. Irish author Rod Dunne unleashes the third of his science-fiction series featuring the autonomous anti-hero Linien Primae. Other books in the series include (1) Terra Swarm and (2) Erebus