False Profit is all about the green. Green green green. (Except that
we call it ’sustainability’ as we think the color green makes us look
slightly ill and washed out.) We’re pretty keen on incorporating
principles of sustainability into all aspects of our planning process,
and we have purchasing and decision-making procedures that reflect our
stance.

In addition, some of our more tangible projects this year, which we
hope you’ll think about as you prep for the weekend…

TRANSPORTATION

This is our second year requiring that all vehicles coming to
Priceless purchase a parking pass, in order to encourage carpooling
and discourage extra cars. And just so you know, we mean it when we
say this: we don’t keep any of this money– it all gets spent making
the event more sustainable and offsetting it’s impact. (Also, we feel
that your hard-earned dollars would be better spent on something other
than an icky smelly fuel substance. Save gas! Buy whiskey! Erm…or
something.)

We also hope you’ve noticed by now our frequent mentions of the option
to take a BUS to Priceless? Yeah, we’re into the biodiesel mass
transit. There are still a few tickets left, if you’re game! And if
you can’t swing it this time around, keep it in mind for next year…

Helpful Tip: Inflate your tires to their appropriate inflatage point
before you leave home. Saves fuel. Woot.

TRASH

Priceless strives to be a Leave No Trace event, and we are expecting
our campers to pack out their trash accordingly. Please *bring your
own trash bags* and make sure you plan to pack out everything you’re
bringing in. (A few compost and recycling containers will be provided
near eating areas, but we don’t have capacity to take everyone’s
bizness back to civilization. DIY, people–San Francisco makes it
easy!)

In addition to not leaving us with your garbage when you scoot on
outta town, you are highly encouraged–nay, requested!–to BYO plates,
cups, and utensils to use at the food booth! Metal sporks are the hot
new must-have this season. Don’t leave home without one.

FOODZ

Speaking of the food booth, we’re totally tickled to be hosting
Lydia’s Loving Foods this year. Lydia’s will be preparing vegan
meals–both raw and cooked–for some seriously excellent nourishment
during the weekend. Our choice of a vegetarian food booth was
intentional, as was our selection of a vendor that’s going to be using
all compostable paper and flatware as they dispense their edibles.
Thanks, Lydia! (And compost this webpage.)

In other food news, we’d like to thank our nourishment team for making
sure to acquire only the finest organic and vegetarian ingredients to
use in preparing brunch and other treats for us during the weekend.
Our bellies will be happier because of your work.

PROMO

False Profit made a conscious decision to not print flyers for this
event, relying on web communication and word of mouth to spread the
good word, rather than paper products.

SHOPPING

During the planning process, we try to engage environmentally (and
socially) responsible purchasing practices as much as possible. We
opt for organics, green companies, and local options when we can.

In an attempt to encourage similar practices for all of us as
individuals, as we stock up for the Season, we’ve put together a
Semi-Arbitrary Guide to Buying Food and Gear. Check it out!

OFFSETS

Last year, fees from parking permits generated a fair number of
dollars. After paying for a a few sustainability-related costs of the
event, we were able went to spend $2045 on habitat conservation and
carbon offset programs. We did some research to find a collection of
programs that we could feel good about supporting. We picked one
program that supports local conservation work, one that does
conservation work in Central America, and then two programs that do
less typical (and way cool!) sustainability projects in a variety of
other countries.

Here’s the breakdown for 2007. 2008 numbers and programs will be
announced after this year’s event.

$500 - the nature conservancy’s california initiative:
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/california/features/art23576.html
SUM: redwood conservation in california

$500 - adopt 10 acres of costa rican rainforest (through the nature
conservancy):
http://www.nature.org/joinanddonate/adoptanacre/about/?src=search
SUM: ‘although [we] won’t personally own the land [we]‘ve adopted,
[we] will directly provide for its protection. [our] commitment
represents a critical investment in the health of the global
environment.’

$512 - atmosfair carbon offsets:
http://www.atmosfair.de/ if you lesen sie deutschen.
http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/carbonoffsets/ratings.htm if you’re more
prone to english, and if you feel comfortable with tufts putting
together a list of enviro programs to choose from (as we do,
apparently).
SUM: ‘atmosfair’s project portfolio includes four renewable energy and
energy efficiency projects planned and/or implemented in India,
Thailand, Brazil and South Africa. The projects in India (large scale
solar cookers) and the project in Thailand (sewage treatment plant at
palm oil factory to reduce methane emissions) are currently in the
operations phase. The projects in Brazil and South Africa are still in
the planning stage and it is unclear when and if they will be
realized.’

$512 - myclimate carbon offsets (with the “portfolio sustainability” option):
http://www.my-climate.com/
http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/carbonoffsets/ratings.htm
SUM: ‘[Portfolio Sustainability] consists of small-scale and
micro-scale projects. All projects have clear additional
sustainability benefits. Favorably, these projects are situated in
economically disadvantaged areas. For example in Ladakh, a remote area
in the Indian Himalaya, that faces very harsh conditions due to the
high altitude. In building 500 passive solar greenhouses and 20 micro
hydropower systems, myclimate helps the local rural population to
generate income activities in order to improve their conditions of
living.’