Google's Project 10 to the 100th

So after a too-long bout of cyber-neglect, I thought I'd share an innovative new project I've been working on - my submission for Google's Project 10 to the 100th Contest. The Goog - which I'm currently doing unrelated project work for - is offering a $10 Million prize for "a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible." 

Check it out: http://www.project10tothe100.com/index.html

I had to write a thousand word description of my idea, then shoot a YouTube video explaining it in 30 seconds, an impossibly short amount of time. The nauseatingly rushed, cheesebucket video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbs7wVt7gas

SO HERE'S THE IDEA in the 300-word summary they required:

In one single cathartic purchase, consumers will save polar bears, plant a tree, have products to refit their homes, access educational tools, donate to worthy causes, offset their past CO2 emissions and help fund future infrastructure. Everything they really want to do, which addresses air, water, plant life, animals, the ozone layer, CO2 emissions, and green energy. 

It’s simply aggregating existing eco-friendly products, services and organizations, selling them in a dummy proof, biodegradable retail box, then tying the after-purchase behavior to a global online destination that drives products, services, awareness, education and community. 

This requires bundling electricity saving (CFL’s), water saving (aerators), trash saving (grocery totes), fuel saving (tire gauge), energy saving (window draft insulation) and eco-awareness products (Live Earth book); along with carbon offset credits (COC’s) and renewable energy credits (REC’s); along with vetted Organizations such as Conservation International (rainforest protection), Oceana (ocean protection), The Nature Conservancy (climate change), and American Forests (reforestation). 

The boxes would be available at broad-market retail and major online ecommerce. Corporations could vie for co-branding on the box and gain exclusive distribution rights. At distribution points, collection bins for excess (free) CFL’s, aerators, showerheads and shopping totes inspires a “take a penny, leave a penny” sense of community. 

The retail price is $59.99. Retailers make 20% at $50 wholesale. The landed production cost is $33, leaving $17 profit per kit for reinvestment. The box contents provide an aggregated household cost savings benefit of $1,482.47. If 50% of US households and small businesses adopted the kit, $5 billion would enter the green economy. Eco-inclusion and conservation would skyrocket. 

Online registration captures user data, is a social eco-network, and leads to more eco products, service providers and suppliers. Children can upload photos to funded wind farm entrance LCD’s. Parents can find local, licensed insulated window installers.   

Feedback is always welcome. I'm in the early stages of designing the box, defining the contents, defining the portal, and presenting it to potential investors, Google being only one of them.