Venture: How Living Loop Can Change The Clean-Tech Industry

At the heart of the Clean Tech industry is an emphasis on sustainability, resiliency, and innovation. Living Loop, a New York City-based startup, is looking to transform the way people interact with Clean Tech. Their motto, Together We Transform, speaks to their goal to “enable smart and sustainable regions.” Their mission is clear, but, how likely is it to happen?

After looking at their website, I was thoroughly impressed. Their Village OS shows how to create a sustainable region with 8 core factors. Those factors being: energy storage, connected communication, resilient design, sustainable water, holistic ecosystem, sustainable transport, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. But, while their vision and mission are clear, there don’t seem to be any practical solutions in place. I attribute this to the fact that they are a small startup and have few employees.

On their website, under the “Core” tab, they explain that they are “designing and building the world’s 1st infrastructure core.” This product is supposed to act as the “central nervous spine” to achieve the goals of the Village OS. The definition behind their “infrastructure core” puzzled me a bit, but once I researched their Facebook, I got a glimpse into what they might be meaning when they say “infrastructure core”. Every one of their Facebook posts dating back to 2017 was about a hyperloop connecting one city or state to the next. Perhaps this is what Living Loop means by “infrastructure core”.

Given Living Loop’s clear but broad mission, their small team, and location in New York, how can they impact the Clean Tech industry and make a name for themselves? What would that look like? The short answer: they need to make a name for themselves in the Clean Tech industry. Companies like Sistine Solar, Chai Energy, or Seabin are household names within the Clean Tech industry and its because they offer a concrete solution to a visible problem. If Living Loop offers a concrete solution to a visible problem, they will flourish and thrive in the Clean Tech industry.

Using the 8 core factors from the Village OS, I will outline concrete solutions to visible problems for Living Loop to address and remedy. First, energy storage. Simply put, energy storage captures energy produced in one moment and stores it to be used in another moment. This energy can be used in hydroelectricity, rechargeable batteries, thermal storage, etc. Where Living Loop can place invest with energy storage is in Minnesota or New Mexico. Proposed by senators from both states, the Advancing Grid Storage Act (AGSA), is a $1 billion attempt to research the storage of energy in the United States. Being a vocal advocate for this bill could give Living Loop the publicity it needs to become a household name.  

Second, connected communication. It’s a broad topic that needs to be more specific. A 1981 study by Purdue University’s J.S. Musisi showed that third world countries have extreme difficult communication with the outside world and within their own countries. Musisi believes a lack of government recognition, censorship of literature, a lack of reading as a habit, and many other issues attribute to the disconnected communication in third world countries. Living Loop could make third world countries more connected in regards to communication by setting up reading initiatives to have reading become more of a habit. Even though censorship of literature is a major issue in these countries, this issue still allows Living Loop to make a strong impact in the community it is helping.

Third, resilient design. According to the Resilient Design Institute, resilient design is “the intentional design of buildings, landscapes, communities, and regions in response to vulnerabilities to disaster and disruption of normal life.” Living Loop could make a serious impact in the Houston, Texas community. The city of Houston, with a population of 2.3 million, suffers during hurricane season every year. In 2017, Hurricane Harvey devastated the city of Houston and cost the city $125 billion in damages -- second only to Hurricane Katrina at $161 billion. Living Loop can implement their ideas for resilient design to help Houston, which is one of the flattest major metropolitan cities in America, to prevent further damage from hurricane flooding.

Fourth, sustainable water, holistic ecosystem, and sustainable agriculture. The three are interconnected, which is the philosophic definition of holistic, to help a struggling community thrive and become more efficient. After the city of Flint faced devastation from its water crisis, it still needs help rebuilding. Given Flint’s history with water, there need to be sustainable approaches to water preservation and agriculture that Living Loop can bring to the city. For example, Living Loop can help build aquifers outside the city.  

Fifth, renewable energy. According to the Department of Energy, the state of Delaware ranks last in renewable energy production with 1.68% compared to Vermont’s 99.6%. Natural gas, coal, and nuclear are the three biggest sources of renewable electricity generated in the United States. If Living Loop can begin to fund, build, or raise money for the creation of one of these plants, it will be major for Delaware and allow Living Loop to be seen as a company that truly cares for renewable energy in the United States.

Sixth, and finally, sustainable transportation. Sustainable transportation is what Living Loop seems to be most interested in. Personally, I believe they should build 700+ miles of sustainable transportation between Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Fort Worth, and Dallas, Texas. Each of these cities is in the top 15 most populated cities in the United States and all have over 10% population growth in the past year. Allowing these cities to become better connected will yield high profits since Texas is such a large state. If people can get from Austin to Houston in under an hour, Living Loop will be legends in the Lone Star State.

Living Loop has a huge potential in being a force that changes the United States and even the world. But, first, they need to visualize concrete problems in the world that they can aid. Then, they must provide specific solutions to those concrete problems.