Rocky Mountain Institute is an independent, entrepreneurial nonprofit think tank that drives the efficient and restorative use of resources with a strong emphasis on market-based solutions. Established in 1982 by Amory and Hunter Lovins, what began as a small group of colleagues focusing on energy solutions has since grown into a broad-based Institute with approximately 100 full-time staff, an annual budget of nearly $15 million, and a global reach.

RMI is engaged in research that addresses pragmatic designs, practices, and policies, not social theories or laboratory experiments. They work on all parts of the solution process—idea, strategy, and implementation—in the high impact areas of energy, mobility and vehicle efficiency, energy resource use, security, and the built environment. Instead of focusing on the negative consequences of our actions, RMI brings a philosophy of applied hope to overcoming our challenges.

RMI’s research and consulting staff works with industry leaders and key stakeholders in three interconnected core practice areas:

Built Environment

Rocky Mountain Institute’s work in the built environment takes an integrated approach to climate change by seeking greenhouse gas reductions while simultaneously addressing building and community design, comfort, and health. RMI’s work on hundreds of successful buildings of different types in different climates dispels the notion that mitigating climate change negatively affects economics, comfort, or aesthetics.

Visit their portfolio to see specific case studies on their projects.

Energy and Resources

RMI’s philosophy and approach to finding energy solutions is founded on optimizing whole-systems—a principle that distinguishes our research and consulting teams.

Typically, problems are defined within a narrow scope and the causes or connections to a problem are overlooked. Using a whole-systems approach, RMI is able to see an entire system and analyze all of the interconnections simultaneously. This method often leads to drastic increases in efficiency and “big-picture solutions.”

Click here to contact RMI about using their Energy and Resources services for your next project.

Mobility and Vehicle Efficiency

Rocky Mountain Institute’s work in the mobility and vehicle efficiency sectors (”MOVE”) stems from over 20 years of research in sustainable transportation, including RMI’s Nissan-award winning Hypercar, Inc., work during the 1990s.

Since then, RMI has pushed the industry towards integrated platform design, lightweighting, advanced drive trains, energy storage and innovative fueling options through research and project engagements.

To learn more about the Rocky Mountain Institute, visit their homepage at www.RMI.org
Contributions can be made on their donations page by clicking here.