Eco lifestyle and technology event immerses Earth-conscious consumers in posh new reality

SAN FRANCISCO – As the global economy goes green to get back in the black, The Ki comes to the San Francisco Bay Area this fall showing how humanity can walk lightly and still live large.

From tastings to test rides, a few thousand fortunate guests will get an unprecedented opportunity to completely immerse themselves in a new reality created with clean-tech cars, electric boats, zero-emissions motorcycles, green home furnishings and accessories, smart home technologies, personal solar packs, gourmet living cuisine, Biodynamic and organic wines, organic superfoods, pure spirits, eco-chic fashions and more. The experiential event encourages guests to interact directly with the latest sustainable living products, technologies, and the evolutionaries leading the charge.

Companies committed to create The Ki experience include advanced automaker Mercedes-Benz, Biodynamic certifier Demeter, living cuisine creator Matthew Kenney, eco-fashion designer Bahar Shahpar, emissions-free motorcycle makers Zero and Mission Motors, experiential media maker Ecofabulous.com, American barter board Googooswap.com, carbon offset app developer GreenWorld, web wizards Red Interactive Agency, EV charging network Coulomb Technologies, Biodynamic wine farm Cowhorn, green youth movement Teens Turning Green, leisure furniture maven Mamagreen, eufloric chocolaterie Enchanted Florist, organic mycoceutical marketer PowerShroom, solar bag maker Voltaic Systems, atmospheric water econeer DewPointe, LEED-certified hotelier Gaia Napa Valley, and many more to be announced as the experience emerges.

The Ki comes to life October 22-25, 2009 on the decommissioned runways of Alameda Point, a former U.S. Naval Air Station and proposed National Wildlife Refuge. A village of geodesic domes and high-tech structures will feature a fashion galleria, wellness pavilion, organic lounge, tech dome, Biodynamic dome, pre-fab home, eco-moto garage, tasting room, test track and more.

On-site attendance will be limited to 3,000 participants per day to ensure a life-changing experience. Tickets will be available on TheKi.net on a first-come, first-served basis and admission includes all aspects of the experience from tastings to test rides. Select presentations and speakers will be webcast live and archived at TheKi.net.

The Ki will reduce its footprint through carbon offsets included with the cost of each ticket. Guests will also be offered an opportunity to buy additional carbon credits to cover emissions associated with their travel to and from The Ki.

For daily updates, visit TheKi.net.

SUPPORTING STATEMENTS

“The Ki empowers guests to experience the leading sustainable brands that are shaping the world of tomorrow,” said The Ki co-creator Jerry Jensen. “Today’s top econeers will be on hand to interact with guests and share the inspiration for their innovations. Sustainability isn’t about giving up style, quality, luxury or performance. It’s about living a better life, and making responsible decisions that ultimately will benefit us all for generations to come. Our goal is to educate and inspire people to make sustainable choices, and we’re delighted to join with so many global visionaries who share in this passion.”

“What is so great about the time we live in right now is that people are getting back to the basics,” explains The Ki co-founder/ecopreneur Susan Purkhiser. “There is a greater emphasis on doing the right thing for the planet overall, but people are realizing that it all starts at home. Everything from eating real food, growing your own garden and seeking natural therapies instead of pills, to making more earth-friendly transportation and lifestyle choices, represents a significant shift in the way people go about their daily lives. Not only does The Ki encourage you to touch, feel, ride and drive, it surrounds you with these amazing people and technologies that give you a taste of what our sustainable future can really be like.”

“Mercedes-Benz has a long history of eco-conscious production, design and technology and The Ki provides an ideal venue to communicate our commitment to the environment in one of our key markets,” said Robert Woerner, Western regional general manager for Mercedes-Benz USA. “With three BlueTEC clean diesel vehicles that launched last year, two Hybrids launching this year, a new E-class that’s more than 85% recyclable, and more to come in the near future, we’re excited about sharing our sustainability message.”

“I am excited to be participating in the Ki because of the fresh and contextual approach,” said Zem Joaquin, eco-lifestyle expert and founder of Ecofabulous.com. “Touching, seeing and really experiencing sustainable solutions is the only authentic way to inspire people to participate in positive change.”

“The Ki is an incredible opportunity to discover the sustainable building blocks that innovators and leaders are using to drive the change needed for a healthy global environment, culture, and economy,” said Brian Lovell, CEO of RED Interactive Agency, which created the online experience at TheKi.net. “Partnering with The Ki and being immersed in technologies and thinking that is helping change the world has been very fulfilling. The Ki experience provides this opportunity, and I think it will amplify attendees’ excitement and anticipation of building a sustainable future together.”

“The Ki represents everything I am passionate about for our world; living consciously in the present, preparing for the future, and doing it all in the most inspiring way possible,” shares chef Matthew Kenney, partner and culinary director of 105 Degrees. “Living Cuisine brings together the beauty of nature, the balance of health and the excitement of creative culinary expression.”

“We are honored to play a part in co-creating The Ki experience,” said Barbara Steele, owner of Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden. “The holistic approach of both Biodynamic farming and The Ki experience make us perfect partners. We share a vision of helping others see how making healthy choices on both the personal and planetary level will dramatically improve the overall quality of life for everyone on Earth. Being sustainable is not about just cutting back to get by, it is a radically evolved way to interact with the natural world and restore balance to the biosphere.”

“Sustainability is a full lifestyle philosophy, and The Ki will, for the first time, bring together leaders from different industries and fields of design to create a dynamic, interactive experience of what a sustainable life could be,” said Bahar Shahpar, creative director of The Four Hundred. “With The Four Hundred and every project I work on, I believe in promoting the fundamental principles of quality, artisanship, innovation, and creativity alongside environmental and social responsibility, and it is so exciting to come together with this amazing group of pioneers and thinkers who are striving for the same thing – improved quality of life.”

“Coulomb Technologies is proud to be a part of The Ki where people can experience first-hand the future of sustainable and progressive thinking brands,” said Mike DiNucci, vice president of strategic accounts for Coulomb Technologies. “For Coulomb, our goal is to fuel the transportation industry with our networked charging stations. This in turn will lower green house emissions and our dependency on foreign oil. The Bay Area is already a model for alternative fueling vehicles and this event will give attendees a first-hand look at the future of transportation.”

“We are enthusiastic about being amongst such good company at The Ki: truly, the people imagining and building a better future,” said Edward West, founder and president of Mission Motors. “Mission Motors was founded on the premise that it is possible to build a product that is both superior in performance and at the cutting edge of sustainable design. The Mission One, a high-performance electric sport motorcycle, is proof of this. We are honored to be a part of this radically new event. The Ki will inspire both participants and presenters alike to realize that together we are creating a new world.”

“We are so excited to be a part of The Ki experience and to showcase our leading clean technology motorcycles,” said Gene Banman, CEO of Zero Motorcycles. “Zero Motorcycles offers a revolutionary line of electric motorcycles for both off road and on road, and we want people to know it. Initially, customers are interested in our motorcycles because they are silent and clean however after test riding, they are amazed with the extraordinary power and torque that is packed in the lightweight battery unit. Our passion for the environment combined with our passion for performance makes Zero Motorcycles the perfect fit for The Ki.”

“We’re delighted to join with The Ki in further educating people about Biodynamic farming and winemaking,” said Elizabeth Candelario, marketing director for Demeter. “The event provides a compelling opportunity for many of our wine members to engage consumers directly and to share their authentic stories of sustainable grape growing and winemaking.”