In 2022, we published a book profiling 60 Hoosiers reducing carbon emissions, 50 organizations that can help the reader reduce emissions, 20 relevant bills, and 16 how-to guides.
Then we distributed it for free to 2,500+ Hoosiers leaders — like elected officials at the city, county, and state government, high school science teachers, and others. Finally we hosted book discussions for 150+ people.
Creative, enterprising Hoosiers are reducing carbon emissions throughout Indiana. Learn from over 60 inspiring and actionable stories, and get started with a large directory of helpful organizations.
Contents
Context
Coming soon.
What We Did
Coming soon.
The Book
Results
1. Free Copies for 2,500+ Indiana leaders
We mailed free copies of the book to leaders throughout the state.
A few include:
| Category | # of Books |
| Elected Officials | |
| State Representatives | 100 |
| State Senators | 50 |
| County Commissioners | 276 |
| Mayors | 104 |
| City Council People | 115 |
| Educators | |
| University Presidents | 65 |
| University Professors | 200 |
| High School Superintendents | 235 |
| University Directors of Sustainability | 7 |
| High School Students | 50 |
| High School Teachers | 25 |
| Other | |
| Chambers of Commerce | 50 |
| Larges Places of Worship | 61 |
| Corporate Sustainability Directors | 10 |
| Family Foundations | 269 |
| IBJ “40 Under 40” | 358 |
2. Book Discussions with 150+ Participants
It wasn’t enough to write and distribute the book. We wanted to make sure people read it too. So we hosted small book discussions for over 150 participants total. These were both virtual and in-person, in cities like South Bend and Indianapolis.
3. Free Copies for Science Classes & Places of Worship
One donor bought 80 copies of the book and distributed them to high school science teachers throughout the state.
Faith in Place bought 75 copies and distributed them to places of worship throughout the state.
4. Raised Money for Other Environmental Groups
We offered the book as a free, turnkey fundraiser to other organizations. All they had to do was send a link to their supporters, we’d fulfill the orders, and they could keep 100% of the profits. The following environmental organizations took advantage of this opportunity:
| Organization | Money Raised |
| Wesselman Woods land trust | $247 |
| Environmental Education Association of Indiana | $108 |
| NWI Region Resilience | $74 |
| Eco Fest Fort Wayne | TBD |
5. More Ripple Effects
1. Barb Backler. 2. Bob Berkebile. Architect. Helped create LEED, the global building sustainability certification. Mentored dozens of architects, including one who created the Living Building Challenge. With Brian Weinberg, hired Daniel Poynter to replicate Carbon Neutral Indiana in Kansas City as Carbon Positive KC. 3. John Bohlmann. Entrepreneur. CNI Board member. 4. Jake Budler. Founded Tomorrow Bookstore in Indianapolis. Customers can make purchases carbon neutral. 5. Bill Bussing. Owns baseball team Evansville Otters.
21. Deborah Chubb. Started 25 Women for 2020, which sought to recruit, train, and support women running for Indiana legislature. 22. Alex Decker. Donated to distribute book. 23. Lori Ecker. Distributed copies to Indiana Senator Braun’s staff. 24. Addie Farris. Helped edit book. Donated to distribute book. Profiled in book. Sold copies as a fundraiser for Eco Fest Fort Wayne. 25. Zach Garcia. Helped edit book. Sold book as fundraiser for Wesselman Woods land trust, raising $250. Hosted in-person book discussion in Evansville. 26. Rev. Amber Good. Hosted book discussion at Zionsville Methodist church, which led her friend to become carbon neutral too. 27. Jonathan Green. Worked with CNI for a year and a half to create local carbon offset project.
31. Steve Grossi. Donated to distribute book. 32. Daphne Harris. Donated to distribute book. Her carbon neutral yard sign is seen by 1+ million people a year on a popular walking trail. 33. Stephanie von Hirschberg. Donated to distribute book. 34. Stephen Hoskins. 35. Elizabeth Jessen. Librarian at Cardinal Ritter, a Catholic high school in Indianapolis. Interviewed Daniel about book in front of 600+ students.
41. Mike Johnston, PhD. English Professor at Purdue. Created group of 80+ faculty advocating for Purdue to become carbon neutral. Quote: “Daniel Poynter, and Carbon Neutral Indiana, have provided much of the inspiration behind the incipient fight to decarbonize Purdue. I met Daniel in 2021, and shortly thereafter founded the Purdue Climate Action Collective. Carbon Neutral Indiana has been an essential resource for us as we have begun our work at Purdue.” 42. Tyler Kanczuzewski. Helped edit book. Donated to distribute book. Donated $5,000 to CNI’s new Eagle Scout project. 43. Greg Kempf. Retired engineer with 15 patents about hybrid engines. Wrote novel about climate change. Donated to distribute book. One of the first 10 neutral households in Indiana. 44. Anne Laker. Helped edit book.
51. State Senator Jim Merritt (R). Majority Caucus Chair. Indiana Bicentennial Commission. Champion of nuclear energy. Quote: “A few people are changing how Indiana thinks about climate change. Daniel Poynter is one. [This book] is all about solutions and opportunities. It provides a roadmap that can benefit all Hoosiers.” 52. Cecilia Mingus (daughter of Alexander Mingus). Alexander is Associate Director at the Indiana Catholic Conference. He is a liaison between Catholic laity and Bishops and the Indiana legislature on topics like the environment. 53. Grace Minkis and Will. Helped package and mail 100s of books to leaders throughout state. CNI Board member. 54. Daniel Overbey, AIA. Donated to distribute book. 55. Faye Moore. Profiled in book.
61. Brad Mueller. Donated to distribute book. Helped package and mail 100s of books to leaders throughout state. 62. John Mundell. Leads Catholic Church’s global climate program. Pictured with his invention, The Earth Cube. 63. Nagendra Rayapureddi, PhD, CPA, CFA. 64. Andrew Pappas. Donated to distribute book. Works for Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Pictured in front of a nuclear reactor. 65. Dr. Ryan Prall. Helped edit book.
61. Brad Mueller. Donated to distribute book. Helped package and mail 100s of books to leaders throughout state. 62. John Mundell. Leads Catholic Church’s global climate program. Pictured with his invention, The Earth Cube. 63. Nagendra Rayapureddi, PhD, CPA, CFA. 64. Andrew Pappas. Donated to distribute book. Works for Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Pictured in front of a nuclear reactor. 65. Dr. Ryan Prall. Helped edit book.
71. Jackie Phillips. Profiled in book. 72. Harini Radhakrishnan. Purdue engineering student. From Manilla Philippines. CNI intern and helped create book. 73. John Smillie. Helped edit book. Donated to distribute book. 74. Brad Rodgers, PhD. Professor of mathematics. 75. Daniel Poynter and Heather Navarro. Heather founded the Midwest Climate Collaborative at Washington University at St. Louis and hired Daniel to create the Climate Resource Network for hundreds of organizations throughout the Midwest.
81. Ryan Selking. 82. Kathy Sipple. Sold copies as a fundraiser for local efforts. 83. Larry Zimmer. Purchased 40 copies of book to distribute to leaders in Michigan City. 84. Fran Tuite. Donated to distribute book. 85. Steve Perkins, PhD. Founded Faith in Place, nonprofit helping hundreds of faith communities to develop sustainability programs. They bought 80 copies of the book and distributed them to places of worship throughout Indiana.
91. William Rozzi (son of Aaron and Rachel Rozzi). Aaron is Sr. Product Manager at BCG Digital Ventures, specializing in decarbonization innovations. 92. Niesha Ward and Robert. 93. Brian Weinberg. Along with Bob Berkebile, hired Daniel to replicate CNI in Kansas City. 94. Brian Will. Donated to distribute book. Donated $10,000 to CNI to create Eagle Scout project. Scouts will use the CNI book, and project templates, to achieve their Eagle Scout rank. It will require them to implement climate projects in their community and to volunteer 100-200 hours. 95. State Senator Mark Stoops (D). Worked with Daniel on carbon market legislation at Indiana legislature. 96. Nancy Moldenhaurer. Donated to distribute book. Profiled in book.
101. Rae Schnapp, PhD. Conservation Director at Indiana Forest Alliance. Expert in forest carbon sequestration. One of the first 10 neutral households in Indiana. 102. Ray Wilson. Long time solar advocate. One of the first 10 neutral households in Indiana.
Testimonials
“In Daniel Poynter’s new book, Carbon Neutral Indiana, a Practical Guide to Climate Optimism, he is anything but neutral. Poynter is an enthusiastic advocate… His pragmatic approaches are clever, sometimes funny and very convincing. This book is an essential primer for everyone wishing to implement climatic solutions and help the world avoid a possible devastating environmental tragedy.”
—Mickey Maurer, Chairman of the Board of IBJ Corporation and The National Bank of Indianapolis; former President of the Indiana Economic Development Corp.; former Indiana Secretary of Commerce.
“Daniel Poynter is a true visionary … He has vision and curiosity, but is also able to execute… Daniel knows how to connect with key people and resources to make things happen.”
—Nathalie Duval-Couetil PhD, Entrepreneurship Program Director and Professor, Purdue University
“This book shows how Hoosiers can reduce carbon emissions wherever they have influence. It’s well-researched, clearly written, and informative. It’s nothing like what I expected. It was a real breath of fresh air.”
—Greg Ballard, 48th mayor of Indianapolis; retired Lt. Col. U.S. Marines; author Less Oil or More Caskets: The National Security Argument for Moving Away From Oil.
“A few people are changing how Indiana thinks about climate change. Daniel Poynter is one. [This book] is all about solutions and opportunities. It provides a roadmap that can benefit all Hoosiers.”
—Jim Merritt, Indiana State Senator
“I believe that to truly spur action, just inspiration and education are not enough – we must also empower each person and make them feel that their actions are not just one individual action, but a part of a bigger collective. The personal empowerment that people will get from this book will surely spark actions towards solutions within their own communities.”
—Colleen Marciel Rosales, PhD, Atmospheric and Indoor Air Pollution Chemist with the University of California
“This book is full of good resources and great local stories, one of which is sure to inspire people to take similar actions. Is another town doing something needed or possible in your town; did someone else take on a task, not know if they were capable or whether they’d be successful? We are all important and necessary for this challenge.”
—Molly O’Donnell, volunteer with Earth Care Bloomington
“So much about the climate crisis is presented to us on a seemingly intractable national or global scale. The truth is there are small, concrete things that Hoosiers can do to be a part of climate solutions. It’s time that we flip the script on climate from crisis to opportunity, and this book moves us in that direction.”
—Andrew Gouty, CEO of Science & Magic
“It’s not often that a book captures the passion and commitment of its author towards their subject, but Carbon Neutral Indiana: A Practical Guide to Climate Optimism does just that. Daniel Poynter’s enthusiasm for creative climate action is palpable and infectious, and his efforts to spread the good news of pragmatic solutions offered in Indiana gives us hope for our children and grandchildren. The book begs the question at the end of each chapter – “Can I do this?” My resounding response is: YES!”
—John Mundell, CEO, Mundell & Associates; Global Director, Catholic Church’s climate action platform (Laudato Si Action Platform)
