"Prison construction and operation that is not only energy independent, but that is also

sustainable through methods ranging from growing food to water reclamation would allow local,

state, and federal governments to reallocate money toward education and other important

programs," says Dennis Dubin, a real estate and venture investor whose activities have included

interests in telecommunications, health care, alternative energy-related businesses, and

meaningful philanthropic support for worthy causes (www.upeace.org). "In the U.S., we keep

building more prisons, but current methods of prison construction waste valuable resources, most

notably taxpayers' money,"

Mr. Dubin is a proud American who serves as a director of the Federal Enforcement Homeland

Security Foundation (supporting families and agents in need within the Federal law enforcement

community) and is an active member in the Navy War College Foundation and an advisor to the

World Security Network.

He was a selection committee member and representative to the International Congress for

Distinguished Awards for the International Earth Day Medal at the United Nations (Earth Day).

Even though Mr. Dubin is a champion of the Constitution and democratic principles, he is a

respectful internationalist and special advisor to the United Nations chartered University of Peace

(UPeace). He is also a board member of UPeace USA, where he is incubating a youth violence

reduction initiative as a possible global model. In addition, Mr. Dubin is a special consultant with

the National Foundation for Women Legislators Committee on Crime, Justice, Terrorism &

Substance Abuse Policy and a former trustee of the Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Prize.

Mr. Dubin has become known as an innovative thinker who creates leading edge concepts in areas

of social concern.

"Unless we begin to take a progressive approach, we'll continue down the slippery slope of

inefficiency and misuse of our human and natural resources," he points out. For Mr. Dubin, that

progressive approach incorporates something he refers to as "energy architecture," whereby

correctional facilities are built using cutting edge environmental innovation and alternative,

renewable energy sources. "The capability of a prison to operate off the grid would tremendously

reduce the cost of operating that facility," he says.

Mr. Dubin's proposition comes at a time in our nation's history when over 1.9 million Americans are

incarcerated at a taxpayer expense of over $65 billion each year. Research indicates that, over the

past 25 years, entry into correctional facilities has risen an astounding 377%, with a corresponding

budget increase of 600%.

The trend shows no signs of slowing. In California alone, the projected state spending on

incarceration over the next 20 years is $1.3 trillion. "The sheer cost of building and operating

prisons demands that we think outside of the box and come up with creative solutions to lower

expenses associated with the criminal justice system," says Mr. Dubin.

Mr. Dubin's forward-thinking stance on prison construction is one element of his larger vision,

which includes the importance of America's ability to compete in the global marketplace. "We live

in an extremely complex world with mounting energy costs and with additional security expenses

in response to the threat of terrorism. At the same time, we're competing with the low cost of

human labor in Asia and India," he says. "Wasting our human and natural resources translates

into increased debt, a failure to compete, and an imbalance in trade."

"America – and companies like GM – cannot continue to subsist on stored fat, but must expand

its legacy and fulfill its destiny as a leader in technology as well as human and social innovation."

The zero-sum game can become a win-win. Just how to do this will be the subject of the next

feature article.