Ecofactor Smart Thermostat System Wins Cleantech Open
Posted by BC Upham November 20th, 2009 
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A maker of thermostat data systems that claims to be able to reduce heating and cooling costs for buildings by 20-30 percent won Grand Prize at this year’s Cleantech Open, one of the leading environmental technology competitions in the country.
Ecofactor makes integrated systems that calibrate a residential or commercial thermostat for maximum energy efficiency without having any noticeable effect on comfort. The system uses information from 24,000 data points, such as local weather, typical customer behavior and the design characteristics of a home or business to control the thermostat, which is connected to the Internet via a broadband connection.
As National Prize winner, Ecofactor took home $250,000, including $100,000 in seed capital. This is in addition to $100,000 the company won as California regional finalist in October. Started in 2006, Ecofactor has raised angel funding, and currently in negotiations for its Series A round, according to Earth2Tech.
Cleantech Open runners up were: Alphabet Energy (waste-heat recapture); and MicroMidas (transforms raw sewage into biodegradable plastic). Earlier in the day, audience members at the Awards Gala voted Alphabet Energy as the People’s Choice business competition winner.
As Asia Outpaces America in Cleantech, US and China Agree to Cooperation
Posted by BC Upham November 19th, 2009 1 Comment
Obama’s recent trip to China felt like a bit of a bummer, with the Times pointedly portraying the President as a solitary figure, wandering alone on the Great Wall — and getting stone-walled by the PRC’s leadership.
But behind the scenes, hard-working diplomats hammered out agreements on what could be the basis for an important partnership between the world’s two largest polluters on clean technology, ranging from carbon capture to electric cars and more.
And it couldn’t come soon enough, as a new study calculates China, Japan and South Korea will spend $502 billion on clean technology over the next five years, $337 billion more than the US, which the authors warn is in grave danger of being left behind.
Electric Cars Should Be Customized for Different Drivers: Report
Posted by BC Upham November 19th, 2009 4 Comments
A report released recently by McKinsey and Company argues that electric car makers should consider engineering their vehicles for different market segments, rather than try and build a “one size fits all” electric car.
According to the report, the “one size fits all” model means a longer range, and thus a larger battery, than many drivers need. For instance, people who use the car mainly to drive around town use significantly less juice — less than half, according to the report — than someone using the car to commute to work on highways. (Most of that difference comes not from the increased range required by commuting, but by the higher speeds on the highway, which drain power dramatically.)
Protecting Ecosystems Makes Money
Posted by Gina-Marie Cheeseman November 19th, 2009 0 Comments
Protecting ecosystems saves money, according to a new study, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB). The UN Environment Program (UNEP) hosted the study. The study emphasizes putting a price tag on saving the world’s ecosystems from destruction. The study itself puts a price tag on the ongoing cost of forest loss: $2 to 5 trillion. Clearing mangrove forests costs local communities over $12,000 a hectare, plus $9,000 to rehabilitate a site.
Protecting ecosystems creates jobs. One in 40 European jobs is linked with environmental and ecosystem services. Investing in the protection of Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve generates $50 million a year, created 7,000 jobs, and increased local family incomes.
Capitalizing On Sustainability: Partnership Capital Growth
Posted by Frank Marquardt November 18th, 2009 0 Comments
Wall Street’s spectacular implosion in 2008—illustrated by the failure and subsequent sale of Bear Stearns to JP Morgan and, soon thereafter, the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the government’s spectacular bailout soured many on Wall Street’s Masters of the Universe.
But investment banks don’t just trade credit-default swaps and collateralized debt obligations. They also help companies raise capital—often taking shares in companies themselves—while providing sector-specific expertise. Their backing makes it possible for industries like technology to flourish.
They will also play a role in the expansion of the sustainable economy.
Enter the Boutique Investment Bank
Organized Crime Mixed Up in Environmental Initiatives — Again
Posted by BC Upham November 18th, 2009 0 Comments
As goes the financial markets, so go the renewable energy markets. If there’s an opportunity to make a buck, or in this case, a euro, by ripping people off, rest assured, someone will do it.
In the latest case, two Italian businessmen are accused of involvement in a scheme to collect public subsidies for wind power by building sham wind farms. A two year investigation, dubbed “Gone With the Wind” by Italian anti-fraud police, culminated Tuesday with the arrest of Oreste Vigorito, head of the IVPC energy company and president of Italy’s National Association of Wind Energy, and Vito Nicastri, a Sicilian business associate on allegations of defrauding the government of millions in subsidies, according to the Financial Times.
Anti-mafia investigators in Sicily, where some of the wind farms are located, have launched a parallel investigation.
Recession Provides Opportunities For Land Conservation
Posted by Gina-Marie Cheeseman November 18th, 2009 0 Comments
The housing market collapse presented land conservation trusts with the opportunity to purchase land slated for development. As a study by the Land Trust Alliance puts it, “land trusts are attractive buyers (to banks) because they don’t require further infrastructure investments.”
Land trusts all over the country are taking advantage of those opportunities. In Northern California, several land trusts acquired parcels this year. The Trust for Public Land bought chaparral-covered land for $4 million that was going to be bulldozed. The Peninsula Open Space trust paid $16 million in June for the 966-acre Rancho San Vicente, a former cattle ranch. The Ranch was slated to have 300 units and 16 large estates built.
Climate Change: The Cost of Inaction Continues to Rise
Posted by Jeff Siegel November 10th, 2009 1 Comment
For those who oppose any kind of meaningful action on global climate change, consider the latest findings on the cost of inaction.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the world will have to spend an extra $500 billion to cut carbon emissions for each year it delays implementing serious action on global warming. This would be on top of the $10.5 trillion investment needed from 2010 to 2030 to boost renewable energy development and improve energy efficiency.
Of that $10.5 trillion, the IEA states that about 45 percent, or $4.7 trillion in investment will be in transportation. Just one more reason we continue to remain so bullish on the electrification of our transportation infrastructure, mass transit and high speed rail.
Ex-Im Bank Carbon Policy Increases Export Credit Support for Renewables
Posted by Bill DiBenedetto November 5th, 2009 0 Comments
The Export-Import Bank of the United States has established a $250 million credit facility aimed at helping to promote and finance renewable energy exports, including solar, wind and geothermal energy products and projects.
The move this week makes Ex-Im the world’s first Export Credit Agency to fashion that kind of credit assistance and also the first to adopt an actual “carbon policy” to guide the financial support of U.S. exports “in light of climate change concerns,” the agency says.
China Ponies up $1.5 Billion for Texas Wind Farm
Posted by Jeff Siegel November 3rd, 2009 3 Comments
Wind Farm
Last year, I sat on a panel at an energy conference where someone asked me my thoughts on China’s impact on the renewable energy sector.
My response was simple, upset a lot of people, and has since proven to be pretty accurate. . .
“They’re going to bury us!”
I know some don’t agree with this statement. And I don’t say this to disregard all the progress we’ve made here in the United States. Certainly, we’ve come a long way over the past few years. And there are some excellent renewable energy companies operating domestically.
But the fact is China’s desperate need for more domestically-produced power that doesn’t further degrade their dwindling water supplies or pollute their air — which will give your eyes and lungs a good burn on a stagnant day — is a major catalyst for renewable energy growth in the Middle Kingdom.
Environmental Defense Fund: Reaching out to the Private Equity Industry
Posted by 3p Guest Author November 3rd, 2009 0 Comments
By Kirk Hourdajian, Project Manager, Corporate Partnerships Program, Environmental Defense Fund
In a post I wrote on EDF’s Innovation Exchange blog last week, I identified some of the challenges and opportunities we are addressing in our work with private equity firms that are working to adopt sound environmental management strategies across their portfolios.
In order to address these challenges while creating lasting environmental change in the private equity (PE) sector, we are pursuing a three-pronged outreach strategy, consisting of:
1. Targeted outreach: Reaching out directly to leading PE firms to demonstrate the business and reputational value of environmental management and to provide tools and resources for implementing environmental management programs.
2. Capacity building: Exploring innovative ways to engage PE sector service providers (including management consultants, accounting firms and software developers) to build the infrastructure needed for widespread adoption and implementation of environmental management as an industry best practice.
3. Community engagement: Building excitement and engagement within the broader PE community (e.g., Limited Partners, trade associations, academia, media) to promote environmental management as a strategy for improving operations and building value.
Wal-Mart Plans To Grow By Shrinking Store Size
Posted by Gina-Marie Cheeseman November 3rd, 2009 0 Comments
A few weeks ago, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. presented its growth plans for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2010 at its annual conference for the investment community. The company plans to add about 38 million square feet globally compared to the 44 million square feet it added the prior year. Wal-Mart plans to increase global square footage by about 37 million square feet in fiscal year 2011. Future stores will be eight percent smaller, and cost 16 percent less to build.
In the U.S., Wal-Mart will “continue to focus on further improving the returns of its supercenter format” through remodeling existing stores and accelerating the growth of new stores. This year, Wal-Mart expects to add 15 new Sam’s Club stores, and between five and ten new Sam’s Club stores in fiscal year 2011.
Wal-Mart International plans “aggressive investment… in growth markets such as China and Brazil.” The world’s largest retailer expects to add about 23 million square feet in fiscal year 2010 in its international stores, and about 25 million square feet in fiscal year 2011. Acquisitions are not included.
We Need More Lobbyists! And Other Insights From Solar Power International
Posted by BC Upham October 30th, 2009 3 Comments
To gain an overall picture of the solar power industry today, first imagine David and Goliath, with valiant David representing solar, and Goliath the big bad fossil fuels.
Then imagine David’s sling shot is subsidized by the federal government.
At Solar Power International, the solar trade show that ran wrapped up yesterday in Anaheim, CA, the tone set by SEIA CEO Rhone Resch, co-founder of SPI, and echoed by keynote speaker Robert Kennedy Jr., was one of defiant confrontation with fossil fuels and their lobbyist axis of evil in DC. Their plan: fight fire with fire. The solar industry needs to band together and hire an army of lobbyists to bang on doors in Washington and state capitals and demand either more money and favors, or a level playing field with fossil fuels, depending on how you look at it.
It’s Just Un-American!
But out in the trenches, where solar companies large and small are trying to make a go of it, the tone was much more conciliatory, even plaintive.
What Really Matters in Clean Technology, or “The Spark Plug Guy”
Posted by BC Upham October 30th, 2009 5 Comments
I attended a panel discussion Wednesday night at UC Irvine on the future of the automobile, part of OCTANe’s clean tech program. There was a series of presentations on hybrids, plug in hybrids, all-electric vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles, from some of the most respected names in advanced automotive design, representing some of the world’s biggest car companies. Each one of those technologies represents a sea change in the way cars drive, and by extension, in the way we live. It was exciting, heady stuff.
And then there was the spark plug guy.
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