| Helping environmentally-conscientious business leaders choose environmentally-friendly solutions.
Green Investing
Full Cost Analysis Needed on Green Power
February 18, 2010Full-cost analysis (FCA) examines both complete direct i.e. capital and operating costs and indirect i.e. environmental, health and social costs of private and public investments.
FCA, many of whose methodologies are still being refined, is a much needed tool to enable companies and policymakers to accurately determine the true ROI of projects. It will hopefully end the free ride 'enjoyed' especially by highways, airports and sprawl.
Greening The Data Center
November 24, 2008Data centers: data warehouse appliances and servers are the 'boilers' of the information revolution. They enable almost every business process from administration to customer service, decisioning, design/engineering, distribution, manufacturing, marketing/sales, and support. They also require a lot of electricity for operations and cooling to keep these units functional and to limit failures.
Carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter are the key harmful compounds and materials released when burning fossil fuels such as for electric power generation. Gartner reports that data centers account for almost a quarter of global CO2 emissions from information and communications technology, placing it on a par with the aviation industry.
Teradata, which makes data warehousing appliances and solutions, has devised, deployed, and is putting together technologies that reduce energy demand and emissions and which cut the size of building footprint.
America voted 'green'
November 11, 2008Last Tuesday a majority of Americans 'voted green'. They voted for, and the Electoral College is duty-bound to select Senator Barack Obama as President, whose platform contained an extensive list of green energy and employment initiatives, along with funding for Amtrak and mass transit along with highway improvements.
President-Elect Obama appears to be strong believer in technology, and has promised to place resources in R&D and in rural broadband. There is every reason to believe that of all the policy stances produced that he will deliver on this one, because technology delivered for him. He and his team successfully used advanced communications and marketing technology to create, mobilize, and bring on home one of the most successful grassroots-based election campaigns in modern times.
President-Elect Obama wants action on climate change but he also is seeking energy security, which according to an editorial in The (Toronto) Star may mean accepting Canada's 'dirty oil' from the Alberta tar sands in exchange for Canada adopting his tougher emissions policies.
(One wonders just how 'filthy' Alberta tar sands-derived oil really is: from source to refinery compared to shipping 'cleaner' crude from the Middle East on diesel-burning and pollutant-spewing tankers. Answers, please)
Americans also, in a majority of cases, approved ballot initiatives to finance mass transit, including new and expanded bus and rail systems and high-speed intercity rail.
Intel Pledges Green For Green's Sake
January 30, 2008
TMCnet’s Stefania Viscusi has the latest on Intel’s purchase of over 1.3 billion kilowatt hours a year of renewable energy certificates as part of a multi-faceted approach to reduce its impact on the environment.
This commitment makes Intel the single-largest corporate purchaser of green power in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The plan calls for Intel to purchase renewable energy certificates, which will comprise a variety of sources including wind, solar, small hydro-electric and biomass.
Intel has also successfully implemented energy saving strategies at their own facilities, and over the last 7 years, the company has invested in more than 250 energy conservation projects with resulting savings in excess of 500 million kilowatt hours.
California Rakes in the Green Tech Dough
January 23, 2008
It’s no secret in the business world that the climate is now ripe for investments in products or services deemed “green”—that is, environmentally friendly—to bear significant fruit. As noted in this previous post, Greentech Group reported significant business investments in green technology during 2007.
According to a San Francisco Chronicle report, the group also noted that, in the U.S., California received the largest amount of investment for a single state: $1.79 billion. That represents 45 percent of all green investments in North America.
“Silicon Valley has moved much more rapidly than any other place on the planet,” John Balbach, managing partner of the Cleantech Group, was quoted as saying in the San Francisco Chronicle report, explaining why the state got so much green tech dough.
Investments in Green Tech Exceed $5 Billion for 2007
January 23, 2008
The business world took “being green” seriously during 2007, not only by espousing environmentally friendly practices, but also by putting their money where there mouths are. Reuters reported that investments in green technology by businesses increased 44 percent (the same percentage increase as in 2006), to more than $5 billion, last year.
That number comes from Cleantech Group LLC, an organization whose members include venture capital firms, investment banks and other investors, Reuters said. The group also noted that venture investments in alternative energy during 2007 (for both North America and Europe) was $5.18 billion, up from $3.6 billion the year before.
Reuters listed – green market segments in order according to how much investment each received: energy generation, energy storage, energy efficiency, recycling & waste.
Green Earth Gets Funding
January 9, 2008
Green Earth Technologies Inc. has received about $2.4 million in investment funding from Founder's Technology and eight angel investors.
Green Earth Technologies, a consumer goods manufacturer, produces “G”-Branded green products made entirely from American Grown Base Oils based on cutting-edge nanotechnology.
The company’s products apply across several market segments, including automotive performance and appearance chemicals, marine performance and appearance chemicals, household cleaning solutions and lawn & garden chemicals.
The Menlo Park-based firm said the funds will be used to fund working capital requirements.
Silicon Valley VCs Seeing Green for Green's Sake
December 26, 2007
USA Today has an item online that sheds some light on what some of tech’s wealthiest individuals are doing to help the world become a little greener.
The article describes Vinod Khosla, a leading venture capitalist, and how his children view his rising passion for renewable energy.
“They think it’s cool Dad is saving the planet,” he says.
The article goes on to laud the efforts of other notables such as Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Nobel-winning ex-vice president Al Gore, and eccentric billionaire Richard Branson.
It’s defintiely worth a read.
Investors Still Keen on Green
December 19, 2007
A recent Investors Business Daily feature holds forth that venture capitalists are forecasting another solid year for investing in clean, “green,” technologies.
According to the report, based on a consensus estimate of 170 venture capitalists polled by the National Venture Capital Association, a full quarter (25%) of survey respondents forecast investments of $30 billion to $39 billion. The $39 billion number would represent the largest investment year since 2000.
The results show increased interest in clean technology investment, with 80% of respondents believing they will saying they will increase activity in the space.
For more, check out the article here.
IBM Goes Greener
October 31, 2007
IBM has done a wonderful thing in finding a way to turn waste into the raw materials needed in the solar cell industry. One’s person’s junk apparently really is another person’s solar gold. TMCnet’s Tim Gray has the details in an article titled IBM's New Process to Turn Waste into Solar Energy.
