Why isn’t technology solving our energy problems? As venture capitalist Elton Sherwin discovered, you have to get people to buy the technology first.
Sherwin invested in energy efficiency devices that had huge potential, only to see them flounder in the market. That’s why he got involved with Washington, DC-based Institute for Market Transformation (IMT),
Who among us has not eagerly described the smart meter to a non-energy person only to be greeted by a blank stare, or worse the retort: “Why would I want to track my electricity costs all day?”
You try to explain the profound applications: smart appliances that talk to the power grid, consumer
The traffic lights are still blinking in Odaka town, north-western Japan, but few cars pass through these deserted intersections. Frozen in time after being hit by the triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami and meltdowns in the nearby Fukushima Dai’ichi nuclear plant, tables are still laid in partially-collapsed restaurants and
As social awareness about climate change and the effects that our society’s actions have on our planet become more prominent, more and more college students are becoming interested in pursuing the field of conservation and renewable energy. It’s a trend still so new that there are no specific enrollment figures for green programs available, but certain schools like
At a solar jobs fair yesterday at Malloy College’s Suffolk campus on Long Island, we joined up with leaders from the business community, environmental advocates and the local labor movement to call on elected officials in Albany to pass the Solar Jobs Act – and soon!
Talk to any financial adviser, and they’ll tell you diversity within your portfolio is important for long-term growth and sustainability. Diversity helps you adapt to changing markets and weather short-term storms to achieve your goals.
The same can be said about energy. Diversity is a
For consumer products companies like Avon, there is often a quick assumption that sustainability will focus on the products themselves – products that are green, organic, natural or similar designations. But at Avon, and many peer companies, the sustainability imperative is embedded organically (no pun!) into the business enterprise,
Sustainability is a big issue in the construction sector. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, 39 percent of the country’s CO2 emissions come from buildings, which also account for 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent of water consumption and 15 percent of GDP. Such impressive figures spell opportunity for the sustainable building sector.
Paris, the beautiful capital city of France commonly thought as one of the major global leaders within the clean technology industry, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainability. As not only the capital of a major European country, but as one of the most influential cities on the continent, Paris looks to lead the pack when it comes to clean
International Paper, a global paper packaging company, announced that it will be providing North American customers with a sustainable paper option. Called Hammermill Great White, it is 100 per cent recycled and will be produced at IP’s mill in Riverdale, Alabama. IP invested millions of dollars into its recycled product capabilities. The company already
April was a busy month for one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. A year into its Sustainable Living Plan, the company released its 2011 progress report, and hosted global in-person meetings and a 24-hour live online Sustainable Living Lab, facilitated by GlobeScan. All this activity managed to generate a lot of buzz and rightfully so.
Corporate social responsibility has quickly evolved over the years, from changing light bulbs to strategically embedding sustainability into business operations. CSR has not been part of the boardroom conversation for very long – at least not in Canada – and so progress made among a growing number of companies is encouraging. That being said, business
Margaret Mead once said, ‘The only person who likes change is a wet baby’, to which Hunter Lovins added ‘and the baby squalls all the way through the process.’ So change is never easy, especially on the big issues of sustainability. In thinking about this, I have found Richard Beckhard and David Gleicher’s Formula for Change rather useful: D x V x F > R. This means that
Water and wasterwater facilities in California, Arizona and Nevada will be enjoying the benefits of solar power thanks to a new partnership struck with Kennedy/Jenks. Water treatment is an energy-hungry method, therefore introducing clean, renewable energy can reduce its environmental footprint.