By Aysu Katun January 21, 2010 Austin , Berkeley , Boulder , Canberra , desalination , diversion , diversion rate , federal plan , General Motors , GrassRoots Recycling Network , Hewlett-Packard , incentive , Kamikatsu , landfill , landfill-free , Lord Norman Foster , Los Angeles , Masdar City , monorail , NIKE , policy reform , recycle , recycling rate , repair , reuse , San Francisco , Seattle , solar power , waste processing , waste reduction , zero carbon , zero waste communities , zero waste goal , Zero Waste International Alliance , zero-waste
Imagine a world where the concept of “waste” does not exist. A world in which nothing gets discarded, every industrial product gets reassembled into something useful, each unit of energy is offset and anything and everything is a renewable resource. This is the design principle and environmental philosophy of “zero waste”.
By Chris de Morsella January 12, 2010 3M Co. , aluminum foil substrate , Austin , Berlin , CA , cadmium-telluride thin film technology , California , China , CIGS , CIGS-on-Aluminum stack , clean room , Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide , Department of Energy , DOE , electrochemical process , electroplating process , Fremont , Gallium , Germany , HelioVolt , high-vacuum deposition , Homayoun Talieh , Hudson , IEC 61646 , IEC 61730 , Indium , Kleiner Perkins , Luckenwalde , MiaSolé , molybdenum , nano-scale CIGS ink , Nanosolar , National Renewable Energy Laboratory , NREL , photovoltaic , Physical Vapor Deposition , polysilicon crystalline , PV , roll to roll mass production , San Jose , Santa Clara , Selenium , solar cell , solar module , solar panel , solar power , Solopower , Solyndra , Tellurium , Texas , thin film solar , thin film solar startup , TX , UL 1703 , Underwriters Laboratory
It is a rough time to be a startup in the Solar Photovoltaic sector. The financial crisis and deep recession has not only dried up capital, but has also hit demand for solar panels, which has lead to a global supply glut and a price collapse. In this very difficult environment startups must compete with much larger established global suppliers that have factories of hundreds of megawatts each, an established customer base and well developed brand names and sales channels. In this post we look at five promising CIGS thin film Solar PV startups based in the US and try to catalog their unique strengths and accomplishments.
By Tracey de Morsella October 16, 2009 Ann Arbor , Austin , AZ , Baltimore , biofuels , biomaterials , Boston , building retrofits , CA , Chicago , Clean Edge , Clean tech , Clean Tech Job Trends 2009 , clean tech manufacturing , clean-tech companies , clean-tech compensation , clean-tech economy , Clean-tech educational initiatives , clean-tech job sectors , clean-tech jobs , CO , coal , conservation , D.C. , Denver , detroit , energy efficiency , green career , green education , green educational initiatives , green jobs , green training , Houston , IL , localization , Los Angeles , MA , manufacturing jobs , MD , MI , New York , NY , Oakland , OR , Pheonix , Portland , Ron Pernick , Sacramento , San Diego , San Francisco , San Jose , Seattle , solar; , The Clean Tech Revolution , The smart grid , TX , utility industry , VA , WA , Washington , wind
Yesterday, Clean Edge, Inc., a clean-tech research and publishing firm, released Clean Tech Job Trends 2009. The report provides an investigation of how clean-tech jobs in the U.S. and globally are changing the face of industry, where the hotbeds of growth exist, and whether current clean-tech salaries are living up to their ‘green-over blue-collar’ promise.
By Tracey de Morsella September 1, 2009 advanced vehicle technologies , alternative fuel , American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , and Egg Harbor Township , and HEV Vehicles and Fueling Stations Initiative , Atlantic City , Austin , Autogas refueling stations in the following major metropolitan areas: Atlanta , Baton Rouge , biodiesel , biofuels , biogas , Camden , Chicago , City of Chicago , Clean Cities program , clean energy , Clean Energy Coalition’s CEC Michigan Green Fleets Initiative , Clean Fuels Ohio’s Ohio Advanced Transportation Partnership , Clean School Bus/Vehicle Incentive & Green Jobs Outreach Program , CNG , CNG dump trucks , compressed natural gas fueling stations , compressed natural gas vehicles , Dallas , Dallas-Fort Worth , DeKalb County’s DeKalb County/Metropolitan Atlanta Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicle Project , Denver , Department of Energy , Department of Environment’s Chicago Area Alternative Fuels Deployment Project , DOE , electric vehicles , electricity , energy efficient vehicles , energy security , ethanol , EV , flex-fuel vehicles , garbage trucks , Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition’s Long Island Regional Energy Collaborative Promoting a Green Economy through Clean Alternatives , Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition , green transportation , Houston , hybrid school buses , hybrid technologies , hybrid truck , hybrids , hydraulic hybrids , Inc.’s Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project , Indianapolis , Kansas City , Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition’s Hybrid Electric School Buses Provide New Horsepower for Kentucky , Lake Charles , landfill gas , LFG , local governments , Los Angeles , LPG , Maryland Energy Administration’s Maryland Hybrid Truck Goods Movement , Metropolitan Energy Information Center’s Midwest Region Alternative Fuels Project , Michigan , Minerals and Energy’s Paving the Way with Propane: The AutoGas Corridor Development Program , Nassau , natural gas , New Jersey Clean Cities Coalition’s New Jersey Compressed Natural Gas Refuse Trucks , New Orleans , New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)’s Statewide Alternative Fuel Vehicle Program for CNG , Newark , North Carolina , North Central Texas Council of Governments’ North Central Texas Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology , NYSERDA , OATP , Oklahoma City , Orlando , petroleum , petroleum consumption , Phoenix , plug-in electric hybrids , pollution , propane , Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s Puget Sound Clean Cities Petroleum Reduction Project , Railroad Commission of Texas’ Texas Propane Fleet Pilot Program , refueling infrastructure , refueling locations , refuse collection vehicles , renewable gas , Sacramento , San Antonio , San Bernardino , San Bernardino Associated Governments’ J.B. Hunt LNG Truck Project: Made in America Initiative , San Diego , SCAQMD , Seattle , Secretary Chu , Shuttle Buses and Infrastructure , SOuth Carolina , South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Drayage Truck Replacement Initiative , South Coast Air Quality Management District’s UPS Ontario-Las Vegas LNG Corridor Expansion Project , South Gate , South Los Angeles , Southern CA Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition’s Expanding California’s E85 Ethanol Fueling Infrastructure , Southern California , Southern California Association of Governments Clean Cities Coalition , St. Louis , state governments , State of Indiana’s: Central Indiana Clean Cities Alliance Comprehensive Alternative Fuels Implementation Plan , State of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Clean Transportation Program , Steven Chu , Suffolk , Texas State Technical College’s Development of a National Liquid Propane (Autogas) Refueling Network , The Treasure Valley Clean Cities Coalition’s Idaho Petroleum Reduction Leadership Project , transportation authorities , Trenton , Triangle J Council of Governments’ Carolinas Blue Skies & Green Jobs Initiative , University of Michigan , Utah Clean Cities Coalition’s Clean Cities Transportation Sector Petroleum Reduction Technologies Program , Virginia Department of Mines
Last week, Secretary Chu announcen nearly $300 million in Clean Cities grants to support clean fuels, vehicles, and infrastructure development. The projects are designed to create jobs, limit pollution, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.
By dawn_dzurilla August 31, 2009 Abby White , American Solar Energy Society , ASES , Austin , Boston , Boulder , Broomfield , carbon footprint , Clint Porter , CO , company culture , culture of sustainability , David Blittersdorf , David Samuels , Dick Kelly , Earth Day , electricity consumption , employee benefit programs , employees awareness , energy conscious , EnerNoc , environmental stewardship , environmentally friendly employee benefits , Gaiam , Gillan Taddune , green benefits , green collar jobs , green employee benefits , green jobs , Green Mountain Energy , Hinesburg , hybrid car subsidy , increased productivity , Jan Blittersdorf , KACO Solar , Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability , LOHAS , Minneapolis , motivate , natural daylight , Neil Lurie , NRG Systems , renewable energy , renewable technology , residential , silicon valley , socially responsible , Steve Roalstad , sustainable , sustainable lifestyle , sustainable workplace , transportation , TX , volunteer , VT , Whole Foods Market , Xcel Energy
All things being equal, if a potential employer paid for your time away from the office to volunteer for an earth-friendly cause or provided you with free compact fluorescent light bulbs and an energy audit of your home, or even a hybrid car, would you be more inclined to join them? Leading by example, renewable energy firms are developing “green” or environmentally friendly employee benefits that align the core values of a CEO and culture of their organization with the core values of each employee.
By Tracey de Morsella July 31, 2009 000 clean energy sector jobs by 2015. Sacramento Municipal Utility District , air quality , AL , AR , Arlington Heights , Austin , Austin Energy , AZ , battery-swapping , Bellingham , bike lanes , biodegradable , Boston , Boston Redevelopment Authority , Burnsville , CA , CA. Sacramento plans to add 20 , California , canopy cover , carbon offset , Chicago , cities Madison , clean air , Clean Energy Incubator , CO , compostable disposable food service ware , conservation , CT , Denver , edible urban gardens , electric-car charging stations , energy audits , energy conservation , energy efficiency , energy production , environmental standards , EPA , EPA Smart Growth Program , Eugene OR , Fayetteville , FL , for the Environment , Fort Collins , Gavin Newsom , generate jobs , Geothermal Energy , GHG , global warming , green building; recycling , Green cities , green concrete , green jobs , Green Medium Cities , Green Small Cities , Green Town Challenge , greenest cities , greenhouse gas emissions , greenness , Greg Nickels , How Green is My Town , Huntsville , hydroelectric , hydrogen-powered , hydropower , ICLEI , IL , incentives , kyoto protocol , landfill , Laredo , large cities , LEED , light rail , Living Cities , Local Governments for Sustainability , MA , Madison , Mission Viejo , MN , Mountain View , Nanosolar , Nashua , Natural Resources Defense Council , NH , Norwalk , NRDC , Oakland , passive cooling , plug-in charging stations , polystyrene foam , protect the environment , Redmond , renewable energy , reuse , rooftop gardens , Sacramento , San Francisco , San Jose , Santa Rosa , Sarasota , School of Forestry and Environmental Studies , Scottsdale , Seattle , Smarter Cities , SMUD , solar manufacturers , solar panels , solid waste , Solopower , Spokane , Springfield , SunPower , sustainability , Sustainable Business , Tallahassee , The Denver , transportation , trees , TX , U.S. Green Building Council , Underwriters Laboratory , urban rehabilitation , urban sprawl , US Conference of Mayors Climate Agreement , WA , Washington , wastewater , water quality , WI , wildlife refuge , wind turbines , Wisconsin , Yale , zero-waste
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recently announced their list of the greenest cities in the United States and have released their findings on a new web site, called Smarter Cities. The survey includes all cities in the United States with populations larger than 50,000. Smarter Cities is considered to be one of the nation’s most comprehensive and robust database of U.S. urban progress toward sustainability. Seattle ranked number one and San Francisco ranked number 2 among the 67 large cities that were evaluated. Madison, Wisconsin placed firstand Santa Rosa, California came in second among the 176 medium cities that were surveyed. Among the 402 cities that were evaluated, Bellingham, Washington came in first place and Mountain View, California came in second.
By Tracey de Morsella July 31, 2009 Albany Technical College , Arbor Day Observance , Arizona State University , Austin , California State University , Campus Tree Advisory Committee , Campus Tree Care Plan , Campus Tree Program with Dedicated Annual Expenditures , campus trees , college , community forestry efforts , Creighton University , Davis , Duke University , Fresno , Furman University , Georgia Tech , green , Gwinnett Technical College , Horizontal Tree Indiana State University , Illinois State University , Indiana University Bloomington , Jackson State University , Kent State University , Lincoln , Macon State College , Nebraska Wesleyan University , Northern Kentucky University , Northland College , Oregon State University , San Diego , service learning , Service Learning Project , Southeastern (NC) Community College , student population , The Tree Campus USA , Tree Campus USA college , university campus , University of California , University of Maryland , University of Michigan , University of Nebraska , University of North Texas , University of South Carolina Upstate , University of Texas , urban forests , Virginia Tech , Western Michigan University
The Tree Campus USA program recognizes college and university campuses that: effectively manage their campus trees; develop connectivity with the community beyond campus borders to foster healthy, urban forests; and strive to engage their student population utilizing service learning opportunities centered on campus, and community forestry efforts.
By Tracey de Morsella July 28, 2009 Albuquerque , Atlanta , Austin , Baltimore , Ben Hecht , Boston , carbon footprint , Charlotte , Chicago , city governments , Cleveland , Columbus , D.C. , Dallas , Denver , detroit , Don Chen , economic recovery , El Paso , energy costs , energy efficiency , energy retrofits , energy-efficient appliances , Ford Foundation , Fort Worth , going green , green , green building , Green cities , Green Cities: How Urban Sustainability Efforts Can and Must Drive America's Climate Change Policies , green economy , green workforce development , greenhouse gases , Greening , Houston , Indianapolis , insulation , Jacksonville , jobs , Las Vegas , Living Cities , Los Angeles , Louisville , low-income , mass transit , Memphis , Miami , Milwaukee , Minneapolis , Nashville , New York City , Oakland , Oklahoma City , Philadelphia , Phoenix , Pittsburgh , Portland , recession , retrofitting , Saint Paul , San Antonio , San Diego , San Francisco , San Jose , Seattle , stimulus funds , subsidizing , sustainability , transit , Tucson , vehicle fleet , Washington , weatherization , working
A new report released recently assessed exactly how 40 of the country’s largest cities are trying to limit their carbon footprints and take the steps needed to raise these efforts to the next level. The report, initiated and conducted by Living Cities, a collaboration of 21 of the world’s largest foundations and financial institutions is […]
By Chris de Morsella May 6, 2009 Actinides , Adaptive Materials , advanced catalysis , advanced energy storage , advanced nuclear energy systems , advanced nuclear systems , Albuquerque , Alex Zunger , American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , Amherst , Ann Arbor , ANSER , Argonne IL , Argonne National Laboratory , Arizona , Arizona State University , Armstrong Neal , atomic scale , Atomic Scale Design , Atomic-Level Synthesis , Austin , Bartosz Grzybowski , Baton Rouge , Berend Smit , Berkeley , Berkeley CA , bio-polymers , biofuels , biomass , Brent Gunnoe , brookhaven National Laboratory , C3Bio , California , California Institute of Technology , Cambridge , carbon capture , carbon sequestration , carbon-neutral energy , Carnegie Institute of Washington , Chapel Hill , Charlottesville , Chas , Christopher Marshall , CIS:HSEM , CITFAM , Clare P. Grey , Clean Energy Technologies , coal , College Park , Colorado , Columbia , Columbia University , combustion Science , Computational Catalysis , Cornell University , Danforth Plant Science Center , Daniel Cosgrove , David Wesolowski , Deleware , Department of Energy , Dieter Wolf , Dionisios Vlachos , DOE , Donald DePaolo , Donald Morelli , East Lansing , efficient combustion , EFRC , Efree , electrical energy storage , electricity storage , electrode components , emergent Superconductivity , Emerging Materials , Energy Conversion , energy economy , energy efficiency , Energy Frontier Research Center , Evsnston , excitonics , fossil fuels , Fritz Prinz , Gang Chen , Gary A. Pope , Gary Rubloff , Gas Separations , General Electric Global Research , Geologic CO2 , geological storage of carbon dioxide , Golden CO , greenhouse gases , Grigorii Soloveichik , Gust J. Devens , Harry Atwater , Hector Abruna , Ho-Kwang Mao , hung K. Law , hybrid inorganic-organic materials , Hybrid Solar-Electric Materials , hydrocarbon gases , hydrogen , IACT , Idaho , Idaho Falls ID , Idaho National Laboratory , Illanois , Indiana , Ithaca , J.C. Davis , James Spivey , James Yardley , Jerry Simmons , John Bowers , Kenneth Reifsnider , Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Light-Material Interactions , lignocellulose Pennsylvania State University , Los Alamos , Los Alamos National Laboratory , Los Angeles , Louisiana State University , Malcolm Stocks , Marc Baldo , Maryland. , Massachusets , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , materials sciences , Maureen McCann , Michael Nastasi , Michael Thackeray , Michael Wasielewski , Michigan , Michigan State University , Missouri , MIT , molecular catalysts , Molecularly Assembly , Morris Bullock , nanoparticles , Nanoscale , nanoscale architectures , nanoscale material architectures , Nanostructuring , National Renewable Energy Laboratory , natural photosynthesis , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Newark DE , Niskayuna , NOCESC , North Carolina , Northwestern University Evanston IL , Nuclear Fuel , Oak Ridge , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Office of Science , Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Pasadena , Paul Barbara , Paul Daniel Dapkus , Peter C. Burns , Peter Green , Photovoltaics , plutonium , predictive combustion , predictive computational models , president obama , Princeton , Princeton University , Purdue University , renewable energy , Richard Sayre , Richland , Robert Blankenship , S3TEC CENTER , Sandia National Laboratories , Santa Barbara , Seamus , SECCM , Secretary of Energy Steven Chu , self-assembled polymer materials , solar energy , Solar Fuel , solid state lighting , SOuth Carolina , St. Louis , Stanford CA , Stanford University , State University of New York , Steven Chu , Stony Brook , superconductivity , Tempe AZ , Tennessee , Texas , thin films , Thomas Meyer , Tuscon , UCLA , UCSB , United States , University of Arizona , University of California , University of Delaware , University of Maryland , University of Massachusetts , University of Michigan , University of North Carolina , University of Notre Dame , University of South Carolina , University of Southern California , University of Texas , University of Virginia , Upton NY , uranium , USC , Victor Klimov , Vidvuds Ozolins , Virginia , Washington , Washington D.C. , Washington University , West Lafayette , White House
The White House announced that the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science will invest $777 million in Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) over the next five years. In a national effort to accelerate scientific advances in critical areas of the new energy economy the United States Department of Energy (DOE) will establish 46 new multi-million dollar Energy Frontier Research Centers (or EFRCs) across the nation.
