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News and EventsDOE Invests $21 Million in Next-Generation Solar Cell Research Report Finds Major Economic Benefits to Efficiency, Renewables AWEA Boosts Wind Power Projections to 4,000 MW for 2007 NREL Report Sees Near-Term Supply Shortage for Renewable Power Cadillac and Porsche Plan Luxury Hybrid SUVs USDA Moves Ahead on Federal Procurement of Biobased Products Energy ConnectionsReport: The World Must Help China and India Handle Energy Growth News and EventsDOE Invests $21 Million in Next-Generation Solar Cell ResearchDOE announced on November 8th that it will invest $21.7 million in researching the next generation of photovoltaic (PV) solar cell technology. DOE selected a total of 25 research projects, led by 15 universities and 6 companies, to receive an average of $900,000 over the next three years. The research projects will employ nanotechnologies, dyes, organic solar cells, multiple-layer solar cells, and unique manufacturing techniques in their attempts to create the next generation of solar cells. By 2015, the effort is expected to yield prototype cells and processes, which may be available for commercialization shortly thereafter. See the DOE press release and the “Future Generation Photovoltaic Devices and Processes Selections” presentation on the Solar America Initiative Web site (PDF 2.2 MB). Among the DOE […]
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It’s hard to imagine a more unlikely pairing than Burt Bees and Clorox. Clorox just bought Burt’s Bees for $925 million in cash – not bad for a company that started in 1984 to market beeswax candles. Burt’s Bees, which develops and sells a popular line of natural personal care products, rang in $55 million in 2003. That year, it sold 80% of the equity to international investment firm AEA Investors for $155 million. AEA, which is known for buying companies, boosting sales and selling them several years later, raised Burt Bees revenue to $170 million this year by getting the company into mass retailers. That’s when Clorox got interested. The company says it’s looking to green its image and plans to acquire companies aligned with consumer “megatrends” in health and wellness, sustainability, convenience and a more multicultural marketplace. Besides bleach, Clorox owns Hidden Valley salad dressings, Fresh Step cat litter, STP auto products, Glad plastic bags, Kingsford charcoal and Brita water filters. Clorox is launching its first green branded product – a biodegradable, plant-based cleaning line called Green Works.According to Clorox, the natural personal care market accounts for over $6 billion in annual sales and is growing at 9% […]
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Who would think a company that reuses cardboard boxes could be profitable? Los Angeles-based UsedCardboardBoxes.com is proving that reuse has better economics and environmental advantages than does recycling. Founder Marty Metro, a former .com executive, was forced to look for work after the industry went bust. Now he’s becoming the leader in the used cardboard box business! What started as a neighborhood-scale pilot is now being rolled out across the U.S. Quality control and customer service are keys to the business, which rescues quality used, new overrun and misprinted boxes from manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The combination of better prices for comparable quality and environmental consciousness are allowing Metro to expand in both retail and wholesale markets. The company provides a Web-based service for households and businesses to search inventory and order the boxes they need. By matching supply with demand using specific kits designed for small and large users, the company is growing rapidly and will soon have distribution centers in Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia and New Orleans to complement its initial Los Angeles facility. Moving kits include tape, markers and packing material as well as used boxes. A moving kit for a studio apartment costs $39; one for […]
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Is it real or fantasy? An eco-city in the desert of the Mid-East?
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California utilities are starting to help customers to design buildings for maximum efficiency.
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Solar Decathlon Nears End of Assembly Phase, Prepares to Open New Jersey and Texas Pursue Offshore Wind Power DOE Kicks Off Change a Light, Change the World Campaign DOE Loan Guarantee Program Invites 12 Clean Energy Projects to Apply Average Fuel Economy of 2007 Cars and Light Trucks Unchanged ScottishPower Earns Approval for Record Wave Energy Project Solar Decathlon Nears End of Assembly Phase, Prepares to OpenThe assembly of 20 solar homes on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is quickly approaching completion, as the 2007 Solar Decathlon prepares to open to the public on Friday. The Solar Decathlon is an international event in which DOE challenges university teams to design and build homes that run entirely on solar energy. The teams ship their partially constructed homes to the National Mall, assemble them, and then compete in ten contests, including architecture, engineering, market viability, communications, comfort, appliances, water heating, lighting, power generation, and the ability to get around in small electric cars that are powered by the houses. See the Solar Decathlon’s “Contests and Scoring” page.Today is the final day of assembly for the teams. Because several of the homes arrived late, assembly can be a greater challenge for those […]
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In March of 2007, Reynolds, Indiana embarked on Phase II of its BioTown, USA project. The 550-person town is converting from reliance on fossil fuels to biomass-based fuels. Phase 1, completed the previous year, focused on educating residents about biofuels and increasing their use of corn-based ethanol and soy-derived biodiesel. During that time, residents purchased over 100 flex-fuel vehicles and the town replaced its fleet with vehicles that run on E-85 fuel. Biodiesel can be bought at the town’s only gas station, following a $400,000 renovation project that created “BioIsland.”Phase II involves construction of a facility with a suite of technologies including a manure-powered anaerobic digester; a gasifier that uses a high-temperature process to convert biomass into a synthetic gas; and a fast pyrolysis system, which uses high temperatures and an oxygen-free environment to convert biomass into a crude-oil substitute called pyrolysis oil. The methane, syngas, and pyrolysis oil can be burned as fuel to produce heat and electricity. The facility is expected to start producing power this year and will be completed in 2008. The is the first time the machinery will be used in a closed loop, self-sufficient system. The final phase will use another $10 million from […]
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When agriculture began, humans, their livestock, and pets together accounted for under 0.1% of the earth's biomass. Today it's 98%, leaving only 2% for wildlife.
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The Baltimore Biodiesel Coop is a great example of the many co-ops forming around the U.S.
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People woke up to WWII and pulled out all the stops - We need to get out of denial and do the same in response to Global Warming.
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