Sunday, September 29, 2013

Alternative Clean Energy Roundup: 29 September 2013

Sustainable Design Corp New Website Unites Green Homeowners, Builders
September 21, 2013 - Sustainable Design Corp. has rolled out a new website for green homeowners, builders and suppliers. The site is a clearing house of resources and your green building advisor dedicated to bringing the benefits and savings of sustainable design to the American home.

The purpose of the Sustainable Design Co. is to educate the American homeowner or buyer on the true value of sustainable design and green construction and to connect them with sustainable resources and builders in their local area. “With the right information, a builder or designer can create a structure that is easier to build, costs less, has longer lasting qualities, and is easier on the owners pocketbook and the environment; having a footprint that is years ahead of its conventional counterpart”, says Clark Baxter, founder of Sustainable Design. read more>>>

World Record Solar Cell With 44.7% Efficiency
Sep. 23, 2013 — The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE, Soitec, CEA-Leti and the Helmholtz Center Berlin jointly announced today having achieved a new world record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using a new solar cell structure with four solar subcells. Surpassing competition after only over three years of research, and entering the roadmap at world class level, a new record efficiency of 44.7% was measured at a concentration of 297 suns. This indicates that 44.7% of the solar spectrum's energy, from ultraviolet through to the infrared, is converted into electrical energy. This is a major step towards reducing further the costs of solar electricity and continues to pave the way to the 50% efficiency roadmap. read more>>>

Portable Power & Off-Grid solar - RV/Camping Products

Study Finds Renewable Energy is Cheaper than Coal in the US
09/23/13 - A new study reveals that wind farms are less costly than new coal-fired plants, and cost about the same, if not less, than new natural gas plants. It sounds pretty extraordinary, but if one looks at the cost of warming and health issues caused by carbon emissions, as well as the hazards caused by sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired plants, the numbers begin to fall sharply in favor of renewable energy.

The report, authored by Laurie T. Johnson, Chief Economist at the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), along with Starla Yeh and Chris Hope, examines the Social Cost of Carbon (SCC). The metric is currently used by the U.S. government and measures how much damage one ton of CO2 emitted today causes now and into the future. The EPA describes it as “a comprehensive estimate of climate change damages and includes, but is not limited to, changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, and property damages from increased flood risk.” read more>>>

The Tax Break Most 'Green' Entrepreneurs Forget
September 23, 2013 - Could your company use a tax deduction of hundreds of thousands of dollars? If so, read on.

While entrepreneurs are clearly seeing the opportunities of the green economy, many are not fully profiting from a key tax break that rewards their everyday environmental endeavors -- 179D of the tax code.

For many architectural or engineering firms contracted by federal, state or local institutions -- including state universities -- there is a very good chance the work they perform on a daily basis could save them hundreds of thousands of tax dollars. read more>>>

'Green future' development: Top 10 priorities for emerging economy countries
23-Sep-2013 - Malaysian leaders meet top US, other international experts at High Level Green Future Forum, Fairmont Hotel San Francisco

Investments in green energy, education, networking opportunities and research top a list of 10 priorities for countries looking to move up the world's financial ranks, according to a leading US expert in innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Jerry Hultin, Senior Presidential Fellow of New York University, and President Emeritus of the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, says investments in life-long education and entrepreneurial spirit are the primary keys to a country's economic breakthrough.

Mr. Hultin, also a former US Secretary of the Navy, who now advises leaders in both the private and public sectors worldwide, is one of several top US experts attending an international forum Monday Sept. 23 in San Francisco: "Building Sustainable Green Growth and Green Future," followed by an afternoon session with leading American executives detailing "successful growth strategies of innovation-driven companies." read more>>>

Research and Markets: Microgrid Market - 2013 Report
September 24, 2013 - Research and Markets has announced the addition of the Microgrid Market - 2013 Report to their offering.

Global installed capacity of microgrid has seen a staggering growth since 2011 and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of over 17% from 2012- 2022 to attain a total installed capacity of over 15GW by 2022. In terms of market value for the vendors the market presents a potential of over $5billion and is likely to reach up-to $27 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of over 17% from 2012-2022.

Campus/Institutional microgrid is the largest microgrid by application and is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 18.83% from 2012-2022. read more>>>

Addressing carbon pollution from power plants is vital for avoiding catastrophic climate change
Sep. 20, 2013 - Future U.S. power suppliers will need to limit their carbon pollution, thanks to new standards announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The proposed emissions standards for new power plants are an important measure in implementing the President’s Climate Action Plan (announced in June) to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming.

EPA’s announcement comes against the backdrop of our deepening understanding of the science of climate change. It also arrives as we witness multiple extreme weather events that present a vivid picture of what we are likely to experience in a changing world. This summer, we saw record rainfalls on the southeast coast, massive wildfires in California and Idaho, and most recently, deadly flooding in Colorado. These extreme events–to say nothing of their massive economic cost–remind us of why the United States has an obligation to cut its emissions. read more>>>

World Bank green bonds surpass us$4 billion mark – reflections five years on
Aug. 28, 2013 - Since the launch in 2008, the World Bank’s green bonds have grown quickly and reached an important milestone in August. Earlier, this month, the World Bank launched a US$550 million green bond bumping the total amount of World Bank green bonds issued to over $4 billion dollars since the green bond program began. This milestone prompted us to pause and take stock of the program and the new market it helped start.

As countries move toward a low-carbon, climate resilient future, the appetite for innovative climate finance is growing. read more>>>

The Award Winning LifeStraw Personal Water Filter

Power Sector Opportunities for Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Michigan
Sep. 1, 2013 - According to new WRI analysis, in the near- to mid-term, Michigan can meet and possibly exceed future emissions standards for existing power plants. The state has renewable energy (RPS) and energy efficiency standards in place that are already set to achieve significant reductions in CO2 emissions from the power sector.

WRI analysis finds that Michigan can reduce its CO2 emissions 33 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 using existing state policies and infrastructure opportunities. These reductions would meet or exceed relatively stringent EPA standards for existing power plants. read more>>>

Business Briefs: Volkwswagen wins green power award
September 24th, 2013 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday awarded the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga with its Green Power Leadership Award, which is given each year to the leading green power users.

Volkswagen Chattanooga is currently generating more than 13 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually from its 30-acre solar farm at the VW plant in the Enterprise South Industrial Park.

The solar farm generates about 12 percent of the power used in the VW assembly plant.

The Chattanooga VW plant is the first in the world to gain LEED Platinum certification for its energy efficiency and use of sustainable power sources. read more>>>


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