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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

I’ve always loved the Sierra Club for its dedication to the important issues that surround major environmental issues. Their “Beyond Coal” campaign, for instance, has successfully converted tens of millions of Americans who previously couldn’t have cared less about the perils facing the natural environment into wide-eyed skeptics of Big Coal.

And now, they’re really starting to talk the language of the people: beer. We all know we need to drink responsibly. Here’s how the Sierra Club takes that thinking to a whole new level.

And, lest you think this is a laugh, see how the micro-beer industry takes environmentalism and sustainability extremely seriously.

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Fossil-Fuel-Based Power Plants To Become ObsoleteHere’s a report that’s music to my ears; it begins:  Investment bank UBS just released a report claiming centralized fossil-fuel power plants could soon be obsolete. The precipitating factors? Solar power, energy storage and electric vehicles.

Looks like I’m not the only one predicting an early victory for renewable energy.  I know I’ve mentioned this is the subject of my new book project (working title is “Bullish on Renewable Energy – Eleven Reasons Why Clean Energy Investors Can’t Lose”).  The theme is that the economic factors that are making clean energy cheap are heading forward at a rate far faster than most people believe.

Glad to see the concept echoed by folks with the stature of UBS.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

Six Green Trends in Building Construction and Housing ProjectsBuildings harbor our places of work, play, and living. As centers of our social and economic lives, buildings also contribute a significant impact to our environment. The International Energy Agency estimates that 60% of the world’s electricity is consumed in residential and commercial buildings. The United Nations Environmental Protection (UNEP) also report that buildings globally account for 40% of energy use, 38% of greenhouse gas emissions, 12% of potable water use, and 40% of solid waste streams. Moreover, while the construction industry employs about 111 million people around the world, it also employs along with a tremendous amount of natural resources. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Hydrokinetics

Attracting Private Capital to Cleantech Start-upsThe world of private capital isn’t in a horrible hurry to invest in cleantech start-ups–especially those that represent some level of technology risk.  What’s interesting is how the entrepreneurs behind these new companies are thinking and behaving as a result.  To be sure, there is a lot of whining: the world is cruel, it’s unfair, why don’t people understand how valuable my idea is?  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Science

Renewable Energy and Sustainable Agriculture--Dealing with Overpopulation and the Over-consumption of ResourcesLongtime friend and supporter of 2GreenEnergy Steve Vachss sent me this piece on the eco-destruction of China.  With it, he wrote:  Barry Commoner may prove to be right, after so many years of being ignored. His metaphor of the human race multiplying like weevils within a finite bag of flour rings true. Gigantic populations of China, India and Africa may flow over their borders when they run out of potable water and productive agriculture. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

Discussions on “What is Green?” Can Be ComplicatedHere’s a discussion on the ecological pros and cons (mainly cons) of hydro-electric dams, which serves as an excellent example of how complex our discussions on “what is green?” can be.  The author, not content to point out the usual eco-liabilities in terms of migrating fish, etc., claims that dams cause climate change.  The number one reason?  Methane emissions.  He writes: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Sustainable Agriculture, Edible LandscapingHere’s a short video featuring a young advocate of edible landscaping  that packs a powerful message.  Quotes include: “The power of our daily actions is all we have,” and “There’s never been a time when your choices have mattered more.”

So true.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

That’s “Trillions” with a “T” -- Investments in Renewable Energy Outpacing Those in Fossil FuelsOf the $7.7 trillion that will be invested in new power generation capacity between now and 2030, $5.1 trillion will come in the form of renewable energy—mostly solar and wind.  That’s why, when I attend top-level conferences on clean energy financing, I run into players from CitiGroup, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, etc.–each antsy to deploy massive amounts of capital in this space.  This is happening in a big way.

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Post at The Hedge Connection Presents Waste-to-Electricity Plants in PanamaMy quest to connect solid cleantech business plans with sources of investment capital requires that I have a reasonably good supply of both these two elements. And of the two, investors normally keep a lower profile.  They tend not to carry a big sign across their chest that reads: “I’m worth $350 million; please come sell stuff to me.”  For that reason, I need to show a bit of cleverness here if I’m to get an audience with the right people.

My current focus is on hedge funds and their clients; I’m trying hard to get to know as many of these folks as I possibly can. And, to that end, I’m happy to report that I’ve recently become friendly with the people at The Hedge Connection, an online platform that enables hedge fund managers and marketers to interact with potential investors, providing all parties a way to get around what was previously an awkward dance.  I was delighted when the Hedge Connection founders asked me to contribute–in particular, to send them a monthly article discussing one of the more exciting cleantech business investment opportunities I’ve come across recently.

Here’s my first such submission for their blog, called “The Edge.”

 

 

 

 

 

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

A Post for People Who Wonder If Their Work Makes a DifferenceHere’s a post that has nothing to do with cleantech, but everything to do with the heart and soul of the many people who work hard to accomplish something on behalf of others.  Did you know that there are over 200,000 groups on planet Earth whose purpose is social and environmental justice?  Think about the sheer enormity of all that horsepower.  Then, for a moment, think about the many millions of these people who are involved with these groups, working tirelessly to ensure that we leave behind a clean and healthy planet …. and ask yourself: are there times when some of them doubt that they’re making a real difference?  You bet there are.  (more…)

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