Tag Archives: charity
Kiva: Microfinancing Solar
Imagine this: You’re in a developing nation with little access to electricity. In fact, you don’t have access to a grid, or enough electricity to keep a refrigerator and a light on and water filtered in your home. Or, if you have a generator, you barely afford to pay for the expensive diesel that keeps [...]
WOW: GM Loses $50K on Every Volt Produced
Despite selling a record number of Chevy Volts in August, General Motors is losing money on its plug-in electric hybrid, and a lot of money at that. Industry analysts estimate GM is losing as much as $49,000 on every Volt it produces. This number could be even higher with cheap leases now being offered for [...]
40% of U.S Pipeline is “Small Solar”
Favorable incentives and financing models continue to fuel interest in small solar projects, with installations at schools, municipal buildings, hospitals and retail stores now accounting for 40% of the US pipeline, reports NPD Solarbuzz. More than 1,300 projects under way are between 50 kilowatts (kW) and 500 kW in capacity with a cumulative PV generation [...]
Viridity Raises $15M for Virtual Power Plants
Viridity Energy, the startup that’s been building “virtual power plants” for customers in the United States, has just raised $15 million from Japanese conglomerate and big green investor Mitsui & Co. It looks like a trans-Pacific partnership that could open up markets to both companies. The Series C round comes on top of a $14 [...]
Energy Efficiency: UK Destroying U.S
The United Kingdom took top rank in a new energy efficiency ranking of the world’s 12 major economies, according to a new study from the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The U.K. was followed closely by Germany, Italy and Japan, with the U.S. coming in ninth. The ACEEE didn’t mince words, noting that [...]
The Suzuki Foundation 30×30 Challenge
Starting June 1 and for the whole month of June 2012, the David Suzuki Foundation challenges us to spend 30 minutes a day in nature in its 30×30 Challenge. We’ve all said it—- whether it’s on the subject of hitting the gym, eating right, or finishing that creative project: “I just don’t have time!” And [...]