November 16th, 2010

“The Business Community is in Agreement, We Need a Price on Carbon” (VIDEO)

BOSTON -

Last month, Green Light Distrikt Boston held our third Cleantech Kingpins speakers series, where we gather local experts to answer a single question facing our industry. The first speaker, Mitch Tyson came up and gave a blunt, fiery and amazing speech – see the full  video at the bottom of the post – that solidly, unequivocally stated that the business community is in complete agreement with each other, we need a price on carbon.

While some in the public see a price on carbon as some sort of tax, our business leaders see it as an opportunity to unleash huge amounts of innovation, job creation, and exports that can fuel our country. It’s all about how you frame the issue.

Mitch Tyson is the former CEO and current Chairmen of Advanced Electron Beams and Co-Founder of the New England Clean Energy Council, is a member of the Progressive Business Leaders Network, and heads the energy council of the Mass High Tech. Mitch is a clear cleantech leaders, both in the region and the country.

All the presenter were asked to answer two questions

1. Why is the US not investing enough in cleantech?
2. What are 3 specific things we need to do to reverse this trend?

Everyone loved the speech and Mitch has some amazing answer to the two questions posed to him that are summarized below.

Continue Reading >

Tagged advanced electron beams, cleantech kingpins, duke energy, mass high tech, mitch tyson, new england clean energy council, progressive business leaders network |

September 3rd, 2010

6 Characteristics of a Perfect B2C Energy Efficiency Company

BOSTON -

4 weeks ago, Green Light Distrikt Boston had an event, ‘Energy Efficiency: Why is the Low Hanging Fruit so High?” The speakers discussed what they’re working on and why, if energy efficiency (EE) has such high returns, the adoption of these behaviors and technologies seems to be happening at a snails pace.

Based on the presentations there were 6 things that I learned why EE adoption is not happening quickly enough. If you need a refresher on the those 6 items see the previous link.

Using these 6 points, I’ll outline the 6 characteristics of what a BLOCKBUSTER company addressing homeowner and small business energy efficiency would and/should look like. If you’re a VC and reading this, your welcome, you can pay me later.

Here’s the 6 characteristics of the perfect EE company I would invest in, start, or work with.

1) The technology is simple, works, and is cheap. You need the technology to be ‘in the game’ but the technology itself won’t solve the problem. The winning combination will be a mix of technology + service. This is why, as Rob Day points out, angels will be the heros of EE technology space because the technology is so cheap to build. It is the selling, servicing, monitoring, and changing of behaviors that will make or break a great EE company.

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Tagged 1 block off the grid, cleantech kingpins, energy circle, Energy Efficiency, energy savvy, EnerNOC, green build boston, new generation energy, Nexamp, next step living, rob day, wattzy |

August 25th, 2010

6 Reasons the High ROI of Energy Efficiency Doesn’t Matter

BOSTON -

All I can say is “Energy Efficiency: Why is the Low Hanging Fruit so High?” the second event hosted by Green Light Distrikt Boston in our Cleantech Kingpins series was a HUGE success. It was completely packed, it was fun, and we learned a ton. Boston insider Aaron Lindenbaum wrote a great follow up about his take on how to make energy efficiency (EE) sexy and Brian Hayden wrote an awesome piece about how the event inspired him to take action in his home and what he learned.

A huge thank you to all the speakers, everyone did an amazing job, and Alex from Wattzy who helped me find everyone. Another shout out to NEXUS for hosting us. The NEXUS Green Building Resource Center is the Mecca of green building in Boston and probably the country, in short, they’re awesome. A third thank you to everyone who came, watched, asked questions and joined in on the conversation at the end. I had a great time meeting you and can’t wait to see guys more in the future.

Here’s the little agenda for post

1) Presentations: Below are both the presentation videos and slides. Note, I’m couldn’t upload Lilah Glick’s presentation from the Cambridge Energy Alliance and I didn’t get Alex’s presentation on video.

Here are the speakers:

1. Alex Patriquin – Founder, CEO at Wattzy
2. Martin Flusberg – Founder, CEO at Powerhouse Dynamics
3. Lilah Glick – Director, Community Outreach at Cambridge Energy Alliance
4. Brenden Endicott – Senior Manager, Energy Markets at EnerNOC
5. Geoff Chapin – Founder, CEO at Next Step Living

2) Problem with Energy Efficiency Adoption: The speakers addressed 6 main issues that I’ll summarize that explain why energy efficiency adoption is NOT happening.

Continue Reading >

Tagged cambridge energy alliance, cleantech kingpins, Energy Efficiency, EnerNOC, next step living, nexus green building resource center, powerhouse dynamics, wattzy |

July 30th, 2010

Energy Efficiency is Sexy if You’re Wearing Carbon Goggles

BOSTON -

I was lucky enough to have a seat at the packed GLD Cleantech Kingpins event last week at the Nexus Green Building Center.  It turned out to be a nice back-and-forth discussion about why energy efficiency isn’t catching on in the mainstream.  This discussion was appropriately timed on the day that the Senate killed the climate bill.  Although it was already on life support, its termination was still surprising for this optimist, since I am convinced a cap on carbon is the best, most straightforward, way to incentivize individuals and companies to turn around our economy. Continue Reading >

Tagged cleantech kingpins, climate bill, energy effiiency, sexy |

March 29th, 2010

Calling all Young Cleantech Professionals in Boston

BOSTON -

I started The Green Light Distrikt about 5 months ago as a personal project and it has evolved into something much larger than myself and the vision is becoming mighty clear. To those of you that pushed me to start the blog, you know who you are, I thank you very much. I can honestly say it has had a huge beneficial impact on my life.

A couple weeks ago I was at a Boston Green Drinks event (I help organize them and you should come!) talking with Walter Frick from the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC). He told me about how their organization works with a lot with clean tech executives and provide forums for them to learn and connect with each other but the same venue does not exist for young professionals in the industry.

Boom! It hit me. The Green Light Distrikt will unite the Boston’s young clean tech professionals that are the future leaders of the industry.

We’ll accomplish this goal in 3 simple ways.

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Tagged clean tech, cleantech kingpins, green drinks, harvest power, new england clean energy council, new generation energy, Nexamp, wakonda, young |

March 21st, 2010

9 of Boston’s Best Clean Tech Events

BOSTON -

Nothing is more valuable then meeting some face to face. I’ve been going to clean tech events in Boston and they’ve been very valuable for meeting people, learning what’s happening, and getting new perspective.

The new vision for The Green Light Distrikt has become clear in the past few weeks: to unite the clean tech community in Boston. In support of this, may I say noble goal, I’m going to start writing a series of posts about the resources in the Boston area and create a section on the sidebar so you’ll be able to find them easily in the future. You’re welcome

This is a list of my favorite events, in no particular order. If you’re going to go, connect with me via twitter @greenldistrikt and we can connect there. I look forward to it!

Continue Reading >

Tagged boston sustainability group, cleantech kingpins, green drinks, ICE, ignite clean energy competition, mit energy club, Net Impact, nexus, raab restructuing round table, young professionals in energy |