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.

Continue Reading >

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 |

May 14th, 2010

Top 10 Boston Clean Tech Companies Killing It on Twitter

BOSTON -

Recently, I’ve been getting asked more and more who and what companies to follow on twitter. So, I’ve decided to put together some lists.

BEWARE, if you’re not familiar with twitter you may have no idea what I’m talking about.

Today, I did my first #FollowFriday for my favorite green people around Boston. It went something like this:

@GreenLDistrikt: My first #FF for #Boston’s #green scene @hollyfowler @asheen @morganmm @CleanPursuits @goodnaturegirl @mangojess @renewacycle

Those focused on my favorite people but these are the companies that are using twitter the best in and around Boston, and sometimes New England area in no particular order.

@firstwind – Although First Wind does HUGE wind development and thus their customers probably are not on twitter, they provide great news, information and resources to the twitter community interested in wind.

@millvillegreen + @millvillegreen2 : Laura and Helen are doing some great work with green strategic marketing and program implementation and are great at using their twitter feeds to communicate what’s happening in the are and nation.

@greencollarguy – Kevin Gulley has created the largest B2b Green Directory on the web, an impressive feet. The directory will allow companies to research and find the most profitable ways to become green.

@newgenenergy – New Generation Energy kicks butt in the twitterverse, always providing great information. They provide innovative financial tools that help people invest in greening their communities. Keep an eye on these guys, I think they’ll be national one day.

@HarvestPower – Harvest Power’s customers are not twitter per se, but I feel like their presence on twitter is in large demand. Organics recycling is something most Americans don’t have a clue about so any and all education on the subject is much appreciated.

@energycircle – Peter Troast is the energy efficiency man as far as I’m concerned. I’ve never seen a better site that educates homeowners better on energy efficiency, hands down. Also see @energycrclgoods for some deals on good stuff

@Jeff_groSolar – Jeff the CEO of groSolar has had a twitter feed for sometime now. It’s amazing to me that more solar CEOs don’t have twitter accounts especially if they’re selling to residential because homeowners are on twitter. I like hearing Jeff’s tweets, they’re a good mix of business, pleasure, news and life.

@emergentenergy – Emergent Energy Group doesn’t have the most active twitter account at the moment, but usually have some good info on on renewables and community development.

@evcast – Hands down the BEST resource, podcast, blog, news whatever you want for information about electric vehicles. I’d say they’re the Energy Circle of Electric Vehicles, or maybe it’s the other way around? Regardless, if you want to keep up to date on what’s happening with electric vehicles (my vote if on Better Place) follow these guys

@reworld – Like @evcast and @energycirlce, Renewable Energy World, in my opinion, is hands down the best renewable energy news resources that exists on the planet and they are located close by in New Hampshire.

Well, that’s my list. I agree, whether twitter is actually a useful tool or not is arguable and it depends on an organizations business model and who their customers are. I can say without a doubt that twitter has changed my life for the better and I’ve met some amazing people through it.

For those green, renewable energy, clean tech folks. Do you use twitter? Why?

If yes, how do you think we can use twitter to drive the movement forward?

Tagged clean tech, energy circle, ev cast, first wind, green collar economy, GroSolar, harvest power, new generation energy, Renewable Energy World, twitter |

April 5th, 2010

How Can We Improve the NESEA Building Energy Conference?

BOSTON -

Two weeks ago, I wrote a fiery review of NESEA’s yearly building energy conference called Why I Hated the NESEA Building Energy Conference. It received some amazing feedback on both my blog, The Green Light Distrikt and on Renewable Energy World, and made it on The Energy Circle’s week in review. Before you comment on this post, you should see the great conversations we had.

The goal of the post was to get people’s attention so we could help to improve the event. I love NESEA and have been going to the event since I was 16 and think that the workshops for the building industry are second to none. However, I think we can do better at two things 1) Attracting and educating property owners that are actually buying these things and 2) Attracting students and young professionals to the event and 3) Marketing to the huge community of people already interested in the subject

Continue Reading >

Tagged Alteris Inc, berskhite, energy circle, NESEA, steven winter associates, twitter |

January 11th, 2010

Top 26 Boston Clean Tech Companies – VOTE: Who’s your favorite?

BOSTON -

Who is your favorite clean tech, green tech company in the Boston (or New England) area? I’ve listed the TOP 26 below and we want your feedback. The TOP 10 companies that receive the most votes will be profiled each month in 2010. Voting ends on February 1st, please see the list and survey below.

It’s 2010! The breakout year for The Green Light Distrikt. In 2009, I completed my first interview with Massachusetts based Nexamp and have just compiled all clean tech industry events in Boston. Now, we want to hear from you.

There are tons of companies to choose from. Recently, Boston has been rated the number one US city for innovation.With the close proximity to universities and financial markets its no wonder. Life Sciences, hi tech, and now clean tech entrepreneurs and innovators are driving the movement and putting Boston on the map.

I have chosen 26 of my favorite organizations below that are based in the Boston area (and two from New England) that are true innovators in the clean tech space. They range in industries from trash, to renewables, to green building and media with both for and non-profit, public and private companies.

I need your help, please fill out the survey below to let me know:

1. What 3 companies do you think are the coolest and want to learn about?
2. If you have time, leave a comment answering the question: what is one question you would ask their CEOs?

26 of Boston’s Best Clean Tech Companies

BigBelly Solar – Needham, MA

Makers of the worlds only solar powered trash compactor

Zip Car - Cambridge, MA

The worlds largest network of rent by the hour, car sharing network.

A123 – Watertown, MA

Designs and manufactures advanced batteries for electricity storage

EnerNOC – Boston, MA

Worlds leading provider of demand response energy solutions

Emergent Energy Group – Boston, MA

Develops community-based alternative energy. Winner of Business Week’s Top 25 under 25 competition

Alteris Inc – Boston, MA

New England’s largest solar installers

NEXUS Green Building Resource Center – Boston, MA

Boston’s Full-Immersion Green Building Resource Center

Preserve – Waltham, MA

Design and produces kitchen ware, tableware and personal products made from 100% recycled plastic.

HeatSpring Learning Institute - Cambridge, MA

Leading provider of Geothermal Heat Pump training to US building professionals

Little Foot Energy – Somerville, MA

Turnkey renewable energy provider

URGENT VC - Boston, MA

Building green companies for green cities

Vegawatt – Boylston, MA

The worlds only vegawatt. Turns waste oil into electricity and heat

Alt E – Hudson, MA

Do-It-Yourself Online Retailer of renewable energy products

Green Guild – Brookline, MA

Boston’s leading energy audit and weatherization contractor

Izzit Green – Waltham, MA

Your source for the good green stuff. Leading providers of green reviews on consumer products.

Greentech Media – Cambridge, MA

Provider of high quality content on the clean tech industry. Research, news, events.

Evergreen Solar – Marlboro, MA

Designs and Manufacturers solar modules.

Solectria – Lawrence, MA

Designs and manufactures solar inverters.

First Wind – Boston, MA

Develops, Owns, Operates Wind Farms in the Northeast, West, and Hawaii

Blu Homes -Waltham, MA

Makers of green prefab homes

Harvest Power – Waltham, MA

Innovated organic waste to power solutions for community.

Energy Circle – Freeport, ME (still in New England!)

Best source on the internet for information, how to guides, and home energy efficiency products

groSolar – Burlington, VT (even though they’re not from Boston, they were cool and local enough to make the list

Provides complete solar energy solutions for homes, businesses, and contractors in New England and California

New Generation Energy – Boston, MA

Offers community investment options in renewable energy and energy efficiency

Wakonda Technologies – Woburn, MA

Wakonda Technologies is developing proprietary solar electric technology that is more efficient than crystalline silicon and more cost effective than thin film alternatives.

American Superconductor – Devens, MA

American superconductor develops propriety technologies used in the generation, tranmission and end use of energy with a focus on alternative energy.

Remember, I need your help, please fill out the survey below to let me know:

1. What 3 companies do you think are the coolest and want to learn about?
2. If you have time, leave a comment answering the question: what is one question you would ask their CEOs?

I’m going to use this information to determine which companies to profile first and also what to ask them.

Tagged A123, alt e, alteris, american superconductor, big belly solar, blu homes, emergent, energy circle, EnerNOC, ever green solar, first wind, green guild, green tech media, harvest power, heatspring, izzit green, little foot, nexus, preserve, solectria, urgent vc, vegawatt, wakonda, zip car |