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 12th, 2010

Home Energy Efficiency: The Bitter Taste of Low Hanging Fruit

BOSTON -

I love running a business for contractors and building practitioners because I’m awed by what they do.  It’s like magic to me.  Have you ever tried to do a home improvement project for yourself?  Unless you have the training and experience, it takes forever – you’ve got to be really motivated.  It turns out the ‘low hanging fruit’ of energy efficiency is much the same story.

Inspired by the eloquent presenters at the GLD Cleantech Kingpins event on July 22nd, I decided to implement some much-needed energy efficiency measures on my own house.   First I invited my neighbor, a BPI certified auditor, to come over with his blower door and duct blaster to find the issues.  We discovered my house has a decent envelope but leaky ducts.  So air sealing and insulating the ductwork was job #1.  Seemed simple enough. Continue Reading >

Tagged new generation energy |

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 |

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 |

January 18th, 2010

Video: What IS and IS NOT working in the Clean Energy Industry – Part 2 Non-Profits

BOSTON -

Last week, I posted the first part of a discussion by Chuck Levin, the Director of New Generation Energy where he discussed what is working and what’s not working in the clean energy industry. At the end of the discussion Chuck began to discuss how New Generation Energy addresses some of the places that are currently not working in the industry. In Part 2, Chuck continues to discuss what a ‘perfect world’ would like to, in terms of increasing clean energy production and efficiency and goes more in depth with how New Generation Energy approaches the situations, the role of certifications, and how their Renewable Energy Notes work. See a details description of the talking points below the video. Enjoy!

Remember VOTE for your TOP 3 favorite Boston Clean Tech Companies. Voting ends in February and the top 10 companies will be profiled each month in 2010

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Tagged alternative energy, chuck levin, Energy Efficiency, new generation energy, non-profits, Renewable Energy |

January 12th, 2010

Video: What IS and IS NOT working in the Clean Energy Industry – Part 1

BOSTON -

This is the first video post for The Green Light Distrikt and am really excited about it, along with a site re-design that will be completed by the time I return to Boston from Toronto. Last week, I went to a local Boston area Green Drinks event. I met some great people, reconnected with others that I haven’t seen for a while and saw a great discussion by Chuck Levin, Director of New Generation Energy that gives a great snapshot of the energy efficiency and green energy industry. Chuck discusses how the government is affecting the industry, what’s working and having trouble and lastly what New Generation Energy is working on. The posts will be split into two separate posts and I plan to be collecting a lot more great video content of events around the Boston area.

Also, please vote for your Top 3 favorite Boston clean tech companies. The top 10 vote receivers from the list of the top 26 of Boston clean tech companies will be profiled each month on The Green Light Distrikt in 2010 starting in February.

Please leave your comments on the video, I’m excited to hear what you think.

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Tagged chuck levin, Energy Efficiency, ESCO, new generation energy, Renewable Energy |