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Green Light Distrikt
Green Light Distrikt is about entrepreneurship focused on the cleantech sector. GLD U provides cleantech courses . Edited by Chris Williams with frequent guest posts from friends, experts and industry insiders from clusters across the globe. Our goal is to provide a place where cleantech entrepreneurs in various clusters across the globe can learn from one another. Green Light Distrikt is creating the "Hitchikers Guide to Clentech" to provide a resource for cleantech entrepreneurs. Read more
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June 28th, 2011
Kickstarter: The New Way to Innovate and Produce Clean Energy Products
NEW YORK -As Michael Shimazu boasted at “The Value of a Negawatt” panel in May, the number of VC deals in energy efficiency in the US is projected to double to more than 70 in 2011, continuing an upward trend that began in 2008. This is cause for optimism for businesses – yet what happens to individuals that want to make a clean energy product but don’t have the start-up capital or marketing power to do so? Read past the break for the full story and join the Green Light Distrikt Facebook group for updates on new events, blog posts and more.
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June 21st, 2011
The Value of a Negawatt
TOPICS: CleanTech Events, Local Events, NEW YORK, Resource Efficiency, Resources
A few weeks ago a member of the Green Light Distrikt community, Sarah Jayanthi from Solar One, kindly invited me to a panel discuss on “The Value of a Negawatt.” Negawatt power “is a theoretical unit of power representing an amount of energy (measured in watts) saved. The energy saved is a direct result of energy conservation or increased efficiency” (Wikipedia). Read past the break for the full story and join the Green Light Distrikt Facebook group for updates on new events, blog posts and more.
May 3rd, 2011
Hitchhikers Green Guide to Boston
BOSTON -
Boston is a great place if you’re into the good green stuff. There plenty of companies, incubators, organizations, and journalists covering the cleantech industry spreading news about what’s happening. But the truth is, although it seems like things are happening “everywhere” sometimes it can hard to figure them out and keep track of them. Here is an attempt to compile it all. As always, if I missed something, let me know in the comments.
Large Meetups
- Young Professionals in Energy. Known as YPE, this is a national organization with local chapters. The Boston chapter is great, tons of events, they’ve done plant tours in the past. One of the best parts is that there is some formal organization, so things get done really well. I’ve found YPE to be great to connect with people already in the industry.
- Green Drinks. Once a month, good conversation, diverse group of people.
- Clean Economy Network. Great group of people in Boston, always organizing amazing site visits of various companies and holding very informative events.
- Emerging Green Builders. Group of people heavily focused on green building, including renewables but also a strong focus on building science and materials.
- Net Impact. One of the best groups I know of to connect with professionals working on sustainability within larger corporations.
- Boston Sustainability Group.
- Raab Restructing Roundtable. Hands down the best quarterly event held on the energy industry in New England.
March 7th, 2011
Top 5 Resources to Plug into the UK Cleantech Industry
TOPICS: Entrepreneurship, London, Resources
I, like James Byrne, am a new Industry Insider for the UK end of GLD (hello GLDers!). After many many months of reading, investigating and ‘testing of water’ I decided to begin my career in the cleantech sector by starting a market research & analysis business around 6 months ago. Although relatively new to the sector, I have found the UK cleantech space to be full of ambitious and passionate people; though it is fair to say I’ve found myself in the minority.
What has also struck me is the diversity of philosophies on where the cleantech industry could or (for the more affirmative) should be going. A recent idea I was discussing with someone focused on the premise that the industry should no longer be called cleantech, but solely tech. A similar concept to our current 1 pence coin being initially called a ‘new-pence’ until the new was dropped soon after its inception. The fact that these questions are being discussed at the moment is what really draws me to this industry; especially in the UK where over the next decade there will be a huge cultural shift as cleantech no longer need be called cleantech (as it is the norm). At least I hope that this is the case.
Starting a career in the cleantech industry was daunting and most of all confusing. With new deals, industry developments and energy policy changing on an almost daily basis, it pays to have a list of useful cleantech resources at your disposal, in the drop of a hat. So what are those all-important top five useful UK cleantech resources? Well here is a list of the ones that I have found useful whilst starting a cleantech career out here in the UK:
November 29th, 2010
An Inventory of Flex-Space in Boston
BOSTON -By Flex Space I mean a place where you can work with access to the internet, a moderately comfortable chair, and heat.
Let’s brainstorm. There’s the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) in Kendall, there’s the MassChallenge space in Fort Point, there’s WorkBar near South Station, and then there are the random coffee shops, public libraries, and the various rooms in your house which could all serve as Flex-Space. I’m also sure there are others I’m forgetting, I just know the three above mentioned spaces well so will comment on them herein.
First, the CIC. It’s fancy. They have snacks. There are secretaries. The whole space (a few floors) screams, “I’m modern! I’m Chic! If you work here, you can’t help but be successful!” Oh, and there are miniature kiwi’s in the kitchen…
Overall, I like the CIC very much. They’re great with the balance between privacy and open space. The Venture Cafe is open, welcoming, and a great place to meet with friends or meet new friends.
