Awards / Competitions

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June 8, 2009

Green Building Summit And Green Business Awards This Thursday

Posted by Steve Sacks under Awards / Competitions, Conferences / Conventions / Events, Editor's Note, Finance, Innovators, Research | Tags: , , , , , , |
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There are two great events in the Bay Area on Thursday, June 11!  Greentech Media and SRI International are hosting a very compelling Green Building Summit in Menlo Park, and the San Francisco Business Times announces their 2009 Bay Area Green Business Award Winners at a dinner/reception at the San Francisco Hilton.

The Green Building Summit is an all day event with a cocktail/networking reception in the evening.  The topics and speakers look top notch and are focused on emerging businesses and research.  There will be plenty to gain from topics including, new business models, new materials, financing/stimulus, and business strategy.  Also, there will be a chance to meet with representatives from the 2009 Clean Tech Open finalists.  Click here for more information.

As the topic suggests, the San Francisco Business Times event promises to be light on substance, and heavy on fun.  It will be a networking schmoozefest and a wonderful evening to catch up with colleagues, or make new business connections in a festive atmosphere.  Click here for more information. 

Look for our own Sarah Grilli at the Business Times event.  Sarah just passed the LEED AP exam, so make sure to extend congratulations when you see her.  Way to go, Sarah!

 

April 1, 2009

Green California Leadership Awards! Expo Report – Part II

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Awards / Competitions, Conferences / Conventions / Events, Innovators, Just Plain Cool, Water | Tags: , , |
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For many, a highlight of the Green California Expo was the announcement of the Green CA leadership awards.   The awards cut through the green rhetoric and showcase what sustainable efforts are actually being implemented throughout the state. One of the educational sessions I attended at the Expo focused on California’s water crisis and the reality of the three year drought we are currently facing. After one speaker presented the potential doomsday scenarios we may encounter, an interesting solution was discussed. A manager from the Orange County Water District described the system they have recently enacted to avert any possible tragedy from water shortages. In partnership with the Orange County Sanitation District, the OC Water District has created a wastewater purification program called the groundwater replenishment system. Check out photos and an article about the system in Time Magazine here.

The system has been up and running for about a year now and allegedly has already exceeded its economic payback projections. There is a lot of promise with this technology, especially in the water-dependent region of Southern California. However, not everyone is convinced, the speaker noted that in other districts, the system has been met with resistance. Maybe the skeptics will feel better if they think of Ghandi as they drink their recycled water – legend has it he drank his own urine because it purified his soul. Whether you support the system or not, the District has certainly gained enough respect to win this award. Be sure to take a look at the full list of winners here as there are many other worthy recipients.

 

March 30, 2009

Report from the 2009 Green California Expo – Part I

Posted by Sarah Grilli under Awards / Competitions, Conferences / Conventions / Events, Green Economy, Innovators, Law, Legislation, and Policy | Tags: , |
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If you find yourself surrounded by hybrid, hydrogen, and electric cars, row after row of solar panels, methanol fuel cells, waterless urinals, high efficiency HVAC systems, and low voc paints – you are either in a clean techie’s daydream – or at the Green California Expo sponsored by Green Technology Magazine.  I was recently at the latter. Despite the economic situation, innovators of sustainable products, legislative agencies, and environmental advocacy groups proudly showcased the underpinnings of a green revolution. The attendees buzzed with energy as they soaked up inspiration from the morning keynote speakers, wandered among the exhibitors, and attended classroom break-out sessions.   

One interesting educational session was led by Noel Perry, founder of Next10, a nonprofit group that has been funding some of the leading studies on the correlation between environmental policies, employment rates, and total sector economic growth in California. (See the reports page of this blog for a full analysis of one of Next10′s studies). The panel speakers discussed the state’s key piece of environmental legislation, AB32, a bill signed into law in 2006 which mandates a reduction in the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 (about 30%). The bill authorizes the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to create a detailed action plan, or scoping plan, which was completed last December. This legislation makes California the first state in the nation to enforce a comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction plan that reaches across all sectors of the economy. The full text of the 140 page scoping plan can be found here.  The presenters assured the attendees that California maintains every intention of moving forward and achieving the items set forth in the scoping plan, regardless of the economic climate. The panel believed, relying on CARB’s own studies as well as those by Next10, that implementation of these measures will assist in stimulating economic growth throughout the state of California. And this exact ideology was the backbone for the mood I walked away with that permeated throughout the Expo: optimism with a touch of urgency – urgency that sustainability must be a part of the dialogue of rebuilding not only California, but our nation.

… Stay tuned for Part II - a summary of the Green California Leadership awards announced at the Expo!

 

February 18, 2009

2009 Green California Summit and Exposition

Posted by Steve Sacks under Awards / Competitions, Building and Design, Conferences / Conventions / Events, Free, Green Economy, Marketing Ideas, Materials and Manufacturing | Tags: , , , |
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The 2009 Green California Summit and Exposition is coming up!  From March 16-18, The Sacramento Convention Center plays host to well over a hundred exhibitors, and dozens of panels and forums.

Visits to the exhibition hall and attendance at keynote addresses are FREE!  If you want to attend the panels and educational forums, the fees are quite modest.   

The Green California Summit and Exposition is put on by Green Technology Magazine, and its marquee sponsors.  The educational forums cover such diverse topics as California’s new building codes, AB32, maintenance and operation of green buildings, finance and purchasing strategies, green leases, recycling and composting, transportation solutions, LEED,  and much more.

Take a look at all of the Summit’s events by clicking here!

 

January 15, 2009

San Diego Energy . . . and SANDEE Awards!

Posted by Steve Sacks under Awards / Competitions, Energy, Incentives and Rebates, Materials and Manufacturing, Research, Save Money | Tags: , , , , , , , , , |
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Every now and then, I do random web searches to see what emerges.  That’s how I found the California Center for Sustainable Energy located in San Diego, California (www.sdenergy.org).  Talk about resources, geez!  This organization is all things energy for San Diego, but a lot of their information can be applied anywhere.  

The center has articles, research, forums, and events.  They have reports on legislation, too.  They even present the San Diego Excellence in Energy (SANDEE) award.  

According to their website, the SANDEE is awarded to “outstanding projects and activities that have achieved significant energy savings and/or contributions toward the goals of the San Diego Regional Energy Strategy 2030 through the implementation of energy efficiency, energy conservation, renewable energy measures and CO2 reduction in San Diego County.”

There are many different categories for individuals as well as small and large businesses, and yes even an award for municipalities.  Nominations for a SANDEE award are due February 2, 2009, so if you know someone who might be eligible, you better hurry.  For more information, “Click Here.“

 

December 13, 2008

California Clean Tech Open Results

Posted by Steve Sacks under Awards / Competitions, Energy, Innovators, Just Plain Cool, Materials and Manufacturing | Tags: , , , , , , |
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On November 6, 2008 California Clean Tech Open hosted the California Clean Tech Open competition.  Clean Tech Open is an organization of leading entrepreneurs, academics, investors and companies, working together to accelerate the development of clean technology startups. 

This year’s Green Building Prize Winner, sponsored by Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory was:  BottleStone!

BottleStone is a very cool material for residential and commercial use.  BottleStone is a new green surface material made of 80% post-consumer recycled glass, and provides a green alternative to stone slabs offering the same warm aesthetics of natural stone materials.

Green Building Category Runner Ups were:
GroundSource Geo  and  Solar Red

GroundSource Geo is new company in the geothermal industry with low impact drilling methods.

Solar Red is a company geared at slicing in half the cost of photovoltaic installations.  These guys are so new they don’t even have a website, but you can get their contact info by clicking here