clean tech

San Jose, CA, long known as the heart of Silicon Valley, is doing some pretty cool stuff when it comes to sustainability. Within 15 years, the city plans on creating 25,000 clean tech jobs, reducing per capita energy use by 50%, getting 100% of its electricity from clean sources, and tons more! Check it out.

This week let ’s consider the question, “Are offsets inspirational?” Here we examine offsets from the 'innovation' side, and highlight the potential for offset opportunities to motivate the development and widespread adoption of new and cleaner technologies.

Researchers announce major breakthrough on the path to green gasoline. A UMass chemical engineer has pioneered a new method for producing zero-emissions green gasoline from switchgrass and poplar trees. This is a major step toward commercially feasible cellulosic biomass technologies.

Teetering on the brink of passage

Renewable Energy tax packages always face trouble in the Senate, and this dates back to our first energy crises in the 1970s.

Joel Makower and the editors of GreenBiz.com answer the following: How are U.S. businesses doing in their quest to be greener and more environmentally responsible?

Greennbiz.com introduces its GreenBiz Index, "a set of 20 indicators of progress, tracking the resource use, emissions, and business practices of U.S. companies: carbon, materials, energy, and toxics intensity, clean-tech investments, e-waste recovery, paper use, employee commuting, and more."

Please use this information with caution: you must not cloud your judgment with mental images of backward-spinning electric meters and negative utility bills. While this is possible, you don’t want to spend all of your hard-earned money on a micro turbine that your local HOA, planning board, or zoning commission never lets you put up.

Since the energy crisis of the late 1970s, the federal government has employed various policy mechanisms to support renewable energy development. Driving through the neighborhoods that were developed in the late 70s and early 80s, it’s not hard to notice all of the old rooftop solar water heating arrays that were installed because people were taking advantage of a tax credit made available by the Carter administration.

We've heard rumblings of ultra-efficient attack vehicles, biodiesel jets and other clean tech advancements for years, but the Department of Defense really be called green?

If you want to know what enviro startups Silicon Valley movers and shakers think could be the next big green thing, the California Clean Tech Open is a good leading indicator. Last night in San Francisco the Open named six winners in its second annual startup competition.[...]

While scientists warn of a precipitous decline in avocado raising, as well as some 99 other serious problems brought on by global warming, one blogger makes a thoughtful, considered wake-up call. He outlines some innovative solutions and pushes the mind.

H-shaped wind turbines 15,000 feet high could be a solution to the energy crisis.