New gadgets take the traffic light approach to saving energy
Whenever I write about smart grid gadgetry, much of it is probably quite boring for the average consumer. Meters, protocols, wireless networks, software — who cares?
But just as utility-side smart grid products have grown, so has technology tailored to the consumer. Some of the early offerings have struggled to engage users: Industry executives like Opower’s Dan Yates and Ecobee’s Stuart Lombard have all said the flaws with the first generation of home energy dashboards … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: Nexterra bags $15M for biomass power, Johnson Controls make $32.3M smart grid buy
Here’s the latest action we’re following today on the GreenBeat:
Nexterra Systems raises $15M for biomass power — The Candian company raised the cash from ARC financial and Tandem Expansion Fund. It makes small-scale biomass gasification systems that generate renewable heat and power systems. The company’s clients include the U.S. Department of Energy and Johnson Controls. It also has strategic relationships with GE and Johnson Controls. The cash will go towards market expansion.
Johnson Controls … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: BMW readies electric car, Obama pitches $8 billion for clean energy
Here’s the latest action we’re following today on the GreenBeat:
Obama proposes $29.5 billion for DOE budget — The president pitched more clean energy projects for the 2012 budget, to be funded by cutting $3.6 billion in fossil fuel subsidies, an idea he proposed in his State of the Union address last month. The Department of Energy’s proposed budget would give it $29.5 billion for the fiscal year 2012, with $8 billion for clean energy … Continue Reading
Building guru Schneider woos homeowners to energy savings
Top global building controls and energy management company Schneider Electric launched an energy-reducing program today targeting residential consumers.
Specifically, the offering is in demand response, which was a hot area last year. Demand response is program in which utilities can offer financial incentives for customers who turn down energy usage during critical or peak load times, usually during the day. The rollout of the smart grid has enabled such opportunities for companies like Schneider.
The … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: Comverge, Intel, expand home energy, Mitsubishi to make 8 electric cars by 2015
Here are the top stories we’re following today on the GreenBeat:
Comverge software expands to cars, air conditioning — The company is a top player in demand response, a peak load-reducing program popular among utilities. But it’s expanding its software offerings today to be included in GM’s OnStar vehicle communications system and wireless thermostats that can help manage energy use of air conditioners made by Carrier, CNET reports. Comverge’s IntelliSource software can also now work … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: Think's electric car gets recalled, Khosla bets against lithium-ion car batteries
Here’s the latest action we’re following today on the GreenBeat:
Think City electric car recalled — The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recalled 39 of the 2011 Think City two-seater electric cars (pictured), Green Car Reports writes. Sixteen of the models have an issue with a seatbelt missing the component to properly hold a child’s seat, while 23 may have inadequate defroster systems. The recall calls for the removal and replacement of … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: GE, NRG and ConocoPhilips create $300 million venture fund, Volt expands nationwide
Here’s the latest action we’re following on the GreenBeat today:
NRG, ConocoPhilips and GE create $300 million fund – Energy Technology Ventures will look to invest in early-stage technologies within the energy and cleantech fields. GE will conduct due diligence for the deals, while NRG and ConocoPhilips may also invest in demonstration projects for the startups, the Wall Street Journal reports. Three GE-backed startups have already received backing from Energy Technology Ventures: solar company Alta … Continue Reading
Home energy guru Control4 teams with Silver Spring to make smart grid sexy
While energy efficiency companies are making good inroads with enterprise customers, getting consumers to engage with energy-saving devices has been an ongoing struggle within the smart grid industry. Part of the issue is the struggle to figure out designs and setups that actually engage consumers; the other is getting utilities to sign on.
Home energy controls startup Control4 looks like it has made strides towards conquering both issues today. It announced it has won a … Continue Reading
8 trends to watch after cleantech's blockbuster $243 billion year
Global investment in clean energy topped $243 billion last year, surging 30 percent from $186.5 billion in 2009, according to a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.
The latest numbers show cleantech is still growing and attracting money, fueled in large part by government investment and favorable policies, such as Germany’s solar subsidies. Venture capital flowing into the sector also had a record $7.8 billion year, according to the Cleantech Group. But the last half … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: ECOtality raises $10 million from ABB, Viridity raises second round
Here’s the latest action we’re following on the GreenBeat today:
ECOtality gets $10 million from ABB — The electric car charging infrastructure company announced it received an equity investment from global power electronics firm ABB Group. The two companies have also inked a manufacturing agreement that will allow ECOtality’s Blink charging stations to be powered by ABB’s electronics. ECOtality is currently working to roll out chargers across the U.S., spurred in part by a DOE … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: EnerNOC to buy Global Energy Partners, Evergreen tries recapitalization
Here are the stories we’re reading today on the GreenBeat:
Troubled Evergreen Solar to try recapitalization — The company said yesterday that its board of directors has approved a plan to recapitalize the company, Bloomberg reports. The plan aims to slash outstanding debt and interest expenses and lower the cost and due date on longer-term debt. The company (one of its solar installations pictured, left) would also raise capital by selling up to $40 million … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: EnerNOC expands offerings, Think announces pricing for electric cars
Here are the top stories we’re following today on the GreenBeat.
Demand response company EnerNOC has announced it has expanded its business to add building controls and energy efficiency monitoring to its offerings.
Norwegian electric car maker Think will start selling its Think City electric car in the U.S. mid-2011, GigaOm writes. The company plans to sell 2,000 to 3,000 cars at $34,000 (before federal and state incentives) to urban drivers in San Francisco, … Continue Reading
Use less power at peak, and pay less? Everyone's jumping in
For the past century, buying electricity from your utility hasn’t changed much. If you pay a monthly bill, and you really don’t care what time of day you use your power. Whether it’s night or day, who cares? It costs about the same.
But thanks to something called “demand response,” that’s changing.
Power utilities are now increasingly charging less or offering cash to customers who agree to cut energy use during peak hours — typically … Continue Reading
On the GreenBeat: Tesla opens Fremont factory, SiOnyx raises $12.5 million
Here are the stories we’re following today on the GreenBeat:
Tesla has completed the $42 million purchase of a factory in Fremont previously owned by a Toyota and GM joint venture, the Wall Street Journal reports. CEO Elon Musk says the factory is key to Tesla’s future, but revamping the factory will be a big task — the company still needs to recruit and train 500 people, sign up suppliers and refit the facility … Continue Reading
Why your office could soon be smarter than your home
This post is brought to you by IBM. As always, VentureBeat is adamant about maintaining editorial objectivity. IBM had no involvement in the content of this or other posts. For more information on how IBM can help create a Smarter Planet, go here.
Smart cities will need smart buildings — buildings which know when to adjust the thermostat. Australian startup BuildingIQ, a finalist in the GreenBeat 2009 innovation competition, plans to play a big … Continue Reading
Constellation Energy to acquire demand response provider CPower
Baltimore energy supplier Constellation Energy announced today it plans to acquire CPower, a demand response company that helps businesses manage peak-time energy use and offers them financial incentives to cut power consumption.
The purchase will allow Constellation to expand into important markets like Texas and New England, Constellation said, and will increase the demand response capacity of the group by 850 megawatts to a total capacity to 1,500 megawatts. Terms of the deal were not … Continue Reading
TXU teams with Comverge to smarten up 100,000 thermostats in Texas
Comverge, one of several companies offering utilities third-party demand response and energy efficiency services, announced today that it has signed a $30 million deal with major Texas utility TXU Energy to roll out about 100,000 smart thermostats across its coverage area.
Smart thermostats are quickly becoming one of the most popular tools for consumers to reduce their energy consumption and their electricity bills. Sporting user-friendly interfaces, they remember temperature settings, and transmit usage data to … Continue Reading
Massachusetts picks EnerNOC to crack down on energy use
Comverge, one of several companies offering utilities third-party demand response and energy efficiency services, announced today that it has signed a $30 million deal with major Texas utility TXU Energy to roll out about 100,000 smart thermostats across its coverage area.
Smart thermostats are quickly becoming one of the most popular tools for consumers to reduce their energy consumption and their electricity bills. Sporting user-friendly interfaces, they remember temperature settings, and transmit usage data to … Continue Reading
EnerNOC brings demand-response to small businesses with SmallFoot buy
Comverge, one of several companies offering utilities third-party demand response and energy efficiency services, announced today that it has signed a $30 million deal with major Texas utility TXU Energy to roll out about 100,000 smart thermostats across its coverage area.
Smart thermostats are quickly becoming one of the most popular tools for consumers to reduce their energy consumption and their electricity bills. Sporting user-friendly interfaces, they remember temperature settings, and transmit usage data to … Continue Reading
