From the category archives:

Cleantech and Green Economy

What Venture Capitalists See For 2010: IPOs, M&A, But Not Cleantech

by Doug Park January 5, 2010

What do venture capitalists like in 2010?  Not cleantech.  But they are optimistic about more big IPOs and mergers and acquisitions coming through.
An article in the New York Times discusses the technology sectors that VCs are bullish on.  VCs are excited about startups developing applications for the Android, less so for iPhone application companies. VCs [...]

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Berkeley Stanford Smart Grid Conference Post Mortem

by Doug Park November 22, 2009

The recent Berkeley Stanford CleanTech Conference on the Smart Grid made clear that the smart grid is in its infancy. Energy providers must solve the challenges of new energy sources, regulatory organization, and the energy needs of electric vehicles.
The Key Challenge For The Smart Grid
Keynote speaker Andrew Tang of PG&E framed the primary challenge of [...]

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Companies Competing To Be Green

by Doug Park September 27, 2009

Companies are increasingly competing to be green. The news is full of corporate initiatives concerning sustainability and environmental impact. What metrics are companies using to measure greenness, and do they make sense?
Newsweek’s Green Rankings

Newsweek just released its first Green Rankings of the Standard & Poor’s 500. The following factors were used to rank the companies:

an [...]

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The Gap Between LEED Certification And Energy Efficiency

by Doug Park September 8, 2009

Many companies take vigorous measures to achieve LEED Certification for their building projects. However, LEED Certification does not guarantee that the building will be highly energy efficient. What explains this gap? What can be done to align LEED Certification and energy efficiency?
Why LEED Certification Does Not Ensure Energy Efficiency
Introduced in 1998, Leadership in Energy and [...]

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Intellectual Property And Open Innovation On The Smart Grid

by Doug Park August 27, 2009

Will the smart grid develop through proprietary intellectual or open innovation? To what extent can both contribute to the smart grid’s growth? The answers to these questions will have a huge influence on how the smart grid works and what it ultimately does for energy efficiency. In this post, I offer a few thoughts on [...]

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Understanding FTC Regulations Regarding Greenwashing

by Doug Park August 19, 2009

Greenwashing involves attempts by companies to convince consumers that their products or services are environmentally friendly. As companies increasingly want to be seen as green, the practice has become more common — and dangerous. In light of recent Federal Trade Commission actions, your business needs to understand the Commission’s guidelines for environmental marketing claims.
Recent FTC [...]

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Which Way Should Venture Capital Go?

by Doug Park July 28, 2009

The venture capital industry is downsizing toward smaller and fewer funds.  What should the remaining VCs do?  What should new VCs do? The answers will have a large influence on entrepreneurs, innovation, and wealth creation.
Venture Capitalists Who Raise Money Now Will Win Later
In the current environment, raising money is tough, not just for entrepreneurs but [...]

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Disclosing Climate Change Risk, Cap And Trade Financials In SEC Filings

by Doug Park July 14, 2009

Whether or not climate change is real, pressure from investors and regulators may lead companies to increase their SEC disclosures about climate change risk and cap and trade financials. What types of disclosures should investors get? How might the recent cap and trade legislation affect SEC disclosures about carbon risks and climate change risk? What [...]

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