When you live with 5 million other people on a relatively small island, finding ways to live more sustainably isn’t so much a luxury as a necessity.

That’s why Singapore—which has the third greatest population density of any sovereign state in the world—has become something of a pioneer in finding ways to live in a more sustainable manner.

Start with water. For years, Singapore has relied on imported water from Malaysia to provide 40 percent of its water supply.

To become more self sufficient, Singapore has invested billions of dollars in membrane filtration technologies that allow wastewater to be reclaimed, filtered, and transformed into high purity potable water called NEWater. This is in addition to heavy investments in desalination plants and rainwater-catching reservoirs that further reduce its reliance on imported water.

Another area where Singapore excels is building efficiency—an area with huge potential impact, given that an astounding 90 percent of the population lives in some form of high-rise condominium. Singapore has set an ambitious target of greening at least 80 percent of its buildings by 2030, including existing stock.

Clean technology advancements are also allowing Singapore to make great strides in transportation, particularly around the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Since roughly 85 percent of Singapore’s power supply comes from natural gas, EVs provide a cleaner solution compared with conventional oil burning vehicles.

And while EVs typically travel a shorter distance compared with conventional vehicles, that’s not really a concern on a 26-mile wide island.

Singapore-based clean tech company Greenlots is developing the best way to charge these EVs. Since 2008, the company has been committed to designing and delivering hardware and software to enable utilities, municipalities, electric vehicle manufacturers and distributors and other private businesses to install, own and operate their own EV charging network. Already, Greenlots has established charging stations in major parking lots in the city, including those at Bedok Point Shopping Centre and Kovan Residences.

By investing in clean technology innovations, Singapore is able to tackle multiple areas that impact its future. Its forward-thinking design solutions to environmental problems are sure to yield benefits both today and tomorrow.

Susan Gladwin leads the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program, which provides clean tech innovators powerful software and opportunities to help them develop solutions that address our most pressing environmental issues. In North America, Europe, Japan and Singapore, the Autodesk Clean Tech Partner Program offers $150,000 of Autodesk software for $50 (JPY 10,000 in Japan).

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American University is located right in the nation’s capital – Washington DC. Because of Washington DC’s recognition as a leader in the clean technology and sustainability movement in the United States, American University has long believed that it needs to do its part to bolster Washington DC’s status as not only the capital of the United States, but also the capital of sustainability. American University has long been at the forefront of university leaders in the sustainability list. It has received top rankings on the College Sustainability Report Card as well as a host of awards and recognitions for all it has done. Listed below are just a few of the sustainability initiatives at American Univeristy.

1 ) American University Office of Sustainability. American University houses their Office of Sustainability right on campus. As one of the greenest universities in the United States, it is only fitting that American University has an Office of Sustainability that aids in building a university campus whereby the students and faculty work together to clean up the campus and make it much more sustainable. The work done by the Office of Sustainability “celebrates the abundance of nature by building a campus community of leaders, who work to clean our air and water, cool our atmosphere, and produce fertile land and habitat.” Some of the areas the office focuses on include buildings, dining, energy, purchasing, recycling, water, and transportation.

2 ) Administration. The administration at American University has adopted a number of policies regarding different aspects of sustainability, including green cleaning, green building, zero-waste, and sustainable purchasing policies. The administration also makes certain that the university only purchases electronics and appliances that are Energy Star Certified. As well, the university only purchases EPEAT Gold Certified computers, and recycled paper towels and toilet paper. The administration also created a Clean Energy Revolving Fund to finance new sustainability projects.

3 ) Climate Change and Energy. American University looks to become the first carbon neutral campus in the United States by the year 2020. To get to this, the university has implemented a number of energy conserving technologies, including back pressure turbines, cogeneration, as well as placing energy management systems in a number of the buildings. Most of the energy utilized by the campus is generated via a rooftop solar array as well as a solar hot water system. In 2010, American University became the first university in the United States to purchase 100 percent energy credits in wind energy.

4 ) Food and Recycling. The Dining Services at American University spends over 25 percent of its annual food budget on local products. A majority of the produce used by the dining staff comes from the garden located right on campus. The dining halls only serve cage-free eggs, sustainably harvested seafood, as well as antibiotic-free and hormone-free milk. All dining halls are trayless and all food scraps are composted. Recently there was a 12 week food waste reduction campaign to cut food waste by ten percent. More than 65 percent of all waste on campus is recycled.

5 ) Green Building. All new constructions on the American University campus, as well as all major renovations, need to at least meet the LEED Silver Certification guidelines as set up by the United States Green Building Council. To date, 40 buildings are LEED registered in the LEED Volume Pilot program. The university has also installed weather-informed irrigation systems and low-flow faucets. There are a number of green roofs, vegetated swales, and porous pavement around campus that manage storm water.

6 ) Student Involvement. Students if they would like, can opt to live in the Sustainable Earth Hallways at American University. Just launched by the university is the Green Eagles eco-rep program. There is also the Eco-Sense student group that leads an eco-certification program for all university offices. Student groups have also launched campaigns against bottled water and started a farmer’s market on campus.

7 ) Transportation. American University has a ride-sharing website that provides discounts on rates as well as preferential parking spots for people who carpool to work. The university also provides students and employees with discounts on public transportation. As well, the university partners with a car-sharing program, and there is a student-run bicycle-lending program which is completely free.

8 ) Green Cleaning. American University realizes that conventional cleaning products may contribute to a number of health problems, including cancer and asthma, and are also very unsafe for the environment. By utilizing safer cleaning chemicals, the university can improve their indoor air quality and the environment at the same time. For this reason, American University has set up a green cleaning program whereby the maintenance staff only uses Green Seal Certified cleaning products that are nationally recognized for the benefits provided to individuals as well as the environment. The maintenance staff is also efficiently trained on how to handle chemicals properly and how to minimize areas where dirt can build up, thereby eliminating the constant need for chemical cleaners.

9 ) Green Office Program. The Office of Sustainability at American University recently launched the Green Office Program to assist the faculty and staff at the university “green up” their departments as well as their office spaces. The Green Office Program provides insight on how offices can mitigate the environmental impact in their department, such as using recycled paper products, double sided printing of documents, reducing margins to save paper, using scrap papers, or requesting vegetable-based or soy-based inks for print jobs as they reduce the amount of VOCs emitted during the printing process.

10 ) Earth Week. Every year, American University participates in Earth Week. Each day, a different topic regarding sustainability is focused on. There is a “passport of events” where students can find out what is going on. Topics focused on every year include energy and conservation, transportation, food and water, and different services. There are a variety of workshops, such as collecting trash to be recycled around campus and helping with the green roofs around campus. There is also tree planting events, visits to the solar panels, and a number of guest speakers on topics regarding sustainability.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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The Solar Impulse project is currently writing the history pages of tomorrow with its social innovation commitment to fly day and night without fuel, powered only by solar energy. It has taken seven years of research, simulation, construction and tests to achieve the first solar twenty-four hour flight in history, one that demonstrates progress is possible by using clean energy. In July 2010, the HB-SIA became the first solar-powered airplane in history capable of flying through a complete daylight cycle, establishing three world records. This social innovation aeroplane has the wingspan of an Airbus A340: 63.40m; the weight of a family car, 1600 kg; and finally, the power of a scooter: four 10 HP electric engines.

The Solar Impulse’s HB-SIA prototype presents social innovation construction features at its best, along with an aerodynamic quality never seen till now. The elements of this aircraft including the carbon fibre structure, the propulsion chain and flight instrumentation have all been designed to save energy as well as to resist the hostile conditions facing the aircraft and pilots at high altitudes.

The two men behind the Solar Impulse initiative are both pioneers, innovators and of course pilots! They are the driving force. Let me introduce you to Bertrand Piccard and Andr Borschberg. Piccard is a psychiatrist and aeronaut who made the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight. He is the initiator and chairman. Borschberg is an engineer, fighter, professional airplane and helicopter pilot. He is the CEO of this organisation. Together their social innovation vision and entrepreneurial spirit are an ideal combination. They work with a large, talented team comprised of mechanical and aeronautical engineers; physicists; specialists in structures, aerodynamics, design and calculating tools; leading specialists in composite materials; and pilots with a passion for renewable energy. They have all joined forces to finalize the solar airplane’s structure and turn a dream into reality.

Solar Impulse’s ambition is for the world of exploration and innovation to contribute to the cause of renewable energies, to demonstrate the importance of clean technologies for sustainable development and to save natural resources and reduce our dependency on fossil energy. Plus, crucially to place dreams and emotions back at the heart of scientific adventure. French President Nicolas Sarkozy during a speech in June this year said, “Solar Impulse is a reminder that we must think of more energy efficient aircraft solutions right away. Shaping the future of aviation also means creating sustainable aircraft. Solar Impulse clearly shows us that the social innovation of clean technology is the future and the design of its aircraft is a symbol of tomorrow.

Article by Sangeeta Haindl of Justmeans, appearing courtesy 3BL Media.

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When a form of technology becomes outdated, jobs in that industry are inevitably lost. However, this is only one side of the coin, as jobs are often created in the exact same way and, the good news is, that these jobs require previously unconsidered skill sets. It almost goes without saying that with the shift toward clean energy usage, the onus is on the clean technology sector to create green jobs.

In the down-spinning economy, clean technology has been a rock. In fact, clean technology continues to be one of the fastest growing segments of the economy. Worldwide, investments in clean technology grew 12 percent in the Q3 of 2011, even as other sectors were tanking around the world. This growth started a few years back and continues to hold strong. In fact, in 2007, the clean technology industry in the United States grew three times as fast as the country’s economy.

Of course, there are stories of failure in the clean technology segment – such as the recent demise of solar panel manufacturer Solyndra – but there are also stories of success. Consider Noveda Technologies, whose real-time, online energy monitoring technology allows users get a better understanding of both their building’s impact on the environment and how they might improve it. Oh, and they can actually see their carbon footprint reduction and utility bill savings – right before their very eyes.

With all this being said, there is no question that clean technology would get even more of a push from the federal government if more consistent clean energy requirements were enacted. In this sense President Barack Obama’s Better Buildings Initiative, which rewards the use of non-traditional energy sources, is a step in the right direction. But more such guidelines need to be brought forth.

Part of the problem is that when legislation that limits the use of old energies comes into play, the loss of jobs that inevitably occurs gets foregrounded by pundits. For example, when President Obama unveiled his sorely needed energy policy in February 2011, CNN talking heads opined that biofuels have been a “colossal failure.” The news network also focused on the bankruptcy of Solyndra as a symbolic example of what happens when people invest in clean energy.

It’s time we focus on the companies that are putting people back to work in industries that benefit every person on this planet. There will always be naysayers to seek out and discuss the “wrongs” of the world.

What if we shifted our focus to the benefits new industries are having on the economy and the world at large? Up and comers with new ideas regarding clean technology are thriving under these conditions. New industries are created in this way. Let’s be a part of the solution, not the problem.

Article by Bari Faye Siegel, a technology writer and marketing consultant at Noveda Technologies, an innovative leader in real-time, web-based energy management, solar PV monitoring and water management. Noveda also offers real-time collaboration tools that leverage social media to educate and empower stakeholder communities and make the smart grid a reality today. For more information, visit www.noveda.com.

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Emerson is a “diversified global manufacturing and technology company.” Emerson offers a large variety of services and products in the consumer, commercial and industrial markets via network power, industrial automation, process management, tools and storage, and climate technologies. Because of what Emerson does, it does a lot for the clean technology industry.

1 ) Emerson Process Management offers the best kind of wireless technology possible that allows businesses to monitor their safety equipment, including eyewash stations, so action can be taken much sooner if an incident were to occur. The products and services Emerson Process Management offers also assists in minimizing hazard, clean-up and expense of environmental releases through the process of providing quick notification and accurate logging of all environmental excursions, including monitor safety showers, environmental compliance, and accurately measure all emissions.

2 ) Emerson Network Power has designed capabilities that are able to deliver reliable power, connectivity, precision cooling, and embedded solutions. Their innovative solutions allow businesses to check and monitor all their IT centers. However, other products allow businesses to check things such as their overall energy consumption. These tools assist businesses in determining how much energy they are using so they can look for ways to decrease energy consumption.

3 ) Emerson Industrial Automation is concerned with sustainability and looks to help drive sustainability in the market. For example, for over 20 years S SB Wind Systems has been one of the top providers of pitch-control systems, software and services for wind turbines, and switch and control cabinets. These products offer the industry advanced safety features, greatest dependability, and highest energy output. JAURE, in another example, supplies the couplings used to transmit rotational force from wind turbine blades to generating equipment. To convert natural sources of energy into viable electricity, Control Techniques supplies grid tie inverters utilized in a majority of large-scale photovoltaic power plants around the world.

4 ) Emerson Solutions Assists Customers Convert Biomass to Low-Cost Energy. It is helping a number of municipalities and companies convert their waste and biomass into efficient and reliable renewable energy along with much lower carbon emissions. “Biomass-to-energy conversion is the fastest-growing segment of the energy business,” said Steve Sonnenberg, president of Emerson Process Management. “Faced with high energy costs and environmental goals, our customers recognize they can retrofit decades-old plants to convert their own waste streams into environmentally friendly and low-cost sources of power, which is a plus to both the environment and their bottom line.”

5 ) Emerson Global Data Center Receives Dramatic Energy Efficiency Gains. Emerson’s Global Data Center at its headquarters has posted very good remarkable energy efficiency and availability metrics since opening in 2009. Emerson closed a number of large data centers and posted it all to their campus. It has assisted Emerson in reducing power consumption by over 50 percent. As well, the center boasts a 7,800 square-foot rooftop solar array that produced an average of 14,250 kilowatt hours every month. “The stellar operation of our new data center in its first year is a testament to the supreme planning that went into its design and the innovative, can-do spirit of the team that manages its operation,” said Kathy McElligott, vice president and chief information officer, Emerson. “Although there have been times when the utility power went out or some other type of power issue occurred, the data center and the Emerson technologies within it responded exactly as designed. The Liebert uninterruptible power supply systems, ASCO power transfer switches, and other Emerson Network Power technologies performed flawlessly, enabling the center to be always on.”

6 ) Solar Power. Emerson is looking to capture and convert the sun’s energy in a more efficient manner. For example, Emerson Industrial Automation designs as well as manufactures tracking systems to ensure solar arrays are completely positioned to get maximum exposure of the sun. Emerson also designs a number of “ready to run” solar e-houses, which are pre-built steel or concrete shelters used for switchgear, transformers, inverters and other equipment that needs to be transported as well as installed at any solar site. As well, Emerson Process Management is one of the main providers of process control systems utilized by utility-scale solar providers.

7 ) Wind Power. Emerson is known for providing the technologies necessary for commercial wind turbine manufacturers since the 1980s. Emerson Industrial Automation is a major international leader in the development of intelligent controls and pitch drives for the wind turbine industry. Emerson Network Power is known for developing wind turbine converters that are specially designed for the wind farm industry in China and its power grid.

8 ) Emerson Process Management Signs Global Agreement with SHEC Energy. This new agreement brings solar thermal power plants online. The advanced automation services provided by Emerson were chosen by SHEC Energy to increase overall efficiency and reliability of new renewable energy projects throughout the globe as well as assist the company in reducing the cost of power generated from the projects to become competitive. The president of Emerson Process Management, Steve Sonnenbert, said that the partnership between SHEC Energy and Emerson will allow the company to expand in a much more sustainable manner throughout the solar generation industry.

9 ) Emerson Electric Goes for Smart Data Centers. Emerson Electric is looking to introduce a new technology in 2011 called Trellis. Trellis enables companies to reduce their energy bills and infrastructure spending as well as better allocate the staff that manages everything. Trellis looks to make hardware smarter, like allowing company managers to be alerted before data loss or broken connections, providing the ability for data centers to spend less money on energy and components.

10 ) Emerson Supplies Automation Technology for Biomass Boiler in Poland. In August 2011, Emerson Process Management supplied the automation technology for a biomass boiler that is currently under construction in Polaniec Power Station in Poland. The 190 megawatt biomass-fired circulating fluidized-bed will provide effective carbon dioxide emissions reduction.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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Deere and Company, known more famously as John Deere is one of the leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery around the world. This American corporation, based in Moline, Illinois, is a Fortune 500 company and sells everything from tractors, cotton harvesters, and combine harvesters, to planters, seeders, sprayers, and even ATVs. John Deere is also known for the manufacturing of construction equipment, forestry equipment, and is a diesel engine supplier for heavy equipment. They also make a lot of turf care equipment, including lawn mowers and snow blowers. Aside from all this, John Deere and Company also makes the time for a number of clean technology highlights.

1 ) John Deere to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions. In 2008 Deere and Company made plans to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by the year 2014. The company is to be using the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program to create new energy saving projects at all John Deere facilities around the globe. For example, its German plant, Zweibruecken Works, is going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the installation of two carbon-neutral biomass boilers which will generate enough energy to air condition the offices, heat the facilities, and provide the necessary head to a number of manufacturing processes.

2 ) John Deere Partners with Adage for Biopower Alliance. In 2010, Deere and Company formed an alliance with Adage to create process and technology innovation to the fuel supply to a number of woody biomass power projects. The first project will be located in Mason County, Washington. This project involves the collection, bundling, as well as transportation of branches along with other wood debris from regional-based logging operations to an Adage-owned biomass power facility. John Deere is supply all the forestry equipment utilized to gather and bundle all the debris. This facility will create 55 megawatts of energy, which is enough for an estimated 40,000 homes.

3 ) John Deere Partners with Hydrogenics for Fuel Cell Power. Hydrogenics, a fuel cell designer and manufacturing company, sold six ten-kilowatt fuel cell power modules to Deere and Company for the integration and evaluation in off-roading vehicle applications, such as grounds equipment as well as utility vehicles. “Our electrification initiative has been very successful to date and has served as a strong indicator of what might be possible with fuel cells and other technologies,” says Bruce Wood, director of John Deere’s ePower Technologies group. “John Deere has a strong heritage of innovation and we believe that electrification will enable us to add functionality to our products, with the goal of helping our customers meet their work objectives. Our initial fuel cell prototypes and demonstrators are in the light commercial area, however we see much broader application for electrification across all lines of equipment and we are confident strong partners like Hydrogenics will help us achieve exciting objectives for this technology.”

4 ) Corn and Wood Pellet Stoves. John Deere’s Corn and Wood Pellet Stoves allow residents to heat their home using renewable energy sources that are easy to replenish every year. This stove will aid homeowners in reducing home heating costs, making the home more energy efficient.

5 ) John Deere Developed 12 Megawatt Wind Farm in Kansas. In 2009, John Deere Renewables announced the plan to develop a 12 megawatt wind farm in Greensburg, Kansas. This wind farm was created to meet the, at the time, burgeoning green rebuilding initiative after a large tornado wrecked Greensburg a year previous. “The City of Greensburg is thrilled to see this project begin, as it will meet our energy goals to be 100% renewable,” said Steve Hewitt, Greensburg City Administrator. “This model will serve as an example of how communities can meet their sustainable goals through collaboration. Our efforts to be a green community hinge on our energy model.”

6 ) John Deere Developed 16 Megawatt Wind Farm in Idaho. In December 2009 John Deere Renewables started breaking ground on a brand new wind energy project in Twin Falls County, Idaho. Named the Tuana Springs Wind Farm, it will consist of eight two megawatt wind turbines. John Deere Renewables will remain on as owner and operator, which Idaho Power Company is the energy purchaser for the project.

7 ) John Deer Builds Three New Wind Farms in Michigan. John Deer Wind Energy made plans in 2010 to develop three Michigan-based wind farms. Two of these farms will be the largest commercial-scale wind farms in the state. This project, when completed will increase wind power capacity for the state by 61 percent – 374 megawatts, which is enough to provide electricity of over 84,000 residential households.

8 ) Olathe, Kansas Sales and Marketing Center Achieves LEED Status. In September of 2011, the sales and marketing center in Olathe, Kansas achieved Gold LEED Certification. This building is, “laid out to enhance the work environment for employees and to help support teamwork and collaboration between all work groups. It will meet changing organizational needs and provide common work areas to support a more flexible workforce.”

9 ) John Deere Kansas Dealership Achieves LEED Status. In August of 2009, John Deere made the announcement that its John Deere dealership in Greensburg, Kansas has received Platinum LEED Certification. Some of the things that helped the dealership reach this level of distinction include 23 skylights to utilize natural lighting, low VOC carpets, sealants, and paints to guarantee good indoor air quality, and utilizes over 50 percent less electricity than the code-required minimum performance.

10 ) As a Note: Exelon Acquired John Deere Renewables in 2010. Most of the clean technology done by John Deere took place through a subsidiary known as John Deere Renewables. However, in 2010, Exelon Corporation bought John Deere Renewables and, therefore, took over all the projects originally set up by Deere and Company. According to the Exelon Chairman and CEO, John W. Rowe, “Not only does this acquisition add value for Exelon shareholders, providing incremental earnings in 2012 and cash flows in 2013, but it also is one more way to implement a clean energy future.”

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Applied Materials is a capital equipment producer that services a number of manufacturing industries, including semiconductor, TFT LCD display, solar (thin film and crystalline), and glass. There are four primary groups of Applied Materials – Energy and Environmental Solutions, Display, Silicon Systems Group, and Service. Because of its industry, Applied Materials has been extremely involved in the clean technology sector, especially within the branches of renewable energy and energy efficient.

1 ) World’s Most Advanced Solar Research and Development Center. In 2009, Applied Materials opened the most advanced solar research and customer demonstration facility in the city of Xi’an in China. Known as the Applied Materials’ Solar Technology Center, this non-government solar energy research facility is comprised of a number of laboratories and offices over 400,000 square feet. It contains a full Applied SunFab thin film manufacturing line and a full crystalline silicon pilot process. Customers from all around the world can walk along the building with the technologists to learn all about what is available.

2 ) Applied Materials Launches New Solar Tools to Meet Increased Demand. In August of 2011, Applied Materials unveiled a brand new set of equipment to enables customers to lower their production costs and increase cell efficiency. Known as Baccini Pegaso, it covers all equipment used for screen printing metal lines that serve as the necessary highways to conduct and transport electrons out of the cells.

3 ) Applied Materials Expands their Taiwanese Solar Manufacturing Business. In March of 2010, Applied Materials opened a new Tainan Manufacturing Center in Tainan, Taiwan. This manufacturing plant will create flat panel displays as well as thin film solar photovoltaics. This is one of Applied Material’s biggest investments in the Asian continent and puts Taiwan on the map for solar equipment technology manufacturing.

4 ) Applied Materials Partners with IIT Bombay for CLEAN Lab. In April of 2011 Applied Materials partnered with IIT Bombay, a high rated university in India, to create the Chemistry Laboratory for Energy and Nanoelectronics, or CLEAN on the IIT Bombay campus. The laboratory includes the research and development of brand new materials that may be potentially used in a number of electric and renewable energy-focused applications, including next generation solar cell development. “Our goal is to serve as a catalyst for developing the critical technology needed to solve the many challenges of next-generation electronic and solar device manufacturing. Applied Materials has grown to become IIT Bombay’s most important industry collaborator in terms of the scale of research collaboration,” said IIT Bombay Professor, Devang Khakhar.

5 ) Applied Materials Demonstrates New Solar Cell Screen Printer. In September of 2011, Applied Materials released the details of a new platform for screen printing solar photovoltaic cells. “Efficiency is ultra-important. The challenge our customers have today is that we’ve reached a point where efficiency and cost reduction must happen simultaneously because the balance of system cost is becoming a larger fraction, sometimes even larger, than the cost of the modules themselves,” said Applied Material’s Dr. Mark Pinto.

6 ) Applied Materials Takes Unused Space and Turns it into a Solar Energy Solution. Applied Materials worked with SunPower to create solar power systems that offered two megawatts of energy to Applied Materials’ Sunnyvale, California corporate facilities. “This is another exciting milestone in the adoption of solar power in California,” said Mike Splinter, president and chief executive officer of Applied Materials. “More companies are realizing the wisdom of integrating solar as a non-intrusive, clean, silent form of energy generation into our businesses and communities. We’ve converted our parking lots to power plants and we encourage others to join us in making solar power a meaningful part of the energy supply.”

7 ) Applied Materials Received 2009 Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Leadership Award. In 2009, Applied Materials received the Green Power Leadership Award which is awarded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This award recognizes the leading purchasers of green power in the country for their continued contribution and commitment to assisting in the development and the advancement of the green power market. “Purchasing and generating green power are important elements of our long term commitment to business and global sustainability,” said senior director for Applied Materials’ Environmental Health and Safety and head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Bruce Klafter. “Through our solar installations we are demonstrating the ease of integrating clean energy into existing business campuses and proving that solar power is a sound business decision, in addition to being an important choice in combating climate change.”

8 ) Applied Materials Demonstrates Leadership in Clean Energy. IN 2007 Applied Materials expanded an agreement to buy 8,220,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy a year from solar and wind generation sources throughout the state of California rather than getting energy from nonrenewable sources of energy. This amount equals roughly 12 percent of all the energy consumed in the Santa Clara facilities. This consumption will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over five percent. This will make Applied Materials one of the leading purchasers of renewable energy in Silicon Valley. This purchase was done as part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge. “We are committed to demonstrating practical environmental leadership in industry and the conservation of natural resources,” said Mike Splinter, president and CEO of Applied Materials. “We challenge other companies to join us in purchasing renewable power as we believe heightened demand will lower cost and increase availability for both business and consumer use.”

9 ) Applied Materials Received 2007 Environmental Leadership Award for Energy Efficiency Product Design. In June of 2007, Applied Materials received the Business Environmental Award from Acterra for its demonstration of environmental leadership. The award is known as the “Susanne Wilson Award for Pollution Prevention/Resources Conservation: Special Project” and Applied Materials won it for its design program for energy efficient semiconductor equipment. The award is commonly given to companies that seek to improve production or operation processes that reduce the consumption of resources and decrease pollution generation.

10 ) Applied Materials Partners with DuPont for Solar Cell Efficiency. In 2009, Applied Materials Partnered with product manufacturing company DuPont to collaborate on the advancement of multiple printing technology that would increase the efficiency of crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar cells. This would make photovoltaic power much more cost effective when compared to other available forms of energy.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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Abu Dhabi is staged to become one of the leaders in cleantech. With a recent multi-million dollar commitment to the development of renewable energy, this country which provides a large quantity of the world’s oil is poised to be a leader in renewable energy sources.

1 ) General Electric. In 2008, GE donated more than $50 million to the Masdar Cleantech fund to assist in established a center for clean energy technology in Abu Dhabi. The money is to be used through the Masdar Initiative, which is the umbrella group for all the current cleantech projects.

2 ) Masdar Initiative. One of Abu Dhabi’s largest cleantech programs is the Masdar Initiative. This company is dedicated to the development, commercialization, and deployment of clean technologies and renewable energy solutions. Masdar works alongside other global institutions to create new technologies that will increase renewable energy technologies. Its biggest project to date has been Masdar City. It was a city created by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi who wanted to create a viable response for a sustainable future. The city is currently becoming the global hub for clean technology and renewable energy. It is a city where global businesses can showcase, market, fund, research, develop, test, and implement their new technologies. The entire city is also powered through renewable energy and leaves no fossil fuel foot print. It has become the world’s most sustainable urban development.

3 ) Zayed Future Energy Prize. Abu Dhabi aims to inspire innovation as well as the development of solutions to assist with locating sustainable energy alternatives. The Zayad Future Energy Prize recognizes those governments, companies, institutions, NGOs, and even individuals who have developed and implemented sustainable energy solutions. It is a $1.5 million prize to assist in the acceleration of the idea.

4 ) Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. One of the most important things to the Abu Dhabi cleantech program is to foster research and development for the future. Opened in 2009, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology offers a host of MSc and PhD programs that focus on sustainable technologies and renewable energies. This institute was created in cooperation of the United States Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT. Masdar Institute is to be the heart of the Masdar City research and development community. Researchers and students will be focused on collaborating on modern technological solutions for the challenges faced by the global community in regards to sustainability and renewable energy.

5 ) International Renewable Energy Agency. Located in Abu Dhabi is the International Renewable Energy Agency, or IRENA, for short. It was established in 2009 and currently has 148 member states. IRENA’s mission is to promote increased adoption of renewable and sustainable energy sources. IRENA is involved in the facilitation of all information regarding relevant renewable strategy techniques, as well as lessons to be learned, policy frameworks, and energy efficiency measures. IRENA maintains that renewable energy is a major solution the world’s current and future energy challenges. IRENA creates comprehensive solutions to problems, such as insufficient renewable energy awareness, technical barriers, insufficient funding for renewable energy projected, and lengthy permitting procedures.

6 ) World Future Energy Summit. Held every year in Abu Dhabi is the World Future Energy Summit. The summit provides an important platform needed to address the current and urgent global need to locate viable energy solutions that are not only secure, but sustainable as well. Policy makers, researchers, specialists, scientists, investors, and political leaders show up for this summit under the belief that an interdisciplinary approach to this challenge is the effective route to take. At the summit, there is the World Future Energy Exhibition, which looks a advanced renewable energy sources, and the World Future Environment Exhibition, which pays special focus to waste, water, and air management solutions and technologies.

7 ) TAQA. In 2005, TAQA was founded with the goal of becoming a leader on the global energy sector platform. Through innovation, integrity, teamwork, and performance, TAQA looks to be one of the premier energy companies. They provide companies on an international level with valuable information they can use to learn how to conserve energy. In the Netherlands, for example, TAQA assists with CO2 storage and energy conservation.

8 ) Abu Dhabi Recycling Initiative. The residents of Abu Dhabi generate more than one and a half kilograms of waste per day. In one year alone, Abu Dhabi will make more than five million tonnes of waste. Abu Dhabi ranks high among the list of cities generating the most amount of waste. To lower these numbers, the Center of Waste Management created an incentive program to be given to Abu Dhabi residents who join the comprehensive recycling scheme. The scheme involves the handing out of two different garbage bins, one for recyclables and one for waste. This is the first eco-friendly recycling program to be launched in Abu Dhabi.

9 ) Intelligent Transportation System. There are many cars on the road in Abu Dhabi and because of this; they have been looking at viable ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Through the use of the Intelligent Transportation System, or ITS, the Department of Transport is hoping to lower their greenhouse emissions. ITS provides information on road congestion, highway advisories, and detour points. The thought is that by allowing individuals access to information about what are the quickest roads to take, the less they will be driving, and the less greenhouse gases to be emitted from the vehicle.

10 ) World’s Largest Solar Power Plant. Abu Dhabi’s Masdar company, along with Total and Abengoa Solar in Europe, are spending more than $600 million on a solar power plant that will put a dent in Abu Dhabi’s every growing energy needs. With this one being made, the expectation is that it will lead to the creation of more. The solar power plant will provide energy to the UAE’s national grid but will be supplied to Abu Dhabi in an effort to cut continually growing energy costs.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

photo: slleong

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ConocoPhillips Company is an American-based multinational energy corporation that has their headquarters in Houston, Texas. It is the fifth largest private sector energy corporation around the globe. ConocoPhillips is found in over 40 countries and employs over 25,000 people worldwide. In 2007, ConocoPhillips was the first major United States oil company to join the U.S. Climate Action Partnership. Also in 2007, ConocoPhillips stated that it would spend $150 on research and development for new energy sources and technologies. Since then, ConocoPhillips has been doing a lot within the clean technology sector, especially when it comes to renewable energy and future environmental sustainability.

1 ) ConocoPhillips Increases Spending on New Energy Technologies. ConocoPhillips is looking to make itself more than just an oil company by increasing their overall technology budget that will go toward innovations in the clean energy technology sector. In 2008, ConocoPhillips expanded their budget to $500 million which would be used toward a number of new technologies, such as new exploration technologies used for the detection of undersea oil and gas deposits while minimizing environmental impact, new breakthroughs in lithium-ion battery technologies, carbon capture and storage technologies, and coal-to-gas technologies. Stephen Brand, the senior vice president for technology said, “With our emphasis on research and development, alternatives like solar, geothermal, clean coal and battery technology are where we put our efforts, in addition to moving forward on renewable like biodiesel and cellulosic ethanol.”

2 ) ConocoPhillips Joins GE and NRG in 2011 for $300 Million Alternative Energy Alliance. In the early months of 2011, ConocoPhillips partnered with GE and NRG to invest over $300 million into a number of alternative energy emerging technologies. Known as Energy Technology Ventures, this investment will fund around 30 growth-stage and venture businesses throughout the next four years. A number of investments include non-food based biofuels and solar photovoltaic technologies. Aside from investing in these companies, Energy Technology Ventures will offer opportunities for commercial collaboration in a number of sectors across North America, Europe, as well as Israel, including biofuels, water, emissions control, energy efficient, renewable power generation, and smart grid technology.

3 ) Partner with Virginia Tech to Have Town Hall Meeting. In July of 1007, ConocoPhillips and Virginia Tech got together to host a town hall meeting in Richmond, Virginia to discuss growing energy needs. ConocoPhillips was there to provide views on a number of topics that could help the area, including alternative energy sources, renewable fuels, energy conservation, and energy efficiency.

4 ) ConocoPhillips Builds Global Research and Development and Training Center. In February of 2008, ConocoPhillips announced plans that it would be building a Global Technology and Corporate Learning Center in Louisville, Colorado. Upon establishment, the center was designed to become a central location for the research and development of creating liquid fuels from sources of renewable energy. The adjacent learning center will be a location where thousands of employees can get together and be trained on new energy technology applications. The campus is said to be completed by 2012.

5 ) ConocoPhillips and NEED Create Renewable Energy Workshops. In February of 2008, ConocoPhillips and the National Energy Education Develop (NEED) planned to host together 26 energy education workshops over an 11 month time span. The goal is to help school teachers in American become much more aware of energy efficiency and conservation. Teachers that attend the workshops will then share the knowledge gained with their students. In the last few years, these two companies have offered training and resources to around 3,000 teachers.

6 ) ConocoPhillips Works with Tyson Foods to Produce Next Generation Renewable Diesel. In April of 2007, ConocoPhillips and Tyson Foods, Inc. created a strategic alliance to produce as well as market the next generation in renewable diesel fuel. In the partnership, they plan to utilize poultry, pork, and beef by-product fat to create a new form of transportation fuel that could increase America’s energy security and address concerns regarding climate change. Animal fats are to be processed with hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce diesel fuel that will meet federal standards. The animal fat will also improve ignition properties of fuel.

7 ) ConocoPhillips, NREL, and Iowa State University Partner for Biofuels Research. In April of 2008, ConocoPhillips joined a memorandum of understanding with Iowa State University and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to look for cellulosic biomass conversion technologies for short and long term capabilities. Through this collaboration, the goal is to look for cost-effective and efficient techniques to create liquid transportation fuels from plants. “ConocoPhillips is committed to the development of technologies that will convert sustainable non-food feedstocks into transportation fuels that will be critical to the nation’s energy security,” said Stephen Brand, ConocoPhillips senior vice president, Technology. “We are hopeful that this collaboration will expand the knowledge base and speed the development of these environmental technologies.”

8 ) ConocoPhillips Signs on to Algae Research Agreement. ConocoPhillips signed a $5 million multi-year research agreement with C2B2 – the Colorado Center for Biorefining and Biofuels – a joint venture with the NREL, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, and the University of Colorado and Boulder. This project looks to locate new ways to convert biomass into low-carbon transportation fuels. The first part of this project focuses on creating renewable fuel from sources of algae.

9 ) ConocoPhillips Gives $3.5 million to University of Colorado’s Biotech Building. ConocoPhillips recently gifted the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building at the University of Colorado at Boulder with $3.5 million to assist in bringing together top class scientists as well as engineers to create new viable solutions using biotechnology. “The Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building creates a Front Range anchor for the biosciences with the help of partners like ConocoPhillips,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “With interdisciplinary research, the possibilities for energy innovation are limitless, and ConocoPhillips is providing the foundation for this vital work.”

10 ) ConocoPhillips Invests in Israeli Wastewater Startup. In June of 2011, ConocoPhillips made an investment into Emefcy, an Israeli start-up company specializing in the generation of electricity from wastewater treatment. This was the first investment outside the United States and the money will be used to assist the company in scaling its technology for industrial and municipal applications.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

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SDTC, short for Sustainable Development Technology Canada, is a non-profit organization that works to support and finance clean technology development and demonstration that will offer comprehensive solutions in areas including clean air and climate change, which will then provide health, environmental, and economic benefits to all Canadians. SDTC was established in 2001 by the Government of Canada and its mission is to “Act as the primary catalyst in building a sustainable development technology infrastructure in Canada.” SDTC’s goals include bridging the gap between innovation and commercialization, reduce the risk of clean technologies to attract investment and increase commercial success, and assist innovators in understanding the market and provide opportunities to bring their products to light.

1 ) SDTC Gives out $40 Million to 18 Companies in 2010. In July of 2010, SDTC provided funding to 18 clean technology companies across Canada to boost the green economy. Totally approximately $40 million, the funding went to help move companies’ innovation technology solutions right to the market. An example of a company is Etalim Inc, in British Columbia, a company that developed small-scale thermal-electric generators used for converting heat to electricity. Gestion TechnoCap Inc. in Quebec is another company that received funding for its development of a device that increases the overall efficiency of solar electricity generating systems. One last company is Saskatoon-based Targeted Growth Canada Inc, which produced a new jet biofuels from camelina, an oilseed crop.

2 ) SDTC Gives Millions in Funding in 2009 to Three British Columbia Based Companies. In 2009, the Canadian Government, through the SDTC invested $54 million to support a number of clean technology companies. Three of these companies were based in British Columbia. Lignol Innovations Ltd. developed a new biorefinery technology to increase the yield of ethanol and improve economic and environmental benefits of all cellulosic ethanol facilities. Saltworks Technologies Inc. is in the process of developing a thermal powered desalination system that will reduce electrical energy requirements up to 80 percent, improving the accessibility and affordability of clean water. Finally, SunSelect Produce Inc. is using biomass-based combustion along with carbon dioxide storage and gas cleaning to accelerate the process of photosynthesis in greenhouses.

3 ) SDTC Supported 2006 Industrial Vehicle Fuel Cell Test. In 2006, SDTC provided funding for a two year project along with Hydrogenics, GM Canada, and Nacco Materials Handling Group to demonstrate how viable hydrogen technology is for industrial vehicles, such as commercial lift trucks. The trials will demonstrate how fuel cell technology can provide an economically viable and clean power alternative for the materials handling industry.

4 ) SDTC and Veolia Partner to Commercialize Cleantech Innovation. In March of 2011 SDTC partnered with Veolia to increase the commercialization and market uptake of new clean technologies in Canada. The two companies plan to provide clean technology entrepreneurs with finances resources as well as business insight from SDTC and commercial, technical and operational resources provided by Veolia. The partnership aims to increase the deployment of clean technology innovations, boost efficiency in conducting and sourcing due diligence, and increase the number and rate of implementation of commercial clean technologies providing a positive environmental and economic return.

5 ) SDTC Provides Funding for New Ottawa Initiative. SDTC provided $42.5 million in funding to new clean technology projects in Ottawa. The funding is going toward the development as well as the demonstration of new clean technologies and fast-track these technologies to the market. Initiatives led by Hatch Ltd. and Plasco Energy Group Ltd are being provided with funding. In total, the 15 projects awarded with funding come from a variety of sectors, including agriculture, energy utilization, power generation, waste management, transportation, and paper products.

6 ) NextGen Biofuels Fund. The NextGen Biofuels Fund looks to assist Canadian biofuels technology projects’ chances of gaining success in the market by assisting them bridge the financial barrier and help the businesses scale-up their new technology solutions to a big, demonstration-scale plant. Because biofuels technologies have a certain technology risk associated with them than other established industries, it becomes a lot harder to get debt financing. This fund aims to change that.

7 ) SD Tech Fund. The SD Tech Fund is a business support initiative to fill the increasing gap between applied clean technology research and the commercialization of the product. Projects for the fund are considered with they are able to develop a new technology that will boost the utilization efficiency of water or clean air or fights against current climate change. The funding covers 33 percent of all eligible expenses to help further research and development efforts  without giving up intellectual property rights.

8 ) SDTC Partners with Tenova Goodfellow Inc. for Energy Efficiency Project. In February of 2011, SDTC partnered with Tenova Goodfellow Inc. to demonstrate the “Next Gen Energy Efficiency Breakthrough Technology” system for the electric arc furnace industry. This project looks to demonstrate a real-time, comprehensive process control and monitoring system where electric furnaces are operated and controlled according to total chemical and electrical energy input that is adjusted for energy losses. “Clean technologies are being integrated into Canada’s main industrial sectors, and the project led by TGI is a great example of this,” says Vicky Sharpe, President and CEO of SDTC. “The Next Gen EAF technology will allow the EAF steelmaking industry to reduce both its costs and its GHG emissions, combining the economic and environmental benefits of clean technologies.”

9 ) The Hydrogen Assisted Renewable Power Project. In September of 2010 the Hydrogen Assisted Renewable Power Project was created as a partnership between SDTC, BC Hydro, Powertech and GE. The energy storage project looks to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and alter how remote communities across the world are powered. The project is beginning in Bella Coola, British Columbia because, due to its remote location, it is not connected to the provincial electricity grid run by BC Hydro. Currently, the community has been using diesel generators which continue to create emissions. The new technology will reduce the need for diesel generators and help efficiently manage energy. “Our Government is working to position Canada as the world’s foremost clean energy superpower,” said the Honourable Stockwell Day. “With investments like GE’s groundbreaking Renewable Microgrid Systems, our Government is helping Canadians living in remote communities to be less dependent on fossil fuels. Through this project, we are stimulating Canada’s green economy, creating jobs and helping protect the environment.”

10 ) Pathogen Detection Systems Investment. In Kingston, Ontario is 2009, SDTC funded a new technology used to reduce the cost and time associated with testing water for dangerous pathogens. “By investing in Canadian technologies such as Pathogen Detection Systems’ clean water technology, our Government is helping to stimulate a new green economy in Canada, creating jobs and helping to protect the environment,” said David Anderson, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and for the Canadian Wheat Board. The Pathogen Detection Systems will integrate a microbiological water monitoring system alongside sophisticated software for water treatment optimization, reducing overall time by up to 80 percent, reducing costs and energy consumption, improving test integrity, and providing a number of environmental benefits.

Article by Shawn Lesser, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Watershed Capital Group – an investment bank assisting sustainable fund and companies raise capital, perform acquisitions, and in other strategic financial decisions. He is also a Co-founder of the GCCA Global Cleantech Cluster Association ”The Global Voice of Cleantech”. He writes for various cleantech publications and is known as the David Letterman of Cleantech for his “Top 10″ series. He can be reached at shawn@watershedcapital.com

photo: alexindigo

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