Energy efficiency is on the rise in investment circles, and energy management makes perfect sense for large enterprises in the commercial and industrial markets, to save big companies millions. But will this translate to the light commercial and residential markets?
If you’re interested in selling energy management and green tech services, Jim Sweeney of Hometronics Lifestyles and Eco-Tronics, the subject of our recent case study and CE Pro profile, suggests the following. 1. If you’re doing residential, get green building certifications from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This will give you knowledge...
Hometronics Lifestyles has expanded to provide a host of green tech services in the last couple of years, serving both the residential and commercial markets: LED lighting, solar thermal and energy brokering. The company is even changing the brand of the green side of its business to Eco-Tronics. Here's how they're doing it.
Is it worth getting into the solar installation business? That may depend on whom you talk to. According to Joe Bono, CEO of Solar Universe, the market for residential solar installations can result in a very lucrative business if done right. Bono says that solar panel leasing programs, which provide solar panels to homeowners...
Hybrid vehicles like the Honda Insight are innovating ways to communicate energy efficiency to people. And the Insight is innovating ways of making energy efficiency FUN. But what I’m now learning from driving this somewhat less-prissified hybrid is surprising me. And it has to do with overcoming public perceptions of "green."
Sometimes being green and energy-efficient isn’t about just being green and energy-efficient. Take high-end homebuilder Scott Frankel of Frankel Building Group in Houston. His company is selling $800,000-plus homes in a development called ParkGate Reserve in The Woodlands. All the homes are LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified by the U.S. Green Building...
There have been a slew of energy management announcements recently—just check out other posts in this blog—but it’s one from a do-it-yourself product that has really piqued my interest. Why? It isn’t because it’s for DIYers. It’s because its partner is starting to break new and important ground in engaging users. The install-youself PowerCost...
We always say, if you want to know what’s going to happen in an industry or sector, follow the money. Venture capitalists are pulling back on their investments in clean energy and putting more into energy efficiency technologies. Energy efficiency investments by VCs are now outpacing those in solar. Then again, we knew this...
It’s easy to dismiss the luxury market as not caring a whit about energy efficiency. But more and more, the rich are using their green to build green and energy-efficient homes. And their reasons seem to go far beyond their ability to pay more in building costs.
So Google PowerMeter will be no more. Rest in peace, Google PowerMeter. According to Google’s blog, the inability of the company to scale with the product has forced it to focus attention elsewhere. Also: PowerMeter users will have access to the tool until September 16, 2011. We have made it easy for you to...
Electronic House Green Tech Blog