With all of the time and energy we expend using computers, it makes sense that developing energy efficient alternatives should be a high priority for technology companies. And who better to grab the reins and innovate this category than Apple, reinforcing their commitment to bringing leading edge solutions to the forefront, and elevating the green 'cool factor' in the process.
Green Building Retrofitting: How do you promote green building when building, green or not, has ground to a halt? You take green to the existing building stock. Existing green builders and young green retrofit companies are emerging at a time when national, state and local governments are embracing programs to promote energy efficiency and green retrofitting.
Traditional Home Builders See an Opportunity
Forgive me for making partisan political plugs in this most political of seasons, but the states that consistently vote for Democratic party candidates also lead the nation in energy efficiency efforts according to a recent study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Their annual report and ranking of statewide initiatives is funded by the U.S. government through the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Government waste is prevalent throughout our daily lives. From the pointless use of Police ATVs patrolling our completely safe beaches, to the quashing of plans for more efficient everything, our governments seem to be avoiding the imminent truth about our environmental crisis. At very least, sustainability does not seem to be on their checklist of mandatory considerations before making a decision. Everything from the policy decisions to the execution of initiatives are often missing the mark on the dire need to transition our society to one that is in alignment with nature, rather than at odds with it.
Dell wants to be the "greenest" tech company out there.
Walking through some trendy shopping district, with seasonal banners/flags above, do you ever wonder where they go after they've been switched out? In most cases, they get disposed of, adding to the waste stream. While it could be argued that these districts could find other creative, less resource intensive ways to promote themselves, one area, Commercial Drive in Vancouver, has taken another path:
In a previous post (link), I covered how BIM (Building Information Modeling) was changing the Architectural, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry, and also provided insights on the market drivers that green technology vendors in this space should be aware of, to leverage BIM for growth. In this column I will cover some insights on growth strategies for the federal buildings sector, as well as general growth strategy insights from key thought leaders in the market.
Water shortages are on the rise, from Mexico to the Andes, northern China to southern India, and Spain to Pakistan. Drought, soaring populations and population densities, changing diets, and increasing living standards are all factors. Is this an issue that technology can fix?
Judging by investors’ responses, technology can at least mitigate the problem. FourWinds will invest up to $4.7 billion in water treatment and desalinization and companies that make meters, pumps, and pipes.
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