QuestPoint

2012 LOHAS Forum And Eco Integrity

quest — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:10:53 +0000

The LOHAS Forum, the nation’s premier gathering of thought leaders, investors and industry executives focused on the $290 billion LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) market, announced today the speaker lineup and full program for this year’s LOHAS Forum 2012. Now in its sixteenth year, the event will take place June 12 – 14 in Boulder, Colorado with interactive discussions focused on a broad portfolio of current issues including alternative energy, health and wellness, social justice, branding, green customer loyalty and effective ways to raise capital.

“The LOHAS community is looked at to pave the way for today’s consumers when it comes to the latest and greatest trends in healthy and sustainability – and it is events like the Forum that bring together the thought leaders in the space to facilitate open and creative dialogue,” said Ted Ning, director of the LOHAS Forum. “We could not be more excited for this year’s LOHAS Forum, as we will be turning Boulder into the ultimate eco-conscious hotspot and playing host to some of the most influential thinkers in sustainability.”

Speakers at LOHAS Forum 2012 include Chip Conley with Joie de Vivre Hospitality, Toni J. Bellafiore with American Honda Motor Company, Inc., Gopi Kallayil with Google, Jodi Berg with VitaMix, Sue Harvey Brown with Patagonia Footwear, Madeleine Buckingham with Mother Jones, Mary Jo Cook with Fair Trade USA, Tom Laforge with The Coca-Cola Company, among many others. LOHAS Forum 2012 will also feature a full schedule of interactive programming where attendees will be given access to thought leaders and industry experts with deep diving workshops, networking opportunities during daily receptions, meals and exercise activities; and intimate break-out sessions each afternoon. For the first time ever, this year’s LOHAS conference will integrate all the richness the city of Boulder has to offer. Attendees will not only be treated to an inspiring and powerful event, but will also get to dive head first into the cultural roots of Boulder.

U.S. Slaps High Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels

Chabot College Center Achieves LEED Certification

quest — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:36:06 +0000

Chabot Community College in Hayward, Calif., recently achieved LEED Platinum certification for their sustainably-designed student center building with the help of SageGlass dynamic glazing. The Community and Student Services Center (CSSC) is the centerpiece of the college’s “green intelligent building initiative,” serving more than 15,000 students, staff and faculty. Architects at tBP/Architecture wanted to incorporate as much glass as possible into the CSSC to flood the interior with daylight and keep a connection to the outdoors for the well-being of the students. The architects needed to find a way to maintain outside views and keep people comfortable inside, while simultaneously minimizing energy consumption to achieve the project’s LEED goals. Although conventional low-e glazing, automated interior blinds and automated exterior louvers would have managed the sun and solar heat gain, this approach would also have obstructed outside views and compromised building aesthetics.

The CSSC uses SageGlass as a strategic element of an integrated daylighting control system to manage sunlight and heat gain. The dynamic glazing tints or clears within minutes, significantly reducing energy consumed for air conditioning, heating and lighting. SageGlass glazing keeps glare and temperature under control throughout the day, making effective use of the natural ventilation system. In addition to SageGlass, the facility features a variety of other advanced sustainability technologies designed to achieve LEED Platinum accreditation through aggressive energy-efficiency levels and maximum occupant comfort.

SageGlass was instrumental in helping Chabot meet its ambitious sustainability initiative, which includes attaining LEED Silver rating as a minimum for all new construction,” said Doug Horner, Project Manager with Chabot Community College. “This one-of-a-kind facility exceeds this standard by using advanced design elements, which provide natural daylight in all occupied spaces and access to outdoor views. The CSSC also controls the amount of light to reduce heat gain as a means of increasing the comfort level of occupants.”

Sexy Celebrity Environmentalists Making A Difference

Sustainable Food Festival Cooking Up In Monterey

quest — Tue, 15 May 2012 23:59:24 +0000

Food lovers, culinary experts and chefs from across the country will convene in Monterey, California from May 18-20 for Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Cooking for Solutions, a premier event celebrating the use of sustainable food. On the night of May 17, eleven top chefs from ARAMARK Parks and Destinations will showcase their culinary talent at the Aquarium using regional ingredients and sustainable practices in a special Meet the Chefs Reception. ARAMARK, which manages the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s dining experiences in partnership with award-winning Napa Valley chef and restaurateur Cindy Pawlcyn, is bringing together chefs from its portfolio of parks, resorts and cultural attractions to take part in this weekend’s festivities and participate in this prestigious event. Invited guests attending the Meet the Chefs Reception will dine on a menu featuring fresh, local and seasonal ingredients while learning more about the protection and conservation of the environment.

“It is an honor for our chefs to be invited to participate in the Meet the Chefs Reception,” said Brian Stapleton, vice president of food and beverage, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations. “We look forward to providing guests with an extraordinary menu and memorable evening that reflects the chefs’ passion for cooking with sustainable ingredients.”

“Monterey Bay Aquarium has dedicated itself to educating the public about the importance of protecting our environment and natural resources,” said Bruce W. Fears, president, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations. “We also have deep respect for the environment and are delighted to have our chefs participate in Cooking for Solutions, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest sustainable food festivals.”Programs and events, such as Cooking for Solutions and Meet the Chefs, allow ARAMARK to demonstrate its commitment to protecting and improving the environment. ARAMARK believes sustainability is a process and has implemented environmental management practices and systems within the areas of food purchasing, supply chain, building operations, energy and water conservation, transportation and waste management.

Eco Fashion Footwear

Solar and Renewable Energy Innovations Awarded 200k

quest — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:35:19 +0000

Young entrepreneurs developing energy from waste water treatment, robots for cleaning solar panels and solar cell films with 20% more efficiency took the top prizes at the First Look West (FLoW) regional finals competition, which closed last week. At an awards celebration held at the California Institute of Technology on May 1, Stanford Nitrogen Group, Greenbotics and Xite Solar shared $200,000 in prize money.Professor Harry Atwater, Director of Caltech’s Resnick Sustainability Institute, says “Successful competitions such as this show how universities, working with investors and the business community, are leaders in accelerating innovation flow to the real world, and in launching our future entrepreneurial leaders.”

At the Regional Awards Celebration, keynoter and Judge Andrew Chung, Partner at Khosla Ventures, captured the tone of the competition during an address that touched on the importance of thinking beyond the obvious. “Entrepreneurship shouldn’t be about extrapolating the past, but rather inventing the future,” Chung said. “Startups shouldn’t let the word of the ‘experts’ or conventional ‘wisdom’ constrain them from imagining new possibilities.”

FLoW represents the Western Region of the DOE’s National Clean Energy Business Plan Competition (NCEBPC). The winning teams from six regions across the country will now participate in the National Competition in Washington D.C., June 12 and 13, 2012. The awards event was the culmination of a six month competitive process searching for the untapped clean energy innovation that lies in American university labs. In its first year FLoW attracted 83 applicants from 34 universities across twelve states, and saw inventions ranging from new battery materials for portable electronic devices to net energy+ home kits, hydroponic farms and telephone apps for tracking energy use in the home.

Solar Powered Light Little Sun Launched

Suniva Named 2012 Cool Provider in Solar Energy

quest — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:40:33 +0000

Suniva, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency crystalline silicon solar cells and modules, today announced that it has been recognized by Gartner as a 2012 Cool Vendor in Solar Energy. The Gartner Cool Vendors in Solar Energy 2012 report highlights four vendors whose innovations could have a disruptive impact on the PV solar industry by dramatically reducing the cost of solar-generated electricity. The report highlights that improving the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells can be an effective cost reduction strategy, but only if increases in manufacturing complexity and cost are kept to a minimum. Suniva recently announced that its ARTisun(TM) Select series solar cells are now averaging 19 percent efficiency in plant-wide production, yielding conversion efficiencies of up to 16.3 percent at the module level.

“The report by Gartner recognizes that the Solar industry will continue to be driven by innovation that produces high efficiency, high performance cells at a cost that is sensible for today’s market conditions,” said John Baumstark, CEO, Suniva. “We’re proud of our inclusion in the report and for the recognition of our pioneering and proprietary work in producing the highest efficiency cells and modules possible through low cost manufacturing techniques.”

Suniva’s continued research, innovation and deep experience have led to these most recent cost-effective cell-efficiency improvements. In 2011, the company formed its Manufacturing Innovation Center to improve processes and enhance performance. Suniva’s unique, low-cost approach achieves these efficiency gains without the added steps and processing costs that traditionally characterize the means of increasing performance, thus avoiding the complexities and premiums of enhanced performance.

End Polluter Welfare Invest In Solar

The Power of A Solar Salary

quest — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:55:00 +0000

First Solar, Inc. recently announced that James Hughes has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Hughes succeeds Mike Ahearn, First Solar’s founder and Chairman, who has been serving as interim CEO since Oct. 2011. Hughes joined First Solar in March as Chief Commercial Officer. Ahearn will continue in his role as Chairman of the Board.“Jim has been instrumental in developing the strategic plan that will enable us to compete and win in this new era for the solar industry, and it became clear he is the right person to lead the execution of that plan”

Bloomberg BusinessWeek is reporting that Hughes will receive a $750,000 salary. He is being promoted from within the company.“Jim has been instrumental in developing the strategic plan that will enable us to compete and win in this new era for the solar industry, and it became clear he is the right person to lead the execution of that plan,” said Ahearn. “Jim brings a wide range of experience that will be invaluable in leading our organization, having owned and operated utilities, built power projects, cultivated partnerships and led profitable growth in a wide array of key markets around the world.”

“I am excited for this opportunity to lead First Solar into a new era for the industry,” said Hughes. “First Solar is unrivaled in terms of talent and experience and has the premier platform from which to implement solar power at a meaningful scale around the world. The rapid cost reductions in the industry position solar at the threshold of the mainstream energy markets, and we are well-positioned to capitalize on that opportunity.” First Solar, the world’s largest maker of thin-film solar panels recently closed it plant in Germany and laid off 2000 workers.

Yingli Solar To Power Rio’s Maracana Stadium

AAA On Driving Eco Friendly EV’s And Hybrids

quest — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:37:47 +0000

Ok if Paula Patton Co star from the most recent Mission Impossible film was wiling to take a test drive with you in BMW’s new Concept Car even more EV’s would sell. But, are you hoping to decrease your carbon footprint and live a greener life? What and how you drive is a large part of your daily carbon footprint. Electric engines, several hybrid options and even traditional internal combustion engines have become more efficient and emit fewer greenhouse gasses. Even if you’re not in the market for a new car, AAA has tips to help you get the best efficiency and minimize greenhouse gasses no matter what you drive. ”There has been an influx of ‘green’ technologies by automakers into the market, which is great for consumers seeking a more environmentally-conscious choice for their next vehicle purchase,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s Director of Automotive Engineering and Repair.

2012 has been an exciting year for full-electric vehicles (EV). These vehicles do not use gasoline and rely solely on battery power. With the average cost for a kilowatt hour of electric energy at approximately 12 cents, to fully charge an EV with a 24KWh battery pack would cost around $2.88. That works out to between 3.0 cents and 4.4 cents per mile for fuel. Making EV’s even more appealing and green; there is no need for oil changes, ignition system maintenance, fuel system service or exhaust pipe and muffler replacements.

In addition to full electric cars there is also the option of Gasoline-Electric Hybrids, Compressed Natural Gas/Diesel Vehicles, and More Efficient Gasoline Vehicles. But fuel economy can be realized in plug-in hybrid powertrains. These vehicles use a rechargeable battery pack that allows the car to travel up to 35 miles before the onboard gasoline engine starts. In some cars, this engine will provide power to the drive wheels. In other models this engine powers a generator that delivers power to the motor driving the vehicle while also recharging the batteries. Unlike fully electric vehicles, a plug-in hybrid is limited only by the range of its gas tank. The Toyota Prius PHEV and 2013 Ford Fusion are great examples of plug-ins in the marketplace today.

Sexy Celebrity Environmentalists Making A Difference

quest — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:18:58 +0000

Sure, celebrities are known for making a lot of green, but few have gained recognition for going green. In celebration of Earth Day 2012, Recently Rodale a source for news and ideas for healthy living on a healthy planet assembled an inaugural list of the “Top 50 Sexiest Environmentalists.” A definitive ranking of actors, adventurers, athletes and influencers, the list rounds up those that are using their star power to make meaningful contributions to environmental causes or dedicate significant time to supporting related nonprofits or organizations.

Of course there are list and then there are list Leo Dicaprio, Natalie Portman and Woody Harrelson have been on a green journey for some time now. And given the reality of what’s gong on with solar energy and the environment the list of celebrities more people greening up is likely to grow. On the list is heart throb Lenny Kravitz and Alexandra Cousteau: The granddaughter of the famous explorer Jacques Cousteau who founded Blue Legacy, a nonprofit that inspires people to take action on critical water problems.

From careers that depend on the conservation of the environment, like those of Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler and pro-surfer Rob Machado, to lifestyle changes inspired by having a family, like Jessica Alba and Alicia Silverstone’s adoption of healthier consumer practices. Today New York City born actress Rosario Dawson launched National Train day on behalf of Amtrak.

Lenny Kravitz & Ellen DeGeneres

Electric Vehicle World Visionary Award Goes To LA

Nicaraguan Travelers Enjoy Ecotourism Dazzling Views

quest — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:01:14 +0000

Nicaragua, Central America’s hottest (and safest) tourist destination, has unveiled a website feature to make traveling to “the land of lakes and volcanoes” easier. Ready for volcano boarding?The new booking engine on VisitNicaragua.US enables tourists to make reservations for hotels, flights and tours in a simple, direct and easy-to-navigate way. Nicaragua offers visitors an authentic experience that puts them in touch with the country’s vast natural beauty and warmth of its people. Travelers can enjoy ecotourism, adventure tourism and simply relaxation against a backdrop of dazzling colonial architecture; spectacular volcanoes, lakes and rainforest; and pristine beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Central America’s largest country and the safest, Nicaragua beckons with a wide variety of travel options at affordable prices

Among the featured hotels that visitors to VisitNicaragua.US can book are Hotel Casa San Francisco in Granada, Nicaragua’s most popular tourist destination; Marina Puesta del Sol, a luxurious fishing resort on the northwest Pacific coast of Nicaragua; and Pelican Eyes Resort and Spa, in the lively beach town of San Juan del Sur. Visitors to VisitNicaragua.us also can choose from dozens of tours of Nicaragua, including the 4-day “Nicaragua’s Colonial Highlights” and the 10-day “Magic of Nicaragua”

The new booking engine on VisitNicaragua.us comes on the heels of the new Nicaragua Tourism Facebook page, which recently launched with a vacation giveaway contest. Until June 11, 2012, visitors to www.facebook.com/visitnicaragua can enter the Nicaragua Ultimate Adventure Sweepstakes to win an amazing trip to experience all the unspoiled nature, beauty, culture, adventure and fun that Nicaragua offers tourists.”We are delighted to offer the new booking engine on VisitNicaragua.US as well as the vacation sweepstakes on our new Facebook page,” said Mario Salinas, Nicaragua’s Minister of Tourism. “Both are examples of our commitment to expanding our tourism offerings and to welcoming more visitors from North America to our beautiful country.”

Electric Vehicles Harvesting Energy Report

Solar Powered Light Little Sun Launched

quest — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:38:56 +0000

Little Sun, a small solar-powered light, was launched today at the World Economic Forum in Addis Ababa as part of the WEF’s focus on how art can contribute to changing the world.Leading artist Olafur Eliasson, working with engineer Frederik Ottesen, has been developing Little Sun – a work of art that works in life – over the last two years. Olafur Eliasson said: “Little Sun is a small work of art with a large reach. It brings the different strands of my work together in a new, meaningful context. One part of the artwork is the lamp itself and the activities enabled by its light; the other is the successful integration of Little Sun into off-grid communities – its journey from production to usage.”

Little Sun provides a practical, affordable, and safe source of artificial light to some of the 1.6 billion people worldwide who live without access to mains electricity. Little Sun makes light for living, learning, and earning. Little Sun creates business opportunities in off-grid regions that generate profits for everyone involved, in all stages of production, distribution, retail, and use.The light’s durable, versatile sun-like design utilises a 6 x 6 cm mono-crystalline solar module. When charged for four hours in the sunlight, Little Sun will yield five hours of bright LED illumination.

The Little Sun project will be presented at Tate Modern, London, this summer in a specially created display as part of the London 2012 Festival, the cultural programme that accompanies the London 2012 Olympic Games. Details will be announced shortly. A photo exhibition by leading Ethiopian artists about Little Sun solutions to energy poverty will be presented during the Forum: Tehras Berhe, Mihret Kebede, Desta Madere, Merklit Mersha, Michael Tsegaye, and Helen Zeru.