Hertz Launches Global Sustainability Drive

Posted on February 7, 2012 by quest

Hertz the world’s largest general use car rental brand, introduced “Living Journey” today, the Company’s corporate sustainability strategy. Living Journey positions Hertz to be the leader in Sustainable Mobility and Equipment Solutions through various strategic initiatives that integrate sustainability best practices throughout the Company including:Smart Mobility—Hertz is committed to providing customers vehicle rental options that are fuel efficient and use clean, low-emissions technology such as Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrids. Environment—Hertz’s goal is to minimize its environmental footprint and operating costs through efficiency improvements, resource management and renewable energy production. Community—Hertz is dedicated to creating a positive impact and enhancing the communities it serves by giving back through philanthropic and volunteer efforts.

“Sustainability has always been part of the culture at Hertz. We have a long-standing tradition of innovation and leadership that includes managing the environmental performance and social impacts of the Company alongside our fiscal responsibilities,” said Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and CEO of Hertz. “In 2011, we made tremendous progress on Hertz’s industry-leading solar generation and Electric Vehicle initiatives in addition to ongoing efforts to operate in an environmentally responsible manner at our corporate offices and rental facilities. As a continuation of our success, we are excited to introduce Living Journey which encompasses all of our efforts as an organization through partnerships, employee education and investments to reduce our impact on the environment, provide customer value, and manage our business sustainably.”Through Hertz’s sustainability efforts, the Company has:Recycled and diverted 2 million tons of e-waste from landfills, recycled approximately 680,000 gallons of used oil in 2011, and reduced paper use by 2.8 million pounds since 2006.

In addition, more than 80% of the water used at Hertz car washes is recycled. The Company is currently implementing energy audits and lighting upgrades across many of its facilities. Estimated results from recent lighting upgrades include 1.1 million kilowatt-hours and 776 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved annually (across 20 Hertz locations).To communicate Living Journey to its stakeholders, Hertz has launched a sustainability website which is the first of its kind for the Company. The site highlights Hertz’s achievements and plans in the sustainability arena, which includes energy-efficiency improvements such as lighting and HVAC upgrades, utilizing LEED certification standards for Hertz buildings, solar energy production, global recycling efforts, and delivering fuel-efficient fleet choices to consumers. Last year, Hertz was recognized by the Global Business Travel Association for Sustainable Practice through Hertz On Demand, Hertz’s hourly car rental program.

Solar 3D Casting New Solar Market Paths

Warren Buffet A Major Solar Energy Investor

Posted on February 6, 2012 by quest

One of America’s leading investors, Warren Buffet and his MidAmerican Renewables, LLC, recently announced it has completed its acquisition of the Topaz Solar Farm from First Solar, Inc. The 550-megawatt photovoltaic power plant being built in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., will have the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 160,000 average California homes. “There is a growing desire to utilize renewable energy,” said Bill Fehrman, president of MidAmerican Renewables. “Solar plays a crucial role in meeting renewable energy targets and portfolios. The closing of the Topaz project acquisition makes it the second solar project in our renewables business, and we look forward to evaluating and acquiring additional opportunities.”

The Topaz project will be built, operated and maintained by First Solar. Construction began in December 2011 and is expected to be complete by early 2015. The project will create approximately 400 construction jobs and 15 ongoing operations and maintenance jobs. “We are pleased to be moving forward with MidAmerican Renewables on the Topaz project – one of the two largest PV projects in the world, which are both being built by First Solar,” said Frank De Rosa, First Solar senior vice president for business development – the Americas. “First Solar is the leading developer of utility-scale PV projects, and MidAmerican Renewables’ investment in these renewable resources is a significant endorsement.”

Pacific Gas and Electric Company will purchase the electricity from the Topaz project under a 25-year power purchase agreement, helping California meet its mandate to generate 33 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020.Developed by First Solar, the Topaz project will incorporate the company’s advanced thin-film PV modules, which generate electricity with no emissions, waste or water use and have the smallest carbon footprint of any PV technology. Electricity generated from the Topaz project will displace approximately 377,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year – the equivalent of taking approximately 73,000 cars off the road. Warren Buffet is a major investor in the project.

Where the Jobs Are: Green Tech Manufacturing

SunPower Acquires French Solar Company

Posted on January 31, 2012 by quest

San Francisco bay area based SunPower a manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems today announced it has completed its acquisition of the wholly-owned Total SA subsidiary Tenesol SA, a global solar provider headquartered in La Tour de Salvagny, France for $165.4 million in cash. Concurrently with the closing of this acquisition, Total purchased 18.6 million shares of SunPower common stock in a private placement at $8.80 per share. Total now owns approximately 66 percent of SunPower’s common stock.”SunPower is well positioned to gain share during the current market transition with the addition of Tenesol’s established European and global customer channels and strong manufacturing base in Europe and Africa,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “Tenesol’s well-established engineering and sales channels and strong team will complement SunPower’s world-leading high efficiency, high reliability solar panels and systems global footprint.”

Tenesol has been designing, engineering, manufacturing, installing and managing solar energy systems for its global customer base since 1983. It is a leading solar energy operator in Europe with a strong pipeline in the French market for large industrial and commercial photovoltaic rooftop solutions. The company has installed more than 15,000 solar systems worldwide totaling approximately 500 megawatts (MW) dc. In addition, Tenesol is a leader in the global off-grid market sector and expects to record revenue of approximately EUR 200 million in 2011. Post acquisition, SunPower will have deployed more than 2,500 MW dc of solar technology globally.

“With SunPower’s industry-leading technology, attractive long-term cost roadmap, our joint collaboration on research and development and Tenesol‘s established downstream presence, the combined company is well positioned to open new, largely untapped markets for solar,” said Arnaud Chaperon, senior vice president, Total Gas and Power Division.

Where is your water?

Santa Clara Students Ready For 2013 Solar Decathlon

Posted on January 30, 2012 by quest

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday that Santa Clara University will compete in the 2013 Solar Decathlon, joining 19 other teams of universities and colleges from around the world. Santa Clara’s undergraduate engineering students will go up against some tough schools, such as Stanford, University of Southern California, and California Institute of Technology. They will also face mostly graduate students, many of whom with professional experience. SCU students, who are 19 to 22 years old, aren’t intimidated, though. Santa Clara University hopes the third time will be the charm in one of the world’s most prestigious competitions that determines the best designer and builder of a net-zero energy house.

“We’ve been putting in countless hours studying, researching, and developing our concept,” says Jake Gallau ’13, student project manager for Santa Clara University’s Solar Decathlon team. “We’re confident in our design and the technology we plan to use, and we’re hoping to shock the competition in 2013, just as our alumni have done in previous years.”Gallau is referring to SCU’s 2007 team, which surprised its opponents when it won third place after a late start in the competition. The university also won third place in 2009, after finishing in the top three in seven of the ten contests of the decathlon. Judges score each team in architecture, market appeal, engineering, communications, affordability, comfort zone, hot water, appliances, home entertainment, and energy balance. The team with the highest overall score wins, but as faculty project manager and Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Tim Hight points out, winning the Solar Decathlon isn’t the most important goal for Santa Clara University.

To assist Santa Clara University with the architectural design of the home, the students will work with University of San Francisco’s undergraduate architecture program.The students will finalize their plans and begin fundraising for the remainder of the academic year. Then, they will begin more detailed design and analysis this summer. Construction of the house will begin in the spring of 2013. Once the home is finished in the fall, the students will dismantle it, and truck it to Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif., where the students will have to rebuild it, operate it, and prove that it’s a functional, energy-efficient, affordable home.Since 2002, the Solar Decathlon has been held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. For the 2013 Solar Decathlon, though, the DOE sought a new venue to promote the outreach, education, and economic benefits of energy security, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Solar Flares Affecting Humans

Toxic Spill Threatens 3.2 Million Residents In China

California Selected For 2013 Solar Decathlon

Posted on January 27, 2012 by quest

Now just after President Obama’s State of the Union Address The United States Department of Energy today announced that the Orange County Great Park has been selected as the site for the 2013 Solar Decathlon. The Solar Decathlon challenges international collegiate teams to design and build solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient and attractive while promoting the education and economic benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Visitors will be able to tour the renewable energy houses that combine energy-efficient construction and appliances at a specially-constructed Great Park Solar Village in the fall of 2013.

“I am extremely proud that after carefully evaluating sites throughout the nation, the Department of Energy selected our Great Park as the location of this important international event,” said Mike Ellzey, Chief Executive Officer, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “Staging the 2013 Solar Decathlon at the Great Park will focus worldwide attention on the entire solar renewable energy industry in Orange County and throughout California. The event will also greatly stimulate the local economy by bringing in tourism dollars from those attending.”

“The Orange County Great Park is proud and honored to be chosen as the host site for the 2013 U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon,” said Beth Krom, Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation Board of Directors. “This unique event fits perfectly with our vision and focus on innovation, sustainability and community engagement. We are excited and look forward to working with the Department of Energy, the participating universities and our community partners to put on an extraordinary event.”The Solar Decathlon is a biennial event that was launched in 2002. The 2013 Solar Decathlon at the Orange County Great Park will be the first Decathlon held outside of Washington D.C.. The Great Park was selected through a national competition.

Dickson Despommier on The Vertical Farm

Obama Goes Green In State of The Union

Posted on January 25, 2012 by quest

President Obama put it out there in last night’s State of the Union Address at one point saying, “Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same,” Obama said. “It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom. No bailouts, no handouts, and no cop-outs. He focused on four areas – American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.There it was the energy, the passion, the truth telling and a vision for a new clean green tech America. Was that Barrack Obama calling for innovation and entrepreneurship to drive a new era of energy prosperity? Or was it Obama channeling former President Jimmy Carter who back in 1977 proposed a new National Energy Policy. I wonder where we’d be if his policies had remained in effect. Who knows maybe there would have been no need for a war in Iraq.

And just last week President Obama went thumbs down on the Keystone XL Pipeline project which opponents had called an environmental disaster in the making. In his State of the Union speech last night he went directly after big oil. He said,”Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away. Some technologies don’t pan out; some companies fail. But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy. I will not walk away from workers like Bryan. I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here. We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century. That’s long enough. It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising. Pass clean energy tax credits. Create these jobs”

While conceding the logjam in Congress he said, “We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives. The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation. So far, you haven’t acted. Well, tonight, I will. I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes. And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history -– with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.