Category Archives: Energy & Climate

The Future of Energy

Last week I was honored to be asked to give a brief talk on the future of energy at 1776, Washington DC’s startup incubator. I was in town for less than 24 hours but it felt invigorating to present my ideas back in my home town. The event was called RebootEnergy, and its purpose wasContinue reading “The Future of Energy”

The First Cleanweb Hackathon in Texas

Last weekend marked the culmination of a special project I’ve been working on for many months: bringing the Cleanweb Hackathon to Houston! Cleanweb is a global movement of people developing IT-based “clean” technologies instead of the traditional “cleantech” like solar and wind which require massive investments and decades to commercialize. The purpose of a cleanweb hackathonContinue reading “The First Cleanweb Hackathon in Texas”

If Climate Change Isn’t Happening, Why Is the Arctic Melting?

The following question was asked on LinkedIn: “After Climate-Gate, skeptics say that man-made climate chaos and global warming are not happening yet the Arctic’s melting faster. What are your thoughts, observations and views?” My response: “I’m not a an expert in climate change, but I know many such experts. They are professors in environmental science,Continue reading “If Climate Change Isn’t Happening, Why Is the Arctic Melting?”

CleanTech Open Finals

Last week I traveled to San Jose, CA, for the finals of the CleanTech Open, for which Smart Office Energy Solutions had been selected as a finalist from the South Central region. I and 20 other finalists from the seven regions arrived in San Jose on Monday to begin two exhausting days of competition. EachContinue reading “CleanTech Open Finals”

CleanTech Open National Academy

I’ve just returned from the National Academy of the Cleantech Open, for which Smart Office Energy Solutions was selected as a Regional Semifinalist, in San Jose, CA. The Academy was a four-day affair of workshops and networking for Cleantech entrepreneurs who had made it into the semi-finals. The jury is still out on whether competingContinue reading “CleanTech Open National Academy”

The Most Pressing Question: How To Price Food, Energy, and Health?

I was recently invited to throw my hat in for participation in the conference on “Ecosystem Services” hosted by the National Academies Keck Futures Initiative. It is a “think tank” style event at which people from all disciplines, sectors, and backgrounds come together to address weighty topics. One question on the application was, “Which oneContinue reading “The Most Pressing Question: How To Price Food, Energy, and Health?”

Green Job Creation Is the Wrong Argument

A friend of mine asked for my response to an article titled “The False Promise of Green Jobs.” The article contends that “green” governmental policies will not result in net creation of jobs because: A. these new green jobs will be offset by job losses in the “conventional” energy sector and B. green energy isContinue reading “Green Job Creation Is the Wrong Argument”

US Cleantech Energy Policy => #fail

A recent post by Battery Ventures VP Mike Dauber on the Obama administration’s challenge to cleantech entrepreneurs generated some discussion among my friends and colleagues. One point of focus was whether or not this really is our “Sputnik moment” and, if so, whether the race to the Moon was really worthwhile anyway. Responding to thisContinue reading “US Cleantech Energy Policy => #fail”

Happy Birthday, Smart Office Energy Solutions!

Wow. One year ago today we incorporated Smart Office Energy Solutions. As impatient as I am, it is never moving along quite quickly enough for me, but it is still important to look back at all we have already accomplished in a relatively brief time. When we incorporated last December, we had completed tremendous analysisContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Smart Office Energy Solutions!”