The past two weeks have been an interesting time in the world of climate change research. The recently released, privately-funded Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature (BEST) study that was pioneered by respected scientist and praised climate skeptic Richard Muller tells us something we already knew: the earth is getting warmer.

(SEE THE FULL ARTICLE AT: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zz6LytX95C8/TqFvjmh5TOI/AAAAAAAAC4c/G22RQGK3w7... )

Freedom or regulation - it’s a classic argument. On the one hand officials want to pursue mandated policy to drive progressive action. The other would rather let the free market police its own willing participants. But recent legislation in places like NY, DC or San Francisco seems to be promoting sustainability in a way that lessens the viability of green real estate being just what it should be – a sound business idea.

Ecovative Ideas – December 11, 2010

How Cavet Technologies’ Lumismart Intelligent Lighting Controller is changing the way existing properties look at energy efficient lighting.

By Chris Maddern, LEED AP

Recently our office had the distinct pleasure of hosting Cavet Technologies’ Simon Jerome to showcase Cavet’s fantastic new energy savings device – the Lumismart Intelligent Lighting Controller (ILC).

by Eddie C, Daily Kos
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/7/7/10471/20872
Wed Jul 07, 2010

This is not an area I'm very familiar with but apparently the complex where I live represents three of the 9,000 NYC buildings that play a large part in New York City air failing federal health standards by burning a very dirty heating oil.

How do you create effective lighting when there’s no way to get to the grid? Leave it to a couple of ingenious designers to come up with a beautiful and self-sufficient bamboo lighting system! Designed by Ingendesign, the ‘Flow’ light is powered by constant prevailing coastal winds and is built to be almost completely biodegradable.

Friday, June 12, 2009

Green industry gives new entrepreneurs opportunities
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Lauren Darm Staff Writer

JACKSONVILLE — While in college, Chris Maddern’s thoughts always fluctuated between his passion for business and his desire to help the planet.

He wanted more than just money. He wanted to focus his entrepreneurial skills on something that could also include his global concerns. He quickly realized there was a niche for what he sought to do and a demand for public guidance from those who shared his vision.

The Future of Renewable Energy
(for the full version visit: http://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/199728.html)

If you think it's all about solar and wind, think again.

The companies: Energy Solutions International and Green Revolution

The innovation: Kinetic energy adapters for gym equipment

What it does: Technically, nothing. It just sits there while you pedal furiously and go nowhere. But it does allow you to convert all that sweat and energy into, well, energy, as resistance from stationary bikes is converted into electricity and sent back to the gym's power grid.

The benefits of solar power are starting to spread beyond the single-family home.

For legal and practical reasons, installations of solar power have largely bypassed buildings with multiple residential units. Laws in most states, for example, require each solar-power system to have only one meter.

Nope, that’s not a typo in the title. Negawatt is a term you should get to know. You’ll probably hear it, and maybe even use it yourself, in the near future.

So, what is a negawatt?
\né-gə-wät\ n: A measure of the avoided use or the conservation of a unit of energy.

Coined by author and scientist Amory Lovins, the term has been around for quite a long time. When energy efficiency measures are implemented in existing structures, energy consumption is reduced. This reduction can be measured in negawatts. Get it? negative watts.

So why is it important, you ask?