The Grass is "Greener"... on our side

Green Consumer Device: Solar to power our mobile device

If you want to understand what the future of consumer mobile will look like, you should turn to Apple.

And if you want to understand what Apple's future products will look like, you should turn to Apple's patent applications.

If you follow my blog, you may have read about this here (back in 2006), when Apple filed for new interface. This interface has since taken over the mobile world...

So what will the future of mobile consumer device hold, as Apple views it? Well, of course - the future is green, with sun light powering (or at least enhancing) the power of our mobile device:

From a recent patent filing by Apple, it seems the company wants to place solar cells under the LCD touch screen inside a range of portable devices such as iPods.

As claimed here, this is not simple to achieve, mainly due to the fact that the solar power in a panel is directly proportional to its surface area, and the screen areas in portable devices tend to be small. But as we know, the iPhone and iPod have large screens that occupy most of the front of these devices, allowing more solar cells to be stacked beneath the display. The power collection component of the system also has to be redesigned, to support partial shading, for example by users gripping the device.

Several attempts have been made at this previously, but as we've seen already, none have which had much success (costs, form factor, usability). But as we all know, if anyone can overcome these hurdles and make it happen, its Apple.

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Solar Mobile Device,Apple,Patent

Oil "Super Spike" to reach $200...

Arjun Murti, the head of Goldman Sachs energy research team, is considered one of the best oil analysts out there.

He foresaw $100 oil prices when the market was at $50.

The group this week predicted that oil prices could reach $200 this year.

While some may look at such prediction with concern - its important to realize the huge boost high oil prices have in enabling alternative technologies to displace existing energy supplies:

"The ultimate benefit of going through an energy crisis is that while it's painful for a period of time because you are paying higher prices, you are going to end up with a world that uses less crude oil.

Higher prices would stimulate technological innovation in transportation and alternative energy, and encourage consumers to make more energy efficient choices", Murti said. He gave the example of a consumer choosing a fuel efficient hybrid vehicle instead of an SUV.
"All these things will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and help improve our environment," Murti said, "but it comes at the price of higher oil prices in the short term."

We all know that as demand grows for alternative energy technologies (such as hybrids), scale production will increase, driving costs down further, and increasing demand... creating a virtuous cycle that will significantly decrease dependence on oil...

And all the sudden - this doesn't seem like such a distant dream.

(Seeing the impact $4 per gallon gas prices has on people here in San Francisco (buying a hybrid is becoming an increasingly easy decision)... its not hard to imagine what will happen at $8 per barrel...)

 

Technorati Tags: Oil Price, Alternative energies, $200 Barrel, Hybrid

Al Gore @ TED - with a new presentation

Al Gore gave his new presentation last month at TED conference.

Worth watching... the guy sure knows how to deliver a presentation (a bit of a televangelist?)

The shift seems to be from "what you can do" to "what the governments should do"... (And how to think when electing them). I do agree that digging geothermal wells in our back yards (as Gore did) will not solve the problem - and real solutions will have to come through government and legislative actions.

 

Technorati Tags: Al Gore, TED, Global warming

Turning off the lights

I woke up this morning to notice that Google has turned off the lights.

Well, at least on their web site, and only for those surfing in the US.

According to them

"its a gesture to raise awareness of a worldwide energy conservation effort called Earth Hour"... But I like the fact they tell us the truth: "we don't do this permanently since it saves no energy; modern displays use the same amount of power regardless of what they display"

The Earth Hour awareness event will take place on Saturday, March 29, 2008:

Earth Hour invites people around the world to turn off their lights for one hour – from 8:00pm to 9:00pm in their local time zone. On this day, cities around the world, including Copenhagen, Chicago, Melbourne, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, will hold events to acknowledge their commitment to energy conservation. (Tel Aviv is in, and I ask - What about San Francisco?)

Yes, this is great for awareness. But let the truth be told: As Google knows with "virtual lights" - in the real world too - you don't need to turn off off the lights to conserve energy. The real answer lies in energy efficient lighting:

CFL bulbs, LED lamps, and other efficient lighting solutions (such as Metrolight's, a company I'm glad to have invested in)- These bulbs cost more to purchase up front, but the investment is returned several times over through the energy costs saved and increased lifetime of the lamps.

Technorati Tags: Lighting Efficiency, Google, Earth Hour, LED, CFL, Metrolight

Promoting Israel - Through Green

This afternoon I was walking down the street in downtown SF with a friend. We happened to be discussing the potential for Israel in Greentech as we looked up to see the following billboard sign:

Quite a coincidence (and a sign from above?). I'm already used to seeing Greentech related to most anything in the US (from home electricity to hamburgers). But to see Greentech PR about Israel - or better yet, Israel PR through Greentech is very innovative - and very refreshing

 

Great innovative thinking from Blue Star PR firm.

 

(BTW - I've seen a few very innovative algae technology companies in Israel. Its a very exciting and challenging space, and Israel has some of the leading experts who are working on taking it to the next stage)

 

Technorati Tags: Israel, Greentech, Biofuel, Algae

Corporate Greentech Venturing

Seems its not only VC's that are putting many $$$ behind Greentech in hope of great returns (a.k.a. Greens)

All the key valley players have significant activities in the space, including Google with a very large team focusing on Green initiatives and investments, eBay pursuing projects in the space, etc...

Today i read that Walmart has set up a "Cleantech  Accelerator" project: A web portal for greentech entrepreneurs to submit ideas

Walmart aims to meet the company's sustainability goals of using 100 percent renewable energy, reaching zero waste and selling more sustainable products. The main areas they're looking for are alternative batteries (for forklifts), wind harvesting, closed-loop water processing, sustainable building materials, household hazardous wastes and organic and oil-based wastes.

So for those entrepreneurs looking to catch two birds in one go (raise money and get a client) - Start thinking corporate

 

Technorati Tags: ebay, Google, Walmart, Cleantech accelerator, Greentech, Cleantech, corporate, venture, investing

Apple Macbook Air - The Israeli Connection

There's no doubt that not many can beat Apple's Marketing.

The launch of the new Air included.

As part of this launch, a great commercial has been airing on US TV (below):

 

Great concept - the Manila envelope really substantiates the proportions.

But maybe even better - the commercial's soundtrack...

So I decided to look up who's behind the super catchy song ("A New Soul"). And guess what - its none other than a young, unknown Israeli singer named Yael Naim. (apparently well known in France)

Here's the full song clip... very cute...

Only thing left was to go out and get the CD.

So - Only question left open... How did the Apple marketing people find the song... (The Israeli connection?...)

Technorati Tags: Apple, Macbook Air, Yael Naim, Israeli singer

Becoming Carbon Neutral

 

Among other New Year's resolutions I've made this year, I've resolved that in 2008 I'll become carbon neutral!

One option is to:

• Stop driving (i.e. walk to work - which is actually easy when you live 500m from the office)
• Fly less (I'll be glad to stay in SF for some time actually)
• And turn off the TV (US cable TV is full of commercials anyway)

But then again... (from previous experience with New Year's resolutions) I'm not sure I'll be able to sustain this.

So there's another option:

A quick visit to the carbon offset calculator - Where one can pay for each pound of carbon created, which goes towards a carbon offset project (i.e. tree planting, renewable energy plant, energy conservation, etc). So basically - you pay for someone else to do the work for you (an option I've always favored).

A simple calculation of my usage, resulted in the following:

 

$614 (!)

Then again... (from previous experience with New Year's resolutions) - I'm not sure I'll be able to sustain this method as well...

So what's the conclusion?

I think both methods are great - but both don't really work (they are good for creating marketing hype, such as the one going on all around us).

I don't subscribe to the view that people will need to change their lifestyle (or pay up) in order to save the environment. Its just not sustainable (like New Year's Resolutions), and not scalable to the mass population.

Not to mention that consumer usage behavior is not the main component of the problem (see on the right an interesting graph on this topic)

I think the consumer side of the equation will be solved only through technologies & solutions that are environmentally friendly, yet do not compromise quality of life, and most importantly, are at cost parity with existing solutions.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Carbon, offset, neutral, New Year, Resolutions, carbon calculator

San Francisco mornings

1. For anyone used to sleeping in late, working in San Francisco (or the US west coast) is not ideal.

Being located at (nearly) the last time zone in the business world (i.e. everyone ends the day before you) - means your days start early. Very early.

Today I started off with a 7:30am meeting… and Thursday I have a 6am (!!!) call. (Anyone who knows me, will understand this is not trivial, and much closer to the hours I am used to falling asleep at)

I was anticipating this could happen, so tried to not overcome the jetlag arriving from Israel (i.e. going to sleep early and waking up early). But that plan failed, having woken up Sunday at 1pm…

2. In San Francisco, breakfast meetings are the means of doing business

This is in contrast to the Israel business lunch or diner. This morning I had breakfast with the Founder of a company in the solar industry, who's about to get acquired. (great timing in terms of market hype)

The location was really amazing - A small cafe / restaurant called Boulettes Ladder located in the Ferry Building marketplace. Basically, great food, located on the waterfront, with seating at a large table situated right next to the cooking ovens and chefs.

(Its quite clear why some of the key Private Equity firms have relocated thier offices to this area...)

 

Technorati Tags: San Francisco, Breakfast, Boulettes Ladder, Ferry Building farmers market

 

My new home base

More details to follow...

Green skiing slopes

In your upcoming ski vacation - be on the lookout for the ski resort to be not only white, but also very Green:

It makes a lot of sense when you come to think of it:

Ski resorts have abundant sun, wind, height differentials, and more than most of us - are suffering from the warmer weather causing shorter skiing seasons.

Today's, the FIS ski championship downhill run was held in St. Moritz. As I watched the skiers, I noticed the shadow of a whirling blade - coming from the resort's wind turbine, located high up on the mountain.

It seems many resorts have already turned green - using wind energy powered chairlifts, solar panels, bio mass energy recovery, environmentally conscious building (with solar heating, earth heating, effective insulation) etc.

 

Technorati Tags: Green, Ski, Resort, St. Moritz, wind, solar, FIS

Sunshine...

Now that's renewable energy

 

Technorati Tags: Sunshine, Greenpeace, Advertisment

da bubble

Just had to post this one... (Thanks Danny)

Even Hanukkah is now Green!

It now seems that people are not even willing to light all their Hanukkah candles, in order to be Green.

Word has spread over the web (and mainstream media) calling for Jews to light one candle less this year:

"In a campaign that has spread like wildfire across the Internet, a group of Israeli environmentalists is encouraging Jews around the world to light at least one less candle this Hanukka to help the environment.

The founders of the Green Hanukkia campaign found that every candle that burns completely produces 15 grams of carbon dioxide. If an estimated one million Israeli households light for eight days, they said, it would do significant damage to the atmosphere.

So we've already established that 2007 will be a green year. And that public opinion has tipped.

But as in every social epidemic: There is a tipping point, after which things start to go a bit insane.

Have we reached that point already?!

(Hanukkah candles: left in a box there is no pollution... or maybe there is?...)

 

Technorati Tags: Greentech, candles, light, Hanukah, Hanukkah

Its going to be a Green Christmas

Last night the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lights were turned on.

Thirty thousand lights were lit on an 84-foot Norway spruce tree which will stand through the holidays

What's the first thing that went through my mind: What a waste of energy

 But not this year!

This year, the tree is Green:

• 30,000 LED energy saving bulbs
• An array of solar panels atop 45 Rockefeller Plaza will power them
• And the tree will be recycled

Using the new lights is expected to reduce the energy consumption of the holiday display from 3,510 to 1,297 kilowatt hours per day (a savings equal to the amount of energy used to power a 2,000-square-foot home for a month)

The only concern still left... Isn't it a shame to cut down an 84 foot tree?

 

Technorati Tags: Rockefeller, Christmas, Tree, 2007, Green, LED