Energy generation. Primarily solar, wind and other clean energy

, ,

Can your bench do this? Here’s how solar furniture attracts visitors and makes your company look amazing.

Ah, the good old bench. It’s the background subject of affection in many movies. A couple holding hands on a park bench. An old man sitting on a bench feeding pigeons. Two strangers sitting on a bench engaging in a conversation on a beautiful…
,

Simple Spring Tune-ups

At the start of the new year, many of us set resolutions for things we would like to improve.  For some, trimming our waist is a recurring item on our list.  How do we do that for our buildings?  Experts agree that we start by taking a look…
,

Fortune telling… Predict failure before it happens

Do things ever break when it's a good time?  I've never had my car break down when I had no where in particular to go.  The projector never stops working until the client is getting ready to arrive for a presentation.  If only we had a crystal…
, ,

How to cut $21 Billion a year in healthcare costs

When I was a kid, a lot more people smoked.  But they usually knew that it was bad for you and smelly.  When they asked my parents if they would mind if they smoked, My dad would simply say, "go right ahead - but don't exhale".  It seems…
,

Is cleaning solar panels worth the cost?

Many solar power owners ask, is cleaning panels worth the cost?  Until now - no. Let's face it, all panels get dirty. They're outdoors.  All you have to do is drive around any neighborhood and look at rooftop panels to see the dirt buildup,…
,

High performance windows for the price of tint.

As the sun bears down on our buildings or cars, most people reach for the thermostat instead of stopping the heat BEFORE it gets inside your space.  Luckily, there's a great new solution that will not only keep you comfortable, but will save…
, ,

Blockchain-based microgrid gives power to consumers

A new project in New York City is letting residents buy and sell renewable energy to each other, bypassing the central authority and the associated costs.  Could this be the future of distributed energy?  If so, what are the impediments? Who…
Photo courtesy Jamie Scot Lytle
,

Behind San Diego Unified’s Solar Power Struggles

San Diego Unified School District was one of the first to deploy large scale solar and has learned some valuable lessons along the way. Despite its struggles with solar power so far, the district is preparing to ramp up its solar footprint…
, ,

Spur clean-tech for smart cities – vote here.

Coming soon to smart cities - Next generation clean technologies that will help make fossil fuels irrelevant. By 2050, 90% of the population will be in cities, 75% of all energy use and 80% of CO2 emissions will start with the cities.  When…
, ,

Vote for smart campus sustainability!

If you or your institution care about climate change, lowering energy bills or student safety, we ask you to vote for 3fficient to win a $100k grant, so we can bring you free solar power, improved student safety and education. CLICK HERE…
,

The coming era of unlimited – and free – clean energy.

Boy, what a relief to read such as positive article instead of the usual gloom and doom.  The incredible drop in the price of solar energy will shake up our world.  But will it be fast enough?  Source: The coming era of unlimited — and…
, ,

Do you support solar charging?

A 3fficient affiliate, Strawberry energy is competing to enter the Verge CleanTech Accelerator in Silicon Valley.  This is a great opportunity for a young startup to showcase in front of influential people from famous Silicon Valley.  They…
,

State Stymies Military on Energy

The Union Tribune recently published an article on power supply for military bases in CA. It was followed by a full page ad promoting a two-tiered rate to raise rates for more efficient users and lowering rates for inefficient users.  The…
,

US EPA sets target to cut power plant emissions by 30% (sort of)

This story originally appeared on Climate Central. US pollution policy is making progress.  Nearly every state in the U.S. now has a greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal to meet under the Obama administration's new Clean Power…