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Cleantech
Cleantech, short for "clean technology," is a term used to describe products or services that improve operational performance, productivity, or efficiency while reducing costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions. It is also referred to as "green tech." The term refers specifically to consumer, regulatory and industry interest in clean forms of energy generation as it relates to climate change, environmental impact and venture capital interest in related startup companies.
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Wave power: how it works
SmartPlanet is launching a new, occasional series aimed at dissecting some of the complex topics we cover on a daily basis. First up: wave power.
13 | May 27, 2010 4:00am |
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More LED truths and half-truths
As Philips unveils its brightest LED bulb ever - equivalent to a 75-watt incandescent - we illuminate how long these things will really last.
26 | May 16, 2011 12:03pm |
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When good lights go bad: LED breakdown
A panel of experts assembled in Amsterdam shine light on the strengths and weaknesses of LEDs.
52 | May 12, 2011 2:33pm |
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Why we shouldn't give up on nuclear fusion
The old joke with fusion is that it's the energy of the future--and it always will be. But one industry executive says even if it takes another 50 years, it will still be worth the investment for...
41 | June 21, 2010 2:00am |
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Video: Batteries made of salt, water last 10X longer
Using salt and water, Aquion Energy is making low cost, sodium ion battery. I spoke to Aquion's co-founder Jay Whitacre, while I was at the Compass Summit in Los Angeles.
2 | October 31, 2011 12:14pm |
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America's only rare earth metals mine gears up
Enjoy your cell phone and the anti-lock brakes in your car? One U.S. company is gearing up to wrest control away from China and start producing rare earth elements found in most modern-day devices.
19 | February 22, 2012 10:53am |
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Honeywell sues Nest Labs, Best Buy over smart thermostat tech
Nest Labs, the company behind the Apple design-inspired smart learning thermostat, has been socked with a patent infringement lawsuit.
3 | February 6, 2012 1:56pm |
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The problem with fuel cells
Fuel cells promise clean, reliable energy on location. But a key, pricey component wears out in just a few years. Can Bloom Energy and others find a solution?
August 8, 2011 6:36am |
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DOD to quadruple renewable energy installations
As the largest single consumer of energy in the world, the U.S. Department of Defense has a vested interest in investing in sources that allow it to curb its reliance on foreign nations.
5 | January 28, 2013 11:41am |
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Why Solyndra failed and the DOE loan program is next
Solyndra's bankruptcy has ignited a debate over what caused the startup to collapse. A look at the company's business model and the global solar market and it's hard to imagine a different outcome.
14 | September 1, 2011 10:48am |
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Amory Lovins: Carbon fiber cars would cut oil dependency
At the Cleantech Forum in San Francisco, chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute talks about strategies to make oil-free automobiles. He believes that cars would be simpler and cheaper to...
23 | March 29, 2012 11:59am
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Meet the companies looking to profit from climate change
Forget cleantech. Rather than investing in efforts to prevent climate change, some firms are now seeking ways to make money from our warming planet.
6 | March 7, 2013 7:57pm |
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Is geothermal energy superior to nuclear?
With a small footprint and clean, baseload-ready power, geothermal energy is underrated, writes Damian Carrington at The Guardian. Is it the answer over nuclear?
7 | January 19, 2011 6:48am |
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Lux Research: Konarka's solar tech caused its failure
The falling cost of silicon and cheap solar panels from China have caused some manufacturers to fail. Solar plastic maker Konarka's problem wasn't the market. It was its tech, according to a...
4 | June 7, 2012 9:47am |
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Soraa's LED light aims to replace the halogen bulb
Soraa, the Khosla Ventures-backed LED startup, has come out of stealth mode to unveil its flagship product aimed to rival and replace the traditional 50-watt halogen bulb.
1 | February 8, 2012 8:44am |
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Waiting for the punchline
Has collapse jumped the shark? Is peak oil dead? Is the zombie apocalypse just a weird popular fantasy, or is there more to it? Energy analyst Chris Nelder goes in search of answers.
67 | January 9, 2013 3:00am |
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Photos: What 164,312 solar panels look like (from the air)
What does a 32-megawatt solar project really look like? Check out these aerial photos of the Long Island Solar Farm, which started delivering power to New York households this month.
11 | November 21, 2011 1:04pm |
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Architect redefines energy potential with wind power acceleration system
V Squared Wind is trying to tap into the potential of wind power. By passively accelerating the wind, they hope to increase its available power while lowering its cost.
4 | October 26, 2011 8:36am |
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London startup: 'Bike miles' system rewards cycling to work
A London startup is helping employers encourage employees to bike to work using a new "bike miles" system. See how it works.
5 | November 22, 2011 9:03pm |
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Vestas unveils massive 7MW offshore wind turbine
Danish energy firm Vestas has unveiled a massive 7-megawatt offshore wind turbine whose blades are each as long as nine London city buses.
3 | April 1, 2011 7:54am |
