by Vered on February 1, 2010
Whatever your feelings about giant Google, and we do acknowledge that seeing Google EVERYWHERE and involved in everything is sometimes a bit disturbing, the company’s fierce commitment to renewable energy is quite admirable.
Google’s stated goal: Making renewable energy cheaper than coal. The company is working towards accomplishing that goal through a mix of internal research and external investments in renewable energy companies.
Since 2007, Google has invested more than $45 million in this project. According to Bill Weihl, who’s in charge of the project, Google is viewing these efforts as charitable efforts rather than as long-term moneymaking initiatives.
We’re fairly confident, though, that Google’s green efforts are not just philanthropic – it looks as if the company is viewing these as long-term investments in something that will one day be HUGE. Weihl recently said in a NY Times interview, “I’ve seen many companies make the mistake of [focusing] everything on their core business, the stuff that’s relevant for the next two quarters or the next year… I think that it’s really important to invest for the long term and it’s important to invest some percentage for the world.”
We’re happy to see Google so heavily involved, and invested, in green energy. The company certainly has deep pockets, and – as Weihl points out – can offer something extra to the renewable energy field, namely innovation and willingness to take risks that other companies, with less resources, would not be able, or willing, to take.
Google’s ambitious goal, to make renewable energy cheaper than coal, is not as crazy as it might sound. The company’s huge success has taught its management that “a small team of smart people with basic technical expertise and the freedom to really innovate can do something quite remarkable… we wanted to see if that really could be true for alternative energies.”
We certainly hope so.
by Vered on January 29, 2010
The current winter is shaping up to be a harsh, bitter-cold winter in many areas of the United States and in most of Europe. Harsh winters with extra low temperatures often produce lots of snow. Here are a few tips for saving and conserving even when it’s cold and snowy outside.
- If you use a de-icer on your sidewalk or driveway, use products made from magnesium chloride instead of sodium chloride (salt) or calcium chloride. While salt stops working at 15 degrees above zero, magnesium chloride melts ice at temperatures as low as minus 17 degrees and is less damaging to concrete, to your car and to surrounding plants. You might also want to try replacing chemical de-icers with non-toxic alternatives such as clean clay cat litter, sand, or fireplace ash. Chemical de-icers are hazardous to pets, to trees and to shrubs. They can also pollute surface waters and groundwater.
- Use electric snow removal products instead of gasoline-powered ones. No solution is perfect of course – electric products do consume energy after all, but they do not emit greenhouse gases. Of course, you can always opt for getting some healthy exercise and shovel snow manually using snow shovels!
- Buy recycled winter gear. More and more winter clothing and gear, including jackets, scarves, gloves, and boots, are now made from recycled materials. When it’s time to buy new winter gear, make sure you support green manufacturers by buying their products.
- Make snow sports greener. Trail grooming, ski lift operations and snowmaking are extremely energy-intensive and are harmful to natural resources and to wildlife. Try to choose ski resorts that are committed to reducing their effects on the environment – before you go, find out if they adhere to the National Ski Areas Association Sustainable Slopes Environment Charter. Consider cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing instead of downhill skiing, as these sports do not require graded slopes and ski lifts, and so have lower environmental impact.
