Green Economy Now

A Zero Carbon CEO Panel provided best practices and lessons learned from the burgeoning cleantech sector.  Here are some highlights from each of the four speakers:

Michael Shore, of FLS Energy, installs solar hot water infrastructure for hotels, camps and other facilities and businesses that use large amounts of water.  He said solar is in high demand.

“Never do we have somebody that we’re talking to that doesn’t want solar,” he said. “Everybody wants it.”

A Zero Carbon CEO Panel provided best practices and lessons learned from the burgeoning cleantech sector.  Here are some highlights from each of the four speakers:

Joseph Brakohiapa, with CleanPower Finance, helps make solar energy possible by providing various services that promote automation and easier financing.

“We’re trying to ride the adoption of solar and renewables into the mainstream,” said Brakohiapa, of the 24-member start-up based in San Francisco.

A Zero Carbon CEO Panel provided best practices and lessons learned from the burgeoning cleantech sector.  Here are some highlights from each of the four speakers:

Michael Nark of Prenova shared some strategies of his company, which helps businesses reduce their energy consumption.  In 2008 alone, he said Prenova helped clients save more than $80 million in energy spending.  He said savings comes from lower energy demand and costs, fewer service calls and longer asset life.

NC Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco told SJF Summit attendees that North Carolina is well-positioned for the emerging green economy.

“We want to be your partner in the green economy,” Crisco said.

Crisco noted that demand is growing for the state’s green business fund.  For its first year, he said there were 85 applications for $1 million in funding; the following year, there were 200 applications.  He said there will be additional funding for the green business fund in the next fiscal year budget.

Here at SJF we’re committed to promoting jobs that help sustain our environment and reduce our carbon footprint. Given our mission, our upcoming “Summit on the New Green Economy” will include multiple opportunities to learn strategies and best practices for attracting and retaining “green” jobs. We hope the speakers at our Summit will inspire you to ride the wave of the new green economy.