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S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index

robertludvig — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 17:55:30 +0000

A great piece of news has come out of Toronto, Canada. The S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index has been launched. The potential growth of clean tech companies over the next decade is incredible with the stock market, patient investors and the environment reaping the rewards. The world’s future depends on the rapid expansion and utilization of clean technologies. We cheer the launch of the S&P/TSX Clean Technology Index and hope it becomes a leading indicator of this very exciting area of business and finance.

The index will track the following companies.

Ticker	Company
GNA	Gerdau Ameristeel Corp
BRC.UN	Brookfield Renewable Power Fund
WPT	Westport Innovations Inc
CAS	Cascades Inc
NPI.UN	Northland Power Income Fund
ATA	ATS Automation Tooling Systems
AQN	Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.
RPG	Ram Power Corporation
NAL	Newalta Corporation
GLV.A	GLV Inc A
PCC	Plutonic Power Corp
BLD	Ballard Power Systems Inc
BLX	Boralex Inc A
RCM	Ruggedcom Inc.
BU	Burcon NutraScience Corp.
WFI	WaterFurnace Renewable Energy Inc
INE	Innergex Renewable Energy Inc
MPT.UN	Macquarie Power & Infrastructure Income Fund
IEF.UN	Innergex Power Inc
BPT.UN	Boralex Power Income Fund
AZD	Azure Dynamics

Clean Energy Legislation

robertludvig — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:10:44 +0000

Sometimes we forget why we do things which is why I posted the following video. I started this green business blog because I wanted to spread the message and to showcase small, medium and large companies that make a profit with the environment in mind. We can make a difference by purchasing goods and services from ethical businesses. We can also make a difference by voting in politicians who have strong environmental protection views. If you feel compelled enough to do so, send an email and let the people in Washington know that clean energy legislation must be passed.

If the video fails to load just refresh once or twice.

Green Technology Creates American Auto Jobs

robertludvig — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:13:52 +0000

The American auto industry is adding jobs as the transition to using green technologies takes shape. Daily jobs report is saying that automakers are adding jobs to support the integration of green technologies into the marketplace – specifically battery technology for electric powered cars. These jobs will be added gradually over a longer period of time, so the jobs data will increase as time goes by. Green auto jobs have, in part, been created with Department of Energy loans. Plants are shifting to becoming more green so new workers are needed. A gradual expansion is being forcasted as these new types of plants increase in size. People who were laid-off over one year ago are getting their jobs back, as well as new hires are being added as shifts are added to existing plants.

As the reporter points out, these jobs are only a fraction of the numbers of jobs lost in the auto industry over the last few years, but the data speaks for itself. As green technologies in the auto industry develop, more jobs are added to support this wonderful transition.

North Carolina Green Business Fund

robertludvig — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:17:39 +0000

Businesses in North Carolina – listen up! The North Carolina Green Business Fund is open for business and want to give away grants of up to $500,000, totaling more than $8,000,000, funded by the Recovery Act. The money will be awarded to entrepreneurial, job creating endeavors in the state of North Carolina. This fund is directed to small and medium sized business with 100 or fewer employees. The proposals must keep or create jobs in areas of the state that are having a difficult time economically. The prposal must fulfil at leat one of the following criteria:Save energy, Install or generate renewable energy, reduce green house gases, produce alternative fuels, promote building energy efficiency.

These are just a few of the areas that are keys to being successful in your proposal. More in formation can be found at the NC Green Business Fund website. The Pre-prosal deadline is January 19th, 2010, so get cracking and get some of the grant money that you deserve to further devlop your business. This is a wonderful opportunity for small green businesses to grow in the green economy. Even if you don’t think you have a chance to get a grant, read the all of the site documents, you never know.

Small businesses in North Carolina – listen up! The North Carolina Green Business Fund is open for business and wants to give away individual grants of up to $500,000, totaling more than $8,000,000, funded by the Recovery Act. The money will be awarded to entrepreneurial, job creating endeavors in the state of North Carolina. This fund is directed at small and medium-sized businesses with 100 or fewer employees. The proposals must keep or create jobs in areas of the state that are having a difficult time economically. The proposal must fulfil at least one of the following criteria: Save energy, install or generate renewable energy, reduce green house gases, produce alternative fuels, promote building energy efficiency.

These are just a few of the areas that are keys to being successful in your proposal. More information can be found at the NC Green Business Fund website. The pre-proposal deadline is January 19th, 2010, so get cracking and get some of the grant money that you deserve to further develop your business. This is a wonderful opportunity for small green businesses to grow in the green economy. Even if you don’t think you have a chance to get a grant, read all of the site’s documents, you never know.

Sustainability Expos

robertludvig — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:59:57 +0000

I have been lucky enough to be receiving a lot of media invites to sustainability expos from around North America due to our humble, little blog. Our reach on the topic of green business has been growing in leaps and bounds since we started it in the Spring of 2007. We have built our readership to hundreds of subscribers and through this readership we have received quite a few requests from earth, green business and sustainability expos . Even though 2010 is a little ways off, I wanted to mention a few different expos and a conference. Unfortunately I can not attend all of them, but I sure wish that I could. It is another wonderful way for green product manufacturers to exhibit and showcase their products to the world.

The following two expos and one conference caught my eye.

Green Business Conference

When: November 11-12, 2009

Where: Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco

Format: Numerous speakers will talk about their experiences. Some of the confirmed speakers include:

Theresa Marquez
Chief Marketing Executive, Organic Valley Family of Farms

Margot Fraser
Founder and Former CEO, Birkenstock USA

Bob Johansen
Author,
Leaders Make the Future

Jenny McNulty
Executive Director, Urban Solutions

Green Products Expo

Invites media that focus their attention on green and environmentally friendly companies who have products and/or services that target environmentally friendly consumers. Bringing companies and media together with a focus towards the environment.

Format: Tabletop show where the room is open, and the tables are arranged to make it easy for the media to flow through the room at a comfortable pace.

When: February 18, 2010
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: Marriott Marquis New York in Times Square

Cost to Exhibitor: $1500.00-$2100.00

Epic Vancouver

Format: Consumer trade show open to the public. Shopping, information and education on sustainable living.

When:May 28-30, 2010

Where:The new Vancouver Convention Center

Cost to Exhibitor: $1750.00 before October 31, 2009

$1950.00 after October 31, 2009

Ontario’s Green Energy Act

robertludvig — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:37:54 +0000

Tomorrow the Province of Ontario, in Canada, will publicly introduce the Green Energy Act. There are a number of goals for the act. First and foremost, the act is to aid the Province in relying less on non-renewable energy. Secondly, Ontario hopes to create at least 50,000 new jobs over the next three years which has seen a significant increase in jobless claims over the past twelve months as the once strong manufacturing sector has been decimated due to the global economic collapse. Dalton McGuinty, the Province’s Premier, is quoted on his personal website as saying that it is his intention to harness Ontario’s renewable energy, specifically solar and wind energy. Ontario’s Minister of Energy, George Smitherman publicly states that the Government of Ontario wants to create numerous smaller renewable energy projects across the Province instead of relying on the fewer large energy generating stations.

The Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) has tirelessly been promoting a green energy act and it looks like their wish is now reality. The economic benefit to the province cannot be underestimated. The bill will increase the Province’s investment in the creation of renewable energy as well as making it easier to get new wind and solar farm projects started, while helping protect the environment. The growth in renewable energy in Ontario has been impressive. There were a total of 10 wind turbines in the province in 2003 – currently the number is closer to 600, coupled with Ontario’s newly formed task force, instructed to help meet Ontario’s goal of one hundred thousand new solar-energy systems in homes, the Province is well on its way to becoming an industry leader in alternative energy. Although the current goal of the Province is to become self-sufficient in providing renewable energy to its citizens, it is simultaneously building a vast alternative energy infrastructure. With Ontario’s commitment to alternative energy it is reasonable to predict that in the future the Province will one day be a significant player in selling renewable energy to other provinces and even perhaps many States in America, specifically those located in the North East.

Green Media Forum

robertludvig — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:18:53 +0000

An exciting forum focusing on environmental issues in the media is going to take place in Los Angeles on December 8-9, 2008. This green media forum includes a number of interesting keynote speakers, most notably Gary Wilk who is VP of World Wide Operations & Green Ambassador of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. You can find out more by clicking the image below.

Green Business Expo

robertludvig — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:13:54 +0000

Just in case anyone is interested there is an expo dedicated to everything green. The Earth Now Expo will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center from June 4-5, 2008. The focus of this expo will on selling green products and services. You can click the image below for more details.

Sustainable Business and Universal Studios Hollywood

robertludvig — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 20:40:35 +0000

I just received an email from an account executive at Special Ops Media requesting me to help promote an Eco-Fair at Universal Studios. It is on April 26 and runs from 10:00am-4:00pm. From what I read Universal is pushing its little own green business these days.

Major players in all forms of industry have created their own green initiatives. To me it further proves the impact green business is having on a mass scale. When theme parks push green business you know the environment is mainstream.

Thumbs up to Universal Studios for a day of green. Hopefully more and more businesses jump on the green bandwagon.

The Green Living Show

robertludvig — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:09:50 +0000

The Green Living Show is coming to Vancouver, BC, Canada. This show will offer new green products, services and advice from 200 exhibitors. Luckily I am from Vancouver so I will definitely be checking out this expo. It runs from February 29 to March 2 and will be held at BC Place Stadium.