Future Looks Sunny For Solar Energy

SunCarrier, a division of a+f GmbH, a company in southern Germany, has been researching Kansas City and the region as sites for installation of their solar technology. Marc Reimer, Head of Project Development, explained that his company has been a leader in solar technology and efficiency for six years with a new fashion of solar installation that has shown great success in Germany and Spain. They now seek to try that same technology in what he terms as “less than optimal conditions,” namely the winters of Midwestern United States.

 

 Marc Reimer of SunCarrier, a division of a+f GmbH: Play Now | Play in Popup

Gaining Ground in the Energy Spectrum

From the board room to the kitchen table, energy is a topic that has just about everyone’s attention. Ranging from biofuels to harnessing the wind and sun, people are looking to create energy from all available sources. And with this increase in focus on energy, there is a need for managing those resources and rights.

According to Alan Anderson, an attorney in the Energy Practice Group with law firm Husch Blackwell Sanders, energy is a growth segment in the market.

 

 Alan Anderson of Husch Blackwell Sanders: Play Now | Play in Popup

The Original “Savior Soldier”

65% of all Americans are willing to switch to a brand associated with a good cause, where price and quality are equal. If that statistic alone isn’t enough of a powerful force for change, consider that 61% of this year’s college graduates will not work for a company with a poor reputation in social responsibility. Socially responsible investments have grown tenfold since 1995, to 2.3 trillion (twice the amount for the dot com surge), so what does all of this mean?

 

 Tim Sanders, author of Saving the World [12:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Drilling To Bridge the Gap

Clarke Turner, Director of the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC), says his organization fills a niche in the research and development cycle for small and large companies inside the energy industry .

“We deal with a broad spectrum of industries and then try to apply their technology in the oil and gas industry,” Turner said.

This not-for-profit organization is part of the U.S. Department of Energy. Their facility is located north of Casper, Wyoming in the Teapot Dome Oil Field. RMOTC is committed to staying on the leading edge of oil field technologies.

 

 Clarke Turner of Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing [27:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Get Green in Your Kitchen

Skyrocketing gas and food prices are supercharging the “Go Green” movement and efficiency has become a hot topic in most households. But despite U.S. Consumers efforts to curb their driving habits and use more energy efficient bulbs, the chief culprit of home energy waste continues unabated! Whether it is gadgets and appliances that […]

 

 Techspurt Corey Greenberg on Greening the Kitchen [10:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Do you Prefer ‘Green-terns’ or ‘Grinterns’

I’m not sure if I’ve heard that term yet, so I’m calling it. Dibs…shotgun, whatever. Last seat available on the Green Wagon. I wonder if it’s too late to call the Editor of the next edition of the Merriam-Webster. He said in our interview that he would consider my suggestions.

Actually, I wish I could claim these interns. Friendly, passionate and a “let’s get it done” attitude. Greensburg GreenTown (GG) probably needs them more.

Everyday GG is getting more and more requests for information, from inside and outside the community. People wanting to know what “green” means to getting them out of the FEMA trailers and into their own homes. People calling and wanting to help. People wanting to donate green products and services and, “Hey, can I get on the TV show?”

 

 Emily Schlickman and Mason Earles, Greensburg GreenTown [5:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Greentown Revisited

Leonardo DiCaprio exec produces a weekly docu-drama about the rebirth of Greensburg that is aired nationally on Planet Green, one of the Discovery Networks. I call it a docu-drama because some of the footage is “gathered” like a documentary, but some of the discussion between individuals is recreated for the camera crew. Sometimes the “drama” seems a bit over-acted. That said, the show is well worth watching. It remains faithful to the story and you get to meet a number of people from the town who must feel like celebs in SW Kansas. One of my favorite elements of the show is the scenery of the town, BT (before tornado), after and now, after that. It’s wonderful. It provides all the drama you’d need for the story.

 

 Daniel Wallach of Greensburg Greentown [28:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Daniel Wallach, Greentown May 2008 [16:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Harry Smith of the CBS Morning Show from Greensburg, KS [6:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

Let’s Paint this Community Green

A discussion of what is green, who’s doing it and who provides products and services to support and benefit the green movement.
Jim Horlacher
First Affirmative Financial Network
Helps socially & environmentally conscious investors manage their money to make a positive impact on both their own lives and our whole world
Sam Kane
Solar Solutions of KC
The Solatube Daylighting System […]

 

 Jim Horlacher of First Affirmative Financial Network [15:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Same Kane of Solar Solutions of KC [17:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 David Beal of EPC [6:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Chris Devolder of 360 Architecture [16:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Tom Stone of CityWide Maintenance [18:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

 

 Octavio Silva of Bridging the Gap: Play Now | Play in Popup

Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future

Deep Economy
The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future
Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben offers the biggest challenge in a generation to the prevailing view of our economy. For the first time in human history, he observes, “more” is no longer synonymous with “better”—indeed, for many of us, they have become almost opposites. McKibben puts forward a new […]

 

 Bill McKibben, author Deep Economy [9:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup