Jan 2007

23

Can one good “A-Ha” solve the world’s energy crisis? Idealab thinks so…

by Lani Voivod

There are companies with grand missions. And there are many companies working on a lot of the same issues. 

But what if there was one company dedicated to creating at least one new company every single year since 1996 to adopt grand missions and conquer the world’s BIGGEST issues?

There is. It’s Idealab.

Fueled by their “Think Ahead” mantra, Idealab began “with the dream of creating ground-breaking companies whose products and services would change the way people think, live, and work.” A quick scan of the dozens of legacy and currently operating companies on their homepage demonstrates they’ve done a fine job with that dream.

Lucky for humanity, one of their most pressing dreams these days is to “build affordable renewable energy systems” – such as harnessing the power of solar energy – once and for all. The company they’ve assigned to this task since 2001 is Energy Innovations. And according to Andrew Beebe, former dot com exec and president, the idea behind Energy Innovations was spawned by one all-mighty “A-Ha”:

For me, when I sold Bigstep, my first company, I wanted to find something big that would have impact on planet. I did full market scan for something huge and immediately impactful. The real “a-ha” moment for me on solar came when I was reading a Moore’s Law. If you want to make solar cost effective, one of the ideal ways is to concentrate sunlight. People have dreamed about that for a long time, but microprocessors were too expensive. Now that Moore’s Law has been on a march for 40 years, a full fledged microprocessor that can track the sun costs only twenty cents. That is down from $2000 just two decades ago. This already has effected personal electronics as we see in computers and cell phones but until recently had not been brought to energy.

If just one “A-Ha” – a bold insight followed by determined, joy-filled action – is powerful enough to potentially solve the world’s energy crisis, don’t you think it’s worth paying closer attention to YOUR next epiphany?

Yeah. We do, too.

And if you need help doing something with it, we’re here for you.

Thanks to Jonathan Greenblatt and www.WorldChanging.com for a terrific, eye-opening interview. BTW, their “Manifesto” ain’t so shabby, either:

WorldChanging.com works from a simple premise: that the tools, models and ideas for building a better future lie all around us. That plenty of people are working on tools for change, but the fields in which they work remain unconnected. That the motive, means and opportunity for profound positive change are already present. That another world is not just possible, it’s here. We only need to put the pieces together.

There are incredible people doing incredible things out in the world these days. By all means, join the party!

(Good luck Andrew, Idealab, and Energy Innovations. We’re rooting for you!!!)

Want to increase the number of “A-Has” you have in YOUR life and business? Sign up for our ezine, “The Inciter,” at EpiphaniesInc.com!

  • http://www.jointhesolution.com/4greenenergy 2renu

    Affordable Solar Power for the Masses

    I agree in part, but we can agree to disagree. I believe in “the power of one”. One individual tells another and he tells another and so on. Hey guys, that is how great movements had their origins.
    Everyone can play a role in this problem by doing something. Solar energy is the most abundant natural resource we have, and that technology has been around for awhile, but it wasn’t practical from a financial perspective until now.
    There is a solution! I recently learned of a company that has figured out how to get Clean, Safe, Affordable Solar Power to the masses, and they do it without requiring any significant investment on the part of the homeowner. This company is helping homeowners switch to solar the easy way through a rental agreement. The customer gets a worry free solar system custom designed for 100% of their current consumption of electricity & an electric rate that is frozen at or below today’s rate for up to 25 years. We can make a Difference, so let’s do something, we can be part of the solution and not be part of the problem. This program is an easy way that you can have an impact on the environment and our pocket book.
    http://www.jointhesolution.com/4greenenergy

  • Jay Draiman

    MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R10

    In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
    “Energy drives our entire economy.” We must protect it. “Let’s face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy.” The American way of life is not negotiable.
    Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.

    The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products should be reduced or eliminated)

    The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)

    In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING” (the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology” with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.

    A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).

    This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.

    “To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality.”

    Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
    Northridge, CA. 91325
    Jan. 23, 2007

    P.S. I have a very deep belief in America’s capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
    I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis–the one in 1942–President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
    The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.

    Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.

    Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X’s 5 hrs per day X’s 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 24 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?

    Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence.

    Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.

    Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.

  • http://www.energyinnovations.com Andrew Beebe

    Thanks! Stay tuned…we’re getting close.

    A

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