Cleantech

Cleantech (an abbreviation of "clean technologies") is a term used to describe knowledge-based products or services that improve operational performance, productivity, or efficiency while reducing costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste, or pollution. Its origin is the increased consumer, regulatory and industry interest in clean forms of energy generation—specifically, perhaps, the rise in awareness of global warming and the impact on the natural environment from the burning of fossil fuels.

Overview

Clean technology first emerged in widespread use to describe a group of emerging technologies, industries, and financial asset classes based on principles of biology, resource efficiency, and second-generation production concepts in basic industries. Examples include energy efficiency, selective catalytic reduction, non-toxic materials, water purification, solar energy, and new paradigms in energy conservation. Since the 1990s, interest in these technologies has increased with two trends: a decline in the relative cost of these technologies and a growing understanding of the link between industrial design used in the 19th century and early 20th century, such as fossil fuel power plants, the internal combustion engine, and chemical manufacturing, and an emerging understanding of human-caused impact on earth systems resulting from their use (see articles: ozone hole, acid rain, desertification, and global warming.

Investment

The North American cleantech venture capital investment covers more than US$8.8 billion of cleantech venture investments over a 10-year period (from 1999 through to the end of 2005), and projects cleantech investment to the end of 2009. The report forecasts that capital dedicated to cleantech could total US$10 billion from 2005 through 2009.^[1]

Driven by stronger bottom line returns, investor activity has expanded globally to move beyond triple bottom line (also referred to as triple net) toward traditional earnings-driven investing.

External links

Cleantech markets and indices

Cleantech investment funds

A number of venture capital, hedge funds and mutual funds have been created to invest into the cleantech market space, including:

Cleantech investor and entrepreneur membership organizations

Cleantech Venture Network
Washington Clean Technology Alliance An alliance of companies and organizations dedicated to growing clean technology in the State of Washington. Washington is a world leader in clean technology development and adoption.
Cleanergy Network
Swedish Environmental Technology Council

Cleantech financial reports and publications

Cleantech events

Cleantech Blogs & Podcasts

References

^ Arbor, Ann (2005-10-26). "Cleantech Venture Investment Projected to Total $10 Billion from 2005 Through 2009". eMediaWire. Retrieved 2007-01-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

[CVN-1] Arbor, Ann (2005-10-26). "Cleantech Venture Investment Projected to Total $10 Billion from 2005 Through 2009". eMediaWire. Retrieved 2007-01-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

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