Design & Innovation | Innovation | GreenBiz.com

GreenXchange: Sustainable Innovation Meets the Creative Commons

Joel Makower — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 00:55:00 -0700

Although we live in an era in which green innovation reigns, genuine progress remains elusive; but a new group spearheaded by Nike hopes to change that situation.

Dow and Algenol Partner for Algae-Based CO2-to-Ethanol Pilot Project

ClimateBiz Staff — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:37:00 -0700

The biorefinery will be built on 24 acres at Dow’s site in Freeport, Texas, where it will use carbon dioxide produced at a nearby Dow manufacturing facility. Algenol applied for $25 million in stimulus funds to cover half the project's costs.

The Buzz on Electric Cars: What's New This Week

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:01:00 -0700

GM gives a tour of its Advanced Battery Laboratory and ExxonMobil partners with Electrovaya to create a low-speed electric vehicle.

Mazda's New Paint System Cuts VOC Emissions by 57 Percent

GreenerDesign Staff — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:40:00 -0700

Mazda began using a new paint system at a Japanese facility this week that it claims carries the smallest environmental footprint of any water-based paint system in use today.

Unleashing the Next Wave of Engineering Innovation

Cameron Burns — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Bad engineering design is simply wasteful, but a Rocky Mountain Institute initiative aims to create a set of teaching tools to help engineers designs things like buildings or vehicles that use radically less energy and resources.

Mitsubishi Drives Into Electric Minicar Market

Yvonne Chan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:48:00 -0700

Japanese automaker admits high price of zero-emission i-MiEV -- $47,500 -- is an obstacle to consumers.

How Will the 'New GM' Affect Plans for the Volt?

Sarah Terry-Cobo — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:00:00 -0700

With the announcement on June 1 that General Motors will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, hybrid car enthusiast blogs are a-buzz with the fate of the Chevy Volt, a gasoline-electric plug-in hybrid, slated to roll off the assembly line in November of 2010.

Ford Explores 'Suede' Fabrics Made From Pop Bottles, Nanotechnology, and More

GreenBiz Staff — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:46:00 -0700

Ford Motor Co., which is turning recycling plastic soda bottles into suede-like fabrics for vehicle interiors, is wading deeper into bio-based materials with soy-based rubber fillers and plastics that can biodegrade in 90 to 120 days -- compared to 1,000 years for conventional petroleum-based plastic.

Four Steelcase Scholarship Winners to Attend Greener by Design '09

Matthew Wheeland — Mon, 18 May 2009 07:40:00 -0700

A competition sponsored by Steelcase, Net Impact, and GreenBiz.com asked students to submit socially and/or environmentally beneficial product or business ideas to win admission to this week's event. Here are the winning ideas.

Method: Balancing Performance, Looks and Safe Materials

Jonathan Bardelline — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:42:00 -0700

Adam Lowry, co-founder of Method, speaks with GreenBiz Radio about why green products can't skimp on performance, the indepth work needed to clean up cleaners, and why all the new green products from mainstream companies don't worry Method.

Wanted: One Million Green Ideas for $1 Million

Anthony Rubenstein — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:15:00 -0700

Today we're confronted by crises that reach around the globe, connecting nearly every hut, home, village and megacity with the offices of commerce and every legislature, congress and parliament. If there were ever a time for a one-in-a-million idea, it would be now, writes Anthony Rubenstein, who is launching the Million Green Ideas Campaign.

CITRIS: An Incubator of Green Tech Innovation

Matthew Wheeland — Tue, 05 May 2009 17:12:00 -0700

At the University of California's Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society, scientists are developing thermometers that can reduce electricity demand by as much as a third, working to turn your cell phone into a traffic-monitoring device or a medical aid, and much more.

Janine Benyus, Suzlon and RecycleBank Execs Honored as U.N. 'Champions'

GreenBiz Staff — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:03:00 -0700

As part of its Earth Day celebrations, the United Nations Environment Programme awarded six individuals and one NGO as 'Champions of the Earth' for their environmental endeavors.

Top 10 Water Innovators Celebrated in New Report

Matthew Wheeland — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:35:00 -0700

With concerns about water scarcity and quality on the rise around the world, a new study by the Artemis Project tracks down the top 50 companies developing market-ready innovations for water management, and singles out 10 for top accolades.

Low-Carbon Meals, Employee Raises and Energy Incentives Highlighted in Innovations Report

GreenBiz Staff — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:39:00 -0700

The Environmental Defense Fund's latest Innovations Review report looks at 15 actions being taken by companies to reduce emissions, lower resource use and encourage sustainable behaviors.