For millions of years, the changes in Earth’s climate have been governed and driven by the forces of nature. But for the last century, Earth has witnessed a surge in average temperature at a rate that’s unparalleled in the last 10,000 years.
There are people who say that global warming is a natural phenomenon and that we shouldn’t worry about it. But there’s now hard evidence that global warming is not only real but it’s also speeding up at an alarming rate. It is not the same climate it used to be back in the days of our grandparents.
The signs are everywhere. Increased spells of droughts, the disappearance of sea ice and snowpack on the poles threatening wild species with species with extinction, lower agricultural output, our beloved cities by the sea becoming more susceptible to hurricanes and rising sea levels.
Scientists agree that this drastic change in the climate has been the result of our own misdoings. Global warming occurs due to greenhouse gasses, produced as a byproduct of various industrial activities, polluting the atmosphere. To resolve the issue of global warming, we have to reduce the emissions of green house gasses and it can only happen by using green technology, clean and renewable energy sources.
Did you know that electricity generation accounts for the biggest share of greenhouse gas emissions? According to the inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks report, 30% of greenhouse gases are emitted as a result of electricity generation. Total Greenhouse gas emissions reached 6870 million metric tons in 2014. To make matters even worse, 82% of the Greenhouse gasses emitted in the atmosphere comprises of carbon dioxide.
In order to save our planet from further degradation, it is high time that we immediately look towards clean and renewable sources of energy. As Rockstart Smart Energy Accelerator Director, Freerk Bisschop puts it, “Tomorrow’s energy will be decentralized, decarbonized and digital.” In this article, we look at some of the most innovative energy smart startups that will make waves in 2017.
1. Nest
Founded in 2010 by former Apple engineers, Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, Nest has made a name for itself in seven years. They design and develop high-tech thermostats, motion sensing cameras, and smoke detectors along with other security systems to convert your home into a smart home. Headquartered in Palo Alto, the company claims that their state-of-the-art home systems can deliver up to 12% reduction in heating bills and 15% savings in cooling bills, thanks to its self-learning thermostats.
After the acquisition of Nest by Alphabet Inc, the parent company of Google in January 2014 for USD 3.2 billion, it is working with Google Home. We might see some interesting things coming out of Nest camp in the months to come.
2. Aemetis
When it comes to producing advanced biomedical and renewable fuels, Aemetis leads the pack. They are on a mission to reduce or eliminate the dependence on petroleum by delivering innovative products and technologies. Based in Cupertino, California, Aemetis produces 60 million gallons of ethanol annually only from its Modesto facility. With so many patents and technology licenses for the production of bio and renewable fuels under their belt, you should keep a close eye on them. They could conjure up a new alternate fuel technology.
3. Azuri
We complain a lot about increasing the cost of electricity but do we ever realize that more than 600 million people on our planet don’t have access to electricity. Thankfully, Azuri, a Cambridge-based company realized this and created innovative products to resolve this issue. Their groundbreaking PayGo Solar System has illuminated the sub-Saharan Africa. With small solar power systems, PayGo has empowered people in Africa by reducing their dependence on the national power grid. Their solar systems are cheaper, safer and more convenient. Additionally, it let you charge your phone while lighting up your home during the night.
4. Comverge
Comverge bagged TMCnet’s Smart Grid Product of the Year Award in 2014 and has never looked back since then. With three decades of experience in demand resource management behind their back, they have transformed the demand response industry. Their energy efficient solutions have helped facility owners save a lot of money. You dont have to worry about compromising the reliability of energy supplies either.
5. E4E Solutions
Talk about continuous energy innovation, E4E solutions, a company from Alpharetta, Georgia has made an impact. It uses new methods to conserve energy and protect the environment. Whether it’s designed engineering, they have provided you a solution to your problem with a licensed team of engineers spread across 15 states. Their mission is to become a market leader in energy efficiency, renewable energy technology and conservation of energy. Their experience also speaks a lot about their company because they have worked with government, utilities, industries. E4E Solutions is moving towards their ultimate objective.
6. Watty
This Swedish company is working to make energy data accessible to everyone with energy management systems for homes. They want people to have complete control over their home energy consumption. For this purpose, Watty has developed an algorithm that identifies home appliances with the highest power consumption. Moreover, you do not need any external hardware or wires for this purpose. Watty is now planning to deploy its solutions across European markets. They have recently raised €3 million in funding and are now ready to expand their operations.
7. Vebbu
Founded in Croatia in 2015, this startup has achieved more in two years what other startups could not achieve in five years or more. Known for introducing innovation in less explored areas, Vebbu has revolutionized HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) industry. Their system monitors, purifies and improves indoor air quality through its heat recovery ventilation and IoT sensors. This year, they are planning to target residential markets in Germany, Netherland, and Iceland.
8. Achates Power
If your goal is to minimize costs and achieve higher fuel efficiency, then Achates Power is for you. The San Diego-based company is working on an innovative form of internal combustion engine. It makes the old technology viable for solving today’s problems. With two pistons in each cylinder, the super-efficient combustion engine can deliver exceptional results when it comes to fuel efficiency. The future belongs to highly efficient combustion engines and Achates Power is using it to minimize costs and improve efficiency.
9. Keen Home
If you spend a large portion of your income on heating and cooling, then Keen Home is the right solution for you. The smart energy solution by Keen Home called Smart Vent enhances the efficiency of HVAC system by managing the airflow intelligently. The company has also appeared on popular reality TV show, Shark Tank and featured in Tech Cocktail. Nayeem Hussain, co-founder of Keen Home, shares his company’s experience on Shark Tank.
10. Plug Smart
Famous for its innovation, creativity, professional attitude and work ethics, Plug Smart is an energy service company. Its focus is on helping businesses save money on their electricity bills. Established in Columbus Ohio, Plug Smart offers you a fast and affordable solution to cut energy costs. The ingenious team at Plug Smart thrives on innovation and loves to take up any challenge, irrespective of how big or complex a project might be. This makes them stand out from the crowd.
Conclusion
These are only some of the innovative startups working towards reducing the impact of global warming. There are many more that go under the radar. Individuals must play their role to make our earth a better place to live. If you have any other innovative energy smart startup in mind that is working towards reducing the carbon footprint, then share it with us in the comments section below.