Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory to Support Clean Tech Open 2008 Green Building Competition
August 5, 2008, Palo Alto, Calif.—
The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory will
support the Green Building competition of the Cleantech Open's 2008
Competition. The prize will reward a project that reduces the
environmental impact of building construction or operation through improved
design or construction practices, new or innovative use of building
materials, or new hardware or software applications. The prize
is part of a package that provides the winning company with $50,000
from the Cleantech Open and all the essentials necessary to help take
its idea from concept to business, including free office space, free
professional services and intensive mentoring from successful entrepreneurs.
The Department of Energy and five national
labs announced earlier today the launch of the National Laboratory Collaborative
on Building Technologies. The collaborative includes the Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory in California, Oak Ridge National Laboratory in
Tennessee, Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, National Renewable
Energy Laboratory in Colorado and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
in Washington State.
"The central point of the DOE Commercial
Building Initiative and the Collaborative is to accelerate innovation
and market adoption in the field of high performance building," said
David Rodgers, DOE's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency.
"By partnering and supporting the Cleantech Open, we are establishing
a living linkage between the premier R&D scientists and engineers
at the national labs and the engines of entrepreneurship needed for
rapid commercialization of clean energy building technologies".
The Cleantech Open has partnered since
its inception with the DOE and its National Labs along with other key
sponsors like AMD, Google, Grundfos, Lexus, Pacific Gas & Electric,
Siemens TTB, San Diego Gas & Electric, and Southern California Edison.
Finalist teams supported by the Cleantech Open have raised over $70M
in private capital and created more than 100 jobs in the clean tech
sector in the first two years of the competition.
The official announcement will be made
at the August 5th Clean Tech Open Finalist Mentoring and Workshop reception
at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati in Palo Alto California.
Deputy Assistant Secretary David Rodgers and the directors of the national
labs will have the opportunity to meet the recently announced 44 finalist
teams from the 2008 Clean Tech Open California competition. The
purpose of the reception is to bring together the finalists with successful
entrepreneurs who will act as their business and professional service
mentors throughout the competition as well as to begin the series of
workshops targeted at training the teams in everything they need to
know to establish and grow a sustainable clean technology business.
"The DOE and its National Labs have been valuable partners for us since the very beginning," said Marc Gottschalk, Co-Founder of Clean Tech Open, and partner at the law firm of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. "The power of public/private collaboration in encouraging technological innovation in buildings or any other clean technology sector should not be underestimated. We have seen the results ourselves through the success of our entrants."
About the Cleantech Open
The Cleantech Open brings together a unique and powerful combination of entrepreneurs, researchers, environmentalists, investors, business professionals and others to drive economic growth and ensure environmental sustainability. By giving winners early-stage capital and expertise, the 2008 California competition speeds clean technologies from lab to market. The goal is to foster innovative new businesses focused on energy efficiency, smart power, renewable energy, transportation, green building materials, pollution control and resource management. The competition thrives on the state's strong business and governmental support for innovation, technology and environmental protection to create rich soil for the growth of clean technology enterprises that foster a healthy natural environment. To learn more, please visit: www.cleantechopen.com
The Cleantech Open is sponsored by Acterra: Action for a Sustainable Earth, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit based in Palo Alto, California. The competition is supported by a diverse array of businesses, educational institutions, government leaders and private individuals, and run by a dedicated group of volunteers including business professionals, scientists, environmentalists and entrepreneurs.
Media Contact
Patricia Colby
Page One Public Relations
415-875-7494
patricia@pageonepr.com
