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Word Count: 871 Look at the headlines in your newspaper. Environmental concerns are major
concerns today and every day: people are worried about the price of gas;
scientists and governments are debating the issue of global warming and what to
do about it; stories abound regarding solar energy and other alternative energy
sources such as nuclear energy, biodiesel fuel production, and energy produced
by wind farms. The price of a gallon of gas and how many miles to the gallon a
particular car can achieve- both are familiar topics. The quality of our air is
reported regularly and in some areas alerts are posted on particularly polluted
air days. The purity of our water and whether or not we will have enough water
for humans and agriculture are serious concerns. Is it any wonder that world
wide concerns regarding our environment are subjects of intense debate today?
What are governments and businesses doing about these issues? What is cleantech?
According to the Cleantech Group: “Cleantech is any knowledge based product or
service that improves operational performance, productivity or efficiency; while
reducing costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste or pollution.” In other words,
cleantech may be a product, a technology, or an application (way of doing
things) that achieves environmental and social goals with economic benefits
superior to the status quo.
Another definition by Diana Propper of Expansion Capital Partners states: “On
one side, cleantech is really about resource efficiency and productivity in
supply- how to manufacture and produce to save energy, water, materials, etc. On
the other side, these technologies are enhancing the bottom line of customers.”
Solar energy, subsidized by government and the Prius automobile come to mind.
Thomas L. Friedman in the New York Times, January 2006 said: “Sorry, but being
green, focusing the nation on greater energy efficiency and conservation, is not
some girlie-man issue. It is actually the most tough-minded, geo-strategic
pro-growth and patriotic thing we can do.”
The meaning of cleantech is changing with innovations and new thinking. For
instance, polluted land, called brownfields, may be remediated i.e. cleaned up
into greenfields- land suitable for homes or industry- this is cleantech. New
technologies like sensors, monitors and scrubbers to reduce pollution from
factories in Singapore that manufacture semiconductors- this is cleantech. Fuels
for cars that pollute less like electric cars or ethanol engines- this is
cleantech. Energy efficient light bulbs and double pane windows for superior
insulation- this is cleantech. Other cleantech examples are wind turbines,
fuel-efficient engines, geothermal energy, energy-efficient appliances and water
treatment systems.
The momentum of cleantech is growing because of international political issues
such as climate change, energy security issues and concerns about CO2 emissions.
Consumers are demanding faster, cheaper, lighter and cleaner products. Large
corporations are responding with greening efforts. The potential growth in the
cleantech industry is a worldwide opportunity for business of all sizes to
participate in a huge marketplace. Entrepreneurs have unprecedented
opportunities to create transformative technologies in the cleantech industry.
Cleantech starts with an idea, an entrepreneur, and a new business to incubate a
technology, a processes or an innovation. Until the company has proven the
technology and has significant revenue and growth, it is unlikely to draw
attention from large industrial conglomerates, angel investors or venture
capitalists. Entrepreneurial start-ups have a much higher risk tolerance to
nurture fledgling technology and retain the talent that start-ups attract.
Accounts receivable financing can provide capital for start-ups to achieve
profitability when other types of financing are not available.
The dominant cleantech markets are solar energy, efficiency technologies
(sensors, monitoring and control devices), energy storage, and water
technologies. The emergent cleantech markets are bio-based materials, marine
energy technologies, superconductors and waste-reducing plasma technologies.
Government subsidies may be a blessing and potential curse because if removed,
an entire industry economically based on subsidies such as the solar energy
industry might go bankrupt.
The creativity and ingenuity of small entrepreneurs cannot be underestimated.
They will invent ways to make products, services, and processes cheaper, faster,
longer and cleaner. As soon as they can bring these innovations to market and
receive purchase orders for sales, accounts receivable financing companies will
take the financing risks by purchasing the receivables which will create
virtually unlimited capital for growth. Exponential growth for business is
needed in a world that needs exponential growth of cleantech.
Attention: entrepreneurs! Here is a partial list of businesses that need
cleantech innovation: car batteries, hybrid engines, lighting, toys, photograph
tools, appliances, watches, calculators, medical equipment, diving equipment,
cell phones, cordless phones, portable computers, power tools, industrial
instruments, cranes, elevators, portable power generators, lawn care equipment
and energy storage devices. Opportunities abound.
The bottom line: as the meaning of cleantech expands so do the opportunities for
entrepreneurs. Accounts receivable financing may be the capital source to help
you succeed in the cleantech industry.
Copyright © 2007 Gregg Financial Services
www.greggfinancialservices.com
Mr. Elberg is a licensed attorney and licensed real estate broker. Gregg
Financial Services is a full service brokerage for commercial finance companies
and banks that fund B2B businesses. Mr. Elberg arranges funding from $25,000 to
$50 million per month at competitive pricing. For more information about GFS,
please visit our website:
www.greggfinancialservices.com
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