25. Bionic Power Inc.
Bionic Power Inc.’s Biomechanical Energy
Harvester uses the energy your body creates
during the process of walking to charge portable
batteries. The device, which after development
should weigh about two pounds, is geared
towards people need easy, cheap portable power.
Importing disposable batteries costs heavily in
terms of fuel for transportation. Target markets
include the military, public safety officials, first
responders, and others who need charged
batteries during blackouts. Bonus: Wearers can
charge their cellphones on it at night.
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24. Feelgoodz
Feelgoodz manufactures eco-friendly shoes
using hemp, bamboo, natural rubber, and
recycled paper. 3% of its profits go to charitable
causes, including the Fair Trade and 1% For the
Planet. Their comfortable flip-flops are all-
natural and 100% biodegradable. The flip-flops
could be huge if they gain an international
market.
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23. DEKA: The Slingshot
Better known as the inventor of the Segway,
Dean Kamen is now manufacturing the
Slingshot, a filterless water purifier that makes
drinking water out of sketchy water sources like
sewage, ocean water, and urine. Hoping to
instigate a phenomenon, Kamen is handing
units to impoverished villages. The handy device
costs the rest of us $1,000-$2,000.
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22. WhiteWave Foods
Dairy food specialist WhiteWave Foods
produces natural foods while offsetting 100%
of its electricity with renewable power
purchases. The company works with both
human sustainability, in which soy and
organics may play a big role, and industrial
sustainability. Their flagship brands include
the popular Silk (soy products), Land O Lakes,
and Horizon organic dairy products. The
company is recognized for its green power use
by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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18. GPA
Chicago paper company GPA has devised a way
to produce paper without trees or water. Instead, it
uses calcium carbonate and limestone-derived
mineral powders to make the paper, which it then
binds with resin and polyethylene. Dubbed Ultra
Green paper, the product is cheaper than synthetic
paper, more weatherproof, doesn’t yellow, and is
even antimicrobial. Despite this plastic-like
durability, GPA claims the paper is as printable as
that made from trees. Energy savings and
favorable features make Ultra Green a product to
watch out for.
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17. Waterfurnace
Indiana-based Waterfurnace manufactures and
installs geothermal heating and air-conditioning
systems. The system uses an underground
loop to either suck in or siphon out heat from
buildings. The system’s pump, compressor,
and fan require little energy to operate, are easy
to maintain, and don’t break easily. The
company employs a just-in-time manufacturing
system to keep prices competitive, making it an
increasingly attractive alternative to the usual
energy hog furnace and A/C setups.
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16. Solix
Colorado’s Solix builds bioreactors that produce
biofuel made from algae. Its bioreactors
maximize energy to the point of cutting
production costs a whopping 90-95%. Algae fuel
isn’t competitive on the market quite yet, but
Solix’s technology, which can produce 1,500
gallons of fuel per acre annually, aims to make it
so. Commercial production is still about five
years away, but keep an eye out for Solix if and
when algae does hit the market.
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15. Imara
Imara produces long-lasting, eco-friendly
lithium-ion batteries. Traditional nickel-
cadmium batteries cause cancer, while lead-
acid batteries poison landfills when they’re not
recycled properly. Lithium-ion batteries, which
you may know from your laptop and cell phone,
last far longer than the other two types of
battery, and are easier to reuse in
manufacturing once drained. Imara’s batteries
run longer than the competition. They are also
powerful enough to use in a broad variety of
markets. Unlike most other batteries, which
are manufactured in Asia, Imara batteries are
made in California, giving them a leg up in the
energy independence movement.
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11. Makani
Makani Power, still in stealth mode, uses patented
“membrane structures” to harness high-altitude
wind power. Think of its product as a gigantic, eco-
functional kite. The kite gets launched several
miles into the air and captures high-altitude
winds, which are more dependable than winds
closer to the ground. Not surprisingly, the
company is staffed by a fair number of kitesurfers.
Google has invested $11 million into Makani.
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10. Altra Biofuels
Altra Biofuels finds, buys, and develops
biodiesel and ethanol energy technologies
throughout the United States. Once the
technology is sound, Altra puts it into
production, making it master of several
promising technologies, and putting it in a
position to become a big energy company if and
when its types of fuels become a national
standard.
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9. Guardian Industries
Guardian Industries is known for its home- and
auto glass products. More recently, they starting
producing vacuum glass, a specially-designed
glass that insulates as well as an average
home wall. The glass’s insulating properties
come from a vacuum area between two panes
that highly diminishes convection, conduction,
and radiation. Guardian has taken this simple
window science to the next level by making its
windows cheaper, thinner, and lighter. As a
result, the windows are more marketable to
builders. These windows fit in well not only with
Obama’s weatherization campaign, but with a
greener future in general.
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8. Organic Valley
Based in rural Wisconsin, Organic Valley
provides the country with pure-grown eggs,
milk, butter, cheese, and meats. Started by
seven farmers 16 years ago, Organic Valley
now boasts sales worth hundreds of millions
of US dollars. The farmer-focused co-op
operates out of eco-friendly headquarters,
employs mostly locals, and is co-owned by
upwards of 600 farmers around the nation.
Organic Valley’s takes reasonable prices and
demand-based production seriously, which
helps keep organic farming as an industry
alive. You can find their products at Whole
Foods, Larry’s Market, Town & Country, and at
other natural grocers.
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4. GreatPoint Energy
“Clean coal” is something of an oxymoron. But
Cambridge, Mass.-based GreatPoint Energy
has figured out how to make this tricky concept
work. It uses catalytic gasification technology to
transform coal into natural gas. The company
claims that once its plants are operational, it will
be able to produce natural gas from coal at
below-market prices. It can also capture and sell
the carbon dioxide, mercury, and sulfur emitted
during the process. GreatPoint is clean, green,
and with serious potential.
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3. Tesla Motors
PlayPal cofounder Elon Musk is on a roll with
his latest venture. Tesla Motors designs an all-
electric roadster that goes from 0 to 60 in 4
seconds, and zips around at up to a governed
125 miles per hour. The car only costs $0.02
/mile to power, but its price tag is in the
hundreds of thousands. Nonetheless, the eco-
hip rich of Silicon Valley and Los Angeles have
snapped up the roadsters like hotcakes. Tesla’
s next car, the Model S, is slated to be
released in 2010. Its comparatively modest
$60,000 price tag puts it up against luxury
sedans like the Audi A6. Tesla also has
successful divisions that sell battery packs,
powertrains, and solar chargers.
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