Operations Archives - Ecopreneurist

What’s the ROI / payback period of LED light bulbs and other green upgrades?

February 18, 2016

by Scott Cooney

Saving money and saving the planet are both great objectives for businesses. Luckily, they go hand in hand, as many sustainability upgrades pay for themselves very quickly with the energy and water they save (like LED lights, energy star appliances, water saving devices, and the like). But how does the green-minded business manager prioritize the wide variety of ways to green one’s business? Payback period and Return on Investment (ROI) are two measures used to determine whether something is, financially speaking,…

How to Green a Burrito or Fresh-Mex Restaurant: Top 10 Sustainable Strategies

September 24, 2015

by H.E. James

Want to green your Fresh-Mex or burrito place? There are some sustainable strategies unique to both restaurants in general and those which serve cuisine like burritos, tacos, and nachos. Here are the top 10: Organi-fy your staples. Beans and rice are a staple on most Mexican/Fresh-Mex menus, and represent the grand majority of the calories you’ll be delivering. The great news is that this is an easy thing to get organic without breaking the bank. At our local food co-op,…

Recycled Ink Cartridges: Making Your Printing More Eco-Friendly

March 28, 2014

by Derek Markham

The importance of being green is spreading to a lot of industries nowadays. The biggest strain on the environment remains the use of oil for heating and power, but there are a lot of ways aside from saving energy that can help a person to reduce their carbon footprint. You might never have considered it, but your humble ink cartridge can even be recycled to save you money and protect the environment. Let’s take a look at how this works.…

14 Great Fuel Efficient Cars You Can Buy for Your Company in 2014

December 7, 2013

by Derek Markham

2014 is right around the corner, and before you say it: yes, I know that’s a 2015 Mustang up there that won’t be on sale until the end of 2014 … but I don’t care. You’ll be able to buy it in 2014, it’s gorgeous, and if you don’t want one…

Khi Solar One Tower — First Concentrating Solar Power Plant In South Africa

September 1, 2013

by James Ayre

The Khi Solar One concentrating solar power plant is now one step closer to reality with the recent completion of the Khi Solar One tower in the Northern Cape province, near Upington, in South Africa. The company behind the 50 MW project — Abengoa, together with its partners the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Khi Community Trust — recently held a ceremony to commemorate the important milestone. An important milestone with regard to the project itself, and also with…

The Eco-Station — Solar-Integrated EV Fast Charging Station Optimized By Energy Storage

September 1, 2013

by James Ayre

The Eco-Station — a solar-integrated EV fast-charging station design that’s been made more efficient and economical than other fast-charging stations through the use of energy storage — will be hitting the market soon. According to the project’s backers — CODA Energy, Energy Vault, and Growing Energy Labs (GELI) — the first Eco-Station will soon be deployed in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the technology will be tested before potentially being deployed elsewhere. The design looks pretty promising. 🙂 And…

Tesla Motors Diversifying Its Battery Sourcing — Samsung SDI Will Likely Start Providing Batteries As Well As Panasonic

September 1, 2013

by James Ayre

Tesla Motors is now in the process of diversifying its battery sourcing, according to recent reports — rather than sourcing the lithium cells used in the Model S exclusively from Panasonic, as has been the case, the EV manufacturer will soon be receiving batteries from some of Panasonic’s competitors, as well. A source “close to the matter,” cited by The Korea Herald, reports that Samsung SDI will be the first, or among the first, to supply an alternative to the…

Tesla Opens Assembly Plant In The Netherlands

September 1, 2013

by James Ayre

Tesla’s first assembly plant on the European continent is now open for business! The Tilburg Assembly Plant — located in the Netherlands, only about 50 miles from the port of Rotterdam — will now serve as the final assembly and distribution point for all Model S vehicles sold on the European continent. The plant will also function as Tesla’s European service and parts headquarters. The 18,900 m2 assembly plant will now receive nearly complete Model S units shipped over from…