Going from green technologies to smarter ones [News]

By The Business Times, 24 Nov 2011.

While greentech and cleantech will remain popular subjects, smart is likely to replace green come 2020, says Kee Wai Fun

In recent history, human activities have significantly added to global greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). Current carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere are reaching concentrations of 393 parts per million (ppm), the highest it has been in the last 800,000 years.

Unfortunately, most laymen are not able to understand or relate to what 393 ppm means. To explain briefly, most adults will probably remember from science classes that the atmosphere consists of 78 per cent nitrogen and 21 per cent oxygen, with carbon dioxide contributing 0.03 per cent. However, at 393 ppm, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are now closer to 0.04 per cent, which means a 25 per cent increase in overall levels. Read more

IKEA is Planning to Sell Solar Panels and Clean Tech Products

It’s always interesting to visit an IKEA store and discover the wide range of furniture and home solutions. The inspirational design and low prices of the products is amazing. In the near future, you might even find solar panels and green tech products at IKEA.

According to the Cleantech Group, IKEA plans to invest €50 million in clean tech startups over the next five years and develop clean tech products in the following areas: solar panels, alternative light sources, product materials, energy efficiency, and water saving and purification.

Johan Stenebo, Managing Director of IKEA GreenTech, said that the clean tech products will be similar to other IKEA products:

Really low prices, and they should be of very good quality. That’s the only thing we look at, we would never look at anything else, we would discard anything else that doesn’t fall into those boundaries

The next time you’re at IKEA, remember to shop for solar panels, clean and green products for your home.

For companies that provide green products in Singapore, better watch out for the Swedish giant and get ready. IKEA is able to shift consumer behaviour towards green products through its low prices and quality design. For other big local retailers, what are you waiting for?

Source: Cleantech Group. Image credit: 小猫王.