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on December 1st, 2011% ![]()
Recently the Cleantech Group, with the assistance of an advisory panel of corporate executives, sat down to decide upon the third annual Global Cleantech 100: the hundred “most promising and innovative” clean technology companies of 2011. the listed companies span a range of industries, and though solar energy firms, chemical recyclers, LED manufacturers and energy-monitoring software programmers certainly aren’t under-represented, many companies in the hundred are defined by a single product or idea. Gizmag scoured the Cleantech 100 to find what we thought were the ten most innovative companies.
10. eSolar
Though there were many solar energy companies in the Cleantech 100, what impressed us about eSolar more than its product, was its attitude towards the viability of large-scale solar power installations. Its brand of concentrated solar power project, which employs solar thermal panels connected to heat engines to generate electricity, “start at 46 MW and are scalable to any size”. the Sierra SunTower installation supplies only 5 MW, but still, it’s one in the eye for the solar diminutivists.
9. JouleX
JouleX isn’t unique in monitoring the energy consumption of devices across corporate networks, but apparently its energy management software can identify all devices on a network without requiring agents. This simplifies the installation and reduces maintenance. it can monitor lighting and air conditioning systems, and also has a rather good name.
8. GreenRoad 7. Recyclebank
Recyclebank works on the very simple premise that people will recycle more if they’re offered financial incentives. through home recycling, Recyclebank registrants earn points, which can be redeemed at a number of shops, restaurants and the like. Obviously no one’s going to get rich with this scheme, but it’s an idea that almost gamifies the act of recycling, making it that little bit more interesting. Check those exchange rates, though. At the moment you need 400 points for a $10 discount from a PC game at the EA Store, while a mere 40 points will earn you the same discount from a $50 buy from Macy’s.
6. Barefoot Power
Barefoot Power makes solar powered lights. that may not sound particularly remarkable, but it has identified that millions of children in the developing world do their homework by kerosene lamplight, a dim light from an expensive, potentially hazardous fuel source. Barefoot Power also provides affordably-priced plug and play home lighting systems. though we’re impressed that most of its products come with integrated phone chargers, we’re more impressed by Barefoot Power’s name, based as it is on words from a dictionary, with spaces and capital letters where they’d usually go.
5. HydroPoint
With its WeatherTRAK system using data from 40,000 weather stations, HydroPoint automates irrigation systems (right down to the yard sprinkler) so that water is provided only when needed, avoiding unnecessary consumption and preventing possible landscape damage. HydroPoint claims some landscapes are overwatered by 300 percent. If that’s the case then this is a fabulous idea.
4. SunRun
In one sense SunRun is not a solar technology company, but that does not preclude it from innovating. Conscious of the cost-barrier that prevents many households from installing solar power, SunRun has come up with an alternative model. it will buy a solar installation for your roof and then provide you with energy for a fixed monthly fee. the idea is that consumers will save money on their energy bills overall while obtaining much of their energy from a clean renewable and extremely local source. “We won’t let you go solar with SunRun if it’s not a good financial decision for you,” they pledge. not convinced about the viability of domestic solar power? SunRun has based a business on it.
3. Novacem
Novacem claims its magnesium oxide cement is carbon negative. Magnesium oxide is produced by the heating of magnesium carbonates, but the carbon dioxide by-product is apparently recycled back into the process. Further, Novacem claims that any CO2 produced through materials-processing is eliminated by CO2 scrubbing (using magnesium silicates), and that its carbon negative cement matches Portland cement on cost and performance.
2. Kebony
Why chop down slow-growing hardwood from a precious natural habitat like a tropical rainforest when you can take fast-growing softwood from a sustainable source, and endow it with the the properties (including the appearance) of a hardwood using recycled biowaste? it costs a bit more than softwood to buy, but Kebony claims its eponymous product lasts three times as long. By our count that’s a win-win-win-win scenario.
1. Emefcy
Emefcy reckons waste water treatment is responsible for a whole two peercent of global power consumption – a staggering 80,000 MW responsible for the emission of 57 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. with its bio-energy “Electrogenic Bioreactor”, Emefcy’s technology uses waste water as a renewable energy source, providing energy to the grid. it may not be the sexiest tech in the Cleantech 100, but Emefcy has taken a rather icky problem and devised a remarkable yet simple solution. Top marks.
Just one more thing
Though this shouldn’t necessarily reflect upon the listed companies, it is worth noting who Cleantech cites as being among its 70 advisors who helped whittle a shortlist of 213 down to the final hundred. ABB, BASF, BP DuPont, GE, General Motors, Proctor and Gamble, and Vestas all had a say. Vestas aside, they do make wind turbines after all, it seems a curious list to be judging on (as opposed to sponsoring, or investing in) the hundred most promising and innovative clean technology companies, especially BP given its arduous 2010.
Further, the Cleantech press release admits that GE (along with Siemens) is the “most active partner with 2011 Global Cleantech 100 companies”, so one must bear this in mind before deciding that the list is in any way impartial: investors have probably helped to shortlist their investees. We’re not knocking the Cleantech 100. it doesn’t claim impartiality. but if another list came along that was decided upon by, say, environmental academics, we’d certainly have a good nose at that too.
Source: Cleantech Group.
on November 28th, 2011% ![]()
pMonocrystalline is made from a single pure silicon piece, which makes it the most efficient solar panel to buy. These are created from quartz crystals that are melted under extreme temperatures. The smelted silicon will be purified and set into round ingots of very pure silicon. After slicing it in to flat pieces, they will be added y phosphorus and they are all set. a href=cheap-solar-panels.net/monocrystalline-solar-panels.htmlMonocrystalline solar panels/a are still the best solar power panels you will get, yet whatever you decide to do, be sure to educate yourself first with regards to solar technology before spending any money. br /br / Monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient solar panels. By definition this means that they convert the best amount of solar technology directly into electrical power of any panel, both commercial and also residential solar power panels. The photovoltaic solar panel never exceed29% regardless if its monocrystalline or polycrystalline. actually, the highest predicted productivity is generally considered to be close to 25% because of factors such as conductivity as well as heat. These panels can only be purchased from Sanyo and SunPower This Sanyo HIT Line range, that receive superb solar power reviews, give {productivity of up to 21.6%. The highest efficiency rate is by SunPower which is recorded for upto 22.5%. in June 2010 SunPower shattered the world record for commercial developed solar panels in 24.2%. however, these cells are currently not available for domestic use. Mono panel cell productivity is expected to lower by an average of 0.5% every year. br /br / Monocrystalline are classified as the a href=best-solar-panels.us/best solar panels/a in situations in which space is limited just like inner city condominiums or bespoke design homes. Thin film are definitely the least expensive solar power panels initially, on the other hand it’s important to take into account the life long worth of the unit. It is also well regarded that thin film systems are more expensive to put in because they require more work as well as elements. This is an important consideration in terms of your overall solar panel cost because even though your cost per watt may be cheaper, you’ll need more thin film panels overall, compared to mono panels, which will increase slightly your installation and mounting costs. br /br / when it comes to ecological footprint thin film solar panels require a lesser amount of power to generate than similar monocrystalline solar power panels making them extremely effective when it comes to production. It was also reported that thin film solar panels contains an element that can cause cancer called Cadmium. if not removed properly, these kinds of thin film solar cells can give rise to harmful waste. Mono panels is completely different from that because it doesn’t give off any hazardous elements. br /br / Just like thin film {cells~solar panels}, polycrystalline are a hybrid type of inexpensive solar power panels determined to flood the residential solar powered energy industry. Mono panel and poly panels are both cheaper and only needs a small amount of energy. however, additionally, they present lower efficiencies a short life-span versus the somewhat more pricey mono solar panels. here are several points to consider when considering which type of a href=facebook.com/solarpanelsforyourhomesolar panels for your home/a to buy: br /br / Firstly, if you live in tornado or hurricane prone areas or anywhere else where you’re in danger of damaging your panels (falling branches or severe hail stones), be sure to check that your panels will come under your home insurance. Monocrystalline {panels~solar power panels} are more fragile, and so will probably not be the most realistic choice should you fit into this group. You also need to be aware that once the temperature rises, the efficiency will fall between 12-15% this is for the monocrystalline panels. for polycrystalline {solar panels this specific decrease is going to be greater, for that reason producing mono panels the more effective option for hotter climates. Your future energy requirements should also be considered if you are looking to install your own domestic solar panel. There have been cases of home owners ripping out the original thin film and polycrystalline systems and exchanging them with the more efficient monocrystalline solar panels to boost the scale and outcome of their system./p
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
A new study suggests one word: Electrification
Chances are you’ve at least heard about California’s legal requirement to wind back greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. But the state has a longer-term goal to knock another 80% off that by 2050. is that even possible?
A new study suggests that it is — but not without a wholesale transformation from an “oil economy” to an “electric economy.”
The study, a collaboration of economists and energy forecasters at several institutions, including Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, three fundamental resets will be required to make that goal:
• Continued advances in energy efficiency, at home and at work
• A grid powered with nearly carbon-free electricity
• Massive electrification of — well, most things, including transportation
The study suggests that biofuels (principally ethanol and algae-based biodiesel) could cover the gap where it’s impractical to electrify transport, such as long-haul trucking and airline fleets.
The authors ran the numbers to see how much each measure would have to contribute, concluding that more than half the headway could come from a combination of energy efficiency gains (28%) and replacing fossil fuel power plants with renewable energy (27%). California currently requires utilities to get a third of their power from renewable sources by 2020. Most appear to be on a path to meet that goal.
Other measures would include so-called “smart growth” planning strategies, greater use of rooftop solar panels and biofuels. But 16% of the solution would require the massive conversion to electrical power of things that typically run on other fuels today; motor vehicles, public transit, industrial processes and heating of buildings.
The article, by James H. Williams and seven co-authors, appears at Sciencexpress.org, a publication of the AAAS. Downloading the full article requires a subscription.
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
The chances are that you will know what great benefits a solar power panel can bring to anyone who uses one. these panels are probably the most widely recognized forms of supplying a renewable, free energy supply to residential homes and small businesses across the world. this has been increasingly highlighted by the sheer number of people who are determined to make an effort by taking advantage of one of the many great do-it-yourself guides which are available today. Thousands of people are reaping the rewards of building their own solar power panel but I can reveal 3 top tips which will vastly improve the quality of your solar energy panel.
These tips will not only give you a greater power output from the suns energy but also reduce the cost of your solar power panel project without compromising quality.
1.always Cover Your Solar Panel With Anti Reflective Glass
What many people don’t notice is that actually, a fair proportion of sunlight is reflected away from the surface of the glass on the solar panel, rather than penetrating through it. There are 2 types of glass available to you – reflective glass and anti reflective glass. You should always use anti reflective glass as this glass will allow more sunlight to pass through leading to more sunlight reaching the photovoltaic cells. The more sunlight that reaches the photovoltaic cells, leads in turn to more energy being generated.
2.Join Broken Cells Together
Never be put off by doing this. Broken cells cost far less than joined cells and this will reduce the cost of your solar power panel project. There is nothing particularly difficult about doing this and with a little time and effort, you will soon get the hang of it very quickly. Obtaining broken cells is easy to do and you can very often acquire broken cells for a very reasonable cost. it may be a little more time consuming but for the money you will save on your project, it’s a very worthwhile consideration.
3.always Angle Your Solar Panel Correctly
One of the most common faults that people make when building their own Home Solar Panels is to lay them flat onto the ground. Your solar power panel should always be raised off the ground and angled in a position to gain maximum sunlight. this will also prevent debris from the ground building up on your panel which will reduce the quality and efficiency of your panel. it will also ensure moisture will run off the panels quickly and easily.
These 3 top tips are simple and basic ideas for you to consider but if implemented correctly, they will help you to build a high quality solar power panel which will supply a free, renewable and sustainable power supply to your home for years to come.
on November 25th, 2011% ![]()
It would be easy to assume that the threat of U.S. tariffs on imported Chinese solar panels would cause Grape Solar to wither on the vine.
The Eugene-based company sells solar panels in which 80 percent of the components are sourced from Chinese manufacturers.
But Ocean Yuan, the company’s majority owner and perpetually optimistic CEO, believes Grape Solar is positioned to withstand the major marketplace shift that’s expected should the U.S. Department of Commerce decide to take action against China to prevent the company from exporting low-cost solar panels to the United States.
That’s because Grape Solar sells direct to consumers, which keeps costs in line.
“We would be better off than anybody else, in terms of price protection,” Yuan said.
Unlike other major solar panel brands, Grape Solar sells its panels directly, not through third-party distributors and installers, who Yuan said typically mark up the price of panels on their way to consumers.
The 10-person company assembles residential solar energy kits comprised of panels, inverters and racking kits at its operations in Eugene.
The U.S. Department of Commerce is investigating claims made last month by a coalition of American solar manufacturers — led by Hillsboro-based SolarWorld Industries America inc. — that China has been dumping low-cost, subsidized panels into the U.S. market.
The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing wants the federal government to make a determination of “critical circumstances” that would impose import duties on imported Chinese panels to offset any improper trade tactics. The coalition wants tariffs applied retroactively for three months.
“We believe the Department of Commence investigation will show that Chinese government and Chinese solar manufacturers are — and have been — engaged in illegal practices that threaten to decimate a vitally needed renewable energy industry,” Gordon Brinser, CEO of SolarWorld’s U.S. division, said earlier this month.
“China’s continued practice of scoffing at international and U.S. trade law and failing to meet requirements of the (World Trade Organization), including reporting its vast array of subsidy programs, are extremely disruptive to business plans of countless employers who are dependent on Chinese imports,” Brinser said.
But Yuan, much like executives from other companies who have come to rely on low-cost Chinese panels, believes the trade action will ultimately lead to significantly higher prices for consumers.
To that end, Yuan believes his ability to reach directly to consumers will keep his company growing.
Though the company’s original business model called for setting up regional assembly plants across the country and selling to installers, Yuan said Grape has since shifted its focus purely on the consumer.
Yuan won’t disclose the company’s sales figures. but it’s a safe bet that Grape has gained at least some acceptance in the marketplace based upon the company’s partnerships with major retailers Costco, Amazon.com and Home Depot.
While he continues to seek new distribution partners — the Lowe’s chain of home improvement stores is on his radar — the ramifications of an ongoing solar trade war with China have clouded the future.
The company launched two years ago as Centron Solar in partnership with a consortium of several dozen Chinese manufacturers involved in the solar energy supply chain.
At its launch, Yuan, former president of Chinese cell and module-maker SolarFun Holdings Ltd.’s U.S. operations, set out on a low-cost strategy to deliver a product that appealed to cost-conscious households.
It started working with Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco Wholesale Corp. in July 2010, when it began selling solar panels inside Costco Warehouse stores in nine test markets, including Washington and Oregon. By April, its distribution had widened to more than 60 brick-and-mortar Costco stores nationwide as well as Costco.com.
In August this year, Atlanta-based Home Depot confirmed that Grape Solar products could now be special-ordered through the chain’s stores.
“Ocean has built his business to not be dependent on the Chinese,” said Mark Bachman, an analyst in Lake Oswego who tracks the global solar industry for Boston-based Avian Securities. “The whole idea is that he doesn’t have to get it manufactured there. he can get it manufactured in South Korea, Taiwan or other places that are friendly to the U.S. that already have very good trade relations.”
On Monday, Yuan said he has been in talks with several Chinese manufacturers about developing a remapped global supply chain that shifts some manufacturing from China to South Korea and Taiwan, culminating in Eugene where he would expand his operations to assemble panels for Chinese brands as well.
Doing so would help to avoid being impacted by any U.S. tariffs.
“All these potential risks and everything, we saw through the whole thing,” Yuan said. “I could have started this company as a distributor for Suntech or other Chinese panels, but that business model wouldn’t work. (Being a distributor) is very, very difficult to do in this business.”
@ErikSiemers | | 503.219.3418
on November 23rd, 2011% ![]()
It is hardly a secret anymore that we are in desperate need of alternatives for the traditional fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas. The cost for consumers of these fossil fuels are forever rising as the demand continues to rise as alarming rates and with developing nations such as China and India consuming more and more on a yearly basis as they try to modernise at staggering rates this trend isn’t likely to change anytime soon.
Fortunately the energy market isn’t all doom and gloom with many other forms of renewable energy such as wind and solar now being used. Solar energy works by converting the sun’s energy by way of solar panels into electricity, it can also be used to heat your home or even your swimming pool.
Today we have a huge range of choices when it comes to choosing the correct type of solar panels for your home or wholesale solar panels for your business, advancement in technology means solar panels have become cheaper and more efficient making them a great choice for those of us who like to see ourselves as eco-friendly or even those of us who just wish to save some money in the long-term.
Although the benefits of solar energy are clear to all there are still some people who are against the idea of a solar installation on their home or business because they can look unattractive when attached to the roof. Well to those of you who can afford a typical 12,000 for your own system a government scheme now in place in the UK could pay you back double that over a 25 year period, not only that they will also save you on average around 70 per year on electricity bills making them a great investment opportunity.
Finally a few key warnings When installing a solar installation to your home or wholesale solar panels to your business make sure you check first whether or not you will need planning permission. Generally solar panels don’t need any kind of planning permission but if you have a flat roof, the property is grade-listed or you are in a conservation area there maybe some exceptions. You should also make sure you tell your insurer and mortgage provider about the solar panels you are having installed on your property. Finally, if you’re planning to convert your loft space then ask your installer first as some inverter equipment might be installed in the loft meaning less space.
on November 23rd, 2011% ![]()
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You are my Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has been testifying before the Environmental Improvement Board during hearings on repealing a year-old law to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, did the same.
In a Manichean battle pitting good versus evil, one of Wednesday’s key witnesses was none other than a man labeled in 2002 as the “Clean air villain of the month,” who was testifying on behalf of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, an oil, gas and utility interests seeking to overturn the EIB’s 2010 measure,
As outlined in an earlier New Mexico Independent story, Governor Susana Martinez has been seeking a repeal of the EIB’s 2010 edict that the state require its utility industries and other large emitters of carbon dioxide to cut their emissions of the gas by two percent a year beginning in 2012 and running through 2020.
Martinez has argued — along with the representatives of the Public Service Company of New Mexico, the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association and other oil and gas and utility companies — that the measure harms these businesses, incurs unjust fees on them and that any climate change regulation ought to take place on a national, not state level.
The hearings started on Tuesday and are set to finish up next Tuesday.
Yesterday’s star witness for the anti-cap-and-trade activists was former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Jeffrey Holmstead, who said that the likelihood of any national cap-and-trade program is lower than ever — despite repeated actions of the EPA. Holmstead also said he believes that the state’s rule would have little to no impact on climate change and that costs would outweigh benefits.
In 2002, after refusing requests from former Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont to reveal internal documentation on the Clean Air Act, the Clean Air Trust named Holmstead its “Clear air villain of the month.” Holmstead came in as a hired lobbyist working on behalf of Tri-State, a wholesale electric supply utility company that runs 44 systems in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
Later, in 2010, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and lobbyist Roger Martella Jr. enlisted Holmstead to help craft legislation intended to disable the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gasses. just before doing so, Holmstead, his employer and two of their major clients donated over $125,000 to Murkowski.
Holmstead has also worked as an “adjunct scholar” for Citizens for the Environment, a spinoff of Citizens for a Sound Economy.
Citizens for the Environment, according to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, has “labeled most environment problems—including acid rain . . . as myths.”
Citizens for a Sound Economy was founded and funded by the Koch brothers, Charles and David, the notorious right-wing and libertarian billionaire duo who have been linked to the Tea Party movement and who, according to Kert Davies of Greenpeace, have since 1997 given close to $55 million to climate change deniers.
Among the group’s opposing the opposers is the New Energy Economy, the Santa Fe-based clean-energy advocacy organization established in 2004. along with WildEarth Guardians and other environmental activist groups, the NEE sees the about-face by the IB has essentially politically motivated.
“A party is not supposed to take one position in front of a body and then adopt a different position later on,” said its executive director Mariel Nanasi. “Courts don’t generally favor that sort of switch. Unless there’s some actual basis for that change, it’s very unusual. The EIB can’t just turn on a dime like that.”
While the solar-paneled protestors, who’d been organized into action by the NEE, sang their songs, their opponents gave the EIB estimates on costs of the board’s 2010 regulations — both to their companies and their customers. The figures ranged from $840 million to $1.6 billion over the 20 years. Representatives of New Mexico’s electric cooperatives then presented the board with more than 16,000 petition signatures in favor of repeal.
Nanansi said that the claims of exorbitant retrofitting and higher heating bills for those who can least afford it and lost jobs all amount to shell games.
“It’s a ruse — all these arguments,” she said. “This is the most important issue of our time, and they’re externalizing their costs for decades. it sounds good that they care about their customers, but PNM has raised its rates three times in the last four years. And that’s not because of the EIB’s new regulations. That’s because PNM made the risky decision to invest in coal.”
“It’s an ideological game,” added Nanansi. “The problem is, there are real consequences. Governor Martinez is doing her damnedest to tear everything down. but we’re going to continue to build momentum for clean energy. And if the EIB buckles to these utility and oil and gas interests, we’re going to appeal. There are a lot of legal opportunities to oppose this.”
on November 22nd, 2011% ![]() Wednesday, October 26, 2011 Wheaton plans to build outpatient clinic at St. Francis
Glendale-based Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare plans to build a four-story, 81,650-square-foot outpatient clinic at 3260 S. 18th St., at the St. Francis Hospital campus on the south side of Milwaukee.
Wheaton Franciscan demolished an administration building on the hospital campus to make way for the new clinic. The administration building had “become functionally obsolete,” Wheaton Franciscan said in documents filed with the city.
The clinic will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. About 60 people will work in the clinic.
The clinic will have physician offices, a sleep lab, a physical therapy department and laboratory services.
The third floor of the building will have shelled space for future expansion of physician offices.
Pewaukee Costco store to open Oct. 27
Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco Wholesale Corp. will open its new 148,000-square-foot store at Capitol Drive and Highway 164 in Pewaukee on Thursday, Oct. 27.
The store is located just north of a Wal-Mart store at the northwest corner of Capitol Drive and Highway 164. Costco is the largest wholesale club operator in the U.S. The company operates about 565 membership warehouse stores. However, other than the Pewaukee store the only other Costco stores in Wisconsin are in Grafton and in Middleton (just west of Madison).
Visitor center and carriage museum to be built at Wade House historic site Briohn to build medical clinic in Muskego
Brookfield-based Briohn Building Corp. plans to build a 24,178-square-foot medical clinic building adjacent to the Kohl’s store located northeast of Moorland Road and Janesville Road in Muskego.
About 16,000 square feet of space in the building will be leased to a tenant and the remaining space will be reserved for future expansion.
Briohn has not disclosed who the tenant will be for the building. The company is waiting until it has a signed lease before it will announce the tenant, said Briohn chief executive officer Nelson Williams.
Several years ago Jewel Food Stores Inc. planned to build a grocery store adjacent to the Kohl’s store, but those plans fell through.
Russ Darrow Nissan to move to Metro Boulevard Pastic Components adds second building
Germantown-based Plastic Components Inc., a plastic injection mold manufacturer, will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11, to celebrate the addition of its second building, located at N118 W18845 Bunsen Dr., Germantown, in the Germantown Industrial Park. The company announced that it had purchased the 15,000-square-foot building in August.
"The company investment included the purchase of a new building, remodeling and new equipment, which will allow PCI to remain efficient and globally competitive," the company said.
The company’s headquarters is located about a half-mile southwest of the Bunsen Drive building in a 40,500-square-foot plant at N116 W18271 Morse Dr., Germantown.
H&M store to open at Southridge
H&M, Hennes & Mauritz, an international retailer known for fashion-forward apparel and quality basics, will open a new store at Southridge Mall in Greendale on Thursday, Oct. 27.
“H&M is delighted to be adding to its presence in the Midwestern region” says Daniel Kulle, U.S. president for H&M, which is based in Sweden. “we have always been devoted to expanding our stores in the best new locations throughout the United States. The grand opening of H&M at Southridge Mall will undeniably be a great addition to Milwaukee as well as the Midwest.”
The store will offer collections for women and men and will feature a full children’s department.
H&M will celebrate the grand opening by partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee.
The addition of the H&M store is one of several changes that are coming to Southridge Mall. The mall’s owner, Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group is working on a massive renovation project for the mall and plans to bring in several new tenants. A new Macy’s department store is expected to move into the former Younker’s store space at the south end of the mall next year. also The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. will renovate its Boston Store at the mall.
Spanish company to lease Menomonee Valley space
Inesa LLC will establish its flagship North American operation in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, Milwaukee 7 and city officials announced.
“we are pleased that another Spanish manufacturer has chosen our region as its base of operations for serving the North American market,” said Jim Paetsch, vice president of the Milwaukee 7 (M7). Inesa is the fourth Spanish firm that M7 has worked with in the past year to locate in the region. The others are Ingeteam, Talgo and SIC Lazaro.
Ingeteam built a 140,000-square-foot plant in the Menomonee Valley, where it plans to manufacture generators and converters for wind turbines and solar power inverters. Talgo is a train manufacturer located on Milwaukee’s north side at the former Tower Automotive plant. SIC Lazaro, a producer of industrial counterweights, is establishing its first manufacturing operation in North America on Milwaukee’s far north side. The company will occupy a 138,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 7044-7100 N. Teutonia Ave.
Inesa manufactures electric panels for customers serving a variety of industrial markets. Inesa is a joint venture between Grupo Elektra and Ine, both headquartered in Spain.
The company will occupy 5,700 square feet of space at the Canal Street Commerce Center at 1301 W. Canal St., where it will assemble and test panels. The company will initially employ five people at the Milwaukee location.
“Milwaukee was on our radar screen because Ingeteam and Talgo, which are already customers, are located here,” said Iñigo Lopetegui, operating manager for Inesa. “but we quickly realized that Milwaukee’s deep manufacturing assets, such as a highly skilled workforce, would support the long-term objective of growing our U.S. customer base. this is an excellent place for manufacturers like us.”
Lopetegui has relocated to Milwaukee from Spain to lead the operation.
“Inesa is a welcome addition to our city’s sizeable base of global manufacturing companies,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “Foreign direct investment is an important generator of jobs and income in southeastern Wisconsin. Global manufacturers like what they see in Milwaukee.”
Italian deli planned in Riverwest
The Scardina family plans to open an Italian deli selling homemade sausages and other homemade Italian specialty foods, including spedinis (meat roll-ups), and cannoli’s and other desserts, in a 100-year-old building at 822 E. Chambers St. in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood. The deli will be called Scardina’s Specialties. it will be run and operated by Peter Scardina and his children, Damien Scardina, Anthony Scardina and Geraldine Scardina. The deli will have 4-8 employees.
Register for BizTimes Commercial Real Estate Conference CARW announces award winners
The Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin (CARW) announced the winners of its 2011 Commercial Real Estate Awards
The winners of the Deal of the Year Awards are:
Industrial: Seda International Packaging lease at Park 94, Kenneth Braden and James T. Barry III of Cassidy Turley Barry and Jim Babiasz and Patrick Dedering of The Boerke Company.
Investment/multi-family: Franklin Corporate Centre sale, Mike Judson and Lori Hake of Judson & Associates.
Office: Aurora Health Care lease at The Tannery, Scott Revolinski and Ned Purtell of RFP Commercial.
Retail: Multi-level Target at Hilldale Mall in Madison, Dan Cohen of Mid-America Real Estate Group Wisconsin.
The winners of the CARW individual awards are:
CARW Realtor of the Year: Barry Chavin of NAI MLG Commercial.
CARW Affiliate of the Year: Brad Dallet of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
Friend of CARW Award: Doug Seymour, director of community development for city of Oak Creek.
Real estate people
Pewaukee-based VJS Construction Services recently hired Chris Goeke as a project coordinator. Previously he worked as a project coordinator for J.F. Ahern co.
Milwaukee-based law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP recently added real estate attorney Danielle M. Bergner to the firm’s Milwaukee office. she will join the firm’s Transactional Practice Group focusing her practice on real estate, municipal law and finance. Prior to joining Michael Best, Bergner was an assistant city attorney in the real estate section for the city of Milwaukee.
Leases
Boerke Company
- ARK Fitness LLC (d.b.a. Anytime Fitness) leased 4,954 square feet of retail space in Westbrook Shopping Center at 2120 E. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, from ROS Realty Management.
Cassidy Turley Barry
- Karl’s Event Services Inc. leased 24,000 square feet of industrial space in the Northbranch Industrial Park at 400 W. Bell Ct., Oak Creek, from K&Z Partners LLC. Karl’s will move some of its tent manufacturing and design operations to the space.
Gerald Nell Inc.
- Delta Medical Systems Inc. leased 15,400 square feet of industrial space at W239 N2890 Pewaukee Road, Units D-E, Pewaukee, from Westside Investor Group LLC.
Grubb & Ellis|Apex Commercial
- Microsoft Corp. leased 7,875 square feet of office space at N19 W24133 Riverwood Dr., Pewaukee, from Triple Net Properties.
- Public Allies Inc. leased 6,100 square feet of office space at 735 N. Water St., Milwaukee, from Compass Properties North Water Street LLC.
- Sprecher Brewery Inc. leased 4,800 square feet of industrial space at 727 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, from ARB Properties LLC.
- Impact Engineering leased 4,116 square feet of office space at 3315 N. 124th St., Brookfield, from Stone Properties.
- Sandvik Mining and Construction USA LLC leased 2,114 square feet of office space in two Park place at 10850 W. Park place, Milwaukee, from two Park place LLC.
- Lisa McNeil leased 1,473 square feet of office space at 280 Regency Ct., Brookfield, from 280 Regency Court LLC.
Inland Companies
- Loomis Armored US LLC leased 6,500 square feet of industrial space at 7715 N. 67th St., Milwaukee.
- KitPackers LLC leased 4,881 square feet of industrial space in the Alpine Business Center at W188 N11927 Maple Road, Germantown.
NAI MLG Commercial
- Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc. leased 7,778 square feet of space at 17035 W. Wisconsin Ave., Brookfield, from RPM Investments LLC.
- Universal Wireless Inc. leased 1,540 square feet at S30 W24896 Sunset Dr., Waukesha, from Oakview Manor Company LLC.
RFP Commercial
- James P. Grogan leased 4,177 square feet of office space at 11270 W. Park place, Milwaukee, from GLL Properties LLC.
- Chernov, Stern & Krings S.C. leased 3,658 square feet of office space at 330 E. Kilbourn Ave., Milwaukee, from Tishman Speyer.
- Best Health Option leased 2,080 square feet of office space at W177 N9856 Rivercrest Dr., Menomonee Falls, from Fountain Square LLC.
New construction
Waukesha-based The Redmond Company recently completed construction of a 13,650-square-foot Walgreens store in Clintonville. it was the 133rd Walgreens project for The Redmond Company.
Real estate events
IREM October luncheon, with installation of officers and board members, Thursday, Oct. 27, 11:30 a.m., Wisconsin County Club, 6200 W. good Hope Road, Milwaukee. for more information call (414) 476-4736.
CARW Lunch & Learn- Industrial: What’s new, what’s next and where will it happen, Monday, Oct. 31, from 12 noon-2 p.m. CARW office conference room. Visit CARW.com or call (414) 271-2021 for more information.
CARW Lunch & Learn- Investment: What’s new, what’s next and where will it happen. Monday, Nov. 14, from 12 noon-2 p.m. CARW office conference room. Visit CARW.com or call (414) 271-2021 for more information.
CARW Holiday Party, Monday, Dec. 5, from 5:30-8:30 pm. TBD. Visit CARW.com or call (414) 271-2021 for more information.
NAIOP-WI & CARW Market Update, Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Italian Community Center. Visit CARW.com or call (414) 271-2021 for more information.
CARW Lunch & Learn – Development: where are the new hotspots and what to expect in 2012, Monday, Dec. 19, from 12 noon-2 p.m. CARW office conference room. Visit CARW.com or call (414) 271-2021 for more information.
BizTimes Real Estate Weekly is compiled by BizTimes Milwaukee managing editor Andrew Weiland. this bulletin is published every Wednesday morning. Send real estate news tips to Andrew.Weiland@biztimes.com or call him at (414) 277-8181, ext. 120.
on November 22nd, 2011% ![]()
If you’re looking for wholesale solar panels, you’re either looking to buy a large quantity of panels and want to get a bulk discount, or you want to see how cheap you can get some solar panels. if you need a large quantity of panels in a short time then you’re better off to keep looking for wholesale prices. Now if you have a little time and you’re looking for the most inexpensive way to get the solar panels that you need, then I would suggest looking into building your own solar panels for half the cost of commercially made panels wholesale. Solar panels are relatively easy to build, and of course the more of them you build, the faster you will become. another advantage to building your own panels is that you can customize the size and shape of them to fit just where you would like them and to blend in with the existing building. Most of the materials that you’ll need to build solar panels can be purchased at your local home improvement store.
(Except the solar cells) I like to save even more money by scavenging around for the materials needed. It just feels good to make something very useful from things that were going to be thrown out! Basically what you’ll need is wood for the panel frame and backing, you’ll also need some glass or plexiglas for the front. The most expensive part of the solar panel will be the solar cells, unless you can find a place to scrounge these up too. at least for your first solar panel you’re going to need some detailed step by step instructions. I can show you where you can get some very good instructions and videos, but before spending any money on instructions, let me give you a scrounging tip for free.
on November 19th, 2011% ![]()
TOKYO: Panasonic Corp will invest as much as 50 billion yen (US$645mil) to build a solar panel plant in Malaysia, its first such facility overseas, as a strong yen pushes up production costs at home, two industry sources told Reuters.
The firm, which has been touting environmental and energy technology as key growth areas, dropped a plan to convert a television panel plant in Western Japan into a solar power factory in October because of the rising yen and an industry price war.
The Malaysia plant will start production in the financial year starting next April and bolster the company’s solar output capacity by 50% to about 900 MW, the sources said.
The company plans both production of solar cells and assembly of solar panels at the plant, the sources said.
Panasonic declined to confirm the plan. “We will announce details of our solar panel growth strategy at the appropriate time,” said company spokesman Akira Kadota.
Competition among Japan’s big solar panel makers, including Sharp Corp and Kyocera Corp, is intensifying as they look to compete with rivals overseas.
At the same time, demand for solar panels is expected to slump in Europe due to cuts in government funding.Sales of solar cells in Japan rose 28.7% in the July-September quarter from the same period a year earlier, slowing for the seventh straight quarter. Solar panel exports from Japan fell 11.3% in the same period.
Shares in Panasonic, which is forecasting its biggest loss in a decade for the year to March 2012, were down 1.7% at 680 yen by early afternoon trade yesterday. – Reuters
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