Energy efficiency posts
FeedPosted Dec 10th 2009 12:20PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Economic Data, Green Stocks
If you still doubt that the next bubble will be green, check out the latest from California. Green and clean technology gigs surged 36% from 1995 to 2008, beating the state's overall 13% job-growth rate for the same period, according to Silicon Valley-based research firm Collaborative Economics. Since California's on the leading edge of this sector, many see it as a sign of things to come for the rest of the country.
As of January 2008, there were only 159,000 green jobs in California, less than 1% of the state's total, following year-over-year growth of 5%. But, during that same period, total jobs in the state dropped 1%, suggesting that jobs in sustainability just might be more sustainable. Though these may seem like small numbers, keep in mind that the green sector job market is twice the size of the state's biotech presence and two-thirds the size of the software industry.
Continue reading California tops U.S. for green jobs
Posted Jun 9th 2009 10:50AM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newsletters, Commodities, Oil, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks, Obama Picks
"Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is involved in the build-out of smart grids -- has been our radar screen for awhile," says growth stock expert Toby Smith.
In his ChangeWave Investing, he suggests, "As the top supplier of smart meters and meter infrastructure for the electricity industry, Itron is by far the best-positioned company for the smart grid build-out."
"The build-out of smart grids employs technologies that deployed across an energy grid which allow greater efficiency and flexibility during energy distribution and transmission.
"The cool thing about smart grids is that they are capable of isolating and better managing power outages and disruptions, integrating local power generating equipment, and avoiding electricity congestion or bottlenecks.
Continue reading Itron (ITRI): Smart grids, smart meters
Posted Jan 12th 2009 2:00PM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newsletters, Commodities, Oil, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks, Best Stocks for 2009
This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.
For his top idea for 2009, Bob Bogda looks to a play on reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels. In SmallCapInvestor, the advisor selects Fuel Systems Solutions (NASDAQ: FSYS).
"When it comes to reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels, there are abstract theories and then there are practical tools.
"Fuel Systems Solutions falls squarely into the latter category, as a growing number of car and bus manufacturers discover how its equipment helps vehicles run more efficiently on cleaner sources of fuel, investors are reaping the benefits.
Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: Fuel Systems (FSYS)
Posted Jan 5th 2009 8:00AM by Steven Halpern (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newsletters, Commodities, Oil, Suntech Power Hldgs ADS (STP), Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks, Best Stocks for 2009
This post is part of a special annual report -- Top Stock Picks '09 -- in which TheStockAdvisors.com asked 75 leading newsletter advisors to select their favorite investment for the new year.
"If there ever was an opportunity to move energy efficiency strategies into the top-tier of national and industrial policy, it's now," says Toby Smith, referring to President-elect Obama's stated focus on renewable energy.
In his industry-leading ChangeWave Investing, which focuses on isolating emerging, long-term investment trends, he states, "The question isn't really if solar companies will benefit, but when." As a favorite idea for 2009, he looks to SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA).
"President-elect Obama seems to be the right person to push energy-efficiency initiatives through -- especially since he is preparing a massive stimulus program that will be unleashed soon after his inauguration on Jan. 20.
"The core of Obama's economic policy appears to be a strategy to transform the United States into an economy mostly powered by renewable and low-carbon energy generation by mid-century. This includes everything from solar to natural gas to nuclear.
Continue reading Top Stock Picks '09: SunPower (SPWRA)
Posted Jun 19th 2008 4:17PM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Forecasts, Other Issues, Commodities, Oil

Just call it stagflation, updated for the globalization era.
Oil's record, 5-year rise, combined with increasing food costs, have increased inflation, reduced disposable income, and slowed the U.S. economy to a crawl, when combined with the effects of the end of the housing boom.
The above sounds like a prescription for a replay of the 1970s' stagflation era, but is it? Not quite, according to Stephen Cecchetti, professor of economics at the Brandeis University International Business School.
Cecchetti
told Bloomberg News Thursday a more-flexible economy, with lower stockpiles of goods, increased fuel efficiency, increased worker productivity, and lower wage increases for employees are among the economic differences separating the 1970s and 2008 U.S. economies. As a result, Cecchetti doesn't see a repeat of the 1970s' high inflation/high unemployment levels.
Economist David H. Wang concurred with the above conclusion, but argued that the two major factors in the nation's enhanced ability to cope with large increases in commodity costs and other negative economic factors are energy efficiency and worker productivity.
Continue reading U.S. today seen better-equipped to cope with oil, food price rises than 1970s
Posted Nov 26th 2007 11:18AM by Joseph Lazzaro (RSS feed)
Filed under: Deals, General Electric (GE)
Amsterdam-based
Philips (NYSE:
PHG) announced Monday it has
agreed to purchase U.S.-based
Genlyte (NASDAQ:
GLYT) group for $2.7 billion.
The deal values Genlyte at about $95.70 per share, or about a 50% premium over Genlyte's Friday closing price. Genlyte's shares surged $31.50 (just over 50%) to $94.17 in Monday morning trading. Philips gained 24 cents to $42.46.
Philips said the deal will strengthen its position in energy-efficient lighting, adding that with Genlyte it will surpass rival
General Electric (NYSE:
GE) as the largest lighting company in North America. GE's shares fell 14 cents to $37.53.
Stock Analysis: It looks like Philips has executed a smart purchase at a fair price. In Genlyte, Philips will gain greater access to U.S. distributors, which will increase sales of its fluorescent and next-generation light-emitting diode (LED), energy-saving light bulbs. The deal will also add to Philips's manufacturing capacity. Philips has the light bulb / lighting lead in Europe, but (understandably) it trails GE in North America. Hence the Genlyte deal underscores its commitment to compete on both continents with GE, as the market for energy-efficient lighting expands at a healthy rate in the years ahead.
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