CleanTech OC Daily - 7/6/12

The Daily Start-Up: Another Clean-Tech Fund Gains Corporate Investor
Braemar Energy Ventures had gained an important investor as American Electric Power, one of the largest U.S. utilities, has made its first investment into a venture capital fund. The move reflects the utility’s interest in exploring start-up technologies and follows other recent investments by large corporations into energy and clean-tech venture funds.

Data is the key to efficiency in commercial buildings

Commercial buildings in the US account for 40% of the electrical load and approximately $108 billion in annual energy spending. Unfortunately approximately 30% of the energy used is wasted and the problem for utilities is that saving opportunities have been difficult to find and communicate to their customers. Data analytics can help make up that gap in savings while still being mindful of budget and resources.

Green Jobs: SolarCity’s Hiring Surge, Plus Ampulse,Banyan, Aquamarine
Solar and energy efficiency installer and financier SolarCity has more than 300 job openings across the country listed on their website. Even in an industry in transition, the company hired 100 new employees in June to bring its total workforce to more than 1,900 in 14 states.