CoreNet Global Features Nextek Power Systems in Newsletter

July 14th, 2010

The Michigan Chapter of CoreNet Global featured an article in its July issue of Michigan Memo about alternative energy and energy efficiency in commercial real estate written by Nextek Power CEO, Paul Savage.   CoreNet Global is the world’s leading professional association for corporate real estate and workplace executives serving leading multinational companies from the Fortune and Global 1000. More than 7,000 members manage over $1.2-trillion in real estate and workplace assets in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and North America.  Click here to read the article beginning on page 5.

by nbopp

Spear Point Energy is Thrilled with Their New DC Flexzone Ceiling

July 14th, 2010

Spear Point Energy, LLC recently installed an Armstrong DC FlexZone ceiling in their Colorado corporate headquarters.  Spear Point Energy, LLC is a US based company with offices in Colorado, California and Utah. The company’s principals have diverse backgrounds and experience including real estate acquisition and development, power project finance and development, carbon markets, and emerging efficiency technologies. The founders, Sam Houston, Bob McClenachan, and Todd Mitchell, had the vision to create a company focused on developing and financing solar based electric generation systems as part of the growing global trend towards a diverse energy economy. The Spear Point Energy team is committed to the goal of localized electricity production through solar projects that realize economic benefit for their clients, consumers, partners and investors. Through strategic relationships, experience based knowledge, qualified personnel, and a creative forward thinking approach, Spear Point Energy is able to achieve this.

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Nextek CEO Co-Authors Paper for Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies

June 30th, 2010

The Yale school of Forestry & Environmental Studies is internationally known for its excellence.   Founded in 1901, the school offers master’s degrees and doctoral programs and serves as a locus for research into local, regional and global environmental issues.  Nextek Power Systems is pleased to share this paper co-authored by our CEO Paul Savage and former DOE and FERC General Counsel Bob Nordhaus about the wisdom found in DC micro-grids.  Click here to view the paper, published this month by the Yale school of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

by nbopp

Connectivity Week 2010, Santa Clara, California

June 1st, 2010

Connectivity Week is a collection of events that together focus on the application of Information Technology (IT) on the energy challenges facing the world, challenges as illustrated by climate change and the need for sustainability.

Spanning all the major industries and energy consumption areas of commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure, conference sessions at Connectivity Week explore how IT can be leveraged towards the new energy paradigm facing the world.

Also located at Connectivity Week are a conference and an exposition on key enabling technologies and applications required to make the future energy vision a reality.

Designed for government planners, technology companies, facility developers and owners, consultants and academia – Connectivity Week is an opportunity for stakeholders to network, share “best practices” and develop ideas to solve the world’s energy issues.

Our own Liang Downey was there for the week taking in all of the sights and sounds.  According to Liang she often heard “DC power?  Yes, I’ve heard of that and it makes sense!”  She said it was an incredible opportunity to meet, network and discuss future partnerships.  Much is being done in the energy sustainability arena and it’s an exciting time to be involved.

 

by nbopp

Nextek to Support the IEEE Humanitarian Technology Challenge Initiative

May 17th, 2010

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.  Led by a group of IEEE volunteers working with Engineers Without Borders, Nextek Power Systems will be helping to provide renewable energy to Haiti and other disadvantaged regions in the world.  Nextek has committed to donate our NPS1000 Power Modules and associated hardware that has been specifically modified to support the initiative in Haiti.

 

The long-term goal is to create economically and environmentally sustainable energy, as well as build an entrepreneurial renewable energy industry in these developing and disadvantaged areas.

by nbopp

Nextek Power Systems Featured on MichiganNow.Org

May 5th, 2010

Journalist Chris McCarus, writing for MichiganNow.org talked with Paul Savage about DC power, its advantages and its future.  Click here to read the article and hear the NPR broadcast.

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380 VDC Gateways Added to Nextek’s Detroit Offices

April 15th, 2010

380 VDC GatewaysTwo 480 VAC to 380 VDC gateways that are able to produce 8oKw of power each have been installed outside of the Nextek Power Systems’ Detroit offices.  The units, which can accept both renewable and AC energy sources, are the key to our R & D for bi-directional vehicle charging and discharging.  Our short term goal is to provide a DC microgrid that charges a DC electric vehicle.   The DC electric vehicle will also provide power back to the microgrid to power additional DC loads.  It is a very exciting opportunity for Nextek, which will also be using the gateways to power their office lighiting, motors and IT loads.  There is so much potential for these gateways and we look forward to sharing more exciting news as the story unfolds.

by nbopp

Toby Barlow Talks AC/DC

March 23rd, 2010

Toby Barlow, author of the book Sharp Teeth, blogged about adopting a DC building standard on The Huffington Post today.   We here at Nextek Power Systems couldn’t agree more with Toby and we plan on spreading the word!  Read the entire blog by clicking here.

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Nextek Mentioned In Climate Savers Computing Paper

March 17th, 2010

There is a compelling article by Lee Harrison on behalf of Climate Savers Computing Initiative about the state of affairs in data centers and the need for much greater efficiency for both environmental and economical reasons.  Read the entire article by clicking here

Started by Google and Intel in 2007, the Climate Savers Computing Initiative is a nonprofit group of eco-conscious consumers, businesses and conservation organizations.  Their goal is to promote development, deployment and adoption of smart technologies that can both improve the efficiency of a computer’s power delivery and reduce the energy consumed when the computer is in an inactive state.

by nbopp

Nextek Newbie, Adventures in Energy…

March 9th, 2010

Let’s face it, until I got this job the only time I ever thought about energy was when I didn’t have it, and with my yard full of tall trees, that happens more than I’d like between April and November.  I don’t think that makes me different from most Americans.  As I’ve matured I have become more aware of my consumption…turning off lights, unpluging appliances that aren’t in use, switching to CF light bulbs and don’t even get me started on my composting, recycling and buying local habits.    Then I got this job and by “this job” I mean my job assisting the CEO of Nextek Power Systems.  Suddenly I was keenly aware that not only do I not think about energy, but I knew nothing about energy either.  My first weeks here were spent Googling every other word uttered by my co-workers.  What’s PV?  Is a gigawatt a lot?  AC vs. DC?  Inverters?   Thomas Edison?  I hadn’t thought about him since middle school!  It’s been 6 months and I am building a vocabulary, but most importantly I am building a tremendous amount of respect for energy.  There is this worldwide conversation going on about the benefits of DC energy, it started as a murmur and it’s revving up to be a full-blown roar soon.  It’s not just a conversation for environmentalist or third-world countries either, it’s a conversation with global corporate leaders, former presidents of the United States, utility companies and governments.  I think we’ve really got something special going on here and I know that we are standing on the verge of something huge.   These next couple of years are going to be an incredible journey, one I hope you join us on.   Become part of  the conversation, start your own adventure in energy…I know I’m glad I did.

by nbopp