Daily Investment Tips

Solar energy is in vogue! I have read a couple of business articles talking about the coming boom in Solar energy. Although solar is yet to compete with natural gas and coal as a source of cheap energy it is still used in sufficient amount to consider it an emerging force.

If you are interested in investing in Solar energy you can invest in stocks of companies supplying the solar industry. The following companies were featured in a Businessweek article on Solar Energy.

SMA SOLAR

a German producer of inverters, which convert the direct current produced by solar and wind into alternating current that can be used on the grid.

SATCON TECHNOLOGY

is the largest manufacturer of utility-scale inverters

POWER ONE

Maker of inverters

ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES

Also maker of inverters

STR HOLDINGS

Which makes adhesive encapsulants, the ethylene vinyl acetate sheets used to weatherproof solar panels and prevent yellowing. Demand for STR’s products is strong, with half the world’s solar panel makers signed up to use them

FIRST SOLAR & SUNPOWER

Photovoltaic panel makers

Source businessweek.com

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Acetate Sheets, Advanced Energy Industries, Alternative Energy, Business Articles, Businessweek, Cheap Energy, Coal, Direct Current, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate, German Producer, Half The World, Inverters, Invest Stocks, Natural Gas, Satcon Technology, Sma, Solar Energy, Solar Industry, Solar Panel, Solar Panels, Vogue

A green investing idea have come across is investing in a rooftop farm or garden. I first heard about rooftop farms in New York in a BBC program. At first i thought this was something new but after researching on the subject I discovered it is an idea that has been around for some time.

Rooftop farming is urban agriculture

Rooftop farms are cropping up on top of storied building in New York and across America. The farm owners are not just hobbiest, they are serious farmers trying to make a buck.

A good example is a group farm in New York called Brooklyn Grange. They were profiled in New York times. The group grow peppers, tomatoes and green vegetables. The vegetables are sold to local restaurants.

Making money in a rooftop farm

According to the team leader of the group, for such a venture to turn a profit you need a large space.

I noticed the members of Brooklyn Grange have to work as volunteers to cut cost. At the moment rooftop farming is still in its infancy, trying to find a business model that is profitable. The members of the partnership draw much satisfaction from doing something noble.

If you are interested in rooftop farming you may consider joining a  farm group partnership around your city. You may also start one but first make sure to know whether its legal in the first place. You don’t want to be breaking the law.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Bbc, Bbc Program, Breaking The Law, Brooklyn, Business Model, Farm Group, Farmers, Farming, Grange, Green Vegetables, Infancy, Local Restaurants, Making Money, New York Times, Partnership, Satisfaction, Team Leader, Tomatoes, Urban Agriculture, Volunteers