Saint-Gobain and USGBC-NCC Announce NOVA Innovation Competition 2012 at Cleantech Forum

Entrepreneurs are invited to submit proposals by June 30 for chance to win $85,000 in capital

Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building materials company, has announced a partnership with us to co-present the company’s NOVA Innovation Competition. Organized by Saint-Gobain’s NOVA External Venturing team, the competition rewards start-up businesses around the world offering innovations in sustainable products, advanced materials, high-efficiency building solutions, clean technology and renewable energy sources with cash prizes and access to partnership opportunities with Saint-Gobain.

The deadline to submit an entry is June 30; finalists will win the chance to pitch their innovative business to the senior leadership team of Saint-Gobain in a live speed-dating format at the 2012 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in San Francisco on November 15.

Water Conservation Showcase Recap

We teamed up with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) on March 20th to host the 9th Annual Water Conservation Showcase at the Pacific Energy Center in San Francisco. The all-day event proved itself a success, attracting 650 attendees and participants who came together to address one of the largest concerns of Californians: water.


This year’s showcase featured eight lectures by water resource experts. Audiences packed into each of these lectures, leaving standing room only in many cases. The presentations covered a range of water conservation topics and perspectives. Lectures included information directed at both the private and public sectors, as well as information for private citizens seeking to reduce residential water consumption. This year’s presentation topics included: Corporate Water Management, National Trends in the Water-Energy Connection, Case Studies in Water Conservation, New Strategies for Achieving Sustainable Water Use in the Business Sector, Systematic Solutions for Big Water Savings, Launching a Residential Greywater Program for Outdoor Irrigation, and California Water Management.