ET

SynapSense，makes sensors that help data centers use less energy，VC,Sequoia

Silver Spring,makes hardware and software that utilities use to connect electric meters in a digital grid,equips electric meters with networking cards so utilities can see power failures before customers call. In addition, customers can see which of their appliances use the most electricity and at which times of day they need to conserve.VC, Kleiner Perkins and Google’s venture fund

SunRun, which sells solar power to homeowners. It does not make solar panels, though. Instead, it offers solar power for a monthly fee so homeowners do not have to pay the installation and maintenance costs of rooftop panels.VC,Foundation Capital

EnerNOC(gone public already）. It monitors energy inoffice buildings, grocery stores and hospitals and alerts operators to move power to places that need it most from those that need it least.

On a hot summer day, for example, EnerNOC will automatically shut off one-third of an office building’s lights, turn the air-conditioning down three degrees and stop the fountain in the lobby so the energy can be used elsewhere. VC,Foundation Capital

Gordon Murray Design, a company that will design eco-friendly cars but not build them.VC,MDV

Nanosolar, a thin-film solar cell company that has already raised $500 million.VC,MDV

…………………

美国在2001IT泡沫年后，VC就开始投资ET了，而且逐渐形成了两种方向，一种是制造并供应新能源，更加环保；一种是消费新能源，更加有效。

希望这对中国有所启发。中国的研究人员还是比较少的人博士后创业的，都去了大的公司，国有企业，大的研究机构，是缺少VC吗？是政策不好吗？是创新环境不好吗？是经营环境不好吗？

要知道根本性创新都是产生在小茅屋，真正理解消费者需要什么，还是小公司直接接触