Recurve Named to Prestigious Inc 5000

by Shana Fong on September 21, 2010
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The results are in: we are honored to be named to the Inc. 5000 list, ranking #24 in Top Energy Companies, #39 in San Francisco, and #682 overall.

The Inc. 5000 list was based on revenue growth from 2006 to 2009 and had to meet certain qualifications, such as being privately held and for-profit.

Perhaps as a harbinger of things to come, Inc. Magazine remarks about their list:

More encouraging are the companies sprouting in industries such as health (32, compared with 15 in 2000), energy (16, compared with three in 2000), and education (six, compared with one in 2000). These sectors represent teeth-grindingly tough issues, on which entrepreneurial zeal and fresh thinking are sorely needed.

Recurve Ranked Third Most Innovative Energy Company in the World by Fast Company

by Shana Fong on February 18, 2010
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Today, Recurve was named 3rd among Fast Company’s 2010 ranking of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Energy … an honor that cements its place among other top energy innovators like First Solar and Silver Spring Networks.

Check out the full article on Fast Company here.

Green building trends in 2009

by Shana Fong on January 4, 2010
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2009 was a fantastic year for progress and support of green building. Some of our favorite green building trends of the year were:

  • The increase in net zero energy building. Check out the Palo Alto historic retrofit we did here: Palo Alto Net Zero
  • Energy efficiency retrofits finally get financing support. CA has set aside over $3 billion, most of which will come from utility rebates.
  • Property assessed clean energy loans (PACE) gain popularity and are implemented in several states and municipalities.

See Greentech Media’s Top Ten in Green Building in 2009.

Mayor Newsom announces San Francisco Sustainable Financing for Green Retrofits

by Shana Fong on December 16, 2009
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Mayor Newsom, Recurve founder Matt Golden, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, and others announce SF Sustainable Financing Program

Mayor Newsom, Recurve founder Matt Golden, Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, and others announce SF Sustainable Financing Program

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that San Francisco is introducing legislation to help finance new residential and commercial energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program (SF2) is modeled after similar programs adopted by cities such as Berkeley and Palm Desert, in which the loan for improvements is attached to the property, rather than the individual, and will be paid back through property taxes over the life of the financing.

San Francisco Sustainable Financing (SF2) Highlights:

  • Establishes a citywide “Mello-Roos” Special Tax District.
  • Residential and commercial buildings of all sizes will be eligible.
  • Some of the eligible upgrades include: insulation, replacing windows, upgrading heating systems; water efficiency upgrades—such as installing low flow toilets, potable water offsets, irrigation measures, storm water management improvements; financing will also be available for installation of renewable energy generation on buildings, such as solar arrays, solar water heaters and wind turbines
  • Program phases in a mandate of a whole home energy efficiency audit and the installation of energy efficiency upgrades before renewable energy generation improvements.
  • Private capital to fund the retrofits through Renewable Funding, LLC.
  • Program participants can deduct the interest component of their solar financing tax on their tax returns.
    Similar programs exist currently in Berkeley and Sonoma, and others are under development around the state, but San Francisco’s is the most aggressive and includes comprehensive water and energy efficiency improvements as well as renewable generation like solar.

According to Inhabitat, the genius of San Francisco Sustainable Financing is that it will leverage private market lending and available state and federal grant dollars to help home and business owners overcome the costs of green improvements without financial risk to San Francisco taxpayers. Up to $150 million has been set aside for this new program. This is different than cities with similar “repayment through property tax” solar and environmental improvement programs, where public or City investment dollars are used for financing instead.