Monday, July 6, 2009

Solar branding

I saw this last week walking up Bancroft Avenue in Berkeley. The fact that the signal was powered by solar energy and labeled accordingly with the name of SolarTech drew my attention:




The product is manufactured by Solar Technology, Inc., but if you google Solar Tech you will also come up with an industry consortium promoted by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (a group of companies involved in public policy issues in the Silicon Valley). There is also another company called Solar Technologies...

Despite the confusion, this "solar tech label" made me think how it could be used to create awareness on how solar energy can power our everyday life. I would argue that solar energy must be made tangible in the same fashion that Intel made us see that they were powering PCs - Intel also captured most of the value in the PC industry along the way-

from intel inside...



...to solar inside,
well, maybe with a cute little sunny icon...

Is there a "solar energy label" or industry certification? I am thinking of something potentially pervasive like that "recyclable" green icon...

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