Buying Green

Earth Day -- which celebrates its 35th anniversary today -- isn't just for tree-huggers or folks who religiously recycle and separate their paper, plastic and bottles. Protecting the planet and its resources is also a growing business.

Nearly nine out of 10 consumers consider environmental and health factors when making purchases, according to a survey released today by Consumer Reports. Consumers, the survey said, are also willing to pay more for "green" products.

Some companies have well-established customers and easily understood products, such as energy-saving home appliances. Others push the technology envelope and are willing to invest now for a profitable product later.

Here are four Orange County companies with "green" technologies that appeal to those with an eye for environmental preservation:

QUANTUM:
What: Ultra-lightweight tanks to store hydrogen so a fuel cell -- which creates energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen -- can do its job.

Why it's green: Clean driving. Hydrogen-powered cars are no longer the stuff of science fiction. However, putting them on the road hasn't been easy. The vehicles require special fueling stations and tanks, which Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide of Irvine makes. Fuel-cell proponents say the technology will lessen pollution as well as the nation's dependence on foreign oil. Quantum has supplied more than 150 hydrogen-based fuel systems and developed programs for automakers such as General Motors, Toyota and Ford. Nothing is being sold to consumers. The company hasn't turned a profit but is narrowing its losses. In 2004, net income was down $9 million vs. a loss of $18 million in the previous year.

ORYXE:
What: Additives that help fuels burn more cleanly and efficiently.

Why it's green: Cleaner fuel. ORYXE Energy's first product to market is OR-LED, an additive for diesel fuel. It has been approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and produces a fuel that meets Texas' new diesel low-emission requirements. Wednesday, it signed its first customer, Direct Fuels, a fuel distributor in Texas, to use its product.

ORYXE is a young company. Founded in 2001, it is privately held and based in Irvine. Because this is their first sale, it does not have any financial data. (ORYXE is an acronym for Original Research into Unknown Quantities of Earth. The "Y" and the "X" represent unknown quantities.)

BOSCH:
What: Energy-efficient appliances.

Why it's green: Conserves water and cuts down on home energy costs. Bosch, whose U.S. unit is in Huntington Beach, is known for its high-end dish washers and other appliances that get items squeaky clean without sucking much electricity or natural gas. Its dish washers, for example, have sensors that detect the amount of soil in the water during the pre-wash and adjust water flow accordingly. Technology doesn't come cheap. Sure, you can get one of the basic dishwashers for $500, but their premier unit is $1,600.

SHARP ELECTRONICS:
What: Solar panels for houses.

Why it's green: Clean energy. The Solar Systems Division of Sharp in Huntington Beach sells solar panels and other components so consumers can generate their own electricity by tapping into the sun's energy. It's the No. 1 maker of solar panels in the world. Solar panels are flat, 3-by-5-foot roof fixtures. An "inverter" converts the power collected by the panels into electricity, which is fed into your main utility line. On bright, sunny days, your electric meter may run backward. (At night, your home is powered by your traditional electric company.) A 2,000-watt system, which will power 30 to 50 percent of a small house, costs about $10,000. In the past year, as energy costs have risen, business has been brisk. Sharp said they have a six-month back order.

To see more of The Orange County Register, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.ocregister.com. Copyright (c) 2005, The Orange County Register, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.