Notable graduates: Brandon Gador — Co-Founder of Powered Green LLC

Brandon Gador, a business student majoring in marketing, didn't like the prospect of graduating into a stuffy desk job. So, when the opportunity to enroll in Professor Phil Kim's courses in entrepreneurship and venture creation arose, he jumped at the chance, and throughout the process, developed a feasible idea for a business with a UW-Madison peer.

Partnering with Edward Durkee, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, the two have laid the framework for a renewable energy credit option for energy-conscious laptop users.

Their company, Powered Green, will offer consumers the option of purchasing "Energy Seals" for the lifetime energy consumption of their laptops. These seals represent a guarantee that an equivalent amount of energy used throughout the life of a laptop will be produced by wind turbines. Part of the proceeds from Powered Green will go directly towards the creation of new wind facilities.

"For green consumers, their opportunities are limited as far as expressing a commitment to usage," says Gador. "Powered Green will give people the opportunity to express their commitment to green purchases and renewable energy by placing an energy seal on the outer surface of the laptop. Consequently, we hope doing so will help to further spread awareness of the green movement."

Beginning May 25, credits will be available for purchase at www.poweredgreen.com, a multimedia Web site that includes an explanation of the renewable energy credit process, a five-minute product survey, and the Green Today blog.