What is Renewable Energy?

Simply said, renewable energy comes from natural cycles and systems, turning the ever-present energy around us into usable forms.

Renewable or “alternative” energy is generally cleaner than energy from nonrenewable sources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Yet right now in the U.S. over 80% of our energy still comes from nonrenewable sources.

Like the name says, renewable energy can be replenished constantly. Its sources include radiant energy like solar, thermal energy like geothermal, chemical processes like biomass, gravitational energy like hydropower, and motion energy like wind and MotionPower.™

Some of the major current sources of renewable energy include:

Wind
Wind power is one of the cleanest technologies, and also one of the most abundant and cost-competitive energy resources, making it a viable alternative to the fossil fuels that harm our health and threaten the environment. Yet wind power is unreliable as a constant source of electricity, impacts vast tracts of land, and is unavailable where wind is intermittent.

Solar
Solar power has the ability to one day solve much of the world’s energy needs, but that day is still very far off. Still, solar technologies are getting more efficient and cost-effective each year, and it is the fastest-growing type of renewable energy.

Biofuels
Ethanol is the product of crops high in sugar or starch, while biodiesel is the product of plants with a high oil content. Both are biofuels, and both provide viable energy sources that have not yet reached their full potential. Scientists continue refining foodstocks to obtain higher efficiencies.

Geothermal
Heat from the earth, or geothermal energy, is cost effective, reliable, and clean, but is mostly confined to areas near tectonic plate boundaries. Some progress has been made recently in expanding the range of geothermal resources, but geothermal power remains a limited solution to our energy needs.

Hydro
Harnassing the kinetic power of moving water to generate electricity is the largest source of renewable power in the United States and worldwide. Hydropower can be a sustainable and nonpolluting power source that can help decrease our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the threat of global warming, but is limited to areas with large and consistent water supplies.

Ocean
Another form of kinetic power generation, the ocean’s constant movement by way of waves, tides, and currents is a powerful and clean energy resource. Like other hydro power, though, its geographic range is limited.

Motion Capture
The United States has about 250 million registered vehicles, which adds up to a lot of pollution and burning of fossil fuels. New Energy Technologies, Inc. prefers to look at it another way, though. We see those 250 million vehicles as a potential energy source and have developed a prototype engineered to harness some of the kinetic energy being generated, and wasted, by moving cars and light vehicles.

Climate Change and Renewable Energy

There is general agreement among the world’s major economies that it is essential to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2050. And with energy-related CO2 accounting for 61% of global greenhouse gas emissions today, the energy sector will have to be at the heart of change.

The European Union is committed to a 30% reduction by 2020 and a 60-80% reduction by 2050, under condition that other industrialized nations also commit. To do so will require $22 trillion in global energy investments over the next 25-30 years. Much of that investment will be in new power plants and distribution systems.

 

Trainees are paid to take year off

If you go back about four years you had every HR-Director in the country whingeing about the lack of talent. The recession comes along and everybody forgets

that very quuckly: financial peoplewho are under pressureto deliver results now cut recruitment. What you wil find is tht by 2011-2012 companies will be complaining aobu tthe lack of talented graduates- They can recruit but they can deferr the start date. Where the trainees are taken time off to study.

Article from The Sunday Times

 

Aachen steht an der spitzehttp

Betribswirschaft: Top – unis            Informatik -Unis              Maschinenbau: Top-unis

1. Mannheim                                        Aachen                                Aachen

2. München                                          München                            Darmstadt

3. Münster                                            Karlruhe                             München

4. Köln                                                   Darmstadt                          Karlsruhe

5. Oesterich-Winkel                            Illmenu                               Dresden

7. FFM, UNI                                          Dresden                              Stuttgart

8. Eichstätt-Inglostadt                        Stuttgart                             Kaiserlauten

9. Berlin,                                                 München                           Berlin

www.weforum.org jununternhemer.

 

Ingenieure haben sichern Arbeitsplatz

Vor dem hochkochen der krise hatten indes 64,000 Ingenieure gefehlt.

Der Verein Deutscher Ingenieure zeigte sich auch für die zukunft verhalten optimistisch. Wie VDI-Direktor

Willi Fuchs gestern auf der Hannover Messe sagte. ” Damit haben wir volbeschäftigung.” , der ist 23,000

Ingenieur Arbeitslos.  Momentan fhlten aber immer noch 44,000 Ingenieure.

 

Neue McKinsey-Studie: Wettbewerbsfaktor Energie als Chance für die deutsche Wirtschaft

850.000 neue Arbeitsplätze in Deutschland durch Wachstumskerne in energierelevanten Märkten möglich – 2,1 Billionen Euro Marktpotenzial im Jahr 2020, Wachstumsraten von 13% – 53 Mrd. Euro jährliches Energiesparvolumen für deutsche Unternehmen und Haushalte – Betreibermodelle fördern Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Klimaschutz

36,5 Billionen Euro wurden im vergangenen Jahr weltweit in Branchen erwirtschaftet, in denen Energie und Energieeffizienz von strategischer Bedeutung sind. Das entspricht etwa 40% aller Umsätze. In Deutschland ist dieser Anteil nach Berechnungen der Unternehmensberatung McKinsey & Company mit 44% höher als in allen anderen westlichen Industrienationen und erreicht 2,38 Billionen Euro. Zu diesen Branchen, in denen der Wettbewerbsfaktor Energie eine Schlüsselrolle spielt, zählen Transport und Verkehr, Gebäudetechnik, energieintensive Industrien, Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, Informationstechnologie und IT-Services sowie die Energiewirtschaft selbst.

Die McKinsey-Studie “Wettbewerbsfaktor Energie” zeigt, dass es innerhalb dieser Märkte Bereiche gibt, die ein besonders schnelles, weit überdurchschnittliches Wachstum versprechen und bei denen deutsche Unternehmen exzellente Ausgangspositionen haben. Diese Wachstumskerne bieten bis 2020 jährliche Zuwachsraten von durchschnittlich fast 13%. Damit erreichen sie bis 2020 ein jährliches Volumen von mehr als 2100 Milliarden Euro, ausgehend von 500 Mrd. Euro im Jahr 2008. “Wenn es der deutschen Wirtschaft gelingt, in der Besetzung dieser Wachstumskerne eine führende Rolle zu spielen, dann leistet dies einen herausragenden Beitrag zur Überwindung der Krise. Dadurch können bis 2020 in Deutschland mindestens 850.000 neue Arbeitsplätze geschaffen werden”, sagt Frank Mattern, Managing Partner Deutschland von McKinsey. “Für Unternehmen in diesen Bereichen ist es strategisch entscheidend, welche Form von Energie in welcher Menge und zu welchen Kosten entweder in den Produkten oder in den Produktionsprozessen verbraucht wird.”

Neue Technologien in der Autoindustrie

Laut McKinsey ergibt sich bis zum Jahr 2020 allein aus effizienteren und emissionsärmeren Pkw-Technologien ein Marktpotenzial von 325 Milliarden Euro. Gegenüber dem heutigen Stand entspräche dies einem Wachstum dieser Marktsegmente von jährlich 29%. Dazu gehören

* Hybridfahrzeuge, die weiterhin als Hauptantrieb einen Verbrennungsmotor haben, aber durch einen Elektromotor unterstützt werden. Sie dürften je nach Ölpreis bis 2020 einen weltweiten Marktanteil zwischen 16 und 24% erreichen, das wären mindestens 270 Milliarden Euro.
* Autos mit signifikant verbessertem Verbrennungsmotor. Die relevanten Komponenten zur Steigerung der Energieeffizienz und zur Verringerung des Kraftstoffverbrauchs schaffen ein Marktvolumen von 30 bis 35 Milliarden Euro.
* Elektroautos und so genannte Plug-in-Hybridfahrzeuge (Fahrzeuge, deren Batterie über das Stromnetz aufgeladen werden kann, im Gegensatz zu normalen Hybridfahrzeugen, deren Batterie sich nur durchs Fahren aufladen lässt) werden langfristig ebenfalls eine bedeutende Rolle für die Autoindustrie spielen. Bis 2020 rechnet McKinsey allerdings nur mit einem Umsatzanteil zwischen 1 und 9%, der stark vom dann geltenden Ölpreisszenario und der technischen Entwicklung abhängt. Das wären Umsätze zwischen 20 und 110 Milliarden Euro.

Wachstumskerne: 180 Mrd. Euro Marktpotenzial in der Gebäudetechnik, Chancen im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau

Die Marktchancen im Gebäudesektor – allein die privaten Wohnhäuser machen ein Viertel des weltweiten Energieverbrauchs aus – ergeben sich durch energieeffiziente Heizsysteme, dezentrale Kraftwärmekopplung, bessere Gebäudeisolierung und Haushaltsgeräte, die signifikant weniger Strom verbrauchen. McKinsey schätzt das Potenzial in diesen Wachstumskernen auf 180 Milliarden Euro im Jahr 2020.

Weitere 120 Milliarden Euro Potenzial bietet der Wettbewerbsfaktor Energie nach der Studie in schnell wachsenden Marktsegmenten des Maschinen- und Anlagenbaus. Dazu zählen maßgeschneiderte Lösungen für energieintensive Industrien wie Chemie, Stahl, Zement, aber auch branchenunabhängige Lösungen in der Automatisierungs- und Steuerungstechnik, bei industriellen Antrieben, der IT-Infrastruktur und der Wärmerückgewinnung. IT-Systeme im Energiemanagement bieten in der Verkehrssteuerung, bei Smart-Grid-Lösungen zum Steuern von Stromnetzen und im Energiemanagement bei industriellen Verbrauchern ein Marktpotenzial von zusammen nochmals rund 30 Milliarden Euro. Bei der Energieerzeugung lauten die Wachstumsthemen der nächsten Jahre McKinsey zufolge erneuerbare Energien, Komponenten für den weltweiten Bau von Kernkraftanlagen sowie das Abscheiden und Einlagern von Kohlendioxid, also Carbon Capture and Storage.

53 Mrd. Euro jährliches Einsparpotenzial

Neben neuen Absatzchancen bietet der Wettbewerbsfaktor Energie der deutschen Wirtschaft auch erhebliches Einsparpotenzial. Frank Mattern, Deutschland-Chef von McKinsey: “Nach unseren Berechnungen können deutsche Unternehmen und Haushalte im Jahr 2020 ein Einsparvolumen von 53 Milliarden Euro gegenüber dem heutigen Niveau erreichen, was etwa 25% der gesamten Energiekosten in Deutschland entspricht.”

Im Verkehr ließen sich die Kosten um 22 Milliarden Euro senken, bei den Gebäuden um 21 Milliarden und in der industriellen Produktion um weitere 10 Milliarden Euro. Das bedeutet: Die EBIT-Marge, also das Ergebnis vor Steuern und Zinsen, ließe sich so von 3,5% auf 4,0% steigern. Mattern: “Das wäre ein ganz erheblicher Beitrag zur Verbesserung der Wettbewerbsposition und zur Existenzsicherung vieler Unternehmen.”

Betreibermodelle erleichtern Energiesparen und Klimaschutz

Viele Chancen zum Energiesparen bleiben heute noch ungenutzt, obwohl sie sich finanziell rechnen würden. Ursachen sind teils mangelnde Information und teils ein zu kurzer Betrachtungszeitraum: Entscheidungskriterium für den Kunden/Verbraucher sind meist die Anschaffungskosten, nicht so sehr eine Analyse der Gesamtkosten und Vorteile über den Lebenszyklus eines Produkts. Hier würden Betreibermodelle entscheidende Verbesserungen ermöglichen. Mattern: “Einen enormen Schub würden wir in der Energieeffizienz – und damit auch beim Klimaschutz – erreichen, wenn wir den Blick auf die Gesamtkosten zur wirtschaftlichen Entscheidungsgrundlage machen.” Der Ansatz basiert auf dem Konzept der Total Cost of Ownership. Damit lassen sich Betreibermodelle entwickeln, etwa für die Nutzung von Elektroautos, für Wohngebäude oder in der dezentralen Energiewirtschaft. Hier könnte zum Beispiel ein Dienstleister mit längerem Anlagehorizont die Finanzierung der Anfangsinvestition übernehmen und seine Rückzahlungen über die Energieeinsparungen erhalten.

 

shift-happens-23665

 

Modern times

Nothing can wait.

Nothing can satisfy.

Nothing can last.

No one can be unhappy.

No one can be judged.

No one can be trusted.

Nothing is hidden.

Nothing is forbidden.

Nothing is certain.

Everything is a need.

Everything is a choice.

Everything is possible.

 

Solar Sales

Don’t underestimate the preparation needed to be a successful solar salesperson. After years of running solar workshops, I confused my ability to convey information effectively with the ability to recruit customers and get contracts signed. Educating potential customers is one strategy for recruiting sales leads, but real salespeople know how to efficiently convert those “general interest” workshop participants into actual contracts.

If you’re planning on embarking on a solar sales career, remember that solar sales is sales first, solar second. If this is your first time selling, you have three objectives:

1. Learn about the art and the science of selling. Lots of people do it, few do it really well. There are a gazillion free online resources about the art of sales. You can also ask experienced solar salespeople how and where they learned. Many have no formal training and are just naturals, others are relying on hot markets with lots of demand (e.g., the phones are ringing off the hook).

Be sure to define your customer base. Are you focused on high-end residential, small commercial or the nonprofit sector? Use FindSolar.com to assess the economic and environmental propositions for various customer types.

2. Learn the technology and economics of solar. It’s vital to understand the equipment you’re selling and your customers’ motivations. Some good ways to get started learning about solar:
• If you haven’t yet, get signed up for a solar install class (at least a two-day, hands-on course).

• Volunteer as much as possible. Get involved with your local American Solar Energy Society or Sierra Club chapter (access ases.org/chapters for a list of ASES chapters). Working on the ASES National Solar Tour (ases.org/tour) is particularly useful. As a volunteer you will be working with and helping potential customers directly, as well as seeing what installers have to offer.

• Attend as many free public workshops on solar energy and energy efficiency as you can. Your utility will often offer free energy-related courses. In California the larger utilities offer a tool lending program, allowing customers to borrow a Pathfinder or SunEye to practice shade analysis. Once you’re confident in your knowledge about a photovoltaic or solar water-heating project, run your own “Solar 101” course for your neighbors at the local library.

3. Research and network with potential employers. Develop a network of building professionals who will happily refer their customers’ solar-related questions to you. Practice providing value to those callers, without wasting time.

The bottom line: As you learn about how solar works, don’t underestimate the skills needed to be a successful salesperson. To land a salaried sales position you’ll want to network in the solar industry and begin understanding the business. Build relationships, share information when you can and be ready for the call when the right job comes along. If you are motivated by the idea of doing something positive for our collective future, and solar technology “floats your boat,” the right job is out there for you.

 

How to Land a Green-Collar Job

Despite the global recession, soaring interest in the new energy economy is sparking tremendous opportunity for job hunters and career changers to go green. The federal government is investing billions into the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors to help get the U.S. economy back on track. Leading businesses are investing billions more. While most parts of the U.S. economy continue struggle, many companies involved in solar, wind, biofuels, energy efficiency, and other sustainable efforts are hiring today and well positioned for future growth.

1) Unmask the Myth
The biggest misconception about green jobs is that they’re primarily for researchers, scientists, and PhDs. The reality is that most of the jobs in the green economy are similar to roles in other industries. Most solar manufacturers, for example, still need project managers, accountants, assemblers, IT professionals, customer service reps, marketing professionals and account executives, just like other companies. “The green economy is not just for the Ph.D., but also for the Ph.-do,” says Van Jones, director of Green For All in Oakland, Calif. Somebody still needs to build, sell, deliver, and install this technology.

2) Paint Your Picture
Start to narrow down the type of environment in which you’d like to be working – or at least rule out the areas that don’t call to you. Kevin Doyle, president of Green Economy, a workforce consulting firm in Massachusetts, offers these four steps to get started:

1. Imagine what you would like to be doing. Do you want to be up on a roof, retrofitting a house, setting policy, or perhaps making a ton of money as a venture capitalist? Focus on what you want first.
2. Find people who are doing what you want to be doing. Don’t just find a company or a job title, but find a person or two who is doing what you think you’d like to do.
3. Go talk to them. Set up an appointment, describe your background and ask them, “If you were me what would you do to get a job like this, what would your next steps be, and where do you see the key gaps to getting there?”
4. Take their advice seriously. Perhaps you need new training, new contacts, additional experience, or a new degree. Nobody knows the path better than the people who are successfully doing what you want to be doing.

1) Unmask the Myth
The biggest misconception about green jobs is that they’re primarily for researchers, scientists, and PhDs. The reality is that most of the jobs in the green economy are similar to roles in other industries. Most solar manufacturers, for example, still need project managers, accountants, assemblers, IT professionals, customer service reps, marketing professionals and account executives, just like other companies. “The green economy is not just for the Ph.D., but also for the Ph.-do,” says Van Jones, director of Green For All in Oakland, Calif. Somebody still needs to build, sell, deliver, and install this technology.

2) Paint Your Picture
Start to narrow down the type of environment in which you’d like to be working – or at least rule out the areas that don’t call to you. Kevin Doyle, president of Green Economy, a workforce consulting firm in Massachusetts, offers these four steps to get started:

1. Imagine what you would like to be doing. Do you want to be up on a roof, retrofitting a house, setting policy, or perhaps making a ton of money as a venture capitalist? Focus on what you want first.
2. Find people who are doing what you want to be doing. Don’t just find a company or a job title, but find a person or two who is doing what you think you’d like to do.
3. Go talk to them. Set up an appointment, describe your background and ask them, “If you were me what would you do to get a job like this, what would your next steps be, and where do you see the key gaps to getting there?”
4. Take their advice seriously. Perhaps you need new training, new contacts, additional experience, or a new degree. Nobody knows the path better than the people who are successfully doing.

4) Compile Your List of Targets
If there is particular sector in the green economy you’d like to pursue, go for it. Start researching this sector and compile your top ten list of target organizations you’d like to pursue. Want to move to a certain part of the country (or perhaps to stay where you are)? Start researching the green-focused organizations in your preferred area and make your top ten list of target organizations. Not sure what you’re looking for? Start by researching which green organizations are growing rapidly in your state. Check out your local or regional business newspapers to see who’s expanding, moving to a bigger office, building strategic partnerships, or otherwise making news. They may start hiring soon.

5) Get Informed, Stay Informed
The new energy economy is changing at an unprecedented pace. You need to understand industry trends, and position yourself for the opportunities coming. If you do not yet subscribe to SOLAR TODAY, you should do so right away. It’s the best $39 investment you can make to stay informed of developments in solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies — and your subscription includes a complementary membership to the American Solar Energy Society, the nonprofit leading the renewable energy revolution. Click here to get SOLAR TODAY.

6) Transfer in Your Role
As you learn more about the green economy and start to narrow down your search there’s a helpful shortcut you should know. If you have good job experience the easiest way to transfer to the green economy is in a role similar to what you’re already doing — just find a green company that needs your skills. If your resume is a bit thin or you are just out of college you may need to be more flexible as to the type of job you would consider in a green economy.

7) Volunteer to Lead
If you need to boost your green credentials, go volunteer for a green nonprofit, event, or initiative in your community. Make some good contacts while making a difference. There’s almost always a need for volunteers in these chronically under-resourced efforts. Identifying where the needs are is just a matter of finding the right person, building the relationship, and being respectfully persistent.

8) Take the Tour
Learn to speak with conviction about green technology in your community. See it in action during the ASES National Solar Tour — the largest solar energy event in the world. This event offers open-house tours in 2,900 communities across the United States. It’s an easy way to see green technology up close, learn the basics and hear about the experiences of the homeowners. The tour often offers great opportunities to volunteer. Tours generally take place the first Saturday in October. Click here to find a tour near you.

9) Learn from Nonprofits
Many outstanding nonprofit organizations work to strengthen the green economy. Some have job boards, background information, membership lists (an underused job hunting resource), local chapters, newsletters, and contact names of industry leaders. In addition to the many noteworthy nonprofits that protect the environment and promote sustainability, here are a few with helpful websites that can enhance your job hunt or career change:

* Alliance to Save Energy (ase.org)
* American Solar Energy Society (ases.org)
* American Wind Energy Association (awea.org)
* Bikes Belong (bikesbelong.org)
* Geothermal Energy Association (geo-energy.org)
* Interstate Renewable Energy Council (irecusa.org)
* US Green Building Council (usgbc.org)

10) Tap Into the Green Network
Learn who the key leaders and hiring managers are in your target green-economy organizations. Set up a free Google news alert to track news about these organizations (news.google.com). Set up brief informational interviews with industry leaders to better understand how things are changing and where the opportunities are likely to be. “Reach out and create relationships in spheres of influence throughout the business or sector,” recommends Dawn Dzurilla, president of Gaia Human Capital Consultants, a human resources consulting firm in New York and Florida. “Try to get to know the people who know the people.” These relationships can open doors and help you stand out from the crowd.

11) Speak the Language
If you don’t currently work in the green economy it is helpful to get some basic information so you can start speaking green. A great place to begin is with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy. NREL is on the cutting edge of renewable energy research and development and is an outstanding resource for getting accurate, credible information. Their website is at: nrel.gov

12) Certify Your Skills
A powerful way to kick start a new green career is by attending a workshop or class to gain the specialized skills required in the green economy. Attend the 38th annual ASES National Solar Conference, called SOLAR 2009, and sign up for the Solar Success! training. Check out the workshops at Solar Energy International (solarenergy.org), Midwest Renewable Energy Association (the-mrea.org), U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org) and Solar Living Institute (solarliving.org). Click here to learn about other upcoming events.

13) Explore Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
There’s a wide range of entry points to get a green-collar job. “You don’t have to go to college to be part of the green economy,” said Van Jones of Green For All. Contact your local labor council or community college to see how you can gain the initial skills or certificate you need to get started weatherizing buildings, conducting energy audits or working in the trades. “The green economy is not just a place for affluent people to spend money, it’s also a place for ordinary people to earn money and even save money,” says Jones.

14) Consider Incentives
State governments are increasingly developing renewable portfolio standards, policies, and incentives to attract green-collar jobs to their states. A helpful website to track the latest green policies is the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency, also known as the DSIRE database. Not only is this a valuable resource for those interested in policy, but you can see how the incentives in your state compare to others – which is key to understanding which sectors are likely to grow in your state: dsireusa.org

15) Show Your Passion
Anyone hunting for a green-collar job will compete against people passionate about protecting the environment. If you don’t share this passion, or if it is not sincere, it will almost certainly show. That will hamper your ability to get hired. When interviewing, be sure to highlight how your present role helps to tackle climate change, pollution or other big issues in sustainability. Do you actively live green? Is promoting sustainability a core part of who you are? Let it show. If you cannot demonstrate passion for the field, maybe you should pursue another industry.

 

Green Collar Jobs: The New Cash Crop

new report shows renewable energy & energy efficiency industries
generating massive job growth, with up to 40 million jobs by 2030

Do you have a green job? You will. A new report from the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society shows that as many as 1 out of 4 workers in the U.S. will be working in the renewable energy or energy efficiency industries by 2030.

This is the nation’s first comprehensive report on the size and growth of the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries – and the numbers are great news for American workers. This green collar job report shows that these industries already generate 8.5 million jobs in the U.S., and with appropriate public policy, could grow to as many as 40 million jobs by 2030.

“The green collar job boom is here,” said Neal Lurie, Director of Marketing of the American Solar Energy Society. “Renewable energy and energy efficiency are economic powerhouses.”

Key findings of the report include:

* By the year 2030, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries could generate up to $4.5 trillion in revenue in the U.S., but only with the appropriate public policy, including a renewable portfolio standard, renewable energy incentives, public education, and R&D
* The 40 million jobs that could be created in renewable energy and energy efficiency by 2030 are not just engineering-related, but also include millions of new jobs in manufacturing, construction, accounting, and management
* Renewable energy and energy efficiency industries today generate nearly $1 trillion in revenue in the U.S. contributing more than $150 billion in tax revenue at the federal, state, and local levels
* Revenue from the energy efficiency sector — including from energy efficient windows, appliances, insulation, and recycling — is currently larger than revenue from renewable energy, but the renewable energy industry is growing much more quickly
* Solar, wind, ethanol, and fuel cells are likely to be some of the hottest areas of growth

The study will serve as a guide to national, state and local leaders eager to attract renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses and to establish new manufacturing facilities and sales offices.