Solar Decathlon sponsorship ideas

Solaren Corp. - One could argue they’re already funding solar energy efforts by making plans to beam it down from friggin’ space. But they should throw some money at the Solar Decathlon to get their name out there and maybe pick up some ideas for America’s inevitable space colonizing efforts. The moon can’t go on unfranchised forever, ya know.

Dunkin’ Donuts - Free donuts and coffee for the participants would be nice. Make special donut holes called Sunspots or dye them green, whatever works.

Google - They make satellite footage of practically everywhere on the planet freely available, and they have storehouses of random online search information they’ve collected and refuse to release, so it’s about time they did something that wasn’t invasive and creepy. Besides, this could snowball into a GoogleGreen application for them, and since alternative energy is hip among the net-savvy right now, a one-stop resource for conservation and alt. energy resources would certainly be welcome.

Yahoo! - Why let Google have all the fun?

Starbucks - This lagging coffee empire has taken some hits from McDonalds for being uppity and too expensive. Helping fund a Solar Decathlon would show the upside to being an uppity, liberal-latte haven, in that they by default wouldn’t be a union-busting, predatory, multinational corporation that uses a clown to sell unhealthy food to children.

Sun Microsystems - Sun is in the name, so in that respect it’s not as far a leap as one would think. Plus, there’s enough of a cross-section between open source software users and the environmentally conscious that they could get some great press from sponsoring the Decathlon. Plus, there are far too many people unacquainted with OpenOffice, which is one of the best things ever.

Microsoft - They’re richer than Midas, and that money has to go somewhere. They could throw some money at this project or have Dell/Gateway/IBM-Lenovo throw in with them and donate a top-of-the-line PC for every house. Not Compaq, though. That would just be insulting.

Apple - In case Microsoft bails, Apple shares enough of that Starbucks college kid consumer base for this to be a logical sponsorship option. Plus, they could give all the participants iTunes gift cards.

Tesla Motors - They don’t even have to donate money; just have a hot girl in aviator sunglasses drive up in that sweet Roadster, honk the horn, and give a thumbs-up before speeding off. Seriously. That’s all we’re asking.