Green initiatives remain popular despite lull in oil prices

If you live sustainably in Pennsylvania, you just might get a break on your home owner’s insurance.

The Donegal Insurance Group, based in Marietta east of York, will begin offering policies May 1 that offer a five percent discount on insurance for homes that use solar energy or a geothermal heat pump.

It is part of a growing trend for green initiatives to actually expand, despite relatively low gas prices. The commodity’s price still dictates interest in products like hybrid cars for some, but as oil seems destined to only increase in expense, the movement maintains.

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Semiconductor company Ciclon sold to Texas Instruments

King of Prussia-based Guggenheim Ventures, the venture-capital arm of financial-services firm Guggenheim Partners, announced today it has sold Ciclon Semiconductor Device Corp. to Texas Instruments for an undisclosed total, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Ciclon, which is based in Bethlehem, makes semiconductors that aim to allow computers to use less electricity. Texas Instruments is based in Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Qdev.de.