USA Solar Energy

California Solar Power Gets More and More Affordable

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:33:06 -0600

There once was a time when solar power was such a new energy form that it was prohibitively expensive. Times have changed. Group purchases of solar power in Los Angeles have brought the price of this energy close to the cost of grid power, meaning that solar power is increasingly affordable. As time goes on, it may even cost less than grid electricity.

The low cost of solar power in Los Angeles comes thanks to an organization called Open Neighborhoods. This is a community solar power organization. It brings the power of a group together to do a multi-family solar power installation in a neighborhood in Los Angeles County. By switching to solar power as a group, costs can be reduced for each family.

The group price can make a big difference in comparison to buying solar power as an individual or single-family residence. For example, the most recent Open Neighborhoods group purchase was about $2 cheaper per watt than it would have been if a single individual had made this switch to solar. This translates to approximately six cents per kilowatt-hour savings over the course of twenty five years of using solar power.

It's important to understand that solar power will keep growing in the amount of money that it saves over time. This price for Open Neighborhoods brings the solar price close to the price of grid power. It is expected that by 2015 these same people will have cheaper CA electricity from their solar panels than the price of the average grid electricity at that time.

It is really the perfect time to get solar power. It's not so new that it's cost prohibitive; in fact, it's getting quite affordable. And yet, it's still new enough that it's possible to take advantage of money-saving tax credits and energy rebates when you make the switch to solar. It's a win-win as far as cost goes, especially in California!

Source: http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/11/01/358628/group-purchasing-solar-grid-parity-los-angeles/

Solar Power Atop CA Prisons Saves Tax Payers Money

Tue, 17 May 2011 09:55:09 -0500

Prisons cost our society a disturbing amount of money. However, the prisons in California are going to be saving some money for the taxpayers thanks to the fact that solar power is going to be added atop their huge complexes. Prisons are vast in their physical size so it makes perfect sense to place solar power systems on them.

California has been exploring this option on a small scale for several years now. Back in 2006, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe, California installed a 1 megawatt, 6400 panel solar array. A similar system was installed two years later in Ironwood State Prison, which is also in Blythe. These two systems provide the energy to meet nearly one quarter of the prisons' energy needs. At the time that these installations went up they were the largest that any U.S. prison facility had invested in. However, they are small potatoes compared to what's to come.

SunEdison, the largest solar energy services provider in all of North America, has just signed agreements with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to install solar power systems at five different prison facilities in Southern California (including expansions to the two aforementioned Blythe prisons).

Check out what this project will do once complete:

o This will add 83,000 solar panels to California's state prison system.

o This will result in nearly 23 megawatts of on-site solar-generated power.

o This is expected to result in taxpayer savings exceeding $55 million!

Construction of these solar projects is set to begin next year. That's big news for solar power!

Source: http://blogs.forbes.com/williampentland/2011/05/08/solar-power-california-adds-prisoner-amenity/

First Hybrid Natural Gas Solar Power Plant Debuts

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:55:59 -0500

Straightforward solar power is very important. However, we also have to look at options for combining this with additional energy sources to maximize its use throughout the nation. We've come one step further in this area since the first hybrid natural gas solar power plant just opened in Florida. It's officially called the Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center and it's a project of the Florida Power & Light Company.

The natural gas plant portion of the building was already standing in Western Martin County, Florida. In order to add in solar power, it was necessary to add nearly 200,000 solar thermal mirrors to this existing plant. These mirrors track the sun throughout the day, capturing as much solar energy as possible, and then converting that energy into electrical energy. This is the first natural gas building to be retrofitted with solar thermal capabilities.

This can mean a lot of reduced energy waste in the state of Florida. The facility is a 75 MW building. It has the capacity to provide power for approximately 11,000 homes in the area. Over the next thirty years it may reduce fossil fuel consumption by 600,000 barrels of oil AND 41 billion cubic feet. The result will be an estimated 2.75 million ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions thanks to this incredible building alone. And of course, money always matters with projects like this, so it's important to note that this building has the potential to reduce fuel costs by over 1.75 million dollars over the next three decades.

What makes this project important is really not the specifics of how it was accomplished but rather the innovative approach to combining different types of energy in one building. As we move towards increased use of renewable resource energy of all kinds, it will be very important to look at ideas like this to allow for sustainable development of these technologies. The idea of enhancing an existing natural gas structure with solar power is a great example of using our current resources but making them better, something we definitely want to be doing more of in the future!

Source: http://www.energydigital.com/sectors/renewables/world-s-first-hybrid-natural-gas-solar-power-plant-premiers-florida

Super Small Eco-Friendly Solar Powered Movie Theater

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:18:12 -0500

People who are truly concerned about their environmental impact on the world often make the choice to refrain from going to movie theaters. These spaces tend to be really wasteful when it comes to electricity. If you’re one of those eco-minded people then you might be interested in learning more about The Sol Cinema.

The Sol Cineman is a really small mobile movie theater that is one hundred percent powered by the sun. Some facts about this interesting little eco-friendly source of entertainment:

The movie theater is a converted 1960’s travel caravan. It was outfitted primarily with recycled materials in true eco-friendly fashion. The space inside the theater is small but it can actually hold up to eight people comfortable for movie viewing. The seats are plush and comfortable, arguably even more so than most regular movie theaters. To enhance the movie viewing experience of this small space a red carpet is rolled out for you to enter on and you are led in by an usher.
The theater is powered entirely by the sun using solar panels. The 120 W solar panels feed into four lithium-ion batteries. The solar panels are always on to capture energy from the sun.
The films at this theater are played on a small projector. This is no 3D IMAX screen but it’s a unique experience of its own kind.
The theater is stocked with a series of movies that all relate to important environmental topics. Some of these are educational documentaries but everything from comedies to music videos is offered by this little theater.
The project was created by a series of artists working with an art charity in Britain called Undercurrents.

This certainly isn’t the same as going to a real movie theater but it’s a nice eco-friendly alternative for people who are interested in solar power and other renewable resources to help lower their electric bill. Hopefully as The Sol Cinema travels around and more people become aware of it there will be movie cinema owners that are inspired by this and start utilizing solar power instead for their own venues.

Source: http://webecoist.com/2011/02/27/worlds-smallest-solar-theater-shines-light-on-environment

11 States Where Solar Power Makes Sense

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 11:52:44 -0600

If all states were to actively pursue solar power development, which states would see the most success? New research conducted through the Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business shows that some states are much more optimal than others when it comes to the development of a nationwide solar power structure.

The research considered several factors that would make a state ideal for solar power development. Those factors included:

A great ability to generate a large amount of solar energy
The potential for a lot of economic activity as a result of the deployment of solar energy
The ability to install solar energy tools at a relatively low cost
High electric rates (which encourage a search for alternatives)
Great potential for using solar to produce electricity in a way that would offset a lot of carbon emissions

Taking those five factors into consideration, the research determined that the top eleven states where solar power development makes the most sense are:

Hawaii. This sunny state really needs to make solar work because it’s the most expensive state in terms of electricity costs and also a state where carbon emissions are high.
New Mexico. The potential for creating a lot of jobs through solar power development is strikingly high in this Southwestern state.
Colorado. Like Hawaii, Colorado has high electricity rates and high carbon emissions so solar is needed here. It also has a top five solar insolation ranking meaning it receives a large percentage of solar rays.
Missouri. It would be relatively low cost to install solar power equipment in this state and doing so would create a large number of jobs.
Georgia. This is another state where it would be very low cost to install solar power. Additionally, Georgia ranks high in terms of solar insolation.
Texas. Two factors make Texas a good state for solar development: above-average electricity costs and below-average-cost to deploy solar power.
Arkansas. The main reason that Arkansas is a good state for development of solar power is that it would create much-needed green jobs in the state.
Alabama. Solar deployment in this state would mean a very important reduction in the amount of carbon emissions here.
Mississippi. A high cost of electricity combined with a great need for green jobs in the state makes Mississippi a great candidate for solar power development.
Oklahoma. This Midwestern state has "a perfect combination of optimal generation and optimal consumption" for solar power.
Wisconsin. The reason that this state makes the list is because it has the perfect economic and social conditions to deploy solar power.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/02/solar-deployment-top-10-s_n_789886.html#s194385

Improve Solar Panel Power with Stickers

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 11:05:02 -0500

Solar panels are terrific. They allow you to capture the energy of the sun and use it to power your home or business. However, they aren't necessarily as efficient as they could be. There are little things that you can do to increase their effectiveness. One of those things is to add stickers to them.

These "stickers" are actually a polymer film that can be applied to existing solar panels to increase their power by as much as ten percent. The film is a product called FUSION that has been created by a company called Genie Lens Technologies. It is embossed with microstructures that serve the purpose of bending light. This takes light that would otherwise reflect off of the panels and be useless and makes that light useful. When applied to solar panels, they boost the amount of sun energy that the panels can use.

Is the amount of new energy gained from the product sufficient to justify the costs of buying this film? Reports indicate that it is. Genie Lens says that the cost of each solar panel increases by less than ten percent and yet could lower the cost per watt of solar power energy by a significant amount. This saves money over time. The most cost-effective option is for the film to be installed at the factory before the panels are added to a home but even adding the stickers to existing panels can be cost effective.

One of the concerns that customers have is whether or not this film is durable. Will it last over time to make the cost truly worth it? Only time will tell but Genie Labs says that they predict their stickers will last approximately two decades before requiring replacement. This is comparable to the average warranty length of existing solar panels and is considered fair in terms of product durability.

These solar panel stickers aren't the only product on the market serving the purpose of enhancing solar power energy. Solar trackers and microinverters are also on the market for this purpose. People who have solar panels already installed at their homes should consider these options for saving more energy at home.

Source: http://solar.calfinder.com/blog/products/solar-panel-stickers/

The White House Turns Down Solar Power

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:31:40 -0500

Environmental activists recently asked President Obama to take a green stand by installing solar panels on the roof of The White House. Citing many reasons, the Obama Administration denied the opportunity to utilize this solar power at the presidential palace. Activists are concerned about the message that the refusal sends.

The decision to install solar power at The White House would not be a new one. In fact, way back in 1979 President Jimmy Carter did cover the roof of The White House with solar panels. Unfortunately, the panels were removed shortly thereafter by President Ronald Reagan. At that time, the solar panels were sent over for use at Unity College of Maine. They remain there to this day.

Recently, author and environmentalist Bill McKibben led a group of students to The White House to ask the Obama Administration to take the panels back once again. This would do more than just add solar power to The White House. It would have the potential to send a message that the United States is serious about the development of renewable resource energy.

The president could certainly stand to gain some points with the green industry. His administration has so far failed to push through an effective climate and energy bill. This concerns a lot of environmental activists. Making the move to add solar power back on to The White House would send the powerful message that the administration is not giving up on its goals in this area despite setbacks that may have occurred.

Unfortunately, this is not the message that was sent since the administration decided not to accept the solar panels back for the roof of The White House. The mid-level administrative officers who met with the activists said that they did not think that the move was a good one considering that the energy-saving potential of the solar panels is actually quite minimal. This is a valid point but concerns environmentalists because of the message it sends.

The administration made the point that they are doing all that they can to promote renewable energy as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They say that the Obama administration has actually done more in this area than any other previous U.S. government to date. Activists say that they need to see more action and less talk in the year to come.

Source: http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2010/09/10/energy-the-white-house-says-no-thanks-to-solar-panels/

New Plug-In Appliance Makes Home Solar Power Simple

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 11:00:34 -0500

So many people love the idea of having solar power in the home. And yet, so many people fail to take the next step and actually start to use home solar power. Why is that? There are two leading reasons. The first is that many people are afraid that the cost of going solar is too high. The second is that people don't want installers tramping around their homes trying to get them set up for solar power. A new plug-in solar power appliance may be able to solve both of those problems.

Clarian Technologies, a renewable resource manufacturing company, has built an interesting new product called The Sunfish. It is a solar power module that plugs directly into your home outlets just the way that any of your appliances do. Although you are tapping into your home's energy system, you're actually creating power using this appliance.

The Sunfish comes in different sizes to meet the needs of different customers. Even the smallest sizes of this appliance can help to reduce energy costs in the home by providing you with power from the sun. For example, a 200W Sunfish module is capable of providing enough renewable energy power to offset the cost of lighting the average home. Go bigger and you can generate enough power to offset the power being used by major home appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators.

This new plug-in solar power appliance is set to enter stores sometime next year although the company is already accepting pre-orders. The appliances should be priced somewhere between $600 and $800. That's considerably more affordable than large solar power systems for the home. And if you're spending a lot of money on home lighting or powering your home appliances then the offset savings can add up quickly.

Best of all, at least for some people, is that you don't need any assistance with the installation of this solar power module in your home. You simply plug it in and start using it. If you've hesitated to get solar power in the past due to the fact that you didn't want strangers stomping around on your roof to put in panels then this module could be a more private way for you to launch your renewable energy use in the home.

Source: http://www.clariantechnologies.com/main/page_plugin_solar_power.html

Stanford Finds Way for Solar Power to Compete with Fossil Fuels

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:38:03 -0500

One of the biggest problems with solar power to date has been the fact that it is cheaper for people to use fossil fuels than to take advantage of solar power energy. (Arguably, solar power can be cheaper in the long run, of course, but there are many people who are only concerned about the initial cost of energy when choosing their sources.) A new development in solar cell technology by researchers at Stanford could change that, placing solar power on par price-wise with oil and other fossil fuels.

A major issue with solar power in the past has been the fact that the energy of the sun could only be used to generate light or to generate heat - not to capture the power of both types of energy at the same time. In scientific terms, solar panels previously could either offer photovoltaic electricity generation or thermal electricity generation but not both. The newly researched process called photon enhanced thermionic emission (or PETE) is the first to capture both to generate both heat and light from the energy of the sun.

There’s a lengthy scientific explanation behind the importance of this new process but here are a few facts that keep it simple:

Photovoltaic cells use the power of the sun to generate light.
When photovoltaic cells start to get too hot, they decrease in efficiency.
Photovoltaic cells use silicon, a substance that can only absorb energy from a small portion of the light spectrum.
Ultimately, more than half of the solar energy hitting a typical solar cell is completely wasted because of these common problems.

The new solar panels by Stanford take this problem and turn it on its head. They take the excess heat that is generated from the cells and they effectively turn it in to excess energy. This new process could allow for 60% efficiency with new devices, which is considerably better than what solar panels offer today. In fact, with just 30% efficiency, the price of solar power would be comparable to that of oil. These solar panels would be designed to allow affordability of solar power for large scale distribution such as use on big farms.

Go Stanford!

Source: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-08/stanford-researchers-new-solar-cells-convert-light-and-heat-electricity

10 Things to Know About Home Solar Water Heating

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:42:58 -0500

Using the power of the sun to heat the water in residential homes is getting increasingly popular. Is it the right choice for your home? Here are ten things that you should know to help you make that decision:

The average home uses about 20% of its total electricity to heat water. Using solar heating can reduce the cost of this portion of the electric bill by as much as eighty percent. That’s a huge monthly savings!
The system can cost as little as $6000. This will vary depending upon your exact needs. It can sound like a lot at first but consider the lifelong savings that you’ll have plus the fact that you’ll be treating the earth more kindly.
Rebates of as much as 30% may be available. It is possible to get rebates and tax credits to reduce the cost of switching over to solar power for heating your home’s water.
There are many different types of systems to choose from. The type that you choose depends a lot on how warm or cold it is where you live. You can choose different types of solar panels as well as different methods of heating the water. It pays to do some research into what you really want.
There may be limitations. It’s typically easy to install whatever type of solar water heater you want for your home. However, you should double-check your building codes before proceeding. For example, if the system you want is a heavy one then make sure it doesn’t exceed the allowable roof weight for your building.
Limiting the amount that you use the system will obviously boost savings further. For example, choosing to wash your laundry in cold water rather than use the hot water from your new system is a great idea.
Proper maintenance will offer the most ongoing savings. The great news here is that it’s typically not hard to do annual maintenance in your new solar water heating system. Do what must be done to get the best savings throughout the year.
Having a solar water heater boosts the resale value of the home. If for some reason you do decide to move, your home will be worth more because you’ve taken this green measure.
Solar water heating is a great step to take before investing in solar electric. Solar power for the entire home is a great green energy-saving step to take but it’s a big investment. Getting used to the idea and experience by switching to solar water heating first is a great step to take!
Solar water heaters are great for the earth. SolarRoofs.com reports that replacing a majority of California’s water heaters with solar water heaters would reduce energy consumption in the state by a full 2%!

Source: http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/jul/06/green-life-solar-water-heating-your-home/

Marines Go Green with Solar Power

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 10:35:36 -0500

United States military bases are a great place to start utilizing the renewable resource options that we now have available to us. Unfortunately, there has been slow adoption of this green technology on many bases. But, luckily, that is starting to change. One great example of the change is Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base located in North Carolina. This base is rapidly becoming one of the largest neighborhoods in the country to use solar energy for heating water. Hopefully their success is just the start of a new trend!

Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base is home to hundreds of Marine Corps families. Many of these families now have large rectangular solar panels sitting on the roofs of their homes. When the current project for the neighborhood is complete, 900 homes in this military community will be topped with these solar panels. The panels heat the water for the neighborhood.

So how do these solar panels work? Well, of course the panels collect the energy from the sun. The energy then heats a fluid that runs down through pipes into the home. The fluid creates heat for the 40-gallon water tank inside of the home. Temperatures of the water can reach about 180 degrees, which is sufficient as hot water for many home tasks. In fact, solar panel energy like this has the potential to heat three quarters of the hot water that is used in the average home. The system used at Camp Lejeune has been created by a company called FLS Energy that hopes to bring this type of solar energy to other military bases in the near future.

This use of solar energy on base is important for reasons that go beyond just generating interest in this important renewable resource. That's because the hot water bills for this neighborhood are paid for by the United States government (since the military pays utility bills for families living on base). Although there is an initial investment cost required for the installation of the solar panels, this could result in significant long-term energy savings for the military. If adopted by other military bases throughout the nation, this could be a great way to reduce electricity waste while saving the nation a lot of money.

Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127985314

10 Things a Farmer Loves about Solar Power

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 09:44:25 -0500

Flying Goat Farm in Maryland is a farm that has started to use solar power. And guess what - they love it! Here are ten reasons that farmers Lisa and Bill Check like solar power on their farm:

1. No electric bill every month! This is a great thing for anyone who decides to use solar power.

2. The meter runs backwards instead of forwards. The Checks enjoy seeing the way that they are actually collecting energy on the farm just by having solar panels installed.

3. Solar power can power everything on the farm. They use their solar panels to power everything from their electric shears to the lighting in the barn not to mention the heating and cooling systems for their animals.

4. They're on the cutting edge. There still aren't nearly enough people who are using solar power. The Checks host solar power parties to educate others in the area about how the power is used on their farm.

5. They like being off of the electric grid. There are numerous reasons that someone might want to go off the grid and a lot of those reasons are in line with a DIY farming lifestyle.

6. They got rebates for installing solar. Sure, they system cost them a little bit of money but they also got some money back in the form renewable resource energy rebates. They expect to have the system paid off in five years.

7. Maintenance is simple. The solar power system that they chose easily identifies when something goes wrong with the system itself. This allows for simple maintenance. That may not be true for maintaining electrical energy on a farm.

8. Electricity is increasingly expensive. The cost of the sun isn't going to change whereas the cost of electricity may vary over time.

9. Solar power has allowed for expansion. The new power system has allowed the Checks to start thinking about adding a second barn and an orchid greenhouse to their farm.

10. It's green. The Checks didn't come right out and say that they like solar power because it's green energy. However, one can assume that someone who farms is someone who cares about the earth and it's clear that solar energy is green energy. Plus the do educate others in their community about energy efficient technology.

Source: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/4210514

Solar Businesses in Luck in Florida

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:48:52 -0500

Business has not been booming in the residential solar power industry thanks to the recession. However, a new bill that was recently signed into law in Florida could turn things around for the independent providers of solar energy. Renewable energy resources are good for the earth so this is good news for all of us!

The new bill is designed to encourage residents to upgrade their homes with solar energy. The way it will work is that money from the county government will be used to pay the upfront costs of upgrading Florida residences with solar power energy. The consumer will still eventually have to foot the bill because the total cost will be added back on to the homeowner's annual property tax. However, it will allow for homes to be upgraded during a time when homeowners' might not be able to foot the upfront bill.

Homeowners who are not sure if it's worth the added cost to their property tax should think carefully. That's because the long-term savings of switching to solar power can outweigh the immediate cost of paying for the upgrades. And since you don't even have to pay for the upgrades now, but instead will have them worked into your existing annual fees, you should find that the savings are worth the cost. After all, your energy bills should start to go down immediately, before you've even had to pay anything out of pocket. You can use the savings to pay for the solar power upgrade when that annual property tax bill comes around.

And if that's not enough incentive, Florida homeowners should know that you can take as long as twenty years to pay off the total amount using small payments each year. If you sell the house, you won't have to make the payments because they'll be rolled into costs for the new homeowners.

There are numerous good things about this new bill. First of all, of course, it encourages the widespread use of solar power. Second, it brings business back to the solar power companies that have been struggling to stay afloat during the recession. Third, it creates job opportunities in the state since laborers will be needed to manufacture and install the solar power.

Source: http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12578238

MA Town Closer to Green Community Status and Solar Project

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:17:49 -0500

The town of Lancaster, Massachusetts has been working hard to be awarded Green Community status. Several criteria have to be met in order to reach this status as outlined by the state's governor back in 2008. The town has taken many of these steps but hopes that the final push will come if a proposed new building code is approved by voters. Voter approval would put Lancaster in the running for a $1 million state-funded grant to move forward with an innovative solar project.

The solar project takes an interesting approach to using the power of the sun as a renewable energy resource. It would place a solar array on the town's landfill. Solar panels would also be added to various municipal buildings to capture the sun's energy. This would be a terrific way to use government land itself to generate the energy that the city needs from renewable resources. Among other things, the grant money would be used to purchase electricity now so that prices could be locked in for two or three decades, ultimately saving the town money while learning about the use of solar power as an alternative energy source in the area.

The process of making this solar project happen is a complicated one. In order to be considered, the town first has to get its Green Community status in order to be in the running for the funding it needs. To do that, the town has had to take many steps including implementing a fuel-efficient municipal vehicle policy and doing an energy audit on all municipal buildings. The final project in their goal towards becoming a green community is an energy-efficient building policy. If approved, the town can gain that green status and qualify for the funding that would move the solar project forward and make the town even greener.

This is an interesting idea about how to allocate renewable resource funds. It requires that towns show that they are willing to take steps and changes on their own before the government grants them the funding to adopt large renewable resource projects. These baby steps reveal a commitment that suggests the renewable energy projects will have a good chance of working. It's a smart approach that could easily be replicated in other areas.

Source: http://www.telegram.com/article/20100426/NEWS/4260369/1101

GA Solar Farm Uses Unique New Business Model

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:20:47 -0500

A new solar farm has just gone up in Georgia. This is innovative in and of itself. After all, we're still trying to get solar energy to become more of a mainstream resource all throughout the nation. Georgia isn't necessarily known for being on the cutting edge of this. But it's not the solar power itself that is the reason this farm is worthy of attention. It's the bigger picture. This solar farm is based on a unique new business model that could be a great thing for green energy businesses.

The farm currently has two dozen pole-mounted solar arrays that are generating energy. When the farm project is complete, it will have 1.2 megawatts of solar power capacity. The owners of the farm want to be able to sell all of that solar power to the Georgia Power company. By selling it at the premium green energy rate, they can make a tidy profit.

However, there's a catch here. State law requires the power company to limit premium price purchases of solar power to 100 kilowatt capacity or smaller. The total capacity that will be available by the solar power farm is one dozen times that amount. So how are they going to get around the law and sell their energy at the premium price? That's where the new business model comes into play.

The farm owners are going to keep 100 kilowatts of the energy on the land for themselves and they will sell that directly to the power company at the premium price. As for the other 1100 kilowatts, they will be leasing those out in 100 kilowatt bundles to other companies that are interested in getting in on this deal. In essence, they are selling ownership in their solar farm. This is a brand new approach to solar energy business.

Customers need to take an interest in using solar power for this whole plan to work, however. That's because the power company is only allowed to pay premium prices for the amount of solar power that they can sell to customers. As more and more people start using solar power in the area, the chances go up that this solar power farm will be a successful business venture.

Source: http://savannahnow.com/news/2010-04-06/solar-farm-first-georgia

Power-Generating Smart Energy Glass is Good News for Solar

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:51:48 -0500

There is a new form of glass that is going to make a big difference in the amount of interest that people are taking in solar energy. It's a type of glass that collects solar energy and then uses it to generate power. This provides a great method of obtaining solar power for homes and other buildings. It's also an attractive solar power option in a sea of options that are typically not considered aesthetically appealing.

Smart Energy Glass is a product that has been developed by a Dutch company called Peer +. The product is an organic-based coating that can be placed over glass windows. There are several different shades of color available but more importantly there are three different levels of opaqueness for the product. You can choose to set the windows to be totally dark, very bright or somewhere in between. This alters the amount of solar power that is collected and also gives you control over how much privacy you want from your home windows.

One of the most exciting things about this new type of Smart Energy Glass is that it takes solar power that has previously been wasted and turns it into useful energy. Most windows reflect sunlight, sending it off into the air without making any use out of it. These new windows actually take that sunlight and turn it into energy. Homeowners don't have to do anything differently than they've been doing with their windows and yet they end up collecting energy for their homes using this product.

Another reason that this Smart Energy Glass is a great move forward for solar energy is that it allows for an aesthetically pleasing method of gathering solar power. The windows look just like normal windows and aren't going to alter the appearance of your home in any drastic way. This contrasts with other forms of solar power, such as solar panels for your roof, which many people think are important but also consider ugly. Consumers seek a balance between renewable resources and aesthetics when it comes to both homes and public buildings. Smart Energy Glass helps to strike that balance which will aid in moving solar power adoption forward.

Source: http://www.odemagazine.com/exchange/14891/smart_energy_glass_turns_windows_into_energy_generators

LA Adds Carbon Surcharge to Energy Bills

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:55:48 -0500

Residents of Los Angeles are going to see their energy bills go up soon. Although consumers will grumble about the rate hikes, there is a good side to this news. The increased rate is designed to provide a fund for investment in renewable energy resources. Since this is such an important part of energy development in the United States, it would not be surprising to see other cities follow LA's lead and establish rate hikes for this purpose as well.

The board of commissioners for the Los Angeles Water and Power company approved a per kilowatt hour rate hike. The rate hike is a small one: just eight tenths of one penny per kilowatt hour. However, it can result in an increase on individual energy bills of anywhere between 8% and 28% depending on the amount of energy that customers are using.

This rate hike will serve two purposes. On the one hand, it may encourage consumers to use less energy. People want to keep their bills down. As they see their energy bills rising, they may make energy-conserving efforts in their home in order to save money. This will help to conserve energy around the city.

The bigger purpose of the rate hike, however, is to help the Department of Water and Power to pay for the development of renewable energy resources. The extra money raised from the rate increase will be going into trust fund that the city has established in order to invest in both solar power and wind power. The city has a goal of switching to renewable resources within the next decade in order to end its reliance on coal for energy. This fund will help LA to meet that goal.

One complaint that consumers have about this (besides that it will cost them more money) is that it isn't clear at this point what the money would be going to support. Although it's definitely being set aside for renewable resource development, it's not earmarked for specific projects. Customers would like to see a clearer plan put into place in the near future, perhaps within the next few months when the rate hikes go into effect.

Source: http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/03/19/solar-surcharge/

Super-Efficient, Cost-Effective Solar Arrays in Development

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:59:46 -0500

If you could choose to see two things happen with solar panels, what would those two things be? The first thing would probably be that you would love to see the cost of solar arrays drop even further to make them more accessible to a wider range of people. The second thing might be that you would like solar panels to become even more efficient than they already are. If those two things sound right to you then you might be interested in developments that are being made by a company called Technique Solar, which says that they can offer solar arrays that are three times cheaper and yet four times more efficient than existing options.

These new solar arrays, originally developed by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, use a really unique design to maximize their efficiency. Some of the outstanding features of this design include:

Solar rays are reflected onto a strip of photovoltaic cells. The solar panels are designed in a manner that essentially creates a small strip of PV cells. The design includes reflective walls and a concentrating acrylic lens that channel the energy of the sun directly on to this strip. What this means is that you can reduce the number of PV cells needed by 75% as compared to current solar arrays.
The sun is tracked. The most efficient solar panels are ones that are capable of tracking the sun's movements in order to get the most energy from the sun at all times of day. This design has a tracking sensor.
A heat exchanger is included in the design. The PV cells generate the electricity in this model. However, a heat exchanger is located directly underneath these cells. The purpose is to generate heat for hot water systems that are attached to these solar arrays.

Technique Solar reports that it will be able to offer these new solar panels at a fraction of the cost of existing options. However, these solar panels aren't going to be available to the general public. Instead, the company is using a business model through which they well sell or lease their arrays to public utility companies at a low cost and these companies will then install the arrays on buildings. This could prove to be a cost-effective method of outfitting government buildings with efficient solar panels to produce solar energy.

Source: http://www.gizmag.com/cuess-solar-panel-photovoltaic/14507/

Solar Panels Shouldn't Lie Flat

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:49:25 -0600

There has not been a lot of innovation over the years when it comes to solar power design. Although there have been some changes made to the solar panel's basic shape and size, what we see is pretty much what we get when it comes to this product. We usually get a panel that lies flat on a rooftop in order to absorb and utilize sunlight. Why change what works? Well, because something else might work better. That's the idea behind modern new approaches to solar power design, which include 3-D designs inspired by nature.

Take a look at how things grow in nature when they are using sunlight. Look at plants and trees. They grow upwards towards the sun. Even grass doesn't lie flat; the blades shoot up into the sky as much as they can. So why don't we take a cue from that and start thinking about three-dimensional shapes for solar panels? That's exactly what some researchers are doing.

Some of the benefits of 3D solar panels compared to flat solar panels may include:

More light can be absorbed in small areas. The shape of the panels would allow them to reflect light off of the ground and off of each other. This means that they would actually be able to absorb more light. This is especially true in cramped areas where light may get lost to shadows if you were only using flat solar panels.
Reduced cost. It is possible that these solar panels would be more cost-efficient than the ones used today. This is due to the fact that they can generate more power using the same amount of light.
Power can be generated evenly throughout the day. 3D panels would be less affected by the sun's movements throughout the day.
Easier shipping. A design is envisioned that would allow these solar panels to lie flat for shipping and then to be opened up in a style similar to a work of origami before installation. This would be at least as easy to ship, if not more so, than today's solar panels.
More aesthetically pleasing. If you're sick of seeing traditional solar panels on rooftops then this could appeal to your eye.

Most likely what we'll discover over time is that the most efficient and effective solar power solution is a combination of 2D and 3D panels. At least more options are beginning to open up!

Source: http://www.livescience.com/technology/solar-panel-origami-power-100225.html

Re-use Indoor Light Energy with Illumi-Charger

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:20:06 -0600

There is any number of gadgets that you can use to power your home in a more energy-efficient way. However, there are some gadgets that come out which really push the envelope in terms of doing something new and exciting that other gadgets just aren't doing yet. That's the case with the Illumi-charger, a gadget that allows you to utilize the excess solar energy in your home to power small accessories. It has been nominated as one of the year's greenest gadgets and provides an interesting new alternative for powering devices in your home.

The Illumi-charger essentially helps to make your home a zero-waste home in terms of your lighting. The energy that is being emitted right now from your indoor lights is useful to you in terms of being able to see better in your home but it's not going anywhere. With the Illumi-charger, that energy gets channeled into a gadget and stored so that it can be used later on.

The Illumi-charger comes with USB chargers that can take this energy and convert it into power for charging the devices that you have in your home. This power can be used to power your cell phone, your mp3 player, your digital camera and more. You won't have to use a traditional wall charger anymore because you'll be using the energy of your home's indoor lighting instead. This means that your home will be a lot greener.

In addition to being green, this new gadget allows you to save some money. You would be surprised to discover how much money you spend on electricity just to power the gadgets that you have in your home. This gadget allows you to take money that you're already spending on your lighting bill and double its use to charge your personal devices. It's a two-for-one situation for you.

This is truly an innovative new gadget. It's the first gadget that entirely eliminates the need to use wall chargers in the home. With as many wall chargers as we now have in our lives, this is truly a big deal. What a great creative approach to re-using energy that you are already using in your home!

More Solar Power, Demands Con Edison

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:25:38 -0600

Con Edison wants the state of New York to spend over $150 million on solar power this year. As you might know, Con Edison is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the country. Getting support from them is a great boost for making solar power more of a reality in this part of the nation. The best news is that they are working on getting funding for both small and large projects so a variety of different groups will benefit if they are successful.

Con Edison wants people to recognize that New York City is a particularly great place for solar power to be put into action. It is a city that is practically covered with an urban rooftop. That rooftop could easily be used as a place to gather and utilize solar power. There just needs to be a push to make it happen. This energy company wants to provide that push.

There are three different proposals in place to help make this happen:

1. A five-year plan for the state to spend $125 million on large solar installations. Con Edison wants to see large solar installations put into place across its entire service area. The goal would be to increase solar capacity in the area by 100 megawatts over a five-year period of time.

2. A proposal asking the state to set aside $24.8 million to fund smaller solar projects. These projects would encourage solar power use in uncommon markets like low-income housing and in areas where the electric grid could most benefit from it. They would provide rebates to customers and offer other incentives to get people used to using solar power.

3. A residential plan costing $4 million. The goal of this one would be a highly specific goal to get people to start using solar power for their hot water use in the home.

These three proposals indicate that Con Edison is serious about trying to get a jump on using solar power in a number of different ways. They want to be a leader in this area, overseeing projects and launching new ideas. This is a green movement that definitely needs some leadership so it's great to see someone stepping up to the plate.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0585354.htm

Solar Power: Distributed Generation vs. Central Generation

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:01:43 -0600

If you have been paying attention to the headlines in solar power news lately then you have probably heard the term "distributed generation" quite a bit. That's because there is a big push right now for a lot of these projects to go through. This is in contrast to larger solar plants, also known as central generation solar projects, which are facing a tough time getting passed in many areas. So what does this all mean?

Basically there are two different types of solar power projects. First there are central generation solar projects (which are large projects). The project itself tends to be located relatively far away from the area where the power is used. When you talk about solar power plants that are generating thousands of megawatts of power then you are talking about central generation. On the other hand, distributed generation solar projects are smaller-scale projects that are located close to the place where the power is going to be used. Solar farms on the roofs of the buildings that are using the solar power are examples of distributed generation projects.

It's often tough to get central generation projects off of the ground. They are costly, for one thing. Plus there are a lot of regulations that must be considered when applying to establish one of these solar projects. In contrast, it's a lot easier for many distributed generation projects to take off. The lower cost, the proximity to the location of use and the need for fewer regulations makes these projects reasonable and realistic. This is particularly true right now when solar panels and other small-scale solar products have become highly affordable due to the way that the recession has shifted the solar economy.

Examples of new distributed generation solar projects that were recently approved include:

PG&E plans to install ground-based photovoltaic arrays close to electrical substations. This is approximately a 500-megawatt Northern California project.
The Edison program in Southern California has received approval to install 500 megawatts of solar power onto commercial rooftop locations.
The New York Power Authority has approved a plan to install approximately 100 megawatts of solar power arrays in various locations.

These examples show how distributed generation solar power can be used in small areas in important ways! Although central generation power is important, too, it's not the only way to get solar to become a more prevalent renewable resource in our society.

Source: http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/a-boon-in-smaller-distributed-solar-projects/

2010 is the Year for Solar Power in MA

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:41:33 -0600

The state of Massachusetts has already started to make some great leaps forward in the use of solar power over the past couple of years. However, it is believed that 2010 is really going to be the year that solar power makes a big leap forward in this state. This is due in large part to a push by Governor Deval Patrick who promised that he would help make the state one of this country's best hubs for renewable resources. He's entering a new election year, which has motivated him to really make good on that promise. The result should be a stronger set of solar power options for the entire state.

The past two years have really been positive in terms of solar power development in Massachusetts. Over 1200 rebates have been issued through the Massachusetts Commonwealth Solar Program. These rebates served to help finance solar panel projects throughout the state at the residential level as well as at the commercial and municipal levels. These rebates have created enough new solar power to provide energy to over three thousand homes in the state.

That's a good start but it's really just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the state's energy needs. There are over six million people living in Massachusetts so a lot more energy is required than just enough to power 3000 homes. What the governor is promising is that 2010 will be the year that a major push forward is made to bring solar power energy to a much larger percentage of the state. A variety of different programs are being put into place to make this happen.

One great example of a new Massachusetts solar power program is the completion of a multi-city project that has installed solar power in seven different locations. The goal of this project is specifically to reduce the damage done to air quality when fossil fuels are used by replacing those fossil fuels with solar power energy alternatives. It is predicted that the project will result in the reduction of over 4 million pounds of carbon dioxide in the state over the next twenty-five years. That's definitely a big solar power push and just one example of projects that are really getting off the ground in Massachusetts right now.

Sources: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3795215, http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/now/80479777.html

Historic Harvard Updated with Modern Solar Power

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:55:01 -0600

The Arsenal on the Channel is a modern real estate complex near Harvard that resides within a set of historic buildings. The buildings date back to the early nineteenth century but they have been recently remodeled to provide the most up-to-date office leasing space in the Harvard area. The buildings have gotten even more modern recently with the addition of a full solar panel system on the rooftop of one of the historic structures.

The new 500-kilowatt solar panel system is going to provide power to Harvard University. Some of the most important details about this just-completed project include:

Harvard has committed to purchasing power from this system for at least the next two and a half decades. It’s going to be really interesting to see how solar power changes during that time and what they use it for over the next several years.
The system should be able to generate the same amount of power that would be needed to power over 80 homes. This means that it’s a fairly strong resource that Harvard will clearly benefit from.
The carbon dioxide offset from the use of the new solar panel system should be over 360 metric tons per year. This isn’t just something that’s great for Harvard; it’s great for the Earth.
The design and construction of the solar panel system reflects a joint effort by three different companies. CarbonFree Technology, Integrys Energy Services, Inc., and SunPower Corp. all worked together to make this happen. That shows that this is a sector in which collaboration is just as likely as competition.
The tiles on the rooftop are tilted slightly. This is said to be much more energy efficient than flat solar panels which is something that other solar panel projects will want to remember in their design.

Harvard is a place with a lot of history to its name. Even the buildings of the area have been preserved in many ways in order to honor that history. However the school isn’t afraid to do things that are totally modern. This solar panel project is an example of such a forward-thinking action by the school.

Source: http://www.earthtechling.com/2010/01/harvard-gets-shiny-new-500-kilowatt-solar-power-system/

Solar-Powered Plane Takes Flight

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:39:40 -0600

When the Wright brothers first tried to create a vehicle that could take flight the world laughed at them. No one is laughing at these amazing inventors now. Instead, people are laughing a little bit at the plans of Bertrand Piccard to invent a plane that can fly using solar power. It won't be too long before these people are also hanging their heads in shame because the first prototype for the plane recently made a successful little flight. Although we're probably a long ways away from a time when jumbo jets are flying around the world using only the power of the sun, it's not such a far-fetched idea when you look at how far we've already come with both solar power and flight technology.

Bertrand Piccard is a name that you might have heard mentioned at some point in the past. That is because this man made headlines as the first man to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon. Now he's planning to take his in-flight explorations one step further by creating a solar-powered airplane named The Solar Impulse. He hopes to be able to take a transatlantic flight with this solar-powered plane by 2012.

The first step of this job has been completed. Bertrand Piccard did manage to get this plane airborne recently. This maiden journey may seem like not a big deal to some people. After all, the plane only got one meter off the ground and only flew for a distance of 350 meters. Nevertheless, that's a big leap in solar powered transportation. It's the first time that an aircraft of a rather large size has been able to lift off of the ground using such little energy. If you think about the first flights of the Wright brothers then you realize that getting off the ground is the biggest part of the battle.

Piccard and the developers that he is working with are continuing to make progress on this technology. The next testing will take place in Western Switzerland at Payerne Air Force Base. It is believed that the plane will be able to get up to 9000 meters by the time that testing takes place. The plane flies using on-board solar batteries. This technology will have to be improved if Piccard is ever going to circumnavigate the globe in a solar-powered plane but it looks like it's a definite possibility for his future. And it's a big development in the future of solar power.

Source: http://topnews.us/content/28721-prototype-solar-powered-plane-records-first-successful-flight

California Gets Solar Energy from Outer Space

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:53:23 -0600

California was one of the first places that became recognized for its forward-thinking approach to researching and utilizing solar power. The state has now made another leap forward in the area of solar power by approving a project, which will actually harness solar power from outer space. The project relies on solar panels placed in space to collect the energy from the sun. Utility companies in California will then be able to purchase this energy for resale to consumers. The project won't actually get going full-force until 2016 but even getting the approval to do this is a big step for solar power development.

The project, which was recently approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, will allow Pacific Gas and Electric Company to start buying 200 megawatts of solar power collected by the space-based solar panels starting in 2016. Satellites designed by a company named Solaren will be sent up into orbit to start collecting the sun's energy up there. The energy will be sent down to a receiving station here on earth using radio waves.

There are a lot of benefits to this type of emerging solar power. However there are some kinks to be worked out in the technology if the plan is going to be a success. The core benefit of space-based solar power is that energy from the sun can be collected in space 24 hours per day (whereas it is limited to daylight hours here on Earth). The main drawback right now is that the emerging technology is costly to send into space. There is hope that improvements to the technology will reduce the cost of this project.

California had been kind of moving off of the radar in terms of solar power development. The state had steadily been one of the leading spots for solar power studies and development but then began to find competition from other states as solar power has grown. This new project will once again put California on the solar map. It will also help California to meet upcoming goals about increasing the use of renewable energy resources. It will take some time for this project to really get off the ground but it's looking like it will be a good one when it does.

Source: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18247-california-gives-green-light-to-space-solar-power.html

Solar Panel Supply and Demand Should Balance Out Soon

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 10:53:22 -0600

The solar panel business has had a problem in recent months. They have an oversupply of their product. There are too many solar panels that have been made and not enough of them have been bought. As a result, many solar panel companies are feeling forced to sell off their products at a low price. This is great for consumers who can afford to buy solar panels right now. However it’s tough on the solar power business as a whole because it means that there is less profit to be made in this industry and therefore less support of solar energy development than there was when it was a more profitable business. Luckily for the industry, the tides should turn in the near future. Experts say that by 2012 the demand for solar panels will have soared high enough to make the problem of oversupply a thing of the past.

Solar panel manufacturers report that they made at least twice as many solar panels this year as they will end up selling before the year is over. This means that they are starting out the new year with a deficit. They will have an excess of solar panels that are ready to go but a lack of buyers for these great solar power products. Many manufacturers have worried that this spells out bad news for the future of their businesses.

Despite the fears, it is believed by most that the problem is a temporary one. In fact, the slump may prove to be beneficial to the industry in the long run. That is because the slump has forced the price of solar panels to go down. This means that people who weren’t formerly interested in purchasing solar panels are now starting to play around with the idea. As more people can afford to make this purchase, more people become interested in solar panels. The word is spreading which should cause demand in the industry to climb once again. Once sales (and the economy) improve, prices of solar panels may rise again. This means that the industry should end up fine in terms of their finances. In the meantime, if you find that you have the money to invest in solar panels now, it’s a great time to do so! You’ll be investing in something that will save you money in the long run during a time when the cost for the product is particularly low.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/14/solar-glut-is-temporary-demand-to-catch-up-by-2009/

Two Sunny States Approach Solar Power Differently

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:18:14 -0600

Florida and California are two states that are ripe for development of solar power as a viable renewable resource. These sunny states have the natural resources necessary to really make solar power a success. They also generally tend to have support for solar power development from the people who live in them. However there are some big differences that we are seeing as far as the changing acceptance of solar energy in these two states over time.

California has long had a history of being a leader in the development of renewable resource energy including the use of solar power. Many projects were launched in this state years ago and have served as a model for other states interested in exploring the use of solar power in a variety of different ways. However the people of California are shifting their views on solar power. Although there are a lot of great solar power projects that residents of the state do support, there are some projects that are creating opposition from environmentalists.

For example, there is a 4000-acre solar power project in San Bernardino County, California that is facing a lot of opposition. That is because it threatens endangered animal species and plant species due to its location. That’s the thing about California; there are people who support all types of eco-friendly actions in the state and so the benefits of solar power projects have to be weighed carefully against the costs to other eco-issues.

Florida is a case of the opposite track. Florida was slow to get on the solar power bandwagon in comparison to California. However interest in solar power projects has grown steadily in the state over time. In fact, there are some headline-making things going on in this state in terms of solar power. It is the home to one of the first United States cities that has adopted a solar incentive policy that rivals the successful solar policies in Europe. It is currently the home of the largest solar panel installation in the entire country. And there are some cutting-edge renewable energy resource projects happening here that are committed to solar power development.

California and Florida have both contributed a lot to solar power development and continue to do so today. Florida may currently be contributing more to the issue in terms of projects and advanced development of progressive research and policies. However California is dealing with longer-term issues involving the impact of solar power on the country as a whole. Both aspects are important in the conversation about solar power so both states continue to be states to watch when it comes to this renewable resource.

Sources: http://solar.coolerplanet.com/News/19462413-concerns-over-environmental-impact-of-solar-power-in-california.aspx, http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-research-hits-the-sunshine-state/

Denver Economy Boosted By German Solar Plan

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:16:36 -0600

Every city in America is hoping to be among the first to beat the recession. Denver, Colorado might actually stand a good chance of achieving that goal. That is because the city has just been chosen as the new site for a solar plant which will bring at least 300 new jobs to the area with the potential for even more jobs in the future. Moreover, because this new job site is in the forward-thinking industry of solar inverter creation, Denver could get a lot of media attention which may bring an additional boost to the local economy.

The new plant is the first North American plant to be created by the German company called SMA Solar Technology AG. This company is the world's largest maker of solar inverters. Solar inverters take direct current electricity and convert it into an alternating current for use in powering everything from home appliances to energy grids. This could be a highly profitable area of green technology which might mean that Denver could do well for itself in the coming years.

The recession isn't over there, yet, of course. The new plant isn't set to open until the middle of next year. However, when it does, it will offer 300 new jobs. If solar inverter technology sees a greater demand then 400 additional temporary workers may be hired. There is a lot of potential for this technology to take off in the U.S. and it's a big deal to be the first North American city where such a huge plant is being built. Additional green technology jobs could come about in the area as the result of Denver's participation in this area of the industry.

Denver wasn't the only city that was looked at as the location for this plant. Denver had to complete with nearly two dozen other cities for this honor. Ultimately Denver won out because of its combination of a highly educated workforce, a pre-existing focus on renewable energy research, proximity to a major interstate and (of course) lower operating costs than required by other cities. The benefit of winning this bid could be huge for the local economy as well as for the development of green technology in the U.S.

Source: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016807157

College Students Build 100% Solar-Powered Homes for Decathlon

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:33:04 -0500

How much education did you get about solar-powered building options when you were in college? Unless you happened to be one of the few students enrolled in early cutting-edge classes that taught about alternative energy resources then chances are that you learned little to nothing about green building in college. That's not the case for college students today. Our academic institutions and government organizations have recognized that an education in building with renewable resources is crucial to the future of our society. In fact, students at twenty different colleges recently competed in a solar decathlon competition to build the best solar-powered house possible. Their efforts were displayed at the National Mall for all to see.

The Solar Decathlon was a major event sponsored by the United States Department of Energy. There were multiple goals intended by this project, goals that related not only to the students who were participating in the competition but also to the green building community as well as the general public. Through this competition, the Department of Energy hoped to create a hands-on environment for today's green students to push the boundaries of viable green building opportunities. They also wanted to encourage students from different academic disciplines (such as architecture and engineering) to collaborate together to find green building solutions. A bigger goal was that the results of this competition would encourage new developments and research in the existing green building industry. And finally, the project was designed to raise public awareness about solar power, green building and the potential to create Zero Energy housing.

The students were the ones who had to do the hard work to make this decathlon happen. Their challenge was to team up to create a solar-powered home which was energy-efficient but also attractive to buyers. They not only had to design the home but actually had to build and operate the home for the judges. Once the homes were complete, they were moved to the National Mall for the judges (and the general public) to visit. The homes had to meet multiple requirements including being 100% solar-powered, comfortable to live in and having power for all normal household activities such as cooking, cleaning and watching TV. The homes that were created represent the best in solar powered housing from some of the brightest up-and-coming minds in the green building business. They also represent what we're likely to see happening to our homes in the years to come.

CT Stimulus Encourages Solar Power Adoption

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:53:50 -0500

When we think about state governments that are active in encouraging the use of solar power adoption the states that typically come to mind are large, liberal states such as California. However, the little state of Connecticut is showing up some of those other big players in the green scene. The governor of the state recently announced that it is dedicating $4 million of federal stimulus money specifically to encourage the installation of solar-powered hot water heaters. This is a big move for a small state and it’s one that they should be proud of.

Connecticut has actually received almost $40 million in federal funding for their State Energy Plan. This is a multi-faceted plan for encouraging green development and eco-friendly habits among individuals and businesses. The plan includes such things as creating green collar jobs, focusing on fuel cell development and increasing the energy efficiency of all state buildings. It also includes the recently-announced Solar Thermal Incentive Program which is what the $4 million has been set aside to fund.

This money will be used to help cover the costs of installing solar-powered hot water heaters in both homes and businesses. In a state as cold as Connecticut it’s important to have a good hot water heater. It is also important to the state to be forward-thinking in the use of renewable energy resources. This stimulus will encourage individuals and business owners to install the solar heaters by making it affordable to do so. The money should pay for approximately 600 residential solar heaters and 120 heaters for businesses. Each heater should cover about four/fifths of the building’s total energy needs. With the extra incentive of the lower energy bills that would result from the installation there’s no reason why people wouldn’t want to take advantage of this government program.

Although this is a state program, it’s funded by federal money that comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This means that applications to participate in the program are accepted by all homeowners, businesses and organizations in the state. The funding is predicted to last through Spring 2012 and should result in a big change in the way that solar energy is used in this state. Perhaps we should start looking at Connecticut as a model for solar energy development!

Say Goodbye To Ugly Solar Panels

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:28:56 -0500

Solar panels are a great way for residents and businesses to save money and save the earth at the same time. Solar power generates a useful amount of electricity for homes and companies. Right now is a particularly good time to invest in solar panels because the cost of doing so is at an all-time low. However, some people are still holding off. A major reason cited for delaying adding solar panels to a home is the perhaps-superficial-but-still-undeniable fact that solar panels are not exactly pretty. That could be changing as new companies and green designers begin to develop solar panels that are designed to blend into the buildings where they’re used.

The solar panels of the past have all pretty much looked the same. They’re large, rectangular blocks that cover almost the entire roof of the home or business where they are placed. When you look down on them from above, they stand out as an eyesore against the rest of the landscape. Although they’re functional and earth-friendly, they’re a turnoff to many homebuyers and business owners because they’re so aesthetically unappealing.

New green designers are starting to recognize that it’s important to their customers to get the benefits of solar power energy without compromising the appearance of the buildings where the panels will be placed. We’re starting to see new options coming to the green market which reflect a prettier trend in solar power. For example, several companies are beginning to create solar panels that are designed to look just like roof tiles or shingles. The home can continue to look the way that it always has but with the added benefit of having built-in solar energy.

California homes are the first to really catch on to this new solar panel trend. A California company called U.S. Tile has partnered with green tech company SRS Energy to create traditional Southwestern-style clay tiles that have built-in photovoltaic cells for energy power. This new option is relatively affordable in terms of residential solar power additions, provides more solar energy to the home than traditional solar panels do and is much better-looking for the home owner. That’s a solution that sounds good to a lot of people.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/business/27novel.html?_r=1

Palm Desert Pays People to Use Solar Power

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:26:25 -0500

Cities across the nation are debating about ways to encourage residents and businesses to switch over to renewable energy resources like solar power. The cities that are struggling to come up with a good plan might want to look to Palm Desert for a solution. Through California Assembly Bill 811 (AB811) this area is offering property owners the chance to install money-saving solar power devices at almost no initial cost using low-interest, long-term loans. The program launched one year ago and has been successful in funding solar energy for both residences and businesses.

There are a few features built into the Palm Desert plan that make it a viable plan for other cities to consider. The main feature is that the loan that is made for the purpose of installing the solar power is attached to the property rather than to the property owner. This definitely encourages people to go ahead and take advantage of the opportunity to add solar panels to their homes or businesses. Many people might hesitate to make such an investment if they knew that they would have to keep re-paying the loan even after moving away from the property. After all, the loan is a long-term loan and a lot of people don't plan on living in the same place forever. They may not want to invest in adding solar power to a place that they aren't going to stay in for as long as the loan lasts. Since the loan is attached to the property, it will actually be picked up by the new property owner in the event that the property is sold. This has encouraged Palm Desert residents to make the investment since it's a win-win situation for them. They save money with lower energy bills and yet aren't committed to a long-term loan if they do want to move.

It also helps that the terms of the loan and the process of repayment are fair and simple. The loan is a highly-affordable, low-cost, long-term loan. The loan is offered at a fixed rate of approximately 7% with a length of 20 years. And Palm Desert residents don't have to worry that this is going to add another monthly bill to their stack of payments because instead the loan is simply repaid biannually at the same time that the person's property taxes are due. Instead of adding a monthly bill, the resident actually decreases monthly spending because of the energy-savings of using solar power. This has proven to be a great success in Palm Desert and could easily serve as a model for other cities that want to encourage development of renewable resources by property owners.

Source: http://www.ab811.org/

Californians Could Use Solar Power to Cool Off

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:46:19 -0500

Most people who make the forward-thinking choice to use solar power in their homes are using it to power the home in general or to heat the home. However, it may soon be possible to harness the power of the sun to cool off the place where you live. That is because there are innovative companies out there which are trying to create a way for solar power energy to be used to power home air conditioning units. This would be ideal in states like California where there is a lot of sunshine and therefore a lot of need for air conditioning!

Southern California Gas Company is an example of a company that is testing out the idea of using solar power to provide energy for air conditioning. The way that it works is that they install solar mirrors in the roof which capture the light from the sun. This light is then sent through water pipes. The light heats up the water in those pipes to just below 200 degrees and then stores the warm water in a storage tank. This warm water can then be used to power a thermal process in a chiller so it’s turned into the cold water that can then be used to operate the air conditioner. It sounds complicated but it seems to be working well in the tests that have been done by the company so far.

The technology also isn’t as complicated as it sounds like it might be. Although the average person might find it odd to heat up water in order to cool it, this is the process used by most air conditioning units today. However, in today’s units, we’re powering these units primarily with gas. Using solar power would reduce the negative impact of the air conditioner on the earth and reduce costs for users.

Right now the technology is good but the cost of the technology may be prohibitive. Setting up a system like this currently requires an investment of about $200,000. This could be worth it for commercial buildings where the cost of the air conditioning unit itself is probably also this high but it’s prohibitive for residential buyers. The hope is that this price can be slashed in half before this system is made available to individual buyers. If so then it could be worth it since it could significantly reduce the cost of air conditioning bills which can be high in sunny California!

Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar20-2009aug20,0,996681.story

The Bad Economy is Good for Solar Power

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:30:47 -0500

The downturn in the economy has caused a lot of problems but there have been a few bright spots that have resulted from the recession. One of those bright spots is that solar power is finally becoming affordable. The possibility of using the power of the sun to power our homes and businesses has been here for awhile but it's been cost-prohibitive up until this time. Changes in the economy have resulted in changes that have increased the affordability of solar power at all levels.

Looking at the large picture, we can see that the economy has caused changes that have allowed governments and large companies to start looking at adopting solar power. A major change has been that the economic crisis has caused a severe decrease in the price of silicon which is a primary ingredient that goes into the making of solar cells. This decrease means that solar energy is now affordable. Since it results in cost-savings over time, a number of big businesses have realized that it's a smart financial move to invest in solar power now.

It's not just the big boys that are benefitting from this change either. The cost of solar panels for individual homeowners has also declined as a direct result of the recession. Companies are slashing prices on solar panels just to stimulate sales. Additionally, the United States government has offered tax incentives to homeowners who choose to make the switch to solar power. This means that solar power for the home is finally within the price range of the average homeowner.

Solar energy is something that allows you to save money over time. By investing in the technology that is necessary to gather solar power, you ultimately reduce the cost that you pay over time on energy bills. Since the prices are so low right now, it's finally a good time for people to start thinking more seriously about making this investment. That's certainly one good thing that's come out of the bad economy!

Sources: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cover-solar2-2009aug02,0,7808025.story, http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/business/Technology__Tenacity_Drive_Down_Solar_Power_Costs-52891772.html

California Leads the Way with Solar Power

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:13:34 -0500

The Obama administration is putting a heavy emphasis on the increased use of renewable energy resources throughout the nation. One of the best options for renewable energy is the use of solar power. As the nation focuses on learning how to make better use of solar power, everyone's eyes seem to be turning to California. That's because this state is a leader in the use of solar power. With a ten-year-long history of development, the state's solar capacity represents two thirds of the national total.

California was one of the first states to start becoming actively involved in the exploration and use of solar power. Studies show that the states which are most active in regards to solar development are those states that offer subsidies to help offset the cost of solar installations. California launched two statewide programs for this nearly ten years ago. In that time, the number of solar-paneled rooftops in the state has increased 100 times from what it started out as. There are now nearly 50,000 solar-paneled rooftops in California offering a solar power capacity of over 500 megawatts (which is the equivalent to the energy produced by a major power plant).

What has been interesting to watch in California is the way that the use of solar power as spread throughout the state. It's no surprise that this renewable energy source has long been supported in cities which are known to be environmentally-conscious (such as San Francisco). However, what we've seen happen over time is that other cities which may be less known for their interest in eco-friendly actions have adopted the use of solar power as well. San Diego, San Jose and Fresno are examples of cities that now have a good percentage of solar capacity.

The use of solar power and other renewable energy resources is still in its infancy. However, it's growing rapidly as individuals, businesses and political groups recognize the importance of finding renewable energy sources that work. California has a relatively long history in this area compared to other regions. The state will have to work to stay on top of developments in this area as the nation begins to model the efforts already made here.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/science/earth/16solar.html?em

Solar Energy Conferences 2009

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:16:59 -0500

The Solar Electric Power Association and Solar Energy Industries Association are holding this year’s biggest B to B solar event in North America. This event is taking place October 27-29, 2009 in Anaheim, California. Last year, more than 25,000 people attended from across the country. With congress now committed to utilizing renewable energy in the U.S. , this event has come to be recognized as a the conference responsible for the turning point in the history of the U.S. solar industry. For more information, visit www.solarpowerinternational.com.

ASES NATIONAL SOLAR CONFERENCE

The National Solar Conference touts educational information on emerging trends in solar energy and technology. This conference is scheduled to take place May 17-22, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.ases.org.

Advances in Solar Energy

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 10:58:20 -0500

The sun itself is virtually a limitless source of energy. Solar technology channels the power of the sun and converts it into usable energy. Solar energy is an excellent alternative to fossil fuel because it remains clean, efficient, and reusable. Although not previously thought of as a major player in the U.S. energy marketplace, solar power, along with wind power, is quickly becoming an obvious and available resource that simply can’t be ignored. Alternative energy sources and green technology is up and coming, although the world is a long way from replacing fossil fuels, people may be able to enjoy lower electric bills in the meantime. However, with such relied upon supplies diminishing, and solar power becoming increasingly more advanced every year, there is a good chance it may eventually replace oil as the world’s main energy source. As of today, numerous homes and even commercial buildings have made the switch over to solar power. One main reason why people are reluctant to utilize solar power in their homes is because of the obtrusive solar panels that must be installed on one’s roof. Fortunately, as solar power is evolving and slowly but surely becoming more mainstream, the design of such panels is changing to match the look of typical roofing shingles.

Primarily used to help heat homes, solar power is also an efficient way to produce electricity. Efforts to design and construct devices for supplying renewable energy began during the Industrial Revolution. However, at that time, there was an unfounded promise of boundless supplies of fossil fuels. About 140 years later, the demand of inexhaustible resources turns attention toward renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic technology, or PV, uses environmentally friendly solar energy to produce electricity. A photovoltaic system is connected to a home’s power distribution network. PV systems are all grid tied because they draw power as needed from the local utility to supplement the solar energy.

Converting one’s home to solar power is costly and remains a significant drawback for homeowners across the U.S. Solar panels, solar water heaters, and other equipment required for installation is expensive. However, many states are beginning to offer substantial rebates for those homeowners who do go solar. State, Federal, and utility incentives are available to reduce the cost of solar energy for homes. As solar technology evolves and advances, solar products will subsequently reduce in price. July 2009 in Beijing, China Huadian Group (CHG), one of the nation’s top power producers, announced that it would join forces with Wuxi Suntech Power Co. (WSP) and begin work in the solar energy field. This move is significant because within the next three years, both parties are now slated to create solar energy products with immense power generation capacities. In the near future, battery modules and technical services will be offered to the public there. It’s only a matter of time before such technology makes it over to the U.S.