tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2009:/news/1 2009-10-27T03:56:00Z Solar News from TheSolarPlan.com Movable Type 3.33 tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2009:/news//1.125 2009-10-27T03:44:56Z 2009-10-27T03:56:00Z

The Army is bringing to the battlefield flexible plastic sheeting that converts light into energy....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com The Army is bringing to the battlefield flexible plastic sheeting that converts light into energy. Credit:: Associated Press]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2009:/news//1.124 2009-10-20T22:37:30Z 2009-10-20T22:54:01Z

Tired of your roof just soaking up rays and not pulling its load? You're not alone....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Tired of your roof just soaking up rays and not pulling its load? You're not alone. Working roofs "You look for a south-facing roof that is not shadowed by trees or by another building, and you cover it as best you can,"Maycock said. Solar energy modules can be mount on racks on the roof to catch the sun to best advantage, although the results may be quite unsightly. "With shingles, you are stuck with the roof you have, and with the less-desirable results that it gives you. So in many cases you just don't do it," Maycock said. So it's no surprise that most of the photovoltaic (PV) roofs are in new upscale residential construction in the sunny Southwest, where the cost of a PV roof (about $14,000 for 2 kilowatts of capacity, according to Maycock’s figures) would fit in the mortgage's round-off error. Taxes and power Additionally, California and New Jersey offer tax credits that actually make solar power economically sensible, Maycock added. (Other states offer less juicy tax credits, and the Federal taxman offers one that caps out at $2,000.) Maycock figures that the cost of electricity from a PV roof is about 40 cents per kilowatt hour, but that tax credits can reduce that figure to 20 cents. The national average for utility power is 12 cents, but the price ranges between 16 and 21 cents in California, and as high as 24 cents in parts of New York State, he said. To make PV roofing pay, the local utility must also offer "net metering" meaning that your power meter can run backward while your roof is sending excess power to the grid, reducing your bill. (Even with a south-facing PV roof, 70 to 80 percent of an average home's power will still have to come from the utility company.) Net metering is available in about 20 states, Maycock noted. Credit: Lamont Wood, Special to LiveScience]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2009:/news//1.123 2009-09-09T16:44:00Z 2009-09-09T16:49:17Z

Innovalight Inc. said this week that it has demonstrated a record 18% conversion efficiency with silicon-ink processed solar cells...

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Innovalight Inc. said this week that it has demonstrated a record 18% conversion efficiency with silicon-ink processed solar cells RenewableEnergyWorld.com September 9, 2009 ]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2009:/news//1.122 2009-09-09T15:57:48Z 2009-09-09T16:06:26Z

Solar cells soon could be painted onto the sides of buildings or rooftops with nanoparticle inks, according to one chemical engineer....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Solar cells soon could be painted onto the sides of buildings or rooftops with nanoparticle inks, according to one chemical engineer. 08/24/2009 Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience Senior Writer ]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2009:/news//1.119 2009-02-02T01:39:53Z 2009-02-02T02:04:17Z

The ocean harbors abundant energy in the form of wind, waves and sun. All of these could be sampled on something called an Energy Island: a floating rig that drills for renewables instead of petroleum....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com The ocean harbors abundant energy in the form of wind, waves and sun. All of these could be sampled on something called an Energy Island: a floating rig that drills for renewables instead of petroleum.




Three Energy Islands are shown connected in this artist rendering. Credit: Energy Island


The concept is the brainchild of inventor Dominic Michaelis. He was originally unsatisfied with the slow progress in developing ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC), a process in which cold water is pumped up from the deep ocean to generate electricity. "Nothing new was happening with OTEC, so I thought why not bring other marine energy technologies on board?" Michaelis said. The Energy Island that he and his son have designed would have an OTEC plant at its center, but spread across the 2,000-foot-wide (600-meter-wide) platform would also be wind turbines and solar collectors. Additionally, wave energy converters and sea current turbines would capture energy from water moving around the structure. One of these hexagonally-shaped islands could generate 250 megawatts (enough power for a small city), Michaelis said. Even more power is possible by mooring together several Energy Islands into a small archipelago that could include greenhouses for food, a small harbor for ships and a hotel for tourists. To attract possible investors, the Energy Island team will present their concept this week at the U.S. China GreenTech Summit in Shanghai. Running hot and cold The principle reason to build an Energy Island is to harvest OTEC. "The advantage of OTEC over other marine energy technologies is that it's constant, 24 hours a day and all year round," Michaelis told LiveScience. This is because it is based not on the sun or the wind or the waves, but on the temperature difference between warm water at the sun-heated surface and cold water in the deep, dark ocean. The biggest temperature differences can be found in tropical seas, where the surface water is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Celsius). This warm water is drawn in from around the Energy Island and used to evaporate a working fluid, which might be seawater or ammonia. The resulting vapor pushes a turbine that produces electricity. To condense the vapor back to fluid, cold water at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius) is pumped up from a half mile below the surface. This condensation creates a pressure drop that helps suck more vapor through the turbine blades. The same basic process occurs in a coal-fired or nuclear power plant, but the temperature difference between water boilers and cooling towers is much greater than in an OTEC system. Large overhead The first OTEC plant was built in 1930 on a Cuban shoreline and produced 22 kilowatts of power. Only a handful of other facilities (both floating and land-based) have been constructed since, with the largest being a 250-kilowatt pilot plant in Hawaii. None are currently operating. The main drawback has been the inherent inefficiency of converting a relatively small temperature difference into electricity. In fact, some of the early OTEC designs used more energy than they were able to produce. An OTEC plant requires a lot of energy to circulate massive amounts of water. The Energy Island, for example, will need more than 100,000 gallons (400 cubic meters) of cold water pumped up per second. This is why Michaelis incorporates other marine energy technologies to help "prime" the OTEC system. Fringe benefits The clean power generated by an Energy Island could be transmitted to shore by underwater cables. Or it could be used to make hydrogen from water, and this hydrogen fuel could be shipped to the mainland in order to produce electricity in fuel cells. The exported electricity might run 9 to 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, depending on how the project is financed, Michaelis said. A single Energy Island has an estimated price tag of $600 million. However, electricity is not the only thing these man-made isles can offer. If seawater is used as the OTEC working fluid, it will be desalinated through the cycle of evaporation and condensation. For each megawatt of electricity produced, an OTEC plant can supply 300,000 gallons of fresh water per day, Michaelis said. Moreover, the cold water pumped up from the ocean depths is full of nutrients that could support fish farms or some other form of aquaculture. Michael Schirber, Special to LiveScience: November 2008]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2008:/news//1.116 2008-10-01T15:57:44Z 2008-11-05T23:41:11Z

Nearly 50% of global electricity supplies must come from renewable energy sources in order to cut CO2 emissions in half by 2050....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Nearly 50% of global electricity supplies must come from renewable energy sources in order to cut CO2 emissions in half by 2050. Paris, France - David Appleyard, Renewable Energy World Magazine]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2008:/news//1.114 2008-07-03T20:38:23Z 2008-07-03T20:50:33Z

Car makers, particularly in Europe, are discovering solar power as an effective additional energy source at the same time lowering fuel consumption and the emission of pollutants....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Car makers, particularly in Europe, are discovering solar power as an effective additional energy source at the same time lowering fuel consumption and the emission of pollutants. Solar power is still a long way from providing all of the energy required to run an ordinary vehicle, but car makers are finding more ways of tapping into the sun's free energy, said Thomic Ruschmeyer from the German Association for Solar Mobility (BSM) So far car makers such as Audi have only made use of solar power for comfort functions. According to Audi spokesman, Udo Ruegheimer, the Audi A8 and A6 can be ordered with a sunroof complete with integrated solar cells that provide enough energy to power the fan and keeping the interior aired in summer. In several concept studies engineers are in fact looking at other ways of using solar power as an alternative fuel. At the recent Geneva Motor Show the Saab 9-X BioHybrid featured a roof fitted with a solar generator. The car transforms solar energy into electric power whether it is being driven or parked. The energy is stored in the lithium-ion batteries linked to the hybrid drive system. BMW also makes use of carbon-neutral energy in its Vision Efficient Dynamics concept based on the X5. The Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) has a one-square meter solar roof that generates one kilowatt hour of energy on a sunny day. It can also be used to load a telephone or to keep drinks cool. The energy can also be used to warm the transmission oil, reducing fuel consumption by about 1 per cent, said BMW spokesman Wieland Bruch. But it will be a while before the technology can be used for production cars, says Bruch. "We are working on a list of possible options. Those that benefit the customer the most and cost the least amount of money are the priority," he adds. In addition a solar roof carries much more weight than a conventional steel roof. Even a normal glass roof has less weight, Bruch cautions. Opel's CEO Hans Demant is watching the technology "with great interest" but he sees little direct use at present apart from utilizing it for caravans and for the car air fan. "Together with our partners we are working on the further development of the lithium-ion battery that can store energy for later use by electric engines," Demant says. At present engineers continue working on increasing the performance of the lithium-ion battery and on reducing costs. Even solar lobbyists such as Ruschmeyer see little direct use of solar energy in the current types of cars most consumers prefer. "Cars used in the solar rallies in Australia can reach average speeds of 100 kilometres (65 miles) an hour," Ruschmeyer points out "but these racing cars have about as much similarity with a normal passenger car as a Formula 1 Ferrari with a Fiat 500." But Ruschmeyer is very positive on other possibilities. Solar panels on the roof of a house can be linked with a cable to an electric car in the garage, recharging the battery with energy from the sun. In addition a solar charger for less than 50 Euros (78 dollars) can be used for classic cars or other vehicles that spend most of the year in the garage. The charger is simply plugged into the cigarette lighter, preventing the battery from running flat tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2008:/news//1.111 2008-06-10T15:01:29Z 2008-06-10T15:09:03Z

A vast majority of Americans feel that the development of solar power and other renewable energy sources should be a major priority of the federal government....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com A vast majority of Americans feel that the development of solar power and other renewable energy sources should be a major priority of the federal government. Washington, D.C., United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] ]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2008:/news//1.108 2008-04-13T04:44:50Z 2008-04-13T04:56:17Z

- Wind power has the potential to become a leading source of energy - Three quarters of the world's wind power is generated in Europe - Wind power is variable -- but one British professor has devised a way to...

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com - Wind power has the potential to become a leading source of energy - Three quarters of the world's wind power is generated in Europe - Wind power is variable -- but one British professor has devised a way to store the energy for those non-windy times as compressed air 600 meters underwater By Matthew Knight For CNN-London, England April, 2, 2008]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2007:/news//1.105 2007-12-23T20:05:52Z 2007-12-23T20:48:07Z

Here are some easy adjustments anyone can make that will not cost anything at all and several will actually save money....

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Here are some easy adjustments anyone can make that will not cost anything at all and several will actually save money. Heating & Cooling 1. Remember to close the doors on rooms you use infrequently. In addition, close off the vents/ducts entering those rooms, which will enable you to not waste energy to heat and cool rooms that you infrequently use. 2. Adjust your home thermostat by increments of one degree. In the summer, set your thermostat one degree warmer and in winter, make it one degree cooler. In a day or two, you won't notice it, but you will when the utility bill comes. (1 to 2 degree change will generally translate into a 3-to- 4 % savings on the utility bill) 3. When it is hot outside and you want to keep the house cooler, keep shades closed during the day on your east, west and north windows and delay heat-generating activities until evening. When it's cold and you want it warmer during the day keep your shades open on your south and west windows, but closed on the east and north. Always lower all shades at night to keep heat in. 4. Dry washed (or wet) items on a clothes line instead of throwing them in the dryer. 5. If you do need to use a dryer - keep lint cleaned out of the trap. The dryer will be much more efficient; clothes will dry faster, and not require extra runs. 6. Adjust the water heater (electric or gas) down to 120 degrees because that temperature is hot enough for nearly all normal household purposes, except dishwashers, most of which all have their own heating coil for the power scrubbing cycles. Just think how often you actually turn on the cold water faucet in order to cool off the hot water so you don’t burn your hands. Keeping the same tank of water heated above 120 degrees day and night is just wasting energy, in fact, hot water accounts for about 30% of the average home's power bill. 7. Open windows and doors during the hotter spring days when there is a breeze blowing to save on air conditioning. Electricity 1. Dishwashers and washing machines should only be turned on when there is a nearly full load. 2. Let your dishwasher 'air dry' instead of using the heating element. 3. Close the fridge door after use. Try to reduce the number of times you open the refrigerator. The fridge is one of our biggest energy users in the home. Also while it may sound crazy, your refrigerator actually works best if the freezer is defrosted and full. This helps your refrigerator function at top efficiency and saves you money in the long run. 4. This is a BIGGY - Always make sure to turn things off when not using them. One of the biggest issues I have with a lot of people is that they tend to just leave a light on or a television on when they're not at home or in the room. What's the harm in turning them off? This is the simplest, easiest, most overlooked way to save energy and money. Remember your parents or grandparents always telling you to turn out the lights when you leave a room? Great advice! Do it now. If you aren't going to be using your computer for several days - turn it off completely. Otherwise, consider using the computer's "sleep mode," which cuts energy consumption by 60 to 70 percent, according to EPA estimates. We all have gotten a little forgetful or perhaps lazy an times and tend to leave lights and other types of electrical items on even when not in a room rather than just "flick" the switch. 5. Open the curtains and drapes for light during the daytime. Water 1. Fill up & seal a reused plastic bottle with water (or a brick) and put it in the tank of your toilet so it uses less water with each flush – this is an easy thing is to! 2. Grab that new spouse of yours then go wash & dry the dinner dishes by hand. 3. Only use the amount of water needed to do the jobs you need to do. Don’t let the water run when brushing your teeth of washing your hands. Many of us brush our teeth as we watch and hear the bathroom faucet pour water down the drain, or take 30 minute showers, in part for the feeling of just being there 20 minutes after we really are "clean." 4. Using a broom instead of the garden hose to clean your sidewalk and driveway can save a lot of water 5. Wash your clothes in cold water with cold-wash laundry detergent. Studies have shown that washing in cold actually help the clothing last longer and they come just as clean. Apparently, hot water can shock the clothing and fade the colors after several washing even if you have the best detergent available. Cold water does not. 6. Set a timer for sprinklers. (Perhaps, an egg timer which you can set to make noise every half an hour). It's easy to forget you've got water running, so make an effort to remind yourself to either move the sprinkler or turn it off. This way you don't waste water. Lifestyle & Miscellaneous 1. To cut down all that junk mail you throw in the trash, send your name, address, and signature to: Mail Preference Service, c/o Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512 and ask to be taken off mailing lists. You can also opt out of the endless stream of credit card offers by calling the credit reporting industry's toll-free line at (888) 567-8688. 2. Try to plan your route in order to combine errands when out with the car, so, you drive less. 3. Save your grocery & shopping bags (paper or plastic), they can be reused for all types of purposes: cleaning the cat box, lining the bathroom garbage can, take them back to the store and reuse them again, the plastic ones are great for line paint trays with the plastic ones (just throw out when your done). ]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2007:/news//1.104 2007-10-06T00:47:32Z 2007-10-06T01:05:47Z

All over the USA, there will be a lot of places this weekend and over the next month where homeowners are opening up their personal homes to let anyone come see, learn and ask questions about what it is like...

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com All over the USA, there will be a lot of places this weekend and over the next month where homeowners are opening up their personal homes to let anyone come see, learn and ask questions about what it is like to live in a real Solar Home. The Specifics Hundreds of local organizations in partnership with the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) are coordinating what has become the largest demonstration of installed renewable energy technologies and energy efficient building practices in the country. The overall event is being called the "National Solar Tour". Most tours are scheduled on Saturday, October 6, 2007 with tours from September through November included. To find business and homes on display in your area click here. Visit the Solar Village in DC - From October 12 through October 20, teams from 20 of the world's leading universities will transform the National Mall in Washington, DC into a solar village. The teams are part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) third Solar Decathlon. University-led teams will come from across the U.S., Spain, Germany, and Canada to design, build, and operate the most efficient and attractive solar-powered homes. Many of these solar power and building technologies that will be showcased on the National Mall are currently available for purchase and use. Teams have worked for more than two years designing, building and testing their homes—this competition is the culmination of that work. The Decathlon's prototype solar homes are zero-energy, yield zero carbon, and will include the latest high-tech solutions and money-saving benefits to consumers, without sacrificing comfort, convenience, and aesthetics. Each house must also produce enough "extra" energy to power an electric vehicle. This year, in addition to the largest number of competitors ever, the Solar Decathlon will include a new contest called "Market Viability," which will evaluate each home's market appeal, its ability to meet expectations of potential homeowners, and cost effectiveness of construction. The houses are open for tours weekdays from 11:00AM - 3:00PM and on weekends from 10:00AM - 5:00PM, except on Wednesday, October 17, when the village is closed for competition purposes. Thanks to: RenewableEnergyAccess]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2007:/news//1.99 2007-09-11T20:56:15Z 2008-05-10T17:22:01Z

Metropolitan Denver and Boulder Home Depot's to offer complete, installed solar electric home power systems. Denver, Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine in an average year - This is going to be big!...

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Denver, Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine in an average year - This is going to be big! ]]> BP Solar yesterday (9/10/2007) announced the availability of its BP Solar Home Solutions systems through The Home Depot stores in the metropolitan Denver and Boulder, Colorado, areas. The program enables customers to purchase complete, installed solar electric home power systems. "The goal of our program with The Home Depot is to make it simple for home owners to generate their own clean solar power." -- Geoff Slevin, VP of Sales & Marketing, BP Solar The BP Solar Home Solutions program has been available since 2004 in The Home Depot stores in California, New Jersey and Long Island, New York. BP Solar and The Home Depot are now expanding it to other areas of the country where incentives have made solar electric power more accessible and affordable to a wide range of consumers. In Colorado, Xcel Energy electric customers can register to receive about 50% off the purchase price of a solar electric system through rebates and incentives from Xcel Energy's Solar Rewards Program. Several local governments have also started further incentive programs. Interested homeowners can find information and marketing materials at participating The Home Depot stores in the metropolitan Denver and Boulder areas. RenewableEnergyAccess tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2007:/news//1.100 2007-09-11T20:56:15Z 2007-09-11T21:06:36Z

Metropolitan Denver and Boulder Home Depot's to offer complete, installed solar electric home power systems. Denver, Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine in an average year - This is going to be big!...

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com Denver, Colorado has over 300 days of sunshine in an average year - This is going to be big! ]]> BP Solar yesterday (9/10/2007) announced the availability of its BP Solar Home Solutions systems through The Home Depot stores in the metropolitan Denver and Boulder, Colorado, areas. The program enables customers to purchase complete, installed solar electric home power systems. "The goal of our program with The Home Depot is to make it simple for home owners to generate their own clean solar power." -- Geoff Slevin, VP of Sales & Marketing, BP Solar The BP Solar Home Solutions program has been available since 2004 in The Home Depot stores in California, New Jersey and Long Island, New York. BP Solar and The Home Depot are now expanding it to other areas of the country where incentives have made solar electric power more accessible and affordable to a wide range of consumers. In Colorado, Xcel Energy electric customers can register to receive about 50% off the purchase price of a solar electric system through rebates and incentives from Xcel Energy's Solar Rewards Program. Several local governments have also started further incentive programs. Interested homeowners can find information and marketing materials at participating The Home Depot stores in the metropolitan Denver and Boulder areas. RenewableEnergyAccess tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2007:/news//1.98 2007-08-30T23:25:10Z 2007-08-30T23:49:21Z

With a discovery made at UCSB's Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, we are going to have less and less of an excuse not to go green!...

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com With a discovery made at UCSB's Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, we are going to have less and less of an excuse not to go green! ]]> Sonia Fernandez (July, 2007) Goleta Valley Voice, Goleta CA ]]> tag:www.thesolarplan.com,2007:/news//1.96 2007-07-12T18:51:45Z 2007-07-12T19:17:49Z

Malta, New York - July 12, 2007 groSolar announced a new plan enabling New Yorkers to bring solar energy to their homes for a nominal increase to their daily utility cost. The financing program, available immediately, will allow New Yorkers...

SolarGuy http://www.thesolarplan.com groSolar The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Please Note: There should be no implied endorsemment associated with listing the sites above and the links behind them. They are simply offered to assist you with additional research. After following these these links you can return to thesolarplan by using your browsers back arrow. Credit: RenewableEnergyAccess.com]]>