Image by Port of San Diego (source: Flickr)

1. Purchase – You will need to purchase solar panels to install. There are a number of places where you can find good, dependable solar panels. Do a bit of research to ensure that you are getting quality products at a good price. Choose panels that fit your budget as well as your sizing needs.
2. Install – Solar panels are typically installed on rooftops. You should ensure that you are mounting the panels in a place where they will receive as much direct sun exposure as possible.
3. Sunlight – You need sunlight to run the solar panels. It is recommended that you choose a position that gives you as much direct sunlight as possible, not hindered by trees or other buildings.
4. Mounting – Mounting your panels will require solar panel mounts. These come in three ranges which include roof-ground mounts, flush mounts and pole mounts.
5. Installation Process – The actual installation process can be a bit complicated, depending on how much you know. Solar panels can be installed if you have basic plumbing skills and the installation process is not nearly as difficult as you may think. You have to ensure that the mounts are situated approximately 48 inches apart. Connect the mounts to a rafter or a block of wood that is positioned on the bottom of the roof.
6. Fasten the Panels – Drill holes with a bit to make sure that you are not ripping the rafters. You will need to lock the base of your mounts to your roof by using stainless steel lag bolts. Once this is done, simply thread the post of the mount onto its bottom and fasten metal rails to the mounts with bolts.
7. Precautions – You should ensure that your panels are working properly. The completed rack system will allow the solar panels to be at least three to six inches from the top of the roof and the panels will function better if sufficient airflow is allowed around them.
8. There are a number of factors that contribute to solar panels working properly. If you live in a region that does not have sufficient sunlight, solar panels may not provide you with an adequate supply of energy. If however you have adequate sunlight throughout the year, you could find yourself saving thousands of dollars over the course of just a few years in energy costs.

This article was written by Enerfina, an independent market intermediary in the renewable energy sector. Visit us to learn more about solar panels today.

Image by mjmonty (source: Flickr)

Everyone these days is talking about renewable sources of energy and protecting the environment. If you are considering solar power as a means of helping to lower energy usage, there are a few things that you should consider. Solar power offers major advantages and understanding these advantages will help you to know just how much of an impact your contribution will make.

1. The first advantage of solar power is that it costs nothing. Solar power is completely free. As long as the sun hangs around, there will always be solar power. Of course, putting up solar panels will come at a cost but when you factor in what you are actually saving in energy costs, you will see a dramatic difference and a major advantage.
2. Unlike many other sources of energy, solar power is environmentally friendly. This is one of the best ways to go “green” and help to protect the environment. It does not generate pollution like burning fossil fuels and will significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
3. Another advantage to using solar power is it will help you to lower your overall energy costs. Of course, solar power is free so the source of power costs nothing. You can also save on heating during the colder months and you will not have to completely rely on your energy company for power.
4. Besides saving money from solar power, you can also make money. If your solar panels generate more energy than you need, you can sell some of that energy back to the grid. There are rewards and grants being implemented that will pay you to go “green” and begin helping the environment. So, you get to save money and you could even make a little extra money while you are at it.
5. Solar power is relatively cheap to install and very easy to maintain. You may spend a few hundred dollars to get everything in place but besides that, you can sit back and watch your energy costs decrease. Once you have solar panels installed your work is done. Just sit back and enjoy relatively free electricity.

There are of course, other advantages to solar energy, but these are the top 5 benefits. When you install solar panels you can begin helping the environment and get a few benefits for yourself in the form of more money in your pocket each year.

This article was written by Trueshopping, an online department store with a wide selection of affordable luxury products for your home.

Image Source: Flickr. By: DragonWoman.

When it comes to Egypt, most news reports tend to be about the latest archaeological findings. This report is not about that.

This great desert nation will finally have its first solar energy plant by the end of the year. The plant will be one of only 4 plants with a 140-megawatt capacity in the entire world.

As with many other nations jumping on the green bandwagon, this effort is part of Egypt’s plan to reach their target goal of having 20% of their total energy needs come from renewable sources by the end of 2020. The announcement comes a week after the United Arab Emirates reported plans to build the world’s largest concentrated solar power plant.

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: Cropped screen capture from Ma-Steven.Blogspot.com

The wheel has been regarded as one of the best inventions of all time; it’s simple and yet it has so many uses. Over the years, people have wondered how to improve on such a design; some have even attempted to and while it’s always nice to make an effort, they haven’t always succeeded. However, there is one recent design that puts a whole new twist on the wheel shape. The only setback is it doesn’t move, but once you hear everything else about it, the lack of motion will hardly be a disappointment.

Architecture professor, Steven Ma, has created a rather interesting and unique design, called the ec-O.bench. Yes, it is a bench, but it is also much more than that.

First of all, this bench comes equipped with solar films on the top of 4 lighting channels. Right there you already have 2 awesome, green features: it can collect solar energy during the day and use that stored electricity to provide lighting throughout the night. Another great feature about the ec-O.bench is that it also has a built in water collector and filter, which are used to aid in plant growth.

So far, you have a bench that also functions as a renewable energy source, a night lighting system, a water collecting and filtering system, and a rather unique urban container garden of sorts. Could it possibly get any better than that? Yes, actually, it can. In addition to all those amazing features combined into one design, the ec-O.bench is made from completely recycled parts—specifically, Bio-Aluminum—made from 100% recycled aircraft aluminum materials—and Bio-Glass—made from 100% recycled glass.

I certainly hope to see this design become an actual structure and put to good use! It would be great to see such a thing throughout the cities and even rural areas of the world. Not only could it add a bit more green space to urban areas, but it may even be able to replace some out-dated street and park lighting systems.

Have you created an awesome green design that you feel deserves more recognition? Feel free to share your ideas with us!

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: Flickr. By: Gaensler.

Sungevity is making quite a nice offer to President Obama: a rooftop solar panel system for the White House, for free. The deal would include a 17.85 kW system with 102 panels, installation and warranty. All of that won’t cost anyone—including us poor taxpayers—a single penny. The only costs that would come with it would be upkeep and maintenance. Had Sungevity decided to charge for their generous donation, it would have cost over $100,000. However, if Obama is uncomfortable with getting this donation for free, the company is also offering a 10-year lease of the equipment at $537/month, which includes maintenance and monitoring.

Did you know that if this deal goes through, it won’t be the first time solar panels were installed at the White House? Back in 1979, former President Jimmy Carter had some installed on the roof. However, they were removed in 1986 during routine maintenance and never replaced, because someone claimed they were too expensive to reinstall. So, those solar panels ended up on a cafeteria roof in Maine. Needless to say, it may not exactly be easy to convince the Obamas to add solar power to the White House—even with a free deal.

That’s why Sungevity has concocted a nice little campaign. Dubbed Globama, the campaign urges individuals to get involved and encourage the President to accept the offer. Their website contains a petition, information on the project, and suggestions on other ways you can help. Check out the campaign here!

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons. By: Coolcaesar.

US residents have been rather upset about the new health reform lately and understandably so. However, there is at least one positive piece of health related news to report: The largest nonprofit HMO in the US is going solar.

Kaiser Permanente is based in Oakland, California, and has nearly 200,000 employees and physicians, plus over 400 offices and medical centers.  The solar panels will be installed on 15 of their hospitals, offices and other facilities throughout California by 2011. They will be installed by San Francisco based solar power company, Recurrent Energy.

This isn’t the first solar power installation for Kaiser, however. In 2008, solar panels were installed at their Modesto Medical Center. Since that project proved to be a success, they moved to install solar panels on more of their facilities. Kaiser’s director for strategy, planning and design, John Kouletsis, said:

“We’re very confident that this is the right thing to do. This is the first wave of our sustained engagement with renewable sources.”

Although the solar power systems will be part of the Kaiser buildings, Recurrent Energy will still own and operate them. The power will be sold to Kaiser through 20-year purchase agreements. Kaiser expects the payment to be at least $95 million—about the same amount it would cost to get power from the grid. Despite the cost, there is more good news about the solar installation.

By having these solar panels installed, Kaiser will come closer to reaching its self-imposed goal of using 25% of its power from renewable sources by 2020. This installation alone actually represents 15 megawatts of energy—that’s 10% of the power used at those particular sites. Kaiser also believes it may be the biggest solar power installation at any health care system in the country.

It’s certainly great to see more people making the switch to renewable energy, especially important places like medical centers.

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: HeliOptix.com

Recently, the new SyracuseCoE building (with LEED Platinum certification) was dedicated. This center was designed to be used as a living laboratory and also for showcasing new technological ideas. One of the first things to be showcased can be found in an area specifically for testing window systems. What is this thing? A concentrated solar façade.

At first glance, it simply appears as one of those cubed windows you may see in buildings or hospitals. However, closer observation will show that these windows actually harness solar power. How? Well, first, within the window you’ll find a number of transparent pyramid lenses. These lenses can track the sun and concentrate the rays onto high-efficiency PV cells.

This system can provide everything from electricity to thermal energy—all simultaneously. Any power not used can be captured for hot water and solar gain is also reduced. The “windows” themselves are 8 feet by 8 feet and the system was designed by CASE.

If the tests work, you can expect to see these solar facades marketed by HeliOptix. Oh, and you can also check out a video of how the system works here (QuickTime video).

By Heidi Marshall

Image Source: Stock.Xchng. By: Cedec

Germany may be number one when it comes to solar power in the EU, but they are about to get some heavy competition from Italy.

Italy plans to open Europe’s most powerful solar power plant later this year. The plant will be constructed by the US company SunEdison—the top solar power company in the US and the third largest in the world. It will be located near Venice, in the town of Rovigo. It will take up 9.15 million square feet (850,000 square meters) and produce 72 megawatts.

According to the company, somewhere between $273 and $342 million (200-250 million Euros) will be invested into the project. General manager, Liborio Francesco Nanni commented:

“The photovoltaic park in Rovigo province is a milestone in the development and establishment of solar energy in Italy.”

Currently, Spain holds the biggest solar power plant in Europe, followed by Germany. However, come this fall that will all change. Italy’s plant is expected to start production during the second half of this year, with plans to become fully operational by the year’s end.

To make the news even better, the plant will be able to provide at least 17,000 homes with all their electricity needs during the first year of operations. Plus, they will also prevent 41,000 tons of CO2 from being emitted. It would be nice to see more people (or companies) take up the same initiative, but I suppose one can always dream.

By Heidi Marshall

Image source: wikimedia commons

Solar panels have officially become mainstream: You’ll see them on homes, offices, schools, and so forth. It certainly would be great if everyone could have them. Unfortunately, they are quite unaffordable for most, with costs being around $20,000 or more and an increase in buildings insurance premiums to cover the installation. Everyone can’t afford that kind of investment, even through credit cards and even if it does pay for itself over time—I know I certainly can’t.

The good news is, there is another way you can use solar power that is much cheaper and still as effective: Solar hot water heaters. No, this will not provide electricity to your home like solar panels do, but it will provide enough energy to heat your water (and a lot cheaper to use than a regular water heater). The US Department of Energy lists 3 options you can use:

• Evacuated-Tube Solar Collectors
  Featuring parallel rows of glass tubes, these tubes also have a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The coating on the fin absorbs solar energy and prevents radiative heat loss. This option is best for commercial applications.
• Flat-Plate Collector
  These come with 2 options. Glazed, insulated, weatherproof boxes contain a dark absorber plate under one or more cover (made of glass or plastic). Unglazed collectors have a dark absorber plate made of metal or plastic, without a cover or enclosure, and are typically used for heating pools.
• Integral Collector-Storage Systems (ICS or Batch Systems)
  This option has one or more black tanks or tubes placed within an insulated, glazed box. Cold water goes through the solar collector to be heated. Then it goes into the conventional backup water heater, thus providing a reliable source of hot water. It’s recommended you only use this option in mild-freeze climates, since the outdoor pipes could freeze in extremely cold weather.

Along with the solar panel to collect the energy, you’ll also something to store the water in and a circulation device that will keep it warm. To find out which of these systems is best for your home, you can check out the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation’s evaluations. As for the cost, an average home system ranges between $1,000 and $4,000 plus installation. Needless to say, it’s a lot cheaper than going with the solar panels and it will cut your hot water heating bill by 50-80%.

Oh, and that’s not all. Installing one of these can also get you some nice tax credits. Through the Energy Star program, solar hot water heaters can receive a 30% federal tax credit (with no upper limit). Both existing and newly constructed homes qualify for this, as well as principal residences and second homes; rentals do not qualify at all. There are also state tax credits, but they vary greatly. To find out what your options are, check out this site.

By Heidi Marshall

Fresnel reflectors (source: wikimedia commons)

Having already made great strides in renewable energy production in the form of massive wind and photovoltaic solar panel projects, China is now building solar power plants of another type: concentrating solar power. Concentrating solar plants use large numbers of mirrors which generate electricity by capturing heat and producing steam. Europe and the United States have experienced a sudden and marked increase in plans for these types of plants during the last two years and now, according to an article in the ‘Energy and Environment’ section of the New York Times, China is getting in on the game.

Popular in California and the Southwestern United States, which has plenty of sun and water to run concentrating solar power stations, the technology may be less suited for cloudy, smoggy China, whose deserts are located far from the country’s main energy consumers. Nevertheless, China’s private sector is positive about the concentrating solar power and believes that the nation’s low cost of production could make the technology more economically viable.

‘Preparations are also under way for the construction of a 50-megawatt concentrating solar power plant in Gansu Province in northwestern China, said Min Deqing, a renewable energy consultant in Lanzhou, the provincial capital of Gansu.’

–New York Times

by Graham Land

Additional resources:

Concentrating solar power wiki

China enforces the use of renewable energy with new law

CNN: Video report on ‘China’s green plans’

Image Sources: Stock.Xchng and Wikimedia Commons

For decades, perhaps centuries, there has been one great, never-ending battle: the expansion of man and industry vs. the preservation and existence of all other natural life.

What happens when you pit two factions on the same side against one another? Big problems, that’s what. California’s BrightSource Energy company has been pushing for permission to erect 400,000 mirrors on part of the Mojave Desert for a solar-energy project. This project would be the first of its kind on US Bureau of Land Management property. The idea of switching to a renewable energy source is definitely a great thing—unless it interferes with threatened species and that’s where the problem lies.

If the solar-energy complex would be built, it would mean that over 6 square miles of federally threatened desert tortoise habitat would be permanently lost.  Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and the Center for Biological Diversity, agree that the project is a good idea, it’s simply would be built in the wrong place. They are requesting that the site be relocated to another area in order to preserve the home of many rare plants and wildlife.

An area closer to Interstate 15 is the Sierra Club’s relocation site of choice; mainly to avoid any chance of death for the tortoises. This particular interstate is the busy road that connects Los Angeles with Las Vegas. Scientists estimate that at least 25 of the tortoises would need to be captured and moved from their current site, in order to give them a fighting chance. The group also argues that these particular tortoises are the “most genetically distinct” of all Californian desert tortoises, citing a 2007 US Fish and Wildlife Service report that shows the tortoise population has declined in 4 states, including California.

However, BrightSource Energy refuses to back down and wants to construct 3 solar power plants on the site, which would generate enough power combined to power 142,000 homes per year. The project would be built in phases and include: seven 459-foot metal towers, a natural gas pipeline, water tanks, steam turbine generators, boilers and buildings for administration and maintenance. On top of that, each plant would be surrounded by 8-foot high steel fencing. The site in question would also be ideal for the project, as it has a lot of sunshine for most of the year and is near transmission lines that can direct the power to consumers.

In addition to building the structures, there is also a proposal being reviewed that would require BrightSource to capture and move the tortoises to a 12,000 acre area deemed safe for them. This would cost them approximately $25 million, which would be on top of what they’d have to pay for long-term maintenance and the initial land purchase.

They also make a point to note that the tortoise is the only threatened species on the site and that 6.4 million acres across California were already designated as “critical habitat” for the reptile. The particular area of land the company has been petitioning to use is not part of this critical habitat and has been used for other purposes over the years, including livestock grazing and off-road travel.

Keely Wachs, spokesman for BrightSource Energy, pledged that the company “will continue to work with the environmental community to ensure that we establish a good example for projects that follow”.

The final decision on the project and fate of the desert tortoises is not expected to take place for many months. Whatever ends up being decided could foreshadow similar future problems. In other words, environmental disputes like these are not the first or last of their kind. The desire to live a greener, sustainable life will grow and renewable energy sources will need to expand; so the question of the future will change from “is the environment worth saving?” to “which parts are worth saving and at what cost?”.

By Heidi Marshall

Image source: sandia.gov

Researchers from Sandia National Laboratories are creating a prototype of a device that can turn carbon dioxide into a liquid fuel. Lead developer Rich Diver recently tested the Counter-Rotating-Ring Receiver Reactor Recuperator (CR5).

This solar-powered machine is designed to convert carbon dioxide from power plants into fuels like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Still in its early stages, more research is needed to boost the efficiency of CR5 and it would take more than a decade to have this technology adequately developed and implemented. Read the full article here

By Maria Belgado

photo by Ceinturion (Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Germany’s Renewable Energy Sources Act has required power companies to buy all the energy produced by anyone making renewable power, at a fixed above-market price for 20 years. As the financial crisis starts to ease in Germany, homeowners and solar investors are clambering to get into the action before 2010 when the  Feed-in Tariff rates will step down 10%.

Due to the surge of demand among consumers, German supplies for solar panels, parts and other equipments are completely sold out. In 2008 alone, one third of the world’s 15 GW of solar power was from Germany. By this year, 3 GW of installed solar equipment will propel the nation to half of the world’s solar power producer. Read the full article here

By Maria Belgado

Image source: travelizmo.com

There have been a lot of new inventions for eco-friendly transportation coming out this year. Ideas have ranged from cars to boats and even airplanes; but what about the RV? This is a mobile home away from home, and one that is supposed to whisk you away to natural places, so it would make sense to create a greener version of this, right? Yeah, and industrial designer Weili Feng agrees with you.

Introducing the Harmony Amphibious RV: equipped with hydrogen fuel cells, 4 in-wheel motors, a solar panel and enough room for 4 people to live in comfortably. The really cool thing about this RV is not only can you take it to your favorite camping spot, but it also converts into a watercraft! Yes, you can take this RV on the water. The solar panel also doubles as a sail and there is also a jet propulsion system located at the rear of the vehicle.

The RV is not on the market yet. Actually, it’s not even beyond the stages of a prototype yet; but with all the publicity it’s been getting lately, I would suggest to keep an eye out for it.

By Heidi Marshall

Image source: iosaghini.it

The monorail travels between the city of Bologna and the Aeroporto G. Marconi di Bologna International Airport, with intermediate stops at Lazaretto—where the station also doubles as a highway overpass. The total system is relatively short; approximately 3.16 miles (5084 meters) in length, to be exact. But despite its size, it will be doing wonders for people and the environment.

The Solar Energy Belt itself has 2 main features. On the southwest side, you will find photovoltaic panels—similar to solar panel technology—which gives the system maximum energy performance. Venturing to the north side, however, you’ll find glazed panels instead. These are being used as balustrades to give a light, transparent quality to the rail.

And it doesn’t stop there, folks; there is also one particularly cool feature that I find rather fascinating. Using micro-perforated steel to build most of the station structure, plants are able to attach to and grow from the walls of the station itself. Implementing vertical gardens like this offers some amazing advantages. The plants act as an insulation system; able to keep the station cool during the summer (and provide shade) and help trap in the warmth during the colder months. They also act as a natural air pollutant filter system.

For those of you that are worried about potential monorail dangers or expansion, they’ve got those corners covered, too. All 3 stations were built with the possibility of expanding on them and the line in the future. Oh, and if there happens to be an emergency of some kind, there are walkways that run alongside the rail, connecting from station to station, so passengers are able to travel by foot, if need be.

While it may not be the most popular monorail in the world, or the most dangerous, it certainly is up there on the list of most eco-friendly, and if you happen to be traveling through Bologna, Italy, I’d suggest checking it out.

By Heidi Marshall

Image source: yankodesign.com

Designers Solene Le Goff and Cristophe Gouache created a solar powered oak radio, equipped with large wooden dials; and it looks like a log. The Log Radio is made from 80% wood and 20% radio components, with a solar panel attached on top. Completely abandoning the use of plastics and embracing the whole “green” concept, this radio does not use any batteries or electrical wires. If you don’t feel like sitting in the sun in order to hear some tunes, there is also a button you can push to get the radio to work.

While a solar powered radio is nice, it does make one question the actual “green” value of this radio. The biggest question being, how many trees have to die to manufacture them? The last time I checked, cutting down trees—especially a lot of them—is not a good thing. Maybe they figure that the solar powered effect will balance that out, but what of the trees? A good idea as it is—at least in the attempt of being au natural—the amount of “green” it has is debatable. In some cases, such as this, plastic may be the better way to go; especially if it’s recycled plastic and can be recycled and reused again in the future.

By Heidi Marshall

Image source: g24i.com

Hong Kong-based electronics bag manufacturer Mascotte Industrial Associates has infused dye-sensitized solar cells into their bags and backpacks. Created by G24 Innovations, these cheap super thin solar cells are designed to operate indoors.

According to Mascotte, it takes around 4 to 5 hours to fully charge a mobile phone using a 15cm by 20cm solar panel. When used indoors, it can take up to twelve hours depending on the lighting. Performance-wise it is not as efficient compared to solar cells that use silicon, but it has considerable potential especially since it is capable of charging devices even under a low-light environment.

These solar-equipped knapsacks and travel bags are sensibly priced at $100 to $ 300 each. Stay connected and power up your e-readers, personal digital assistants and mobile even while you’re on the go. Rather than going for regular bags, why not opt for these solar-equipped bags instead? Read the full article here

By Maria Belgado

Used under license from Shutterstock.com

Residential roof shingles with solar panel-like design have recently been unveiled by Dow Chemical. A solar shingle array is said to be 10 to 15 percent cheaper than standard rack-mounted solar panel system and about 40 percent less expensive than building-integrated photovoltaic products.

Although thin-film solar cells have relatively low efficiency versus conventional solar panels, it can still reduce between 40 to 80 percent of a home’s electricity consumption when used.

It can be handled like conventional shingles, which means it can be palletized, walked on or dropped from a roof. Costly installation can be offset because these powerhouse thin-film shingles can be installed by any roofer.

Scheduled for test marketing by mid 2010 to target new-home constructions, these solar shingles from Dow’s Solar Solutions Unit is another breakthrough for environment-friendly products in support of sustainable development. Read the full article here

By Maria Belgado

Solar Badge (Image source: ecofriend.org)

The advent of eco-friendly mobile phones made from sustainable materials and powered by renewable energy resources has a lot of people eagerly anticipating its public release.

However, since most mobile phone are mostly kept inside bags or pockets integrating solar panels to  power the mobile device is rendered impractical.

A Chinese industrial designer helped develop a solution for this problem, the green badge. Made up of a solar cell module, it will harness solar energy which will then be stored in a built-in ultra thin battery. This leaf-like device is designed to be clipped on clothes or bags and can be used to charge the mobile phones. Read the full article here

By Maria Belgado

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

The United States is a society grounded in individualism and independence, with a strong suspicion of state intervention and – when compared to many other countries – a notable lack of civic cooperation. But it is civic cooperation, political will and government action that is needed to achieve important environmental goals such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and getting off of fossil fuels. It’s all very well and helpful if a few people paint their roofs white, eat organic food and drive hybrid SUVs, but these are mainly just symbolic actions; token drops in the bucket when compared to the implementation of real policies specifically designed to combat pollution and climate change.

The U.S. has used solar power on some level for many years. A recent study claims that 10% of power in the U.S. could be solar by the year 2025. As of last year, America is now the biggest wind power producer in the world. So why are these clean, sustainable and renewable forms of energy still considered by many Americans to be impractical?

It is partly because the burden of change lies on the individual. This is much more the case in the U.S. than in most of Europe, for example. The private sphere, rather than the public, has far more control of how the country’s resources are used, which can make a switch to clean energy sources an expensive and unrealistic option for many individuals and families. For a family simply struggling to pay their monthly energy bills, installing expensive solar panels or a wind turbine just isn’t a viable choice.

Here are two short videos from Time magazine that briefly explain the situation concerning wind and solar power in the United States of America (the second video can only be watched via a link to the Time website).

The Truth About Solar Power

The Truth About Wind Power

By Graham Land

Additional resources:
Academic paper – ‘Civic Cooperation, Pro-Environment Attitudes, and Individual Behavior’