Any day I wake up and I see the words “Solar Power” or “Solar Energy” coupled with any phrase like “Cut costs” or “reduce price” or anything like that, I know, just know it’s going to be an ok day. Today is one of those days. I just caught wind of a new breakthrough in Solar Energy research that, if fully realized, could potentially cut the cost of using such devices by HALF. Yes, by 50%. This is big.
According to reports, a new United States company has found a way to create a new type of photovoltaic solar panels that could cut the cost by 50% and help bring in a brand new age of solar energy and accessible solar power all over the world. A spokesman for Mulk Holdings and their subsidiary American Building Technologies was quoted as saying:
“We hope the success of this project will lead to an upsurge in the development of more solar energy plants, which will not only lessen the strain on existing energy resources, but also severely reduce the pollution levels that are currently witnessed in power generation.”
I hope so too Mr. Spokesman, I hope so too. Currently, solar panels are either heavy and archaic, or if they are thinner and easier to handle, the prices are so high that few people could actually afford to implement them into their daily lives. This new, smaller, lighter and easier to put-up version could make its usage both affordable and easy.
Stay tuned to this to see just how easy, and just how affordable. The larger this news gets, the more we’ll all be hearing about it. This is one we should all follow.
I hate to say it, but it’s about time! That’s right, it’s about time our very own United States Department of Energy started heavily adopting some of the very same technologies they have been stressing as important to all of this country’s citizens!
According to recent reports, the U.S. Dept. of Energy is actually having some pretty major architectural changes in light of a winner emerging from their recent “Solar Wall” competition. The winner has been announced, and they were proud to give the award to New York architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz. Their new “Sun Wall” will cover 32,000 square feet and will cover the South Elevation of the Dept. of Energy’s Washington D.C. headquarters. First off, congratulations to Solomon Cordwell Buenz, and second off, congratulations to the Department of Energy for not only adopting such awesome technology, but inspiring such a great competition in the first place.
“As the largest building-integrated solar energy system on any US federal building, the sun wall will generate 200 kW of energy. SCB’s design also includes a solar thermal installation for hot water in addition to photovoltaic panels.”
I’m guessing the installation will be wildly expensive, but nevertheless, it’s great to see that such beautiful design can come from such beautiful technology. Gone are the days of the gigantic square solar panels on the roofs of 1970’s homes. We’re in the future now baby.
It’s Friday and we all know that means that each and every one of us is beyond ready to get out, get home, and start enjoying the weekend. Plus, the simple fact that this is the first Real week back to our schedules after what I’m sure was a very hectic Holiday Season, means you’re probably ready to call it a week, and head home.
So, that said, I won’t keep you long, but I did want to share an awesome little video that should help highlight a great deal more on China’s solar situation. The fact of the matter is, China is a MAJOR player on the global scale and the fact that they are taking strides to reduce their negative environmental output and start doing some serious good for the Earth as well as their energy use.
Check out this video, get a little more informed on things all the way around the world, and then have an amazing weekend. Might want to check out Northern Tool before you go, there are some Great sales going on, and stocking up with that extra Christmas cash is not a bad idea!
Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR! This is a short post from all of us here at Northern Tool to let you know we hope you all have an amazing, safe, happy and healthy New Year! It’s the time of resolutions, and so we’re all pledging to do even more towards being a more energy conscious group, recycle more, use less, and be ever-mindful of the way we treat this beautiful planet of ours.
All we’re asking of you this New Year’s Day, is that you do the same! If we all do a little, we can all do a lot! In short:
The world is a very big place, with a lot of very big places inside of it. While I was pleased to report the news about the United States becoming the largest producer of wind energy in the world, the fact remained…the world is a big place and we need a lot of those big places to be doing a whole lot more in the world of alternative energy solutions.
One such “big place” that IS taking a very positive step forward this New Year’s Eve, is Japan, and I couldn’t be happier. For such a small island, they use a whole lot of energy to power their light-heavy cities like Tokyo, and hopefully this new, well, renewed push towards alternative energy use will help take a huge chunk out of their energy debt. According to reports, the Solar Power push for Japan is officially back on and might even be stronger than ever. Get this…while Japan is so tiny, they are the 2nd largest economy and, yikes, the 5th largest contributor to greenhouse gasses. Not good.
“Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced on Tuesday 9 billion yen (AUD$145 million) in the first quarter of 2009 to encourage home solar power; with further funding to come. Japan aims to have solar power systems installed on over 70% of new houses…In an action plan tabled in November, Japan confirmed targets of increasing the number of installations of solar power generation systems tenfold by 2020 and 40-fold by 2030, while halving the current price of systems within three to five years. The new program will have a substantial positive impact on Japan’s solar industry and generate thousands of new jobs.”
Home Solar Power Systems in 70% of new houses?! I love it! To help themselves reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, they are going to need every bit of this, as well as educating their people, which is part of their larger plan. All in all, it is great to see a country stand up and take responsibility for their future, and the future of this whole planet.
Wow, just yesterday we were talking about how Ohio is doing great things to incorporate alternative energy, wind power especially, in their energy future, and today, I find this?! What a week! As the title says, the United States has officially become the single largest wind power producer in the entire world! That is an honor we are PROUD to take, and one of the only times the perceived “bigger is better” mentality of us Americans seems, well, awesome!
That’s right, the U.S. has officially overtaken Germany as the largest producer of wind power on the planet. Try this on for size…using wind power alone, the United States generates enough energy to completely eliminate the burning of 91 MILLION barrels of oil each year. 91 MILLION Barrels! Wow. Reports are saying:
“US wind producers enjoyed another record year of growth in 2008—the third in a row. The country now has an installed wind power capacity well in excess of 21,000 megawatts (MW), enough to supply electricity to over 5.5 million American homes…“Wind energy installations are well ahead of the curve for contributing 20% of the U.S. electric power supply by 2030 as envisioned by the U.S. Department of Energy.”
I couldn’t be prouder. The article mentioned, and I couldn’t agree more, that this makes it all the more exciting for the next 4 years. All of this progress on alternative energy was made during a political time of almost indifference towards alternative energy. Imagine what we can do if we have an administration that is pushing for it full steam ahead! Keep up the great work guys, this is truly great news!
Here comes the wind, here comes the water and the biomass…here comes Alternative energy! I woke up to quite a bit of good news on the ol’ alternative energy front this fine Monday, and while it’s tough being back at work after an amazing Holiday Weekend, seeing this kind of news helps ease the pain.
According to new reports, the great state of Ohio is looking into some serious alternative energy plans for their near future. Instead of relying solely on one method of providing clean, renewable and cheaper power to their people, it looks like they are actually going to be spreading out and diversifying, which is even more exciting! Reports are saying that Ohio is looking into wind power, water power and even biomass to help provide and fulfill energy needs.
In my opinion, however, the thing that Ohio is doing that is the most intelligent, and will probably be the most helpful, is educating the people. Check this out:
“Ratepayers in the Dayton region could see a host of conservation programs in the next two years including rebates for using energy efficient light bulbs, having air conditioning units tuned, and upgrading appliances. Assuming regulatory approval, there would also be programs for weatherizing low-income households and trimming demand. Through conservation, the utility wants to cut energy demand by 25 percent when 2025 rolls around.”
The more we know, the better we can be, and I am sure that these new incentive programs will help push the demand down by 2025 as their goal suggests. Whatever the case may be, the simple fact that they are standing up, taking action and getting to it is great to see! Talk about a perfect early New Year’s Resolution!
Live in North Carolina and want to earn some extra money this year? Check this out, Duke Energy Carolinas, a major energy company in North Carolina is looking to rent rooftops of businesses, schools and yes, even residential homes to use for solar power installations!
According to recent reports, the company wants to do quite a bit of new business in the solar industry. Wanting to go green and help bring new, alternative energy methods into their company is at the top of their list of ideas, and as such, “The energy company is proposing to invest $50 million over a two-year period in as many as 425 solar energy arrays atop the rooftops of homes, schools, stores and factories — or on the ground at those properties — to establish a solar distributed generation program.” Wow, go big or go home!
Alas, there are some requirements if you want to join in and make some cold hard cash by renting out your rooftop. First, you must own your home or building, second, the roof on the building must be no more than 5 years old, and finally, the area must not be obscured by shade or trees. In short, it’s gotta be your roof, it’s gotta be new, and it has to actually GET sunlight. Simple enough, yeah?
So, if you DO qualify, why not look into it. Free money and help the environment in one fell swoop. Why not?!
Florida, in case you did not know, is officially dubbed “The Sunshine State.” Knowing this, wouldn’t you think they’d have a heck of a lot more solar plants, solar fields and other similar alternative energy installments? Yeah, me too. Apparently the focus has been more on retirement homes and high-rise hotels. Just kidding! At any rate, looks like the Sunshine State is going to be living even MORE up to its name as ground has officially been broken on what will be their largest solar plant ever!
According to new reports, Florida Power & Light, the largest utility in the state, broke ground already on what will be the largest, and first utility scale solar investment in the state. Yay! What’s even more impressive, is the fact that it will be a solar-hybrid plant, incorporating a solar-thermal field and a combined-cycle natural gas plant. According to the article,
“Consisting of 180,000 mirrors spread out over 500 acres, FPL’s 75-megawatt Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center is situated on the Atlantic coast just north of Palm Beach County. FPL’s new facility is The Martin Next Generation Solar Energy Center will use less fossil fuel when heat from the sun is available to help produce the steam needed to generate electricity. It also matches solar power with an existing combined-cycle natural gas plant, so that when the sun is not shining, the natural gas can take over the work of powering the turbines.”
I have to say, nothing makes me happier than seeing huge utility companies diving head first into alternative energy. The future is now my friends, and the more people, companies, leaders and innovators on board, the better off we’ll all be. Solar is now, let’s do this thing.
I live in an old, VERY old, house. It was built a decade before the turn of the century. No, not 1990, 1890. The foundation is made of stone and the insulation is probably going to kill me one day. That said, my energy bills in the winter are some of the most terrifying pieces of paper that I will ever receive. What can I do to help keep some of those winter heating costs down? Simple, find out where the leaks are!
That’s right my friends, air leaks in your home are probably costing you a heck of a lot more money than you’d want to hear about, and the bad news is, it’s just going to get worse. That is, unless you do something about it, and do something now. Now, I have some good news, and some not so good news. I’ll start with the not-so-good news: Once you discover the leaks, you’re going to have to do something about them yourself. Whether it’s caulking, more insulating or finally biting the bullet and calling in a contractor or insulating specialist, that’s up to you, but you’ll have to do something.
Now, some good news. For about $40, you can find ALL the leaks in your house by yourself, saving you a ton of money on a full house inspection, and in the end, helping save you about 20% on your bills each month. The little Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector shines a little blue light on any area of your house that’s as low as 1 degree different. Point it by your windows and BAM, you see exactly where the cold air is coming in, and warm air is rushing itself out. Plug that leak and viola, save money.
I hate to say it, but it’s about time! That’s right, it’s about time our very own United States Department of Energy started heavily adopting some of the very same technologies they have been stressing as important to all of this country’s citizens!
