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.
So we all know by now that the Department of Energy is going to be installing an absolutely massive Solar Wall on their headquarters in Washington D.C.. What some of you might not know, however, is that there are other buildings all over the world that use solar walls as we speak as a great way to cut down on power consumption, and in the process, eliminate a great deal of greenhouse gases.
I just found a pretty awesome little video to end your fantastic week this fine Friday with. This video is of the “SolarWall, solar air heating system provided by Conserval Engineering” in Manitoba, Canada. While it’s nowhere near as fancy, as cosmetically beautiful or as large as its soon to be built cousin in Washington D.C., the fact remains it IS a Solar Wall, and it IS doing the exact same things. The point is, anyone, anywhere can start implementing solar technology into their lives, you don’t have to have the budget of the Government, or the design skills of a New York City Architecture Firm, you just have to fine the right products, and the right people to help you do it.
So, check out the video, then I highly suggest you head over to Northern Tool and check out our amazing line of Solar Energy products. This is the year to turn things around, and what better way to start than cutting down your home energy costs AND saving the environment at the same time. Start now!
Way to Go CHINA! No, I’m not talking their performance in women’s gymnastics in Beijing, and unfortunately I’m not talking about how they are going to shock the world and free Tibet once and for all, but what I am talking about is a great leap forward they’re taking in the world of alternative energy, and I, for one, am going to give credit where credit is due!
That’s right, word is that China is planning and prepping the world’s largest solar farm to date. World’s Largest. We all know that 2008 was a pretty good year in the world of Solar Energy; a lot of new farms were opened, planned, prepped and developed…so far, it looks like 2009 will be just as good, if not better. According to reports:
“…the China Technology Development Group Corp. and Qinghai New Energy Co. announced plans to build a 1 GW solar farm in China— the largest in the world…Construction will begin this year on the first part of the project— a $150 million, 30 MW crystalline silicon and thin film solar power station in the Qaidam Basin. The full timeline for the project is not currently available.”
1 GW! AHHH! Talk about just making my entire month, and yes, it’s only the first week. Just how big is this planned project? Try this on for size; if they complete it, it will be almost DOUBLE the size of ANY other announced solar farm project in history. Double.
Here’s a great New Year’s Resolution I think the world should embrace: Each State in the United States, each Country in the world, should all develop solar energy farms, plans and methods this 2009. Lets all write our representatives and do what we can to make 2009 the year of Solar Power! Come on!
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.
How about some great news for an early gift this Holiday Season?! How about I tell you that reports are streaming in that officially, more farms in California than ever are actually operating on solar power?! Believe it friends, early Holiday Gift indeed!
That’s right, according to new reports, there has been a noticeable and sizable increase in the number of farms in and around California that are actually operating using the sun’s energy. From rice farms to vinyards to dairy farms, farmers everywhere are harvesting another renewable resource that is in abundance in California…the sunshine. By using solar energy, they have been able to not only cut costs and operating finances, but also give back to the environment at the same time. The fact that the numbers are increasing each and every year is beyond exciting.
According to the article, “More than 960 California companies have applied for rebates through the state Public Utilities Commission since Jan. 1, 2007, for installing solar panels…” While there is no breakdown as to how many are agricultural, the simple fact that 960 companies in ANY industry are actually using solar power is so exciting it might just fill my entire stocking with cheer this year.
Keep up the great work California, and for all the rest of the states, lets get going! Stay tuned for more on this!
Just yesterday I talked at length about how 33% of consumers in this fine country want greener electronics. Not only do they Want them, they plan on buying them within the next 2 years. This is great news, but I found something today that is even better…you don’t have to Wait 2 years to buy some awesome Green Christmas gifts, you can start now, with these 8 awesome products I just found.
That’s right, the article I just read has 8 great ideas for any and all gadget lovers in your life. The best part of all, not only will THEY love them, the Earth will too. Can’t ask for much more than that, now can you? Without further ado, and as usual check out the full article for more, here are the 8 best Green Christmas Gadget Gifts this year:
“The Voltaic Backpack - A backpack covered in solar panels that will charge your gear with the energy saved from the sun. Rad.
The Kill-A-Watt - Power strip that actually measures the energy you’re using and shows just how much you save by unplugging.
EasyBloom Plant Sensor - A Device that measures how your plants are doing, when they need water and if they are sick or not. Think of it as a green thumb for you.
There you have it. If you can’t find something on that list to fill up your tree or stocking with gifts, I don’t know what to tell you. Me, I want all of them…er…I’ll be buying them for other people! Not a gadget fan but still want to go green this Christmas, head over to Northern Tool and look at all of our amazing alternative energy products. There is something there for EVERYONE that wants to start helping the Earth AND their pocketbooks!
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.
If you know us at all here at From The Workbench and Northern Tool, you’ll know how big of fans we are of all things alternative energy. Whether it’s solar power, wind power, water power, biodiesel, heck, even human power (bicycles et. al), they all make us happy. So reading today’s news about a new compact wind turbine that could effectively triple wind power output. TRIPLE.
According to some new reports from those in the know, “Normally wind turbines lose up to 39.7 percent of potential energy because wind not only flows through the blades, but is also directed away from the turbine. The new FloDesign Wind Turbine takes cues from jet engine designs in order to minimize this wasted energy.” Apparently, by enclosing the blades with smaller, stationary blades, all of the wind is thereby directed to the rotor. While current turbines use giant blades to make up for the lost energy, the new FloDesign compact turbines can actually produce the same amount of energy as a turbine double its size. Smaller turbines mean more turbines can fit in a single area, more turbines mean more energy. This is good.
As the article mentioned as well, this new development might also silence a lot of wind power critics who think that wind farms are eyesores on the landscape. The turbines can now be much smaller and take up far less space. I for one, Love the sound of this. More alternative and renewable energy, less complaining!
Hello and welcome back to the world of the working! I hope and trust your Holiday was amazing and packed full of family, fun, food and more green living than you could shake a stick at. We’re back to it, the work week and as such, I thought I’d kick things off with a new device that could do great things for this planet we reside on.
I just found an article about a new water device that many scientists think could be a very promising way to deliver clean, renewable energy all over the world! That’s right my friends, clean energy all coming from existing waterways on this mostly-blue planet. It’s all pretty darn scientific, so here’s what the article had to say about the jist of the device:
“a revolutionary device that can harness energy from slow-moving rivers and ocean currents could provide enough power for the entire world,…The new device, which has been inspired by the way fish swim, consists of a system of cylinders positioned horizontal to the water flow and attached to springs. As water flows past, the cylinder creates vortices, which push and pull the cylinder up and down. The mechanical energy in the vibrations is then converted into electricity.”
I don’t know about you, but I like it! The best news of all, however, is just how much more affordable it would be to produce. According to scientists and research funded by the U.S. Government, “generating power in this way would potentially cost only around 3.5p per kilowatt hour, compared to about 4.5p for wind energy and between 10p and 31p for solar power. They say the technology would require up to 50 times less ocean acreage than wave power generation.” Wow, sign me up.
How about they get this figured out, implemented and put into use as soon as possible, ok? Ok.
Just yesterday I talked at length about how 33% of consumers in this fine country want greener electronics. Not only do they Want them, they plan on buying them within the next 2 years. This is great news, but I found something today that is even better…you don’t have to Wait 2 years to buy some awesome Green Christmas gifts, you can start now, with these 8 awesome products I just found.
