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!
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.
Happy Wednesday, we’re almost there! If you’ve ever read this blog you know, we ADORE solar power. Solar powered cars, houses, heck, anything that uses the power of the sun to run makes us happy and its why we at Northern Tool are trying hard to supply all of YOU with solar powered products. When we find great news about solar power, therefore, it makes our whole week. It’s only Wednesday, but consider our week made.
Why? Simple, the world’s LARGEST solar panel manufacturing plant is about to be built. Granted, it’s being built in Dubai, which is unfortunate as it then requires a great deal of energy to actually transport all of those beautiful solar panels, but nevertheless, it is being built. The fact that it’s being built means there is quite obviously a demand. According to reports, “Construction is to start in November, and is scheduled to be completed at the end of 2010. The roughly 93 000 square meter manufacturing plant, Solar Technologies FZE, will be able to produce solar panels of up to 5.7 square meters.” Yes!
The company behind the operation hopes that a plant of this size will help not only produce more solar panels, but reduce the costs as well, hopefully getting the technology into a great deal more hands, a great deal sooner. The best news of all is, you don’t have to wait to dive head first into solar technology. Head over to Northern Tool and start doing some solar shopping!
Today my friends, is officially Solar Power’s day! I love when Wednesday gives me great news, and this, is some of the best. According to new reports, a concentrated solar company named SolFocus is preparing and prepping what will be, upon completion, the world’s largest concentrated solar deployment in the entire world!
The project, to be built in Spain for EMPE Solar, will be a multi-site installment that will end up costing an enormous $103 million dollars. Once finished, the site will be a 10 MW, multi-site intstallment that should generate and provide massive amounts of solar energy. What’s more, this site will be, as mentioned, a concentrated solar site, which basically means that, “SolFocus modules use mirrors and reflective optics to concentrate the sun’s rays 500 times onto a solar cell. As a result, the systems use 1/1000 the amount of photovoltaic material typically used in PV modules.” More power, less material. Not too bad!
The project will not be finished until an estimated 2010 launch date, but all of us stuck Stateside shouldn’t worry, the same company is planning a very massive California installation sometime in the very near future. Pretty soon, massive concentrated solar energy farms might be popping up everywhere! In the meantime, you can still do your part, head over to Northern Tool and start shopping all of our amazing solar energy products! The more we do, the more we help. Why not start right now?
I don’t know about you, but one of the worst days of EVERY month for me, is the day the power bill shows up. It’s the same song and dance each month, I see the envelope in the box, I sigh, dread opening it and reluctantly make my way inside. It’s that first glance each time that kills me, seeing the HUGE amount of money I owe just for powering my life. Each month I wonder: What can I do about this…how can I cut back?!
The good news is, there IS something I can do, and there is something we can ALL do. How excited would you be if I told you that its possible to cut your home energy bills by 80% using wind and solar power. 80%. How about instead of paying $100/month, you could pay $20. Wow. The article I just found has some very simple ideas that for not very much money, you can start outfitting your home with solar and wind power. How about a special solar power system for under $200? How about a wind turbine system that shouldn’t cost you more than about $100?
While I can not guarantee these ideas or plans will work half as well as a professionally installed system, I suppose it’s worth a try to do-it-yourself at home first, and if it doesn’t work, reevaluate and go from there. The upfront costs of solar and wind power can sometimes scare people off entirely, but the long term benefits are always going to be there. Cutting anywhere from 80-100% of your energy bill, or heck, there are even some people where the power company has to pay THEM back because of the excesses they are creating. Believe it, and get on board.
All I have to say about this one is, Thank Goodness. Now, I know it is Friday and that’s certainly a reason for a little TG, but I’m not going to add the IF to this one, this time I’m going to say, TGFI. Thank Goodness For Intel. Yep, you got it.
Why TGFI? Simple, they are arguably the largest manufacturer of computer chips and products in the world, and NOW they are starting to completely divulge and share their solar aspirations. Yay.
According to TheStreet.com, “Intel is joining the growing ranks of chipmakers with solar energy aspirations, announcing the spinoff of its key photovoltaic assets into a new standalone company Monday.Intel’s investment arm, Intel Capital, will lead a $50 million funding round in the new company, to be called SpectraWatt.”
Can you imagine, sitting down to a laptop powered by the sun? Can you imagine infinite battery life? Ahh, I know I’m jumping ahead and we’re not even there yet, but wow. A guy can dream.
Finally. I don’t know if they will go into development, but the idea of a solar powered car that can also run on bio-diesel. THIS is where we need our tax dollars to go, THIS is where we need our future to turn. Watch, enjoy.
