Rusinga Island, located in the eastern part of Lake Victoria in Kenya, is having solar panels installedon homes to not only provide electricity but to aid in the fight against malaria. Malaria kills an estimated 1.2 million people per year and is a big problem for the 30,000 inhabitants of Rusinga Island. If fitting homes with solar panels that power insecticide-free mosquito traps proves successful in combating malaria, this project could be replicated in other remote areas of the world plagued by this disease. continue
Posted 06.05.2013 by Jill Alternative Energy Programs, Energy-Saving Technology, General, Green Building, Solar Technology
Salt River Project (“SRP”), one of Arizona’s largest utilities, is teaming up with solar panel manufacturer, SunPower, to dedicate a one-megawatt solar array plant at Arizona State University’s (“ASU”) Polytechnic campus. The solar power plant is the first commercial deployment of the SunPower C7 Tracker, a photovoltaic tracking technology that is able to concentrate the sun’s power seven times so as to offer one of the lowest costs of electricity for solar power plants to date. SRP anticipates that the plant will produce enough energy to power the equivalent of 225 homes, and based on estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the tracking system will offset the production of 1,277 carbon dioxide emissions annually. continue
Posted 29.04.2013 by Jill Alternative Energy Programs, Energy-Saving Technology, General, Solar Technology
Singularity Solar Energy, a non-profit whose mission is to provide solar energy solutions to low-income homeowners in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, recently installed solar panels on the new home of a low-income resident with the help of Habitat for Humanity. This was the first of many solar donations the organization is planning on for the future, including installing a solar array on a second home in the same neighborhood as the first in the upcoming months. continue
Posted 12.04.2013 by Jill Energy-Saving Technology, General, Green Building
A new “smart electric thermal storage” system (SETS) has the potential to make a great impact in the UK and Europe as they make strides toward a smarter, low-carbon energy system. SETS allows for storage of renewable energy when demand is low and supply is high. The system can even offer electric heating customers efficiency savings of up to 20%. continue
Posted 08.04.2013 by Jill Energy-Saving Technology, General, Solar Technology, Thermal Storage
The European Heat Pump Association (“EHPA”) is preparing for yet another European Heat Pump Forum, focusing this year on policy developments in Energy Labeling, F-Gas Regulation, and RES targets beyond 2020. The Forum will be held in Brussels on 15 May and will bring together key EU decision-makers, industry experts, and heat pump manufacturers, will include keynote speakers from across Europe, and will offer the latest information and developments in EU policies and the heat pump market. continue
Posted 02.04.2013 by Jill Energy-Saving Technology, General, Heat Pumps, Solar Technology
The cost to go solar can seem like a hefty investment—but there are less expensive options available. Solar system leasing and Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”) are two ways of going solar without all of the upfront costs. Both solar system leasing and PPAs, requiring little money down and offering payment plans, are making solar more accessible to more people. continue
Posted 01.03.2013 by Jill Alternative Energy Programs, General, Solar Leasing, Solar Policy
The U.S. solar industry had a record-breaking year in 2012, and it is expected that 2013 will be another milestone year for installed solar capacity. Last year the U.S. solar industry installed roughly 3.2 GW of capacity. Even as major solar markets like California lose some momentum, other states like New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania pick up the slack. While it is unclear which states will step up to the plate next, the prospects of state solar initiatives spurring an increase in solar capacity seem—well, sunny. continue
Posted 21.02.2013 by Jill Alternative Energy Programs, General, Solar Policy
The U.S. appears to be making an effort to switch to renewable energies and is doing so at both the national and state levels. The demand for photovoltaics (“PV”), in particular, is reaching new heights as PV module prices decrease and new financial and regulatory incentives take effect. In 2012 the U.S. solar industry installed over 3.2 GW of solar power capacity, and the forecast shows this record should be broken in 2013. continue
Posted 20.02.2013 by Jill Alternative Energy Programs, Energy-Saving Technology, General, Solar Policy
The U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) took the side of U.S. solar manufacturers agreeing that Chinese solar cell makers have been benefitting from illegal government subsidies and selling products at below fair market value, thus harming U.S. solar makers. As a result of the decision by the ITC, Chinese companies will now face tariffs set by the U.S. Commerce Department. continue
Posted 28.11.2012 by Jill Chinese Solar, General, Solar Cells
The launch of a new thermostat technology, Tado, out of Germany, aims to provide a greener and more cost-effective means of household temperature control. Tado works like a thermostat except that it adjusts the temperature of the home almost entirely via its smartphone apps for iOS and Android. continue
Posted 21.11.2012 by Jill Energy-Saving Technology, General
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