Recent Posts
Residential Solar Energy
Return To Blog Listing
A blog about going solar at home. How you can add solar panels and become more sustainable.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'energy'
How China Will (or Won’t) Curb its GHG Emissions
China is now world leader in greenhouse gas emissions. Yet it’s also the world leader in clean-tech manufacturing, including the production of solar panels. So we end up with a country......
The Energy Surrounding Home Solar Power Conversions
Going solar is an energetic experience. It takes energy to manufacture the system, energy to install, and creates energy while simultaneously using less energy (from the grid). Every aspect of this......
What’s the BIG Deal? Small Home vs. Big Home Solar Power
Photo Credit: AMD Whether you live in a 300-square-foot yurt or a sprawling mansion, home solar power has invaluable benefits to offer. Yet logistically, there are some very keen differences for......
What’s the Difference Between Off-Grid and Grid-Tie Home Solar Systems?
Solar power equals energy independence. For some owners of solar energy systems, home solar power is a means to “untie” their home, lifestyle, and eco-conscience from the dirty side of......
Top 10 Home Solar Power Products
Taking solar power home with you is easy these days. Even if a full home solar power system isn’t a possibility at present, you can still head down to the local department store and pick up any......
What are the Different Types of Home Solar Power Systems?
Today’s solar power systems offer a bundle of energy advantages for the home. They reduces the home’s impact on the environment, enable individual energy independence and guarantee......
Houston to Get Largest Solar Power Plant in Texas
From outer space to oil wells, Houston, Texas is famous for leading U.S. explorations. So it’s big news when a city like Houston gets ready to become a Texas leader in harnessing solar energy......
“Tiny Pyramids” Key to Better Eyeglasses, Solar Cells
First we’ll see clearer. Then we’ll clear the way for more efficient solar cells. These are two goals being pursued right now by chemical engineers at Oregon State University. Driven by......
3-D Images Provide First Look into Polymer Solar Cells
Grab your popcorn. Unfold those cereal-box shades. Sit back and kick your feet up… because researchers in the Netherlands are taking the first high-res, 3-D glimpse into a polymer solar cell.......
Carrier Multiplication Key to Thin-Film Success
Carrier multiplication is not what happens when you cross FedEx with UPS. That’s Fed-Up. And it’s not the scientific name for pigeon breeding. It is, however, the latest buzz term soaring......
Born-Again Solar? India to Install Solar Energy on Religious Shrines
In an effort to illustrate the benefits of solar and renewable energy, the Union Government of India will set up solar energy systems on several religious shrines. Following the inauguration of a......
The Chinese Contradiction: Why the World Needs China to Get Its Story Straight
The Chinese solar industry is poised for a second boom. With its stake in the solar manufacturing sector set in stone, China is now looking to rapidly expand domestic production of solar electricity.......
Schwarzenegger “Orders” New California RPS, Reaps Controversy
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order (EO) last week that requires utilities to derive 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. It is one of the......
U.S. Energy Use Drops in 2008
Overall, Americans are using less energy. According to a report released by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), the United States used 99.2 quadrillion BTUs of energy in 2008, down......
Fossilizing Our Future: Endeavoring to Save Our Environment for the Species that Deserves it
by Robbert Baron Thneed What is the destiny of all mankind, you ask? To march, explore and drill until all is found and captured. For this is man’s God-given right and duty as owners and......
Google Solar Arm Tries Its Hand at Development
Fed up with a “lack of breakthrough investment ideas,” Google has decided to extend its reach into the solar industry. So far, Google has invested in two solar thermal companies, eSolar......
Solar Ink Gets Siliconized
The word’s out about a revolutionary new solar cell. Chinese solar manufacturer JA Solar Holdings Co. and California-based Innovalight, Inc. are teaming up to develop a new solar cell using......
Solar Streetlights in Treetops
South Korean designer Jongoh Lee is putting the tree back in streetlight. A new trend in solar lighting shows designers striving to mimic the natural world. Their work symbolizes that solar......
Space-Based Solar Sails Perform Under Pressure
Here’s a different side to solar energy. It’s space-based but not photovoltaic, and it doesn’t harness solar heat nor collect solar radiation. Instead, solar sailing utilizes the......
Crayola Adds New Shade of Green: Solar
World-famous crayon maker Crayola signed a power purchase agreement to have a 15-acre solar park built on land adjacent to its world headquarters in Forks Township, Pennsylvania. More than 26,000......
PGA Golf Tourney Driving for the Green
Deutsche Bank and Alteris Renewables paired up to add some solar power to this year’s Deutsche Bank Championship, a PGA golf tournament held at TPC Boston over this past Labor Day weekend.......
Parallel Solar Architecture Increases Performance, Decreases Costs
Instead of focusing on improving the efficiency of the solar panel itself, eIQ Energy is increasing solar system output by improving the entire system. The San Jose company’s improvements on......
Solyndra Scores Federal Loan Guarantee for New Manufacturing Plant
Fremont, California-based Solyndra Inc. scored a monumental victory in the solar industry. Beating out 60 other companies, Solyndra was awarded a $535-million federal loan guarantee to build a new......
Air Force Exploring its Dye-Sensitive Side
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs or DSSCs) use organic, light-absorbing dyes to harness solar energy. These cells, as part of the exciting but still infantile third generation of solar cells, are......
COLEXON Signs Deal for 15-MW PV Plants in France
COLEXON Energy AG is expanding its horizons, always reaching for the sun. Earlier this year, the German company successfully entered the U.S. market with their first stateside solar rooftop at......
Non-Profit to Expand Berkeley Solar Plan
The innovative solar financing program ushered into Berkeley, California has been wildly popular. Other cities in and out of California adopted similar programs, generating interest from all corners......
Researchers Give Spray-On Solar Cells Three to Five Years
University of Texas researchers are developing spray-on solar cells that could be ready for widespread use in just three to five years. Now, their work is very similar to some solar paint concepts......
Why Your Utility Doesn’t Want You to Go Solar
Giving up control isn’t easy. That truth has never been more evident in our society than now. Big insurance and pharmaceutical companies are none too keen about giving up control of health care......
Solar UFOs: They’re Real and Hovering Over Japan
When it comes to robots and no-holds-barred gadgetry, nobody matches Japan in creativity. And now they’ve created solar UFOs; not to ward off any prehistoric, city-crunching beasts, but in a......
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Offers Solar Education Program
In the coming years, the main concern for solar employment won’t be a lack of jobs. It’s a lack of skilled employees. This fact has led many colleges, universities and organizations to......
