EcoPlusHome Solar Powered Emission Free

Posted on July 8, 2011 by quest

Can a family of six live their everyday life without dependence on fossil fuels for an entire year? By integrating its leading efficient geothermal, solar and home appliance technologies, Bosch helped Canada’s EcoPlusHome demonstrate that today’s modern family can live a net zero existence without compromising comfort or cost. Through the use of both passive and active eco-friendly efforts, the 285-square-meter (3,067-square-foot) home in Bathurst, New Brunswick provided comfortable and affordable living year-round. In order to prove that an average consumer’s home can achieve net zero status at a reasonable price of about $275,000 USD, Bosch designed the EcoPlusHome in partnership with Tight Lines Productions, Maple Leaf Homes and local partners in New Brunswick, Canada. Between December 2009 and December 2010, a family of six – while living in the EcoPlusHome consumed approximately 14,000 kilowatt hours (kwh). At the same time, the home generated roughly 15,000 kwh – more electricity than it consumed. Reducing reliance on fossil fuel, EcoPlusHome emitted few emissions and helped promote a healthier living space and cleaner air.

“By providing a highly efficient geothermal heat pump, solar thermal system, photovoltaic panels and home appliances for the EcoPlusHome, we have demonstrated that climate protection pays off and that net zero living can be achieved comfortably and affordably,” said Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO, Robert Bosch LLC and member of the Bosch Board of Management. “As a leading technology company, Bosch is committed to supplying innovative solutions that help conserve resources and protect the environment.”To generate the needed electricity to run home appliances, to power lights and other plug-in units, Bosch Solar Energy supplied 52 mono-crystalline photovoltaic solar modules for the EcoPlusHome, providing high yields even when the intensity of solar radiation is minimal. Bosch offers high-grade photovoltaic products to generate electricity from sunlight, which protects the environment and combat climate change. In addition, Bosch Siemens Home Appliances supplied the home with its ENERGY STAR Home Appliances, including a washer and dryer, oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher and even a coffee maker, which are all highly efficient and reduce water and energy consumption significantly. Known for raising standards in appliance efficiency and quietness, Bosch is the only U.S. appliance manufacturer with entire product lines of ENERGY STAR® qualified dishwashers, washers and refrigeration.

Earlier this month, EcoPlusHome was presented with Scotiabank’s EcoLiving 2011 Innovation Award. Supported by Green Living Enterprises, the awards program recognizes businesses, innovators and students across Canada for excellence in the development of home energy efficiency products, services and solutions. The EcoLiving Awards are Canada’s premier prize for home energy innovation.

San Francisco leads the U.S. in environmental sustainability

Green Builder & Antelope Valley Launch First Solar Standard Community

Posted on July 7, 2011 by quest

The City of Lancaster and KB Home today announced the grand opening of an affordably priced new solar home community in Lancaster, California. KB Home’s Arroyo community is the first in the Antelope Valley to offer solar power systems as a standard feature on all new homes. During the grand opening event held today, the two partners unveiled this unique community that represents a giant step forward in the advancement of affordable solar technology for homeowners.

For its part, the City of Lancaster has long recognized the important role government can play in helping the environment. The advancement and research of solar and other similar technologies continues to be a priority for the City, as it works with companies like KB Home to drive innovation and enhance the lives of those who live in the community. In support of these goals, the City of Lancaster agreed to waive certain municipal development fees for the project and fast-tracked it through the approval process.”We are continuing to develop innovative solutions with KB Home. This private-public partnership is an example of what local governments throughout the nation should be doing in order to resuscitate their housing markets. We know we simply cannot sit back and wait for others to ‘fix’ the economy,” said City of Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris.The opening of Arroyo is part of KB Home’s recently announced initiative to provide solar power systems as a standard feature for new homes in 11 of its Southern California communities.

“We believe that our continued partnership with the City of Lancaster has been extremely beneficial in advancing the use of emerging solar technology,” said Steve Ruffner, president of KB Home’s Southern California division. “The abundance of clear sunny days makes Lancaster the perfect place to own one of KB Home’s new solar homes. In addition to lessening a homeowner’s impact on the environment, the standard solar system may cut a homeowner’s energy costs by more than half.” The gorgeous ranch style homes, situated on ½ acre homesites, provide great room living and include up to five bedrooms, three bathrooms and three-car garages. Homebuyers have their choice of six single story floorplans ranging in size from 1,837 to 3,037 square feet. Pricing begin from the low $200,000s.

Solar satellites key to green energy

Intersolar North America 2011 Showcases Solar Technology Evolution

Posted on July 6, 2011 by quest

Intersolar North America, the premier solar industry exhibition and conference in North America for solar professionals to exchange information and develop business opportunities in the U.S. solar market, is featuring next-generation solar products and cutting edge technologies from around 800 exhibitors. With registered visitors representing 62 countries and exhibiting companies from 30 countries, Intersolar North America provides a true global perspective of the solar industry, while focusing on the momentum and challenges facing the North American market. The solar industry has long focused on developing new solar technologies that promise to deliver greater efficiency, higher performance and an increased energy harvest, in turn boosting ROI for system owners and encouraging solar adoption—and Intersolar North America is the place to see them first. Intersolar North America has a multi-year tradition of showcasing game changing solar technology on the exhibition floor and highlighting technology trends in conference tracks and exhibitions.

“Intersolar North America provides the most comprehensive conference and exhibition experience for solar industry executives,” said Markus Elsaesser, CEO of Solar Promotion International GmbH, one of the exhibition and conference’s organizers. “We’ve designed our program to educate attendees on how best to move their companies forward, and intensify innovative product development, policies and financing models that will continue to grow the North American solar market. In tandem with educational conference sessions, discussions on the floor of the exhibit hall will lay the foundation for the next major industry deal.”

Many of the major players in the solar industry will make announcements at the show to introduce new products and technology upgrades. Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar Inc. said, “As a first-time exhibitor at Intersolar, we look forward to participating in the conference and exhibition as it provides an opportunity for Kyocera to showcase its high-quality and innovative solar products to a world audience.” Intersolar takes place July 12-14, 2011 Moscone Center in San Francisco.

THE SOLAR WALL

SolarWorld In Global Growth Mode

Posted on July 4, 2011 by quest

This week’s profitable sale of SolarWorld’s shares in a joint-venture solar-panel factory in South Korea highlights the company’s increasing commitment to production within its major sales markets in the West, including the fast-growing U.S. market. SolarWorld is dramatically increasing production at its hub of factory sites in and near Freiberg, Germany. In the United States, where the company has been the largest solar technology producer for more than 35 years, SolarWorld has exceeded the 1,250-employee mark that it reached upon completing its expansion and modernization programs for its sites in Hillsboro, Ore., and Camarillo, Calif., in December. This month, combined employment has exceeded 1,300. By the end of the year, combined module production across SolarWorld’s U.S. and European sites will ramp up to a total annual production capacity of more than one gigawatt.

SolarWorld manufactures its premium solar panels in locations with the highest quality, environmental and labor standards. “We are consistently continuing our strategy of making our premium product at premium locations,” said Frank Asbeck, chairman and CEO of SolarWorld. “A solar power system is an investment for generations. We guarantee 25 years of reliable output. But the life of our solar power systems is far longer. That cannot be guaranteed if you rely on a low-cost location.”

SolarWorld expects its largest sales growth this year in the United States. “Our steadily rising production output, coupled with streamlined in-market logistics, is enabling us to keep pace with the long-promised rise of the U.S. solar market,” said Gordon Brinser, president of SolarWorld Industries America Inc. By this month, company sales in the U.S. market have matched total annual sales of 2010 – and they are on track to more than triple last year’s results. SolarWorld solar panels have been installed this year in a variety of U.S. landmark projects, including trailblazing installations at Pearl Harbor, the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden and commercial and residential sites. At the same time, the group is expecting growth in European markets in light of current legislation to fund renewable energy in Germany and other European countries.

GREEN DRIVING & TRANSPORTATION

Neptune Wave Strides Harness Deal With Oregon State

Posted on July 2, 2011 by quest

Neptune Wave Power announced that it had recently signed an agreement with Oregon State University to evaluate and test its patented technology at the O. H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. Neptune Wave Power has developed patented technology that will produce cost-effective commercial quantities of electric power using a generation system harnessing kinetic energy from ocean waves. The generation cost compares favorably not only with that of other generation systems such as wind power or alternative proposed wave energy capturing devices, but with many other conventional power sources as well. Oregon State University is the leading authority on wave energy and part of the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center (‘NNMREC’). NNMREC serves as an integrated, standardized test center for U.S. and international developers of wave and tidal energy.

“Being able to work with the NNMREC and Oregon State University, the leading experts in wave energy research in the United States, is a great opportunity for Neptune,” said Rene Larrave, CEO of Neptune Wave Power. “Leveraging their technology and expertise to further refine our technology as we begin to deploy around the world is invaluable for our commercialization and risk mitigation efforts.”

The National Marine Renewable Energy Center (NNMREC), established in 2008, is a partnership between Oregon State University (OSU) and the University of Washington (UW) to support wave and tidal energy development for the United States. NNMREC has a full range of capabilities and is structured to support baseline studies, on-going monitoring, and setting the technical, ecological, and human dimensions standards for wave energy projects. The NNMREC also facilitate device commercialization through development of standards for validation and evaluation of devices.

WIND & WAVES: ENERGY

Independence Day…Solar Panels Charge Electric Vehicle

Posted on July 2, 2011 by quest

George Parrott All Cars Electric: Almost every Tesla Roadster owner is probably a car enthusiast, but Mike Koenigs is also a true clean-power activist. First, he set up a “Life with Tesla” website when he got his car. Now he’s doing the final editing of an extended video meant to spread the word about the fun and freedom that comes with owning an all-electric car, in his case a Tesla Roadster. Mike should copyright the phrase he has highlights on his website–the “Tesla Grin”–which he illustrates on the faces of his passengers on demonstration rides. It’s something very special. Mike’s message is that the Tesla Roadster is a great thrill to drive, even to ride in as a passenger, and that with photovoltaic solar panels on one’s home, driving can be free of day-to-day fuel costs.

As highlighted in a recent Consumer Reports piece, the strategy that really pays off in owning an electric vehicle is to have a significantly large photovoltaic system at your home. It should be noted, however, that even with solar panels to provide all your energy (or energy credits) to charge a Tesla Roadster, that car’s required regular “tune-ups” are around $1000 per year! This synergy between electric vehicles and solar electric panels is updated daily at Christof Demont-Heinrich’s website which is devoted to exactly this topic.

Basically even if we don’t have the discretionary funds to afford a Tesla Roadster, many of us can live as Mike does. The Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi “i,” and other plug-in-cars cost far less than the Tesla did. Adding solar panels to a home gives us the equivalent of our own oil well and oil refinery together. Mike says that between the electricity he uses in his home and to power his Tesla, he’ll pay back the five-figure cost of his solar panels in less than five years. Perhaps few of us can enjoy the “Tesla grin,” but Mike’s broader message doesn’t require a Tesla–just a car that plugs into the wall for its power. By george parrott