Puma Installs One Of The Largest Solar Projects In LA

Posted on May 31, 2011 by quest

Sportswear maker Puma North America has installed a 1.9 megawatt solar power system at its warehouse and distribution facilities in Carson and Torrance, one of the largest solar projects in Los Angeles County.
The system was installed by Premier Power Renewable Energy Inc., using more than 8,500 high-efficiency solar photovoltaic, or PV, panels — equal to about 380 residential solar systems – covering nearly 340,000 square feet of roof-top area.

The installation features a light-gauge steel racking system designed to optimize roof space while using fewer ballast blocks than a traditional system. “Given the optimal design of the roof-mounted solar system, Puma will receive the advantageous electricity production, which will allow them to stabilize long-term electricity rates, ultimately benefiting its customers, employees and the local communities,” the companies said.

Premier Power designed and engineered the solar systems to produce 2.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, enough to offset the annual carbon monoxide emission of 243 California homes or avoiding the annual carbon monoxide emission from using 4,662 barrels of oil or 225,501 gallons of gasoline, the companies said. The companies didn’t disclose cost of the solar power installations. Puma’s facilities in Carson and Torrance are operated by Brookvale International, a sister company of California Cartage Co. The two automated warehouses encompass 180,000 square feet for apparel and 300,000 square feet for footwear.

PUMA

INVESTING IN SOLAR STOCKS

In Germany Solar Energy Up Nuclear Energy Down

Posted on May 31, 2011 by quest

Europe’s economic powerhouse, Germany, announced plans Monday to abandon nuclear energy over the next 11 years, outlining an ambitious strategy in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster to replace atomic power with renewable energy sources. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she hopes the transformation to more solar, wind and hydroelectric power serves as a roadmap for other countries. “We believe that we can show those countries who decide to abandon nuclear power – or not to start using it – how it is possible to achieve growth, creating jobs and economic prosperity while shifting the energy supply toward renewable energies,” Merkel said. Merkel’s government said it will shut down all 17 nuclear power plants in Germany – the world’s fourth-largest economy and Europe’s biggest – by 2022. The government had no immediate estimate of the transition’s overall cost. The plan sets Germany apart from most of the other major industrialized nations. Among the other Group of Eight countries, only Italy has abandoned nuclear power, which was voted down in a referendum after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

The decision represents a remarkable about-face for Merkel‘s center-right government, which only late last year pushed through a plan to extend the life span of the country’s reactors, with the last scheduled to go offline around 2036. But Merkel, who holds a Ph.D. in physics, said industrialized, technologically advanced Japan’s “helplessness” in the face of the Fukushima disaster made her rethink the technology’s risks.Phasing out nuclear power within a decade will be a challenge, but it will be feasible and ultimately give Germany a competitive advantage in the renewable energy era, Merkel said.”As the first big industrialized nation, we can achieve such a transformation toward efficient and renewable energies, with all the opportunities that brings for exports, developing new technologies and jobs,” Merkel told reporters. The government said the renewable energy sector already employs about 370,000 people.

Germany’s seven oldest reactors, already taken off the grid pending safety inspections following the March catastrophe at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant, will remain offline permanently, Merkel said. The plants accounted for about 40 percent of the country’s nuclear power capacity. At the time of the Japanese disaster, Germany got just under a quarter of its electricity from nuclear power

Chicago Skyscraper to Generate Solar Electricity

Sustainable Africa Show Lights Up Health and Solar

Posted on May 29, 2011 by quest

Amsterdam, the Netherlands and Cape Town, South Africa – Royal Philips Electronics, is once again traveling across Africa to raise awareness about how healthcare and lighting solutions can improve the quality of life across the continent. The Cape Town to Cairo road show 2011 (from 12th May to 11th July, 2011) is the second African road show undertaken by Philips. The road show will cover 12,000 kilometers in 62 days, visiting a total of twelve countries. “As many developed countries are struggling to stimulate economic growth, a strong middle class of 313 million, or 34% of the African population, is on the rise in what is still considered the world’s most impoverished continent,’’ said Dr. Gottfried Dutiné, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Markets and Innovation at Philips, in Cape Town today. “This group of mainly young, eager and mobile Africans is rapidly rivaling the middle classes of China and India. Philips sees this continent as a new growth market.”

“Even in the 21st century, we still allow eight million children and close to half a million mothers around the world to die each year from preventable complications related to pregnancy and child birth.”, said JJ van Dongen, General Manager, Philips Healthcare Africa & Country Manager Philips South Africa.“This makes the availability of and access to high quality, affordable care for all mothers and children an issue of high priority for policy makers and societies. Philips recognizes this need and through this road show wants to create dialogue and cooperation between governments, local healthcare workforces, non-governmental organizations, foundations, healthcare professional associations, and research institutions to help mothers, newborn babies and children obtain care.”

During the roadshow Philips will also introduce new solar powered lighting solutions aimed at providing a healthier and safer home environment. Today an estimated 560 million Africans live without electricity. Better lighting is likely to make home child birth safer and help reduce the very high infant mortality rate throughout the continent. This is part of Philips’ commitment to both develop sustainable solutions for Africa and to foster its partnership with the Dutch government on the ‘Sustainable Energy Solutions for Africa’ (SESA) project, which aims to provide 10 million people with affordable, sustainable energy services across 10 sub-Saharan African countries by 2015.

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

The Wildwoods Named Jersey’s Best Ecotourism Beach

Posted on May 28, 2011 by quest

The Wildwoods’ beaches were voted best in New Jersey in the 2011 Top Ten NJ Beaches survey today by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium (NJMSC), New Jersey Sea Grant and the Richard Stockton College Coastal Research Center. In addition to the #1 ranking for the state of New Jersey, the Wildwoods were also named ‘Best Beach for Family Vacations,’ ‘Best Beach for Day Trips’ and ‘Best Beach for Ecotourism’. The Wildwoods received 7,055 of the 19,158 votes cast for ‘Best Beach in New Jersey’ during an online poll conducted this spring – nearly two thirds more votes than the 2nd place winner. The survey, compiled throughout the spring by NJMSC in conjunction with the New Jersey Sea Grant, the Richard Stockton College Coastal Research Center and the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism, collected online votes from residents and visitors. The survey determined the public’s opinion of the Top Ten Beaches in the state, along with the best beach in categories of Ecotourism, Family Vacation and Day Trips.

“We’re honored, yet again, to be named New Jersey’s Top Beach. The Wildwoods’ beaches are second to none, and best of all, they’re FREE,” said John Siciliano, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority executive director. “The fact that our beaches have been named ‘Best in New Jersey’ year after year, as well as earning several other distinctions, such as ‘Best Beach for Day Trips,’ ‘Best Beach for Ecotourism’ and ‘Best Beach for Family Vacations,’ is a tribute to our island’s hard-working public works departments that do an excellent job of maintaining our beaches and assuring that they’re always in pristine condition. Our hat goes off to all those involved in the effort to keep the Wildwoods’ beaches among the very best in New Jersey.”

Long renowned as the premier family vacation destination of the Jersey Shore, more than nine million visitors flock to the Wildwoods every year – taking advantage of New Jersey’s largest beaches. Stretching for five miles along the shores of North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest, the Wildwoods’ wide, white-sand beaches are a perfect way to spend a relaxing, sunny day at the Jersey Shore and are absolutely FREE to enjoy. Consistently growing in size year after year, the Wildwoods’ beaches are the backdrop for a variety of one-of-a-kind festivities throughout the year including the Wildwoods International Kite Festival, the National Marbles Tournament, Monster Truck Races & Motocross Races on the Beach, Beach Soccer & Beach Lacrosse Tournaments, and many more.

GREEN NEWS YOU CAN USE

Solar is the Fastest Growing Industry in US Says SEIA

Posted on May 27, 2011 by quest

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) hosted a press teleconference today to discuss an emerging trend in the utility-scale solar market toward diversifying solar technologies in utility-scale power plants. But the call strayed from the diversification topic and addressed some of the major issues confronting the U.S. market in 2011. Rhone Resch, President of SEIA, said that the solar industry employs 100,000 Americans and that that number could double in the next two years. Within a few years, the U.S. will be the world’s largest solar market, according to SEIA.

Resch said that the 1603 tax grant program has filled the void in the collapse of the tax equity market and that the grant program has doubled the efficiency of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). He remarked that it is scheduled to expire despite the tax equity market not having fully recovered. (The 1603 program provides a 30 percent grant in lieu of the tax credit.) Resch said, “We have found it to be absolutely critical in the last two years.” Resch added that SEIA wants the 1603 program extended through 2016 “so we have business certainty. We’ve found that the 1603 program is an extremely efficient policy for job creation.” In the last two years, the solar industry has created 50,000 jobs, according to Resch, adding that the U.S. market will double from 1 gigawatt in 2010 to 2 gigawatts in 2011 and could possibly double again if the tax credit is extended.

Large-scale solar farms on public lands have pitted environmentalists against solar developers, with a bit of help from media amplification. And tortoises. Resch notes that the oil and gas industry has received 74,000 permits for drilling on public lands over the last century, while the solar industry has received nine permits to build on public lands. “There is no land grab,” said Resch, adding, “The EIR [environmental impact report] to study these areas has been comprehensive.” Resch also notes that 75 percent of the U.S. public support locating solar on public land instead of using it for grazing or other uses.

GROW YOUR OWN CLOTHES

A Green Career Path Taken

Posted on May 27, 2011 by quest

5 Time-Tested Strategies to Break Out of Your Rut

by Carol McClelland: Ever get the feeling that your approach to your own career has gotten a bit stale? The questions you ask yourself (What do I want to do? What’s my next career move?) deliver the same answers, over and over again.

No matter what you do, you keep ending up with the same answers that aren’t getting you where you want to go. It’s so frustrating! I know, I’ve been there myself. Many times.

When I made my first big career transition and periodically over the last 20 years as it was time for my business to shift and morph in response to the times. In the early days getting out of a thought rut took a lot of effort. Now that I’ve had a lot of practice with this I know what I need to do to shift my perspective to create new options and ideas.

Knowing how to get beyond your rut is essential to any career shift. Hopefully these ideas will give you new insights about how to break out of your career rut!

Ask New Questions

One of the key reasons we all get stuck is that we get into a run with the questions we ask ourselves. After a while each question seems to lead to the same answer. There’s no new juice to give us a new insight, a new thought, or a new outlook on our situation. To break out of your rut, begin by framing new questions. Sometimes just a subtle rewording of your question can lead you to new answers.

-Why don’t I work on my resume? What could I do to make progress on my resume?
-What job should I go after? What kind of work would be most fulfilling to me?

When you are frustrated with your situation, it’s easy to throw up your hands as soon as your inner dialogue has you covering the same territory you’ve