San Antonio Mayor joins SCHOTT Solar & BuiltSmart to Open Green Home

Posted on January 31, 2011 by quest

SCHOTT Solar and BuiltSmart Resources were joined by Mayor Julian Castro for the grand opening of San Antonio’s first Net Zero Green Home. The BuiltSmart Resource Center achieved a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of negative three, making it one of the most energy efficient homes in Texas.

“We are committed to making San Antonio a leader in solar and renewable energy and are proud that San Antonio is home to one of the most energy efficient homes in Texas,” said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. “Companies like BuiltSmart Resources and Schott Solar are helping us build a strong clean energy economy in our city and creating good local jobs. We are also pleased to have Build San Antonio Green, the local residential green building program, which developed the criteria for the Level 3 Solar Home and certified this home as green-built.” MSA Architecture of San Antonio designed the Resource Center in a Contemporary Hill Country style that features an open floor plan. Lori Caldwell, award-winning Interior Designer, also collaborated on the project. The BuiltSmart Resource Center will feature an 11.28 KW photovoltaic (PV) solar system utilizing SCHOTT Solar’s panels and a 30,000-gallon rainwater catchment system for all domestic and landscape use.

“Through remodeling or new home construction, today’s homeowners have the ability to make a large impact on their future energy costs,” said Mike Scott, owner of BuiltSmart Resources. “Our partnership with SCHOTT Solar was underscored not only by high quality solar panels but their responsive to the needs of our project.” SCHOTT Solar, whose flagship manufacturing facility opened on the south side of Albuquerque, N.M. in 2009, employs more than 300 workers and is a leader in U.S. solar manufacturing. “SCHOTT Solar sees tremendous potential for our proven, high-quality modules in Texas,” said Tom Hecht, President and Chief Sales Officer of SCHOTT Solar PV, Inc. “We are fortunate to have BuiltSmart Resources as a partner and to work with them to give San Antonio homeowners the opportunity to own a green home and save money. We’re also proud that our efforts are creating jobs along the solar value chain in Texas and throughout the Southwest.”

VISIT THE GREEN NEWS WALL

Solar Villas By The Sea

Posted on January 30, 2011 by quest

Solar Electrical Systems of Westlake Village, CA, has completed a 288kW solar installation on San Clemente Villas by the Sea, making it the largest PV system on an assisted living facility in the United States.
San Clemente Villas had an ambitious plan to save money and go green. They decided to install not one, not two, but three solar electrical systems. One was installed on the rooftop, one on a solar carport, and one on a steep hillside. Solar Electrical Systems was chosen for the projects because of their long PV history and their reputation with San Clemente Building & Safety for making difficult installations go smoothly. The hillside system posed the biggest challenge because of the steepness of the hillside and lack of freeway access, but SES’s years of experience turned the unusable hillside into a solar power plant.

With rebates and tax incentives paying for 87% of the project, the solar electrical system will pay for itself in 4 years, and save the owners over $16 million dollars over the next 30 years. The hillside solar electrical system, visible to thousands of commuters on the 5 freeway, is a powerful illustration of the benefits of solar energy.
Solar Electrical Systems is an experienced solar electrical design and installation company in Southern California, and has helped customers reduce or eliminate their electric bills since 1978.

UP LOOK TERMS: SOLAR DICTIONARY

Solar Leasing Backed By SunTech

Posted on January 28, 2011 by quest

Solar Universe announces the availability of BriteLease, a residential solar lease program backed by Suntech, the world’s largest solar panel manufacturer. This lease offering makes solar accessible to homeowners with a small up-front deposit and low monthly lease payments. The solar lease payment in combination with a new lower electricity bill will result in lower monthly electric costs for most homeowners. And, the savings are immediate, giving homeowners the opportunity to use their money on other things or just save it.

In addition to the financial rewards, BriteLease makes going solar hassle-free with system maintenance, repair service and insurance coverage all included for the term of the lease. “This solar lease allows everyone with $500 to take advantage of the sun’s energy and save money at the same time. All you pay is a $500 deposit, that’s it! Every other solar company’s lease is 20 years, the BriteLease is only 15 years. If you sell your house within the 15 years, and the lease is transferrable. Electrical rates are guaranteed to rise every year, why not freeze your power bill now,” said Mitch Katz, Solar Universe Franchise Owner for Ventura & Los Angeles Counties.

Founded in 2001, Suntech produces the largest quantity of silicon solar modules in the world.

EXPLORE BIOMASS

TechNet Applauds President Obama’s Call for Greater Innovation

Posted on January 28, 2011 by quest

TechNet, the bipartisan political network of CEOs that promotes the growth of the innovation economy has applauded President Barack Obama for emphasizing the vital role that competitiveness and innovation must play in tonight’s State of the Union speech. What follows is a statement from TechNet President and CEO Rey Ramsey about Obama’s speech:

“President Obama laid out a clear, rational narrative that for America to win the future we must build a foundation of investments and policies that ensure our country’s leadership in the global economy. We applaud the President’s call for smart policies such as improved investments in research and development, education, clean energy and sensible tax reform to make our businesses more competitive.

“Certainly, today’s budgetary environments are a challenge – and many worthy programs will have to tighten their belts. But we cannot abandon our responsibilities to the next generation. We must continue to carefully and intelligently invest in those areas that will help drive today’s economic recovery and tomorrow’s economic prowess. We stand ready to work with the Administration and Congress to ensure that America remains the leader in the world economy for generations to come and seizes on this “Sputnik moment.”

EXPLORE THE SOLAR WALL

Sungevity Launches Fundraising by Going Solar

Posted on January 26, 2011 by quest

Sungevity a provider of residential solar installations, today announced the launch of Sungevity.org as an innovative way to help schools and non-profit organizations raise money while getting more homeowners to put solar on their rooftops.

Organizations can raise $1000 by bringing Sungevity new solar customers. For every customer that a participating non-profit or school sends Sungevity’s way, the company donates $500 to the school or non-profit and gives the customer a $500 American Express gift card (or the organization can opt to collect the full $1000).
“Our online solar leasing system is designed to make it simple for homeowners to go solar,” said Danny Kennedy, Sungevity Founder. “Like our dot.com site, the .org program now makes it easy for non-profits and schools to raise funds while getting their local communities to go solar. We are continuing to bring sunshine online with Sungevity’s innovative, first-of-its-kind partnership that goes well beyond the bake sale.”

To kick off Sungevity.org, the company is starting a partnership with the Westside Waldorf School in Pacific Palisades (Los Angeles) where Helen Hunt and Ed Begley, Jr. are hosting an event tonight at the school. Ms. Hunt is a Sungevity customer herself, having recently had a 7kW system installed on her home that is estimated to save her more than $200 per month on her electric bill.

URBAN FARMING GROWS

SolarCity Expands to Silver Springs

Posted on January 25, 2011 by quest

SolarCity has acquired Clean Currents Solar, the solar installation division of independent green energy company Clean Currents LLC, and will serve Maryland and the District of Columbia from its new operations center in Silver Spring. SolarCity a large solar service provider with 1,000 employees and more than 10,000 projects completed or underway, is expanding its operations to the East Coast.“Clean Currents has built a strong, local installation team that we will grow to bring zero-down solar leasing and a range of other clean power and energy efficiency options to Maryland and Washington D.C.,” said Lyndon Rive, SolarCity’s CEO. “This partnership should significantly increase solar and energy efficiency adoption in the Mid-Atlantic region.”

SolarCity provides homeowners and businesses a single source for solar power financing, design, installation, monitoring, repair and energy efficiency services. The company pioneered solar leasing in 2008 with SolarLease®, which allows homeowners and businesses to install and use solar power with no upfront cost, and pay less each month for solar electricity than they previously paid for electricity from the power company. SolarCity plans to make its first zero-down solar lease available to Maryland and Washington D.C. homeowners in mid-February.

“We are thrilled to bring SolarCity and its innovative products to this region, giving so many more people the chance to be part of the clean energy wave that is making the Mid-Atlantic one of the greenest places in the U.S.,” said Gary Skulnik, Clean Currents President. “Working with SolarCity will give Clean Currents additional resources to better serve our customers, to grow our business, and to do even more to promote a cleaner, better future for everyone in this region.”