Solar powered Resort opens at the Roof of the World

Posted on November 21, 2010 by quest

Lhasa known as the“Place of the Gods” by ancient Tibetans is now home to a 150 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and 12 spacious villas and suites. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort is blending Tibet’s rich culture and exotic natural surroundings with sustainable features including solar panels, locally-sourced produce and herbs for the resort’s restaurants and an underground water recycling system. Guest accommodations feature beautiful residential interiors, custom-designed furniture and spacious marble bathrooms in addition to luxurious linens and amenities such as high-speed internet and plasma televisions in room. “Lhasa is one of the most intriguing and beautiful cities in the world,” said Magdy Anis, General Manager of The St. Regis Lhasa Resort. “We are honored to be opening Tibet’s first luxury resort, offering global St. Regis guests the opportunity to experience Tibet’s mysterious traditions and stunning beauty while enjoying St. Regis signature amenities and services.”

The resort boasts awe-inspiring views of the Himalayas and the Lhasa Valley. St. Regis will also premiere its new spa brand, the Iridium Spa at The St. Regis Lhasa Resort and an array of epicurean taste and experiences in a variety of culturally designed settings.The St. Regis Lhasa Resort will present the first wine bar in the region serving over 140 labels of wine, liquors and aged cigars. Also the first of its kind, the Tea Room will offer guests a relaxing afternoon with different blends of local and imported teas, and serving vintage teas aged from 10-25 years.

The first St. Regis was opened in New York City over a century ago is owned by Starwood Hotels a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences around the world.

DEEP TIBETAN MEDITATION MUSIC

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Pole mounted Solar maker wins national green award

Posted on November 19, 2010 by quest

Petra Solar the New Jersey based solar manufacturer who is supplying the state of New Jersey 200,000 solar units for its “Solar 4 all” program has been selected by Green For All and SJF Institute as one of the first Green Jobs Award recipients. The Green Jobs Award honors innovative private businesses that contribute to the economy and the environment. The award was given at Citi Executive Conference Center in New York City. Green For All is a national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty. The SJF Institute is an independent non-profit institute that works with positive impact businesses and sustainable entrepreneurs to facilitate their access to capital, promote employee engagement, and help build sustainable economies. “We hope that by acknowledging the tremendous work these companies are doing, we can support their noble efforts, and inspire other business leaders to follow their lead,” says Bonny Moellenbrock, Executive Director of SJF Institute.

Petra Solar, founded in 2006 by CEO and president Kuran, is the pioneer of SunWave™, a grid-tied, pole-mounted, distributed solar generation system. “We are grateful for the recognition from Green for All and SJF Institute,” said Shihab Kuran, CEO and President of Petra Solar. “Our goal at Petra Solar is to create and grow green jobs as we create smart solar generation systems and export them across the nation and around the world.”By creating its own R&D and manufacturing supply chain, Petra Solar’s job count has grown from 15 in the spring of 2009 to 166 currently, over a 10 fold increase. In keeping with the company’s commitment to return ratepayer and taxpayer support, the company will create new manufacturing facilities in jurisdictions in which it does significant business. As a result, major contracts with utilities will result in the creation of jobs to staff local manufacturing operations.

“Each of the companies chosen this year does its part in building the green economy through innovation and job creation here in the United States,” says Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All. “They are demonstrating that by addressing the climate crisis we can take real steps in addressing the economic crisis as well.”

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Solar energy charging up electric bicycles

Posted on November 17, 2010 by quest

Kyocera is in the news again. This time the solar manufacturer has introduced an environmentally friendly solar-powered recharging station for electric-assisted bicycles that uses the company’s high performance solar modules. The system, which was codeveloped by two companies, is sold in Japan by KCCS starting this month. Recently Kyocera in cooperation with the World Bank’s Renewable Energy for Rural Access Project provided two Mongolian villages with solar power.

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Kyocera seems to be providing new and interesting applications for solar energy. Some of their projects have provided solar modules for cars, boats, parking lots and “Solar Grove” shading structures, as well as more conventional residential and large-scale solar power generation. The development of its new “Solar Cycle Station” responds to the popularity of electric bicycles which have grown immensely due to a growing awareness of environmental issues. This expanded awareness has Kyocera responding to the needs of people seeking ways to use alternative means of transportation, including use of electric bicycles at rental shops as fun and relaxing recreation in tourist areas. However, with expanded use comes a growing need to construct more recharging stations. By using solar modules to generate the power for these bicycles Kyocera aims to provide an economical and ecological solution.

Not only will these stations generate clean energy for recharging the battery of electric bicycles, but they are also connected to the regular power grid, via a DC-AC converter, ensuring stable service during cloudy weather and for recharging during the night. The stations are equipped with conventional outlets so that they can be used as a power source in the event of a power outage or emergency.

VISIT: THE SOLAR WALL

More solar money for Suniva

Posted on November 15, 2010 by quest

On the heels of it’s inclusion into President Obama‘s US – India Innovation Roundtable in Mumbai last week, Atlanta area based solar company Suniva was just awarded $15 million of working capitol from Export-Import Bank of the United States. The loan guarantee will allow Suniva to expand on international opportunities which is in keeping with Obama’s policy of expanding US manufactured exports. The company’s solar cells power a 3 MW solar farm in Karnataka, one of the largest grid-connected solar fields in India. Suniva solar cells are also used on the roof of the new Thyagaraj Stadium in New Delhi. From Norross, GA

VAN JONES ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

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Solar an energy solution whose time has come

Posted on November 10, 2010 by quest

The information coming from research groups, associations, trade groups, authors, government agencies all confirm what is becoming apparent. Solar is hot. Happening! The defeat of Proposition 23 was confirmation from Californians that going green is becoming the next major megatrend. Just as the personal computer and the internet changed society; solar too has the potential to change the world as we know it. But as we continue down the solar road…how can we use it day to day? Already there are solar powered mobile phones in Africa and India. Consumer electronics such as solar powered laptops and camcorders are already starting to find their way into the marketplace. And the SolarPlanet the worlds largest solar boat is now in the Atlantic heading for Miami on its around the world tour. Even as the big push continues for big utility scale solar projects homeowner interest in solar continues to rise. The release of a White Paper entitled

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Green building innovator to speak in DC

Posted on November 9, 2010 by quest

Robert Frechette who was principal design engineer on the world’s tallest building and man-made structure the Burj Khalifa, in Dubai will be keynote speaker at the DC Economic Partnership’s (WDCEP) 10th Anniversary Annual Meeting Luncheon in Washington DC. Frechette, President of PositivEnergy Practice LLC will address the attendees on high performing buildings, the process for de-carbonization, and on innovative engineering models.

Frechette was also principal engineer for the Pearl River Tower, the world’s most energy efficient office tower now under construction in Guangzhou, China, where he used advanced wind-powered, solar-collecting, breathable-skin, and cold radiation comfort innovations in the design. Additionally he was the principal engineer for the greening of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the Chicago DeCarbonization & Implementation Plan.

Frechette’s body of work also includes a wide range of projects from government buildings and museums, to laboratories, airports, hospitals, academic buildings and corporate offices, including several in Washington DC, such as the National Museum of American History, RFK Stadium Renovation, Department of Transportation HQ, Oracle Headquarters, Mary Switzer Building, and the Star Spangled Banner Lab. Frechette is a Senior Fellow with the Design Futures Council, a global network of design community professionals, and a frequent lecturer on high-performance design and green engineering. He is the co-author of Nantucket Principals (2002), which focused on trends and issues influencing green building and sustainable design. In 2004, Frechette was recognized by the United States Congress for his work in sustainability and his work on the Pearl River Tower was featured on a Planet Green episode (Power Tower) this past June.

Featured at this year’s Development Showcase will be Tesla Motors, which will have on display its Roadster that features 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, 245 miles per charge and 0 emissions. The WDCEP’s Annual Meeting and Development Showcase (AMDS) is Friday, November 19 at the Washington Convention Center, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Visit wdcep.com to register, or call 202-661-8670.