Maui Welcomes The Power Of Solar

Posted on December 15, 2011 by quest

The Maui Arts & Cultural Center and SolarCity celebrated the installation of a large solar project to provide renewable power on-site at the Center. The 463-kilowatt system, with close to 2,000 panels, is one of the largest to date on Maui. Maui Arts & Cultural Center President and CEO Art Vento said, “We are proud to have this large scale solar installation at the MACC. As a non-profit it is essential to find ways to reduce overhead in order to maintain our ability to provide the maximum products and services delivered to the community. This installation will meaningfully reduce our energy costs, and contribute to a more sustainable environment by significantly reducing our carbon footprint,” said MACC President and CEO Art Vento.

SolarCity’s photovoltaic installation is a component of the MACC’s overall environmental plan. Initiated five years ago, the MACC’s plan targeted reduced energy consumption and upgrades to higher-efficiency equipment, as well as integration of biodegradable products and an integrated recycling plan.As part of the power purchase agreement, SolarCity installed the system at no cost to MACC, and MACC will pay for the solar power the panels produce at a rate lower than they currently pay for electricity. The project for MACC is one of the first major commercial projects completed by SolarCity in the state of Hawai’i. The construction of the project was completed in partnership with Honolulu Builders, LLC, and is being interconnected to the utility grid by Maui Electric Company Ltd.

“We’re honored to be able to provide an organization that serves Hawai’i like MACC with a green energy solution and look forward to additional opportunities to spread economical solar powered energy to other non-profits across the state,” said Pete Cooper, SolarCity’s regional director in Hawai’i.“A dedication ceremony on December 14, 2011 included a traditional Hawaiian blessing and remarks by Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie, Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa, and representatives from the project partners.

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U.S. Solar Industry Reaches New Heights

Posted on December 14, 2011 by quest

“The U.S. solar industry is on a roll, with unprecedented growth in 2011,” said Rhone Resch, President and CEO of SEIA. “Solar is now an economic force in dozens of states, creating jobs across America. But our industry needs stable policy on which to make business decisions, and unfortunately an underlying mechanism for financing solar projects is scheduled to expire on December 31. To keep the industry growing and creating jobs in the U.S. we need Congress to extend the 1603 program. The 1603 program has done more to expand the use of renewable energy than any other policy in U.S. history. Our country is not in a position to have Congress turn their back on American industries, and it is critical that Congress extend the 1603 program in the few days left before the end of the year.” More U.S. solar electric capacity came online in Q3 2011 than all of 2009 combined, and Q4 2011 is predicted to be even larger.

The residential PV market grew 21 percent over Q2 2011 to reach nearly 75 MW.California regained a substantial share of overall PV installation in Q3 2011 with 44 percent; the next six largest state markets combined comprised 45 percent of quarterly installations.While domestic solar markets are booming more than ever, the report also finds that U.S. solar is facing more uncertainty than at any point in recent history. On one hand, solar module prices are falling precipitously and system prices have never been lower; on the other hand, the market faces substantial risks in the form of legislative, financing, political, and market barriers.

“U.S. solar is entering 2012 with a sense of cautious optimism,” said Shayle Kann, Managing Director of the solar practice at GTM Research. “There are three questions on the mind of everyone in the market: one, what would be the impact of the 1603 Treasury Program’s expiration; two, can emerging commercial markets like Massachusetts, Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, and Hawaii ramp up as major markets like California, New Jersey and Pennsylvania trend downward; and finally, how will the trade petition against Chinese solar imports impact market dynamics, both in the immediate term and if duties are ultimately levied?”

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Spray On Solar Windows Generating Energy

Posted on December 14, 2011 by quest

New Energy Technologies, recently announced that researchers developing SolarWindow, capable of generating electricity on see-through glass, have successfully fabricated its latest working window prototype using a faster, rapid scale-up process for applying solution-based coatings. The prospect of rapidly scaling up the size of SolarWindow while applying electricity-generating coatings onto glass at faster speeds, are important technical advancements in New Energy’s drive to aggressively advance the world’s first-of-its-kind technology towards commercial launch. Among other commercial considerations, researchers developing New Energy’s SolarWindow have been vigilant in their efforts to improve transparency and keep manufacturing costs low. For example, last year, scientists undertaking advanced SolarWindow research achieved the ability to ‘spray’ the Company’s electricity-generating coatings onto glass also, at room temperature and pressure.

John A. Conklin, President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc said,“Today’s faster and improved scale-up application breakthrough marks a significant leap forward in our SolarWindow evolution from advanced research towards commercial product development.Importantly, this new and improved processing method still allows for the application of our novel electricity-generating coatings to be applied at room temperature and pressure. We’re not at the mercy of cumbersome and expensive temperature and pressure sensitive systems often utilized in the manufacture of conventional and thin-film solar photovoltaic products.”The new solution-coating method announced today provides an alternative to spray and allows for rapid scale-up to larger glass surface areas. This improved process also generally provides for more uniform application of SolarWindow electricity-generating coatings than conventional methods.

New Energy Technologies, Inc., together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a developer of next generation alternative and renewable energy technologies. Among the Company’s technologies under development are MotionPower roadway systems for generating electricity by capturing the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles.

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Marin Therapist Takes EcoTourism To High Ground

Posted on December 11, 2011 by quest

After a few minutes talking with Kathy Kapps you can sense there’s something really unique about her. The tuned in Zen Shiatsu therapist and Marin resident is originally from the motor city of Detroit. She has been traveling back and forth to the Himalayan high mountain kingdom of Nepal since the early eighties. I happened to have met her up on Hill 88 in the Marin Headlands. She would say, “there is no happenstance.” She recently returned from Nepal, a journey she’s been making now for 7 years after a 15 year break. Several months ago I literally ran into her along a steep Marin trail above the Golden Gate Bridge, when she told me she was heading back to the magical kingdom. I wished her well – but what pleasantly surprised me weeks later was an email photo of a prayer flag she had placed for my mother. It turns out she places prayer flags at the Khumbu Glacier two days away from base camp at Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. She told me,”The memorial prayer flags for those lost loved ones are hung at the sacred memorial site at the end of the Khumbu Glacier. The sacred site is at the end of the whole huge Khumbu glacier and many people who died climbing Everest are memorialized there. My personal prayer flags for friends and family are hung at the foot of ‘Lady Everest.”

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Kat as she is affectionately called not only places prayer flags, but also takes needed medical supplies to hospitals in the remote areas of the Solo Khumbu an area high in the Himalayas outside the ancient and busy city of Kathmandu.In addition to this she has also raised funds to contribute to the education of a college bound student who will be majoring in tourism.

In her soon to be released book “The Inner Mandala” Kat writes about her own personal losses and discoveries. For close to thirty years Kat has been a practicing Zen Shiatsu therapist and instructor working in San Francisco and Marin county. Inspired by author and philosopher Dadaji whom Kat says profoundly changed her life for the better, she is initiating a new venture,“Lady Everest” for those who are interested in learning and exploring Mount Everest, the Himalayas and the Nepal region. By Richard Andrews

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U.S. Postmaster Makes Case For Going Green

Posted on December 11, 2011 by quest

Speaking at the COP 17 climate conference last week in Durban, South Africa, U.S. Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe heralded the U.S. Postal Service‘s sustainability successes, making the business case to go green.”Leaner, greener, faster and smarter is our sustainability call to action,” said Donahoe. “It’s environmentally responsible, as well as a very good business decision.”The Postal Service’s vision is to be a sustainability leader by creating a culture of conservation throughout the Postal Service and leading the adoption of sustainable business practices by employees, customers, suppliers, the mailing industry and U.S. federal government peers.

While the US Postal Service is facing some major budgetary challenges before Congress and is in the midst of the busy holiday season, Donahoe talked about the Postal Service’s 400 Lean Green Teams, comprised of cross-functional postal employees who collaborate to identify and implement low- and no-cost ways to conserve natural resources, purchase fewer consumable products and reduce costs.”Lean Green Teams have helped the Postal Service reduce energy, water and petroleum-fuel use, and solid waste to landfills, helping the Postal Service save more than $5 million in fiscal year 2010. Lean Green Teams also helped recycle more than 222,000 tons of material — an increase of nearly 8,000 tons over the prior year — which generated $13 million in revenue and saved more than $9 million in landfill fees,” said Donahoe. “This is a powerful story and makes the business case for sustainability.”Among other things the Postal Service works to achieve aggressive sustainability performance goals such as reducing facility and vehicle petroleum use.

With 32,000 retail locations the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.

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New York City Eco Friendly Yachts and Everything

Posted on December 9, 2011 by quest

To celebrate the debut of the Hornblower Hybrid, Hornblower Cruises & Events will cruise New York Harbor on New Year’s Eve 2012, departing at 10 p.m. from Pier 40 on the Westside. Set to the backdrop of Manhattan’s luminous skyline and epic midnight fireworks show, the three-and-a-half hour cruise features internationally-themed food stations, premium open bar, entertainment and a DJ. The celebration marks the cruise line’s maiden voyage in New York City, where it will launch four luxury vessels in 2012. New Year’s Eve cruise-goers will be the first passengers onboard the eco-friendly Hybrid, which is powered by multiple alternative energy sources. Guests can enjoy spectacular fireworks and scenic views from the vessel’s spacious upper deck and viewing atrium.

Terry MacRae, CEO of Hornblower Cruises & Events said, “We couldn’t think of a better time for the Hybrid’s inaugural cruise than on the evening that celebrates a renewed spirit and optimism for what’s to come in the new year. We invite locals and visitors to raise a toast and set sail aboard a yacht that represents the future of maritime luxury and sustainability.”The celebration marks the cruise line’s maiden voyage in New York City.

Hornblower Cruises & Events which operates cruises through out the United States is one of the largest charter yacht, dining cruise and eco-tour companies in the country. They operate America’s first hydrogen hybrid commercial vessel, the Hornblower Hybrid, and will launch a multi-yacht fleet in New York City in 2012.

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