Amy Smart Honors Claremont As A “Green City”

Posted on April 3, 2012 by quest

Actress Amy Smart, a leader in young Hollywood environmental circles, presented the award to Mayor Sam Pedroza and members of the City Council at a recent State of the City luncheon. “Claremont, we salute you as a city that both talks and walks a green, sustainable lifestyle! You are an invaluable role model for other cities,” Ms. Smart said in her congratulatory remarks. Joining her in the presentation were representatives from California Green Communities’ founding partners — the Environmental Media Association (EMA), Southern California Edison (SCE) and Green Seal. “Claremont is showcasing what a city can do to improve its residents’ quality of life,” Ms. Smart said. “California Green Communities fosters and recognizes innovative ways for participating cities to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption, while building vibrant, sustainable communities. The economic and health benefits for each city are enormous. Claremont is a leader among southern California cities who are modeling sustainable practices for others.”

“Our City takes its commitment to sustainability seriously,” remarked Mayor Pedroza. “It is a priority for the City Council and it is a consideration in every project and program we provide. Achieving the Silver level status validates the tremendous work this community has done.”To reach the Silver level, Claremont committed considerable resources to a broad variety of sustainability-related projects and programs. Efforts included: making energy efficiency and water conservation improvements to city facilities, converting its fleet to cleaner fuels, encouraging bicycling and walking through education and new construction, and encouraging water wise landscaping and local gardening efforts.

To participate in the California Green Communities program, cities develop unique action plans to identify environmentally sound practices and projects they will adopt and implement involving energy efficiency, waste reduction, water conservation, renewable and alternative fuels, efficient transportation and so forth. At various completion points, they reach Silver, Gold and Platinum status in the program. City action plans can be viewed at www.CaGreenCom.org. One of the City’s more innovative programs is a homeowner assistance program designed to encourage home energy retrofits. Nicknamed CHERP (Claremont Home Energy Retrofit Project), the program helps homeowners upgrade older homes with energy-saving measures such as insulation, HVAC optimization, lighting upgrades and even solar panels. In conjunction with the program, the City is retrofitting many of its own facilities and recently installed solar panels at its City Yard. In addition to Claremont, the cities of Monrovia, Riverside and Santa Clarita have reached California Green Community Silver status. Other cities participating in the program – Culver City, Los Angeles, Redlands, San Gabriel, Santa Monica, Simi Valley and Ventura – are making progress in the program as well. More cities in Southern California are expected to join the program in 2012.

Flat Earth Society In The Dark On Solar Energy

Posted on March 22, 2012 by quest

President Obama continued his west coast tour yesterday with a stop in Boulder City, Nevada which is home to one of the largest solar power plants in the United States. Obama praised the accomplishments of local workers, federal and state officials who helped bring the plant into reality. The speech comes on the heels of new tariffs the Department of Commerce has imposed on Chinese solar manufacturers who’ve been accused of dumping low priced solar panels in the United States in order to undercut American solar makers and gain dominate market share.

The Obama Administration continues to promote what it calls an “All of the above” national energy policy which includes further oil exploration and innovation in renewable energy sources such as hydro power, wind, biomass and solar. The President said, “You know the promise that lies ahead because this city has always been about the future. Eight decades ago, in the midst of the Great Depression, the people of Boulder City were busy working on another energy project you may have heard of. Like today, it was a little bit ahead of its time; it was a little bit bigger than this solar plant — it was a little louder, too. It was called the Hoover Dam. And at the time, it was the largest dam in the world. Even today, it stands as a testimony to American ingenuity, American imagination, the power of the American spirit — a testimony to the notion we can do anything.”

Responding to some of his critics in Congress and elsewhere Obama said, “Some of these folks want to dismiss the promise of solar power and wind power and fuel-efficient cars. In fact, they make jokes about it. One member of Congress who shall remain unnamed called these jobs “phony” — called them phony jobs. I mean, think about that mindset, that attitude that says because something is new, it must not be real. If these guys were around when Columbus set sail, they’d be charter members of the Flat Earth Society. We were just talking about this — that a lack of imagination, a belief that you can’t do something in a new way — that’s not how we operate here in America. That’s not who we are. That’s not what we’re about.”Remarks by the President on Energy

Matt Damon: World Water Day

The Heroes of Solar

Posted on March 9, 2012 by quest

When it comes to business, where are the commemorative plaques to the ones that sweat, labored, and innovated to help the small guys? In a world where big business takes all the attention, glory, jobs, and market share – what is to become of small business? Let’s take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the small guy – businesses like you or me – amidst a sea of Boss Tweeds.From the roster of these unsung heroes comes CEGA – a Solar Power engineering/consulting company from California, a figurative Robin Hood who has made it its mission to save small business in an industry slated for complete corporate domination.

The booming Solar Industry, quite reminiscent of the dot com boom in the 90s, is quickly pervading the energy market through major mergers, corporate partnerships and government subsidies. One notes the heavily publicized deal between SolarCity and Walmart, or SunPower’s partnership with Nissan last November. On the ground floor of this situation are the independent contractors – licensed professionals who have made a living throughout the years doing construction and installations – plumbing, electric, heating, roofing – these professionals added a personal touch to the otherwise impersonal utilities industry.The boom of the solar industry though, however positive, has been moving the utilities industry away from the public and into the private sector – challenging the future business of these contracting companies who have up until now primarily depended on the symbiotic relationship between themselves and the utility companies.CEGA, an acronym for ‘Clean Energy Group Alliance’, pronounced “sAY-Ga”, is noteworthy in this regard for creating a shield for these small contracting businesses and acting as their liaison into the Solar Industry.

CEGA effectively handles the administrative, engineering, and marketing side of things, leaving the contractor companies the freedom to operate independently and pursue their interests. CEGA is benefitted with a staff featuring DWP and Ebara Corp. backgrounds, as well as a centralized location in Encino, Los Angeles – serving communities from Fresno to San Diego. Through this powerful vision of a small guy winning in a big guy’s world CEGA has accumulated a strong network of over 50 contractor companies, many of whom CEGA saved from the brink of extinction.

Energy From Solar Panels Building Electric Vehicles

SunPower & GRID Alternatives Community Connected

Posted on March 7, 2012 by quest

SunPower, a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems today announced that it is an official 2012 solar panel provider for GRID Alternatives, a Bay Area-based non-profit solar installer. SunPower and GRID Alternatives celebrated this new agreement on March 2, 2012, by installing a SunPower rooftop system on a low-income home in San Francisco with the help of SunPower employee volunteers and local solar job trainees. Under terms of the supplier agreement, SunPower will provide GRID Alternatives with its high efficiency solar panels through a combination of donations and fair market value sales, bringing the power of solar energy to low-income households in 2012. SunPower has worked with GRID Alternatives for the past six years to help hundreds of families in need, providing more than 1,000 employee volunteer hours, philanthropic gifts, equipment donations and sales. This partnership is expected to generate a combined $10 million in electricity savings for these families over the life of the systems.

Powering The Grid And People

“Partnering with GRID Alternatives aligns perfectly with SunPower’s commitment to building clean-powered communities around the world, and in this case, right here in our backyard.” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “By providing GRID with the highest efficiency, highest-reliability solar panels commercially available today, SunPower is helping families in need to reduce their electricity costs over the life of each system, while our employees support local volunteerism.” SunPower Corp. , a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems today announced that it is an official 2012 solar panel provider for GRID Alternatives, a Bay Area-based non-profit solar installer. SunPower and GRID Alternatives celebrated this new agreement on March 2, 2012, by installing a SunPower rooftop system on a low-income home in San Francisco with the help of SunPower employee volunteers and local solar job trainees.

“We’re often trying to make solar work on modest homes with small roofs,” said GRID Alternatives Program Director and Co-Founder Tim Sears. “SunPower’s high efficiency panels can make the difference for those families being able to go solar.” “SunPower is one of our longest-running solar sponsors and has helped us support families, job trainees and the environment since 2006,” said Erica Mackie, GRID Alternatives Executive Director and Co-Founder. “We’re excited to welcome SunPower as an official solar module provider this year.”

Green Jobs Growing in Los Angeles

Eagles Green Solar Leaders in American Sports

Posted on March 5, 2012 by quest

NRG and the Philadelphia Eagles today announced a new sustainable energy partnership to make the Eagles’ vision of clean power for Lincoln Financial Field a reality. When construction is completed late in December 2012 the Eagles’ home in Philadelphia will be among the greenest major sports facilities in the U.S. and in the world. NRG will design, build and operate a unique, integrated sustainable energy solution including solar panels and micro wind-turbines that together will provide annually about six times the power used during all Eagles home games. In addition, NRG will be the official supplier of grid power to Lincoln Financial Field and a major sponsor of the Eagles to go.

“The Eagles were pioneers in embracing sustainability when they launched their Go Green! campaign back in 2003, now we are pleased to be their partner in making on-site renewable energy the centerpiece of their commitment to a sustainable future,” said David Crane, President and Chief Executive Officer of Princeton, N.J.-based NRG. “The new clean energy facilities in and around Lincoln Financial Field will make it clear to all that renewable energy makes sense, economically, aesthetically and environmentally, for businesses and individuals in and around Philadelphia.”“The Philadelphia Eagles are proud to announce this new partnership with NRG, a respected leader in the energy field,” said Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie. “We believe that companies everywhere can find ways to Go Green with business practices that help the environment and the bottom line. Together with NRG, we’re eager to use this project at Lincoln Financial Field to continue our leadership role on environmental issues.”

Added Christina Weiss Lurie, “This is another example of our comprehensive, integrated approach to running the greenest business we can. Adding clean energy sources to our existing recycling and energy conservation efforts is the right way for the Eagles to go

NASA Finds Sea Ice Decline Driving Rise in Arctic Air Pollutants

Energy From Solar Panels Building Electric Vehicles

Posted on March 2, 2012 by quest

It’s real hard not to like BMW’s new electric, prototypes and fossil fuel cars. But now motoring giants BMW and Honda are building solar panels into their production plants and other facilities. With the rising costs of gas and energy; this is a logical move for big commercial energy users and residential users who are ready to use solar power to cut energy usage, transportation costs and dependence on oil. Just imagine the day when you don’t have to go to the gas station to fuel up? You simply plug your electric powered car into your solar powered home and zaaaaap you’re good to go! This is no fantasy…. not anymore and the fact that BMW and Honda are using solar energy to build electric vehicles should be a clear indication where the smart money is going.

Both of these behemoths in the automobile industry are looking to start incorporating more on-site solar electricity generation. Honda has been installing solar power generation systems at their plants all around Japan and they have so far reached a total combined capacity of 3.3 megawatts.

Honda’s own solar power branch is Honda Soltec and they are using their own solar panels, the “Honda Soltec CIGS thin-film solar cells” on all of tir branches. Among the recent installations by Honda there’s been a 9 kilowatt-solar power system fitted at the Honda Cars Tokyo Chuo dealership. This installation marks the beginning of a solar power initiative from Honda that will see over 100 dealerships fitted with similar solar panels. BMW has been pulled over to the ‘green side’ after having just recently finished installing 400 solar modules that each has a 240 watt capacity. They have been installed at BMW Manufacturing heritage museum and visitor centre which is situated next to their South Carolina plant.