Green Acres Zero Energy Homes - New Paltz, NY

Beyond Low Energy homes are Zero Energy Homes (ZEH).  Using technology including geothermal heating and cooling, PV panels, heat recovery ventilation and super insulation and high efficiency windows the homes in Green Acres (New Paltz NY) may be the first ZEH in the world.

" ... first zero energy (ZEH) community in the United States and possibly the world..."

" ... each home has the capacity to generate enough renewable energy to offset its annual energy needs. ..."

Via:  Green Acres New Paltz (NY)  LINK

Philadelphia's Bourse Building Goes Solar !

Philadelphia's Bourse building is both historic and modern ... it was Philadelphia's first exchange and now has gone Solar.

The old Bourse Building on Independence Mall East has solar panels with mountiug systems from SolarDock of Wilmington, Delaware.  These roof panels are designed to not impact the integrity of the roof of the historic building.


" ... SolarDock system for mounting the panels without any penetration of the roof surface ... "

This allows mounting in locations where there is concern about leaks in the roof or a roof warranty that does not allow for through roof mounts.

Via:  Delaware Business Blog LINK

 
Ever wonder how solar cells work?  Sun light hits a photovoltaic panel and somehow electrons start flowing. 

Check out this neat graphic that shows how suns rays are converted to power that flows from your home's outlets.

" ... Follow the path ... from the sun, through the pv panels, its conversion to AC electricity ... into the utility grid. ..."
ailed explanation of solar energy.


For a full size of the image CLICK

Via:  CoolerPlanet LINK

US Army Solar Array at Fort Irwin, California

 The US Army is getting greener.  They are beginning " ... development of a 500-megawatt solar power plant at Fort Irwin, Calif."

" ... allow ... commercial developers to use land at Fort Irwin to construct a solar power plant there between 2013 and 2022. ... will provide power to both the civilian power grid in California, and to Fort Irwin, home of the Army's National Training Center."

" ... the Army will provide to the developers, for as many as 50 years, up to 14,000 acres of land. .. Army receives rent for the land through cash or in-kind services."

" ... facility with both concentrated solar thermal and photovoltaic technology. ... will be built in phases, with a project end date expected around 2022. But Phase 1A of the project, with a completion of around 2014, is expected to provide enough power to sustain Fort Irwin."

Via:  US Army LINK

Floating Solar System @ Far Niente Winery

Check out this float-o-voltaic system at Far Niente Winery in Oakville, California.  Since land is so expensive / valuable they using an irrigation pond to "host" their solar system. 





Via: Far Niente Winery  LINK

Time to Rethink Solar: PV Panel Prices Dropping

Solar prices are dropping and this may be the time to outfit your roof with PV panels.  In my area (southeastern PA) utility prices are expected to rise significantly as electricity rate caps are lifted.

Last summer I priced out a 4.5 kW system; the price was a little too steep for me.  This was even after accounting for the PA State rebate (instant) and Federal Credit (claimed when filling taxes).

Given the lower price I need to take an other look.

" ... reveling in the satisfaction that your home is producing its own zero-emissions power."

" ... panel prices have plunged by half in the past year ... glut will be bad for manufacturers' profit margins, but good for you. For $15,000 installed, a 3.5 kilowatt system could generate 5,000 kwh of electricity a year, about a third of most homes' needs." 

Via: Forbes LINK

The Dow Chemical company is active in the green energy space with several innovative products.

They recently announced their entry into the solar cell market with the " ... POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, ... panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. ... expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and ... more widely available in 2011, ..."

"... integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, ... design reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors ..."

"... addresses two of the biggest challenges associated with solar power – cost and acceptance. "

Via: The Dow Chemical Company LINK

Gainesville Florida - Solar Map

Florida's Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) is committed to solar power and assist customers with loans. This map shows approx. current stats on GRU solar installations.

" ... we have offered Solar Rebates since August 1997 ... we exceeded our latest goal of 40,000 Watts of solar energy for our area. Take a look at our interactive map and see who is using solar energy."


From the map you can see a large number of residential systems are in place !

Via: Gainesville Global Utilities LINK