A partnership between Reading (PA) Electric and a leading designer and installer of grid-tiered solar power systems will allow 32 Southeastern Pennsylvania businesses to see the light in a very different way.

Borrego Solar Systems, Inc., plans to team with Reading Electric to install more than 5 MW of solar energy. At the end of 2008, the entire state had fewer than 5MW of solar operations.

The $30 million undertaking will be financed in part by $7.5 million awarded through the PA Sunshine Grant, a $100 million state fund administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The partners also expect an additional $9 million in funding from the Federal Renewable Energy Grant Program.

Among the businesses participating: Adelphi Kitchens & Cabinetry, Inc. (Robesonia), Heyco Metals, Inc. (Reading), Misco Products Corporation (Reading) and Cougle’s Recycling (Hamburg).

In addition, Reading Electric is teaming  with Borrego Solar to add a 145 kW rooftop/ground mount solar system at its own facility. The system is projected to reduce Reading Electric’s energy costs by more than $700,000 over its lifetime.

“We are excited to incorporate solar into our services portfolio and lead by example by installing our own solar energy system,” said Jim Kurtz, general manager at Reading Electric.

Copyright © 2010 Green Right Now | Distributed by GRN Network

The US Department of Energy’s 2009 Solar Decathlon showcased the best in solar-powered home design as conceived by colleges students. Over 20 teams from across North America and Europe competed in this year’s competition.

1st Place Solar Home

Team Germany came in first place overall with a score of 908.297 out of 1,000. Team Germany also won the last competition in 2007. The team’s philosophy of “pushing the envelope with as many new technologies as possible” took them straight to the top.

Out of the ten categories, Team Germany’s “SurPLUShome” won Net Metering and scored very highly in the other categories. The team’s two-story home has furniture and appliances that either fold away or can be transformed into something else to serve additional purposes. There are photovoltaic panels on the roof and all sides of the home, even the north side, to produce 200% of the energy required for the house.

The type of solar panels used are less efficient than some, but collect power even on cloudy or rainy days. The aggressive covering of the home with the panels led to the excess energy produced. The panels collected power even on rainy days.

Construction costs for Team Germany’s home was estimated from $650,000-$850,000.

See a video about the house on You Tube.

The University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana’s Gable Home came in second with their home that produces up to four times the energy needed. The team focused on performance but “also achieved elegant simplicity in design,” according to the judges.

This home uses 90% less energy than typical construction. Laminated bamboo was

2nd Place Solar Home

used in construction, which is stronger than wood and more rapidly renewable. This home’s construction costs are significantly lower with a range of $250,000-$450,000.

Team California, made up of Santa Clara University and the California College of the Arts, finished in third place with its Refract House. This home’s temperature and lighting can be controlled from anywhere with a simple iPhone application. The judges gave it first place for Architecture and Communications and raved about its aesthetics.

“Beautiful in every respect, Refract House broke out of the box and masterfully executed the melding of interior and exterior spaces,” they reported.

3rd Place Solar Home

To conserve space, the team equipped the house with built-in furniture. Team California’s construction costs were $450,000-$650,000.

Congratulations to all the Solar Decathlon participants for their efforts to make the future greener.

For details about other winners, see the Solar Decathlon website.

Copyright © 2009 Green Right Now | Distributed by Noofangle Media

St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. St. Anthony’s is the first hospital in Florida and one of only 86 hospitals in the nation to achieve this recognition. Buildings that receive the EPA’s ENERGY STAR designation reduce greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficient specifications set by the government.

Commercial buildings that earn the EPA’s ENERGY STAR use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. St. Anthony’s Hospital improved its energy performance by managing energy strategically across the entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to the building. The EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. St. Anthony’s earned the EPA’s ranking of 87 out of 100 — placing it among the top 25 percent of energy efficient facilities in the country.

Since 2005, the hospital has conserved electricity by 1.5 million kilowatts, decreased natural gas use by 36 percent, and reduced water consumption by 4.7 million gallons. Ongoing maintenance focuses on efficient operation, including monitoring the performance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. By conserving and managing energy strategically, and making cost-effective improvements to the building, the hospital saves hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual energy costs and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases.

New Detroit Edison program will enable customers to cut the cost of installing solar energy

Detroit Edison has introduced a new program that will make installing a solar energy system 50 percent more affordable for homes and businesses. Called SolarCurrents, the pilot program is intended to encourage Detroit Edison customers to purchase and install a solar energy system, and at the same time help the utility meet renewable energy targets contained in comprehensive energy legislation approved last year.

Solar energy systems generate electricity through the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology, which turns the sun’s light energy into electricity. After passing through a component called an inverter, the direct current electricity generated by the solar panels is converted to alternating current – the type of electricity accessed through standard electric outlets.

A solar energy system for a typical 2,000 square foot home or business can cost about $18,000 to install. Under SolarCurrents, customers will receive a one-time payment when their system is installed. They then will receive monthly credits on their electric bill for the next 20 years for providing Detroit Edison with renewable energy credits associated with the system.

Detroit Edison also plans to introduce a second-phase of the SolarCurrents programs in which the company will place large-scale solar energy panels it owns on customer rooftops or property. In return, Detroit Edison will pay long term leasing or rental fees to the property owners. Further details on the next phase of the SolarCurrents program are expected in the coming months.

Boston opens world’s first international green technology trade center

The International Green Technology Trade Center, the world’s first permanent trade show for Green Tech, today announced its launch at the TradeCenter128 green building complex located on Route 128, Boston’s Technology Highway, minutes from the region’s leading research universities.

The IGTTC is a permanent business marketplace designed to generate sales and brand recognition for 250+ cutting-edge green technology companies from around the world. For Green Tech companies seeking to join a beehive of economic activity, the IGTTC leverages economies of scale to attract trade buyers, manufacturers and investors to this dynamic networking environment.

The solar energy sector enjoyed record growth last year, according to a new report from the Solar Energy Industries Association.

The 2008 U.S. Solar Industry Year in Review notes that 1,265 megawatts of solar power of all types were installed in 2008, increasing total U.S. solar power capacity by 17 percent to 8,775 megawatts. That increase included 342 megawatts of solar photovoltaic power, 139 thermal equivalent of solar water heating, 762 thermal equivalent of pool heating and an estimated 21 megawatts of solar space heating and cooling.

“Despite severe economic pressures in the United States, demand for solar energy grew tremendously in 2008,” Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the solar association, said in a statement. “Increasingly, solar energy has proven to be an economic engine for this country, creating thousands of jobs, unleashing billions in investment dollars and building new factories from New Hampshire to Michigan to Oregon.”

The report said grid-tied photovoltaic power led with a growth rate of 81 percent for the amount of installed power — 292 megawatts in 2008, up from 161 megawatts in 2007. Solar water heating installation grew at a 50 percent rate, but pool heating growth slowed by 3 percent in 2008.

While no concentrating solar power plants went online in the U.S. last year, 2009 projects in the pipeline will add more than 6 gigawatts of capacity. Among these are projects planned for California’s Mojave Desert, Arizona and Florida. The association says four gigawatts of solar energy can power up to a million households.

The industry also notes that several states have added or expanded incentives or requirements for solar energy, including California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri and Ohio. A total of 28 states have renewable portfolio standards that require a defined amount of energy be generated from renewable sources, with 19 of these states mandating a portion come from solar or distributed sources.

But the emerging industry says it must have continued support from the federal government to realize it long-term potential. A total of 42 states and the District of Columbia now have net metering rules allowing owners of solar energy systems to sell excess electricity back to the grid. However, these rules differ from state to state and solar association executives say a unified national policy is necessary.

“To maintain our industry’s growth, create jobs and meet President Obama’s goal of doubling renewable energy production in the next three years, we need smart federal policies, such as a renewable portfolio standard with a specific solar provision that help to develop and deploy vast solar resources around the country,” said Resch. “Today’s solar technology combined with the right policies will help us double solar production in the United States and move us to a clean, energy future.”

U.S. photovoltaic manufacturing capacity grew by 65 percent, creating new jobs in states such as California, Michigan, Ohio, Oregon and Tennessee, the report says.

“The growth of solar manufacturing jobs in the U.S. was a breath of fresh air for communities hit hard by the recession. The recently enacted manufacturing tax credit will give further incentive to manufacturers, such as my company Suntech America, to invest in new operations in the U.S.” Roger Efird, chairman of SEIA and President of Suntech America, Inc., said in a statement. “With the right policies, solar deployment will continue robust growth and thousands of new green-collar jobs in manufacturing will be created in states where jobs are needed most.”

The association noted that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 extends by eight years the federal solar investment tax credit that has helped spur U.S. market growth in recent years. The report predicts the extension will aid long-term planning and stimulate investment in solar.

Here are the states that led in grid-tied photovoltaic installation:

• California — 178.6 megawatts (MW)
• New Jersey — 22.5 MW
• Colorado — 21.6 MW
• Nevada — 13.9
• Hawaii — 11.3 MW

For solar water heating systems, Hawaii led states, installing 37 percent of the total U.S. systems in 2008, followed by Florida (20 percent), California (7 percent), Colorado (5 percent) and Arizona (5 percent). The Mid-Atlantic States, an important emerging region for solar, installed 7 percent of solar water heating systems.

Sponsored link:

• Shop for solar hot water heaters

On March 3, Los Angelenos will vote on a solar energy measure that has created controversy in some quarters, and whose progress other U.S. cities may want to watch.

Measure B, also known as the Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Act, calls for a major increase in the amount of solar power used by the City of Los Angeles (400 megawatts to be created by 2014; enough to power about 240,000 homes). It would create a new training academy for workers; offer tax incentives to L.A. manufacturers who move into solar power technology and installation; and place solar installation, ownership and maintenance in the hands of the municipally owned Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Ultimately, Measure B would put up hundreds of acres of solar voltaics, on rooftops and land.

Involving two basic camps – those who oppose Measure B but not necessarily solar energy; and those who consider Measure B a strong starting point – the dust-up has swirled with anti-B accusations of back-room deal making, local-politics playing, lack of proper public vetting, union steamrolling – and worse.

One opponent, Jack Humphreville, who recently spoke with us about the flare-up, described City Hall’s handling of the measure as “Chicago-style politics” with “a Boss Tweed” (that would be supporter Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa) at the helm, saying voters and businesses were cut from the process when the proposal bypassed conventional steps through City Council and went straight to ballot. He also complains that the measure unnecessarily changes the City Charter.

The “pro” camp has kept its dirt-flinging to a minimum, saying opponents cling to an outdated model of how L.A.’s utilities should, and actually do, function. They believe their adversaries have taken a pro-business/anti-City Hall stance at the expense of the public good.

So as L.A. residents cast their ballots next week, the rest of the country might learn something about emerging municipal and state debates on how to embrace cleaner energy and new, green jobs. Perhaps all the acrimony wrought by L.A.’s Measure B can serve as, if nothing else, an example of what not to do as other cities move toward greener power sources, which will invariably upset the long-held status quo.

Almost all parties in the Measure B battle agree that now is the time; that renewable energy must be embraced more by American cities.

But as always, it seems the devil is in the details.

A non-political observer whose organization supports the measure, David Pettit, senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and director of the NRDC’s Southern California for Air Quality Program, believes the process of getting Measure B on the ballot could have been better handled.

“It seems to me it could’ve been less messy. And to me, the messiness has taken away from the message on the merits of Measure B. But we (NRDC) are an environmental organization – and what really concerns me is what’s going to be good for us as a city. I’m not a political consultant or analyst. I’m here to try to make the air quality better in Los Angeles.”

L.A., by virtue of its geography and population, has some of the worst air pollution suffered by any city in the world. With so many people, cars and industry packed into an air-trapping valley, L.A. has long been known as a smog capital. Last year (among other years), the American Lung Association ranked Los Angeles as top worst polluted city in the U.S. for year-round air particle pollution. (Pittsburgh won first place for worst “short term” pollution.)

Opponents to Measure B aren’t arguing with the need to address the twin problems of bad air and outdated, polluting fossil-fuel energy sources.

“The debate is not about solar energy, okay? We all buy into the solar energy, and this includes people that don’t necessarily agree with the global warming stuff,” and people who just want energy independence, says Humphreville, who represents the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council in opposition to the plan.

In the future, employing solar energy won’t necessarily mean mounting big black panels on your roof or buying from a utility with a solar farm. It might just mean pulling the curtains shut for a while.

Sheila Kennedy, a Boston architect currently teaching at MIT, is in the vanguard of designers envisioning a future in which electricity production grows more and more decentralized, with energy-gathering fixtures surrounding us, either storing electricity for later use or plugging directly into appliances and lighting.

One of her highest-profile projects, a Soft House shown at Germany’s Vitra Design Museum, used a type of photovoltaic cell that can be produced in bendable, textile-like form; its curtains harvested sunlight for domestic use.

Kennedy has said that her calculations suggest 15 square meters of solar-collecting textile would be sufficient to meet most of an average household’s needs, and she envisions all sorts of unconventional structures (like a quickly assembled “zip room”) that would be built around solar curtains and similar materials.

While the architect admits that the “organic photovoltaics” currently lag behind more familiar glass-panel solar cells in terms of efficiency, their more adaptable form make them useful in ways conventional cells aren’t. And at any rate, researchers are bound to improve their efficiency if the idea catches on — with Kennedy actively looking for partners serious enough to bring these ideas into the retail mainstream, that might happen sooner than the sci-fi-sounding premise suggests.

Copyright © 2008 | Distributed by Noofangle Media