KudoCase Solar Powered iPad Case

One of my favorite applications of solar energy is via the small gadgets you can buy to keep your electronics charged.

Portable solar power is increasingly being used as technology advances result in smaller, and more powerful computers that often drain batteries quickly.

With this solar powered iPad case from Kudo, you can use energy from sunlight outdoors, or even artificial light indoors, to charge the 10,000 mAh battery.  Its storage capabilities allow you to also plug in a smartphone, digital camera or mP3 music player.

The Kudocase is embedded with solar panels, yet remains a mere 4mm in thickness.  According to the official website:

The KudoCase for iPad, iPad 2, and the New iPad 3rd Generation are pulling the plug on wasted power by using new solar ink technology to convert outdoor and indoor light into usable energy to continually charge the Apple iPad.  Whenever light is shimmering around you this solar powered iPad case is charging your battery

According to the manufacturer, this solar charger can generate up to ten days of energy with average use:

The average user uses their iPad about two hours a day and accumulates either 14 hours of indoor light (windows, lamps…), one hour of sunlight (dashboard, windowsill…), or a combination of both per day.  The Kudo iPad solar case brings in a constant trickle of energy throughout the day.  Sunlight is much stronger than indoor light but we know our electronics are typically indoors, the Kudo is capable of drawing energy from the home or office as it continues to work even in low light environments.  More light and less use means longer iPad time, conversely less light and more use means less iPad time before charging the old-school way.  A lifeguard that only uses their iPad  solar case a little may go weeks or months without needing a charge but an internet junkie living in a basement may only go a few days.

The solar powered iPad case has a hard-shell and rubber-coated body, and doubles as a stand for your device.  The KudoCase has a built-in HDMI port, allowing you to stream content from the tablet on external projectors and TVs without taking it out of the case.

The case will come in black, gray, blue, pink and green. The KudoCase will retail for $190.  You can now pre-order the solar powered iPad Case from Kudo, starting on May 11, 2012.

Reasons for switching to solar power

Today, there are many reasons to switch to solar power, and more and more people are doing so!  In fact, One Block Off the Grid (1BOG) recently published an infographic that shows most residential solar is installed by people who make less than $100,000 annually, and who describe themselves as frugal consumers.

Consider these reasons:

1. Saving Money on Utility Bills

Did you know you can save 1/3 or more on your monthly power bill by going solar?  Even if you don’t own the solar panels yourself, you can still rely on solar electricity through a power purchase agreement or solar lease at a cost less than what you are currently being charged!

2. Boosting Property Values

The rule of thumb with regard to residential solar panels is that, for every $1 you save annually on electricity bills, your home increases by $20,000 in value.  In addition to the boost in property values, homes with solar arrays sell faster than similarly situated houses in the neighborhood.

3. Less Guilt

When you switch to free solar power, you might not feel as guilty leaving the lights on, or forgetting to unplug “energy vampires” like cell phones, coffee makers, etc.  While you don’t want to waste electricity, if you are 100% solar, you can take comfort in the fact that you are not contributing to unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions if you do so.

4. To be Ahead of the Game

Some people love to have cutting edge technology – to experience the future before their friends, family and neighbors.  Maybe you already drive an electric car and smart home technology.  Of course, solar panels should be part of the package!

5. To Help Save the Environment

A significant percentage, yet not as high as you might expect (26%), switch to solar to help save the environment.  Electricity generated by solar energy is cleaner and greener than power from burning coal or gas.  There are also fewer environmental impacts than hydroelectricity, which can threaten salmon and other species.

What are your reasons to switch to solar power?  What considerations prevent you from doing so?

Switch to Solar Energy with a Power Purchase Agreement

If you are considering switching to clean, renewable solar energy, you can save upfront costs of equipment by purchasing solar power generated by someone else’s solar panels.

A solar power purchase agreement can be entered into by any property owner – whether residential, commercial or industrial.  Public property owners, such as cities and counties may also wish to consider this type of contractual arrangement.  The company selling the solar power is usually the manufacturer of the panels, or a local utility company.

The arrangement is summarized as follows:

Under a typical power purchase agreement, the solar panel manufacturer or retailer (known as an independent power producer) will finance, install and own your solar panels. You pay nothing for the installation of rooftop solar panels. Then, as the panels generate clean, solar electricity, the provider acts as your utility company. You are billed for the electrical output of the solar panel system, but at a discounted rate.

Before you seriously consider entering into a solar power purchase agreement, you should review the proposed contract with an attorney.  The following are key components of such an agreement:

Term: How many years long is the contract? Often, the term of a PPA is 15-20 years.  Find out if you can terminate early, and whether there is an early termination penalty.

Assignability:  Can you assign the benefits of the PPA to a future buyer of your property, or will a new owner have to renegotiate with the power provider?

Cost: How much will you be required to pay for power generated by the solar panel system? Will you be billed monthly?  Is the cost “locked in” or subject to escalations?  If so, how often?

Taxes and Insurance:  Make sure that you are not on the hook for taxes and insurance costs associated with the solar panel system – these are usually the responsibility of the power provider.  Your local government may deem the panels to improve the value of your property, even if you don’t own them.  Make sure you don’t get surprised by a tax or insurance bill down the road.

Destruction and Damage: The PPA contract should specify under what circumstances the provider will replace and restore the solar panels if destroyed or damaged by acts of nature or vandals.

Termination: When the term of the contract expires, find out whether you have a right to request an extension.  If so, on what terms?  If you don’t want to continue the PPA, determine whether the power provider must remove the panels and restore the property?  Perhaps you wish to purchase the solar panel system at the end?  Make sure you have that right and agree on a reduced price for the system.

The bottom line is that a PPA can help you afford switching to solar power with no money down.  The monthly cost of solar energy is less expensive and better for the environment than grid-based electricity.

See through solar cells to be applied to windows

Solar technology advancements are leading to thinner, more efficient and cheaper solar panels.  One of the most exciting developments may be invisible solar cells.  Applied to windows, the building integrated photovoltaic technology allows for see through solar power.

Just think – no bulky solar panels installed on the rooftop!  Solar windows may have a clear advantage over less aesthetically pleasing alternatives.

Invisible solar cells are still in development stages, but are showing great promise for the future.  Along with flexible solar cells that can be applied to a wide variety of surfaces, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have been working on transparent solar cells.  These modules can be fixed to window panes, blending seamlessly into building facades.

While the efficiency of invisible solar cells is not yet to the level of traditional PV panels, the technology is so much less expensive than the alternative (as well as less visually intrusive) that these benefits outweigh the drawbacks of the developing solar technology.

How government influences the use of solar power

Government programs and policies have a significant impact on many areas of our lives.  Taxes on “sins” such as alcohol, cigarettes and soda aim to curb our use.  On the other hand, rebates and other incentive programs encourage people to invest in new technologies with the help of government funding.

Politics and solar power is a tenuous marriage.  After the Solyndra loan debacle in 2011, many are wary of government-backed investment in allegedly “unproven” energy sources.  Yet, there are many programs in the solar industry that are quietly celebrating success.  And there is more on the horizon.

California’s Million Solar Roofs initiative has driven installations in the state to levels that would not have otherwise been achieved.  Similarly, Colorado and New Jersey, are enjoying an upswing in solar power reliance, both at the local/distributed generation level, and via utility scale solar power plants.  Perhaps most importantly, utilities and consumers are now working together via grid-connected smart metering and more.

Government is doing its part to encourage more solar power by requiring utilities to generate a percentage of their electricity with renewables (so called renewable portfolio standards).  Green jobs programs also reward both employers and employees.  Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) loan programs allow consumers to install solar panels with no money down and then pay off the costs via incremental increases in local property taxes.

As fossil fuel prices rise and concerns of peak oil continue, we’ll see more governmental policies and other political influence with respect to solar power – via taxes, rebates, loans, and other political programs.

Do you think that politics and solar power should mix?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Solar LED lighting benefits

Solar powered LED lighting is increasingly being used for street lights, residential lighting and even safety lights for construction, schools and other uses.

There are several reasons that people are making the switch to solar LED lighting, because of its benefits:

1.  LED lights use DC (Direct Current) Power

When solar electricity is generated by panels, it is in the form of direct current (DC), rather than alternating current (AC) which is what you get when you plug into an electrical outlet.  Solar LED lights are especially efficient, compared to CFL or other lamps used in solar lighting because they do not require a converter.  This is because LED lights use DC power, which is the same as that which is generated by solar panels.  Any other type of lighting requires a converter before running on solar power, which results in a loss of energy.

2.  LED Lights Have Better Light Output

For solar lighting, use of LED lights have better light output.  They also can be used along the entire lighting spectrum, from bright blue-white to a soft warm glow.  Of course, LED lights come in clear (white) and colored lamps, which allow for creative applications ranging from holiday lights to solar garden lighting projects.

3.  LED Lights are Brighter and More Visible

This is my favorite feature of LED lights!  Not only are they brighter, which makes them more visible, even in daylight or foggy conditions, but they use less energy to burn so effectively (and efficiency).  Bright white LEDs have a superior CRI (color rendition index) for better illumination than traditional light bulbs.

4. LED Lights Use Less Energy

Solar LED lighting is a perfect fit because solar panels can easily generate enough power for their illumination.  Compared to CFLs, LEDs use 1/3 less power, and even less the energy required for incandescent lamps.  Because they are brighter and require less power, fewer LED street lights are required for the same amount of coverage, and municipalities and private property owners save money over time.

5.  LED Lights Last Longer

Solar panels last at least 25 years, so it only makes sense to use them with LED lights, as opposed to other types of lamps.  LEDs have at least a 10-year life expectancy, which is at least double that of halide or CFLs.  Solar LED lighting is a great example of install it and forget it when it comes to street lamps and other long-term light requirements.

Nokia Solar Powered Cell Phone

In fact, Nokia has been testing solar charging panels in its C1-02 devices in various settings around the world, from the Baltic Sea, to the plains in Africa and even deep in a Swedish forest.  What the cell phone manufacturer discovered was that the effectiveness of solar powered cell phones has less to do with location, than how they are used.  While solar panels are just being researched right now, you could possibly see a solar powered Nokia T-Mobile cell phone in the future, once the technology is perfected.

“Our test users proved beyond doubt that a low power mobile phone can stay functioning for long periods of time on solar energy. However, they also proved that your lifestyle and how you use a solar powered phone is as important as the environment, the weather and the time of year.”

The bottom line is that solar powered cell phones are more effective for people that use their phones infrequently and allow them to absorb sunlight over extended periods of time.  In addition, cell phones with solar panels may be most practical in sunny regions, particularly those in remote areas not reached by the grid.

Research and development continues.  As solar cells become more efficient in converting UV light to energy, we could soon see solar mobile phones that are practical for many uses in more and more areas of the world.

How affordable is solar power in your state?

The price of solar energy is not the same across the United States.  Among other things, state incentives for solar, localized costs, and marketplace competition varies.  The amount you can save by switching to solar power also depends on the price of grid-based electricity, in terms of kilowatt hours.  States with expensive electricity – New York and California – may indirectly encourage homeowners to go solar to slash utility bills.

Top 20 States for Cheap Solar Power

By installing residential solar panels, you can expect to cut energy bills by 50% or more.

If you are wondering which are the states with the cheapest solar power, take a look at the list of the top 20, based on the Q3 2010 report from U.S. Solar Market Insight (published by the Solar Energy Industries Association and GTM Research), shown to the left.

Colorado tops the list of states for cheap solar power with an average installed price of $5.90 per watt.  In last place is Wisconsin, with solar PV installations costing $7.55 per watt.

In the middle of the list are solar powerhouse states, including California and New Jersey, with $6.71 and $6.75 per watt.  In New York, homeowners pay an average of $7.10 per watt for solar power.

If your state does not show up on the list of the top 20 states with the cheapest solar power, don’t take that as an indication solar is an unwise investment.  In fact, its just the opposite!

Prices for solar panels are continuing to fall, while efficiencies increase.  Grid parity – the point at which solar power is no more expensive than fossil-fuel based electricity has already arrived in Hawaii and is on the near horizon in other states, too.

By installing solar panels, you can immediately start saving on your utility bills and guard against future utility rate hikes.  This is the case in these top 20 states, and the remaining 30 in the nation!

Spray on solar cells

Spray on solar cells are one of the more exciting solar technologies that can be employed as building integrated photovoltaics.

Thin film solar is incorporated into solar inks that can literally be painted onto walls and windows of structures allowing the sides of buildings to function as solar collectors to generate enough electricity to power interior uses.

Unlike bulky photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, spray on solar cells use thin film nano particles instead of silicon as solar conductors.

Applied to the sides of structures that face the sun, the thin solar cells invisibly generate clean, green power.

Spray on solar is not limited to buildings, either.  Thin film solar technology is also used in clothing, and may one day be incorporated into automobile paint.

Advantages of Spray on Solar Cells

• More efficient than conventional solar panels
• Capable of generating ample electricity
• Hassle-free installation of solar technology
• Able to harness even infrared rays from the sun, allowing generation of solar power even on cloudy days

Third World regions benefit from solar power

This means that distributed generation solar power (produced and consumed on the same site) is key to bringing inhabitants of Third World regions the necessary advancements they need for health, safety and quality of life.   In other words, power plants likely will never serve these people.  They need solar panels installed in their villages so that the renewable energy resources can be tapped locally.

Why is it Important to Bring Solar to Third World Regions?

1.  Cost of Lighting

Kerosene and candles are often the only means of lighting living spaces in certain areas of the world.  Yet, they are disproportionately expensive for the impoverished people that rely on them.  One statistic states that the poorest fifth of the world pays one-fifth of the world’s lighting bill — but receives only .1 percent of the lighting benefits.  The cost of this energy is about $180/year, adding up to nearly $2000 over a decade.  The cost of kerosene depletes 25-30% of a poor family’s income.

Instead of kerosene and candles, a 40 watt home solar power system can be purchased for only $300 and will provide not only lighting, but also electricity to charge cell phones, run fans and power other electronic devices like computers and TVs.

2.  Environmental Safety

Use of kerosene is unhealthy and unsafe.  Lighting a room with a kerosene lamp can result in an increase in indoor pollution by ten-fold.  Each year about 1.5 million people die from this exposure.  When the lamps tip over, fires often start, harming or killing even more people each year.

3.  Health Reasons

Living off-grid, without traditional power sources, people in Third World countries often lack the ability to keep medications sufficiently chilled or food maintained at a safe temperature.  Electric refrigerators run on solar power can be a significant improvement in the quality of life.

How can we Bring Solar Power and Electricity to Third World Regions?

While the use of solar power by people in developing regions can vastly improve their lives, they do not have the funds up front to invest in the renewable energy resource.  In order to help bring distributed solar energy to the approximately 1.2 billion people who live off grid, experts agree that we need: (1) up front investment capital for the cost of solar panels and installation; (2) a way to recoup the annual cost of solar electricity generated by the installed systems (much less than the cost of kerosene); and (3) networks/partnerships to actually bring the solar panel systems to Third World regions.

With the cost of solar panels having dropped dramatically over the past few years, the resource is much more affordable for everyone.  Not only does that improve the prospects of bringing solar power to developing regions, but the overall health of the planet stands to benefit.  The annual carbon emissions from kerosene lighting is the equivalent of the greenhouse gases put out each year by the entire British economy!

In short, helping to bring solar to Third World countries will be life-changing for the people that live there, and the entire world.