I am a big believer in electric vehicles (EVs) and plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as the transportation of the future. While electric battery-powered cars are much greener than their fossil-fuel combustion engine counterparts, some people are concerned that coal-fired power plants still put out emissions, so electric cars may not be so clean [...]
Continue reading about Solar Powered Electric Vehicle Stations in Switzerland
I have long been blogging about electric vehicles (EVs) and their promise to get us off of fossil fuels for commuting and more. If you own or are considering an EV, why not tap into solar power for its fuel? Owners of electric vehicles stand to save $60,000 in fuel costs, not to mention significant [...]
The United States Department of Energy (USDOE) announced this week a commitment to invest $60 million in concentrating solar power (CSP) technology. Used for utility scale solar power plants, CSP consists of large, parabolic reflective mirrors, which concentrate sunlight to superheat water, creating steam and turning turbines for electricity. CSP is also referred to as [...]
Continue reading about Government Investment in Concentrating Solar Power Technology
For people wondering about the relative costs between renewable energy and grid-based (usually coal or gas) electricity, the biggest question is, can solar power be as cheap as coal? Granted, installing solar panels requires an upfront investment, but the decision of whether or not to go solar often depends on how quickly you can recoup [...]
How does solar thermal compare to solar PV? If you are asking the question, then you probably need to know the major differences between the two renewable energy systems that use the power of the sun. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power is probably what you are most familiar with. PV panels are the blue-shaded rectangular installations [...]
Continue reading about How does Solar Thermal Compare to Solar PV?
Sure, you’ve heard all about global climate change, and maybe you’re concerned about the rising cost of utilities. No matter your political allegiance, your income, or other factors, we want to know – what would it take to convince you to switch to solar power? Let me be clear: we have no dog in this [...]
Continue reading about What Would it Take to Convince You to Switch to Solar Power?
Would it surprise you to learn that solar power and other renewable resources are favored 2:1 by American citizens over traditional energy resources like coal and gas? Recently, two polling companies, representing each of the major political parties in the U.S., determined that twice as many U.S. citizens favor solar and clean energy than those [...]
Solar thermal power is quite different than solar PV power. The latter uses traditional solar panels, usually installed on rooftops or ground-mounted to generate solar electricity. PV power can be generated by individual installations, or via utility-scale solar power plants. Solar thermal, on the other hand, is a large-scale utility-scale operation. Solar thermal energy is [...]
Continue reading about Solar Thermal Compared to Solar PV Power
Solar power in California is turning out to be one of the most tapped into renewable resources. Residential solar power is highest in San Jose and San Diego. Bakersfield represents the third largest solar market in California. Cloudy, foggy San Francisco rates number four in the number of solar panel installations on homes, according to [...]
Now that its time to start thinking about decorating your home for the holidays, consider seasonal solar lights. Instead of strands of incandescent bulbs that rely on electrical power, save money and reduce your carbon footprint with outdoor solar powered lights. Think that outdoor solar lights are dim and hard to see? Think again! LED [...]
