Stephanie on August 30th, 2010

I’m sure that we can all agree that finding reliable alternative energy sources is critical in the coming decades.  Regardless of whether you believe that the planet is warming, we simply cannot continue to burn fossil fuels as if they will always be available for our use. Obviously, I’m a proponent of solar power since [...]

Continue reading about Solar Energy Disadvantages

Stephanie on August 9th, 2010

The 25th annual European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference is next month in beautiful Valencia, Spain. Combined with the 5th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion, the conference runs from September 6-10, 2010. As a world-wide leader in solar energy, Spain is the perfect location for the Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference.   The official website describes the [...]

Continue reading about 25th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference

Stephanie on August 7th, 2010

Its probably not a proposition that you’ve considered, even as news that the BP oil spill is more than 3 times the size of the Exxon Valdez catastrophe is released this week.  But what if BP spilled solar panels instead of oil? One Block Off the Grid, which offers bulk discounts on solar panels, has [...]

Continue reading about If BP Spilled Solar Panels Instead of Oil

Stephanie on August 5th, 2010

In the past, we’ve blogged about solar roadways – that is, driving surfaces covered with PV panels that can generate energy.  As we noted previously: Solar Roadways, a company based in the northern part of Idaho (www.solarroadways.com) … hopes to take its idea of “structurally-engineered solar panels” that can be driven upon, and literally pave [...]

Continue reading about Let’s Drive on Solar Roadways

Stephanie on August 1st, 2010

Lest you wonder whether the housing market will ever recover in the U.S., now comes word that the nation’s two largest mortgage lenders – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – have effectively killed solar financing.  What next, you might ask? Property Assessed Clean Energy loans (commonly known as PACE), which allow homeowners to install solar [...]

Continue reading about Federal Mortgage Lending Programs Kill Solar Financing

Stephanie on July 29th, 2010

No matter where you are in the world, solar power can be harnessed for clean, fossil-fuel free energy. On the island of Tenerife (the largest of the Canary Islands), a utility scale solar facility draws on the sunshine from this area known as “Eternal Spring,” off the western coast of Africa.  Even though its a [...]

Continue reading about Solar Power Generation in Tenerife

Amazon.com Operate your favorite gadgets anywhere with the Xantrex XPower Powerpack Solar. This portable solar device provides 400 watts of household power to run appliances and electronics. The Powerpack Solar’s solar panel continuously captures, stores, and converts the sun’s energy and extends the runtime of many portable devices. Two AC outlets, a DC socket, and [...]

Continue reading about Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display

Stephanie on July 14th, 2010

If you enjoy boating as much as I do, you know what a pain it can be to hoist and lower your boat into the water.  Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about wiring your dock with electricity for an automatic boat lift.  Solar powered boat lifts use (and store) energy from the sun.  The [...]

Continue reading about Where to Buy Solar Powered Boat Lifts

Stephanie on July 12th, 2010

What if, when you bought a new home, solar energy was part of the overall package?  That is, along with a garage, windows and roof, can you imagine if solar panels were part of the deal? Well, its happening in California.  At “The Preserve at Vista Del Verde,” in Yorba Linda, a community of 90 [...]

Continue reading about Solar Energy Comes Standard in New California Homes

Stephanie on July 3rd, 2010

The bestselling alternative energy reference book in North America—now in an updated edition Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you’re looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power For Dummies, 2nd [...]

Continue reading about Solar Power Your Home For Dummies