Clean Edison Blog

By Suttida Yang

The growth of solar power is continuing its trend upwards and so is the amount of promoted DIY solar panel kits out on web. DIY solar panel kits may seem like the ideal solution as you may initially think it’s going to help cut down on cost; however, this isn’t necessarily the case.  Professional solar installers go through a significant amount of training to be experts in their trade, with some even receiving advanced accreditations like a NABCEP Certification.

Here are six reasons why you shouldn’t go the DIY solar route:

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by Frank Sherman,

(reposted with permission from Alpine Green Solutions Blog)

2012 ends as a year of uncertainty. Uncertainty about the political landscape, uncertainty about climate change, and uncertainty about business have weighed heavily on our clients minds. At least the Mayan calendar did not end. What is certain is that 2013 looks to be a good year.

Energy plays a significant role as we look ahead to 2013. It fuels and impedes business success. It causes global climate change yet holds many of the solutions to this crisis. The politics of energy reflect the transformation that is happening throughout our economy. Old ways are dying and old industries and business practices are becoming relics relegated to the LA Brea Tar Pits of time. The more entrenched businesses and industries become, the more they sink into the past. Innovation, technology, and new economic models are creating the next generation of great businesses, and their approach to energy is critical to their success.

We look at 2013 as a year for performance and it reflects our optimism for all the business opportunity we see across the country. We sense this in conversations with our clients and our colleagues. Businesses are looking ahead and planning for long term growth and success. 2013 looks like it will be the year of the long play, where smart investments position businesses for future success. Here are a few trends to take advantage of in 2013.

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Warming Slopes, Shriveled Revenues

Snow can be an entrancing sight or an exhausting burden, but for communities dependent on winter sports, it is one thing above all else: revenue.

In recent years, however, the cold cash that used to fall from the sky, giving an economic boost to 38 states, has become less reliable. Winters are getting warmer, less snow is falling, and snow seasons are starting later and ending earlier.

A new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the climate-themed industry group Protect Our Winters takes a look at the possible impacts of climate change on the nation’s $12.2 billion snow sports industry and the 211,900 jobs it supports.

Read more at the NYTimes Green Blog

Solar Power Installation Prices Fell 14% in Past Year

The price of installing solar power for homeowners and businesses fell 11-14% in 2011 and in the first six months of 2012, new stats from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory show. In the fist six months of this year, California saw even greater drops in the cost of installing solar panels, an additional 3-7% above the national figures.

The report indicates that the median installed price of PV systems installed in 2011 was $6.10 per watt (W) for residential and small commercial systems smaller than 10 kilowatts (kW) in size and was $4.90/W for larger commercial systems of 100 kW or more in size. Utility-sector PV systems larger than 2,000 kW in size averaged $3.40/W in 2011.

Read more at TreeHugger

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The question “What is Solar Power” tends to mean different things depending on who’s asking. This article is going to attempt to answer the question from every perspective and level of education. Whether you want to know about the physics of the sun’s energy, interested in how this energy gets converted into useable electricity and heat, wondering whether you should get solar panels on your home or business, or are an electrician looking for whether it’s important to get solar training, we aim to answer your questions in a simple and easily understandable way.

THE PHYSICS OF THE SUN’S POWER

The sun is by far the most significant source of energy on earth, in fact, until the discovery of nuclear power, it was the only. The sun’s heat creates the different air pressures that cause the winds to blow. The energy from the sun is changed into chemical energy for plants, which in turn support animal and human life – and provide energy for our daily tasks. Even fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, were formed as a result of decomposing plants, originally supported by the sun’s energy.

Formed 4.6 billion years ago, our sun is brighter than about 85% of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The scale of our sun is difficult to comprehend; it is 109 times larger than earth, 93 million miles away, and it takes 8 minutes and 19 seconds for its light to reach earth. Still, enough energy hits the earth every hour to supply global energy demands for one year. The trick is harnessing it.

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Where are the Green Jobs?

CleanEdison research indicates that nearly 3 million people will be employed in the green economy by the end of 2020.

When we look at job creation and industry growth in areas such as energy efficiency, solar energy, and smart grid technology, we see tremendous growth potential. We estimate that by the end of 2020, nearly 1 million people will be employed in these sectors and nearly 3 million people will be employed in the green economy as a whole.

As Seen in Bloomberg News

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Vote Solar Initiative and IREC released the 2012 findings of Freeing the Grid, a policy report that grades all 50 states on two key programs: net metering and interconnection procedures. Together, these policies empower American energy consumers to use rooftop solar and other small-scale renewables to meet their own electricity needs.

Freeing the Grid is produced by IREC and Vote Solar in partnership with the North Carolina Solar Center, which manages the DSIRE database. Its grading methodology was also adopted for use in the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, which aims to reduce the cost of going solar by 75% before the end of the decade.

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If you look around the neighborhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil from above, you may find a very interesting sight. Bottle tops poking out in the ceiling around the entire neighborhood. What are those bottles for?

In 2002, during an energy crisis and blackout, Alfredo Moser, an engineer in Brazil, discovered that he could escape from working in the dark by hanging water-filled bottles in the roof of his workshop. “On average, the bottles produce as much light as a 50 Watt incandescent bulb,” Electric Engineer Clivenor de Araujo Filho, says after he measured every bottle’s light intensity.

A solar bottle lamb is made by a 2-liter soda bottle with clean water, two lid-fulls of bleach and a camera film dispenser to protect the lid from the sun. The physics of the concept are straightforward: the bottles are placed in roofs – half outside, half inside – and their lower portions refract light like 60-Watt light bulb but without the need for a power source. A few drops of bleach serve to keep the water clear, clean and germ-free for years to come.

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Once you’ve decided to implement solar energy alternatives at your residence or place of business, the next logical step is to choose a reliable solar installer. But how do you find the solar installer that’s right for you? Selecting any installer online or in the Yellow Pages isn’t always the smartest choice. Here are a few tips to find the best solar installers in your area:

• Look for the Right Credentials: A solar installer should be certified by the NABCEP, the most respected national standard certification program in the solar industry at the moment. There are two NABCEP certifications: an entry level and a full professional installer certification, so be sure to look for the latter. This will guarantee that your installer also has at least two years of hands-on experience in the field. Checking with the Better Business Bureau is always a good choice as well.
• Look for the Right Experience: If an installer doesn’t have the NABCEP certification, make sure they have several years of hands-on experience and come with good recommendations in-tow. Look for training experience as well; though you should keep in mind that many of the formal degree and training programs in the field are fairly new. Keep in mind that while traditional electricians are experienced with standard electrical systems, this does not mean they are capable of a full PV installation.
• Look Closely at Warranties/Compare Quotes: Explore the warranties surrounding the parts installers use. This will give you information about when you will need to replace parts and overall costs for the system. Remember that low prices may not always be the best choice in the long run, as you’ll want your system to last a long time in order to have the largest return on investment. Compare quotes from several different companies and use your intellect and instincts to determine which is the best fit for you!

In short, do your research and trust your instincts. If a company offers the lowest rates in town, make sure their service is up-to-par as well. Do you have any other tips for choosing a reliable solar installer? We’d love to hear from you, so feel free to leave comments!

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Have you heard of Socrates’ Megaron House? This structure is an excellent example of an ancient structure that utilizes a passive solar design. (Passive solar uses sunlight efficiently to reduce energy demand, as opposed to using sunlight and heat to increase supply). Here a few tips anyone interested in passive solar one can learn from the great philosopher’s construction.

• Open towards a southern sight: A beautiful and natural southern site is aesthetically pleasing, and a southern orientation makes full use of the solar light and heat in the wintertime and protects the interior from hot sunlight during the summer months.
• Use architecture wisely: Using more narrow architecture towards the northern cold side and featuring storage spaces and stairs provides hot and cold protection for the predominant living areas.
• Use natural barriers: Barriers such as small hills protect the home from cold northeastern winds.
• Employ a Trombe wall: A large wall that is separated from nature by an air space and glazing, this wall soaks up solar energy and releases it selectively inside the dwelling at night using the heat from the winter sun. During warm months, the wall stays cold due to the protective terrace above it.
• Build in a way that allows air to circulate: This allows for comfortable temperatures year-round. Using building materials with favorable thermal masses increases the effectiveness of this type of design.

Sunlight has influenced building design since architecture itself developed, but advanced solar energy techniques were first employed by the Chinese and the Greeks, who constructed their buildings toward the south to take full advantage of the warmth and light the sun provides.

Is your home oriented towards the south? If so, have you seen a positive impact on your heating and cooling bills? Let us know how your home’s solar orientation has impacted you and your family. Comments are always welcome!

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CleanEdison

One of our stand-out experts and trainers in the solar energy field is Michael Cafiero, a qualified specialist with over 12 years of practical experience and several certifications, such as OSHA, NABCEP PV Installer, NABCEP Technical Sales, and more. Michael also leads Small Wind training camps and has installed solar hot air, wind turbines, and solar electric installations for residential and commercial sites throughout his career.

In a recent interview, Michael answered some of our pressing questions about his important role in the solar industry:

When asked why he chose to enter the solar industry, Michael answered that he wanted to be a part of clean, anti-pollution efforts and to protect the environment by making more sustainable choices. In this way, he strives to make solar more mainstream by showing how everyone has the ability to do his/her part and make “greener” decisions.

Michael often jokes about his devotion to the sun, and he always seems to be sunburned from doing activities outside. He believes that all energy comes from the sun; for example, without sun, there could be no wind power. The sun is always available for our use and is the most simple and accessible form of renewable energy. Once he realized this, he knew that promoting this type of energy was one of the most fulfilling actions he could take.

When asked where he sees the solar industry 20 years from now, Michael argues that it should grow tremendously, to the point where it could be seen everywhere from boats and automobiles to other electronics, and even windows, as there’s potential for solar energy to come in many different forms, sizes, and materials. As the government continues to add incentives for sustainable energies and more citizens become educated about how they can have a positive impact, it’s sure to become more popular each year.

Do you see the solar industry going the same places our instructor Mike Cafiero does? Let us know what you think! In the meantime, feel free to contact us for more information about our comprehensive solar training programs.

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