Solar panels

by

California Solar Initiative

“California Solar Initiative (CSI) – Go Solar California.” California Solar

         Initiative (CSI) – Go Solar California. State of California, n.d. Web.

1 Mar. 2015.

http://www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/csi/index.php

 

The state of California is offering money to families that want to start using solar power in their homes. To qualify you need to get an energy audit and replace old and wasteful appliances and systems with newer more energy efficient systems. Your roof also needs to have a minimum level of sunlight daily hitting it in order to qualify for this offer. However the cost of the changes you have to make is almost always paid back many times over by energy cost reductions and the government money.

 

This is of huge importance to many for whom the up front payment is far too large to be conceivably payable. Many people know that in the long run their solar panels will pay for themselves in time but a twenty year turnover is too daunting for many people. Now with the slowly falling prices of solar panels and this and other similar programs that problem is slowly being resolved. With ever decreasing prices it may soon become easier to solely rely on solar energy than any other source.

by

Apple Solar Deal

Farr, Christina, and Nichola Groom. “Apple Investing $850 Million in

California Solar farm.” Fortune Apple Investing 850 Million in

         California Solarfarm Comments. Fortune, 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 20

Feb. 2015.

http://fortune.com/2015/02/10/apple-investing-850-million-in-california-solar-farm/

 

Apple stocks toped out over 700 billion for the first time ever; this momentous moment came with an impressive green energy statement as well. With the announcement that Apple would be receiving power for its new Head Quarters and for its other operations in California. This is an impressive benchmark, both for the sustainability of Apple’s system and for their company. The solar power station with be using solar panels built primarily in Arizona. The plant will also supply about 60,000 homes with solar power. This project will cost Apple 850,000,000 to complete and will cover approximately 2900 acres.

 

Thai is a huge step for Apple and California, Apple still no doubt uses highly polluting methods in their factories in China however and their actions could be seen as a smoke screen to try to divert attention from this fact. Whatever their reason this will hopefully encourage other large corporations to fund other projects similar to this one. Because even if they do not change the system by themselves they are, for all intents and purposes funding further development of solar technology. This is hugely important considering the need for funding that solar technology companies always have. If this investment spurs others to invest similarly then it is far and away one of the best things that could happen to the industry.

by

Worlds Largest Solar Plant

Roth, Sammy. “World’s Largest Solar Plant Opens in California Desert.”

USA Today. Gannett, 10 Feb. 2015. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.

 

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/02/10/worlds-largest-solar-plant-california-riverside-county/23159235/

 

 

the worlds larges solar plant has officially opened now in California. This not only marks the hopeful beginning to a new burst in growth in the solar industry but also a clear signal that the state loans program is both profitable for the state and hugely beneficial for the solar industry. This program, long derided by the conservative section of society as a loss of taxpayer money on risky endeavors. The completion of this project marks the fifth such plant that has been supported by the loans program, and the returns for the loans have so far kept to every single condition that they were given. This will hopefully mean that in the future more people can get these loans to build more such plants.

 

There is very little more important than finding ways to make funding Solar palatable to the conservative side of politics. As long as there is a clear green bottom line this goes a long way towards making it so. If funding solar becomes profitable there will soon be more and more companies that want to get in on the new business. This project is just one part of a larger series of such plants that are hopefully the budding start to a surge in solar energy production. Many green energy sources are growing exponentially, wind for example has been doubling globally each year. If this trend holds true for solar energy as it has for wind we could expect to see a sizable portion of our power generated by solar and that is not even considering the other energy sources.

 

by

Solar Map

“Welcome to the San FranciscoSolar Map!” San Francisco Solar Map.

City of San Francisco, n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2015.

 

http://sfenergymap.org (check it out!)

 

The city of San Francisco has created a Google maps page that outlines all the solar energy collection in the city. This “solar census” allows anyone to see the spread of solar energy collection in the city. It provides both a concentration map of the solar collection as well as an installation-by-installation map of the entire city. This allows anyone to see what businesses and city structures are producing clean energy. This knowledge can let people know what organizations are being environmentally conscious, and what organizations are being reckless in their energy consumption.

 

An educated populace is the first step toward green energy, if people don’t know about an issue they can’t get involved and make things happen. Knowledge is power, if this is indeed true then this Google Map, no doubt the product of a few tens of hours of work can provide a sweeping understanding of the clean energy situation in the city. If people become aware of which companies use solar energy and react to this by using their purchasing power accordingly it will suddenly become economically sensible to transition to solar power and more businesses will begin to switch over to solar.

by

Solar Fun in the Sun

“Northern California Solar Regatta.” SMUD Community Solar. SMUD,

n.d.Web. 18 Feb. 2015.

 

https://www.smud.org/en/about-smud/environment/renewable-energy/solar-regatta.htm

 

This is a boat racing event where teams from different high schools and colleges compete to build the fastest boat. There is a twist however, these boats are powered by solar energy that they collect as they race, meaning that the efficiency of energy collection is what is really being tested. This competition is open to all schools north of Fresno and is held in the Rancho Seco Recreational Area. SMUD loans out the solar panels to schools, due to the large price tag that is still associated with these products.

 

This is an incredible thing for the future of solar power. It is undeniable that very often seeing is believing. Having a program where young people can work with solar panels and build a machine that they can use to compete with other schools allows them to see solar energy at work directly. This in turn cements the concept to them as not only feasible but as an immediate solution to the energy problems of the future. These young people will go on carrying these ideas into their adulthood, spreading the idea and in all likelihood being more likely to install solar panels of their own.

by

Corporate Accountability

 

unknown.(August 26, 2014). Verizon On Track to Be No. 1 Solar-Power Producer

Among U.S. Communications Companies, Environmental News Network:

Energy, Retrieved September 18, 2014, from

http://www.enn.com/business/article/47756

 

 

Telecommunications company, Verizon, is set up to become the industries leader in solar energy. With the installation of eight new solar power systems and eight of their facilities Verizon will install 10.2 megawatts of solar. This added on to the already impressive 15 megawatts of solar power will make them the national leader in their industry with 25 megawatts of green energy produced. To reach this point Verizon has already invested $140 in the project and will now be spending $40 million more to finish the project. With the completion of the new installations Verizon will be one of the top ten competitors for most solar energy produced.

 

It is important to remember that in our country the heavyweights in economic maters are the corporations and conglomerates. Without the assistance of these groups our nation will never be powered by green energy. That said it is rare, though as we see here it does happen, that large companies pay attention to the growing concern for environmental damage. The few times this does happen I think it is important that we recognize and reward the company for doing it so that other try to emulate their success and in turn aid in saving the environment. This is something that I think we all need to do personally when we see a company, or any group, doing something that we approve of.

 

by

Clean, Safe, Renewable. Why Not?

Associated Press. “University of California Signs Major Solar Deal.”Washington Post. The

Washington Post, 8 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/university-of-california-signs-major-solar-deal/2014/09/08/12e30964-37b1-11e4-a023-1d61f7f31a05_story.html

 

The University of California has made one of the largest solar energy purchases by a university system in the entire United States. This solar energy project will provide enough solar power to offset the electricity use at five of the state’s 10 campuses, as well as some university medical centers. A San Mateo solar energy company will provide 80 megawatts in solar energy to the university campuses. The university schools have set a goal to be carbon-neutral across the California system by 2025.

 

This article shows how many universities in California want to improve the environment throughout California. This also shows how hard the university students have worked in order for this deal to be signed. I would say the students throughout California that are majoring in Environmental issues or Environmental Science at universities are the ones that have a big affect on this deal. I would say this is an excellent deal that has been signed; it manages the utility bill at universities very well. This is a very effective and innovative bill that has been signed for our future because it helps the environment in many ways; one being, the amount of energy used throughout the entire United States. We know that renewable resources is the way to go when it comes to getting energy.

 

by

Cleaner Energy for a Cleaner World

Overly, Steven. “Local Solar Energy Companies Have Enjoyed Growth in Recent Years. Will It

Continue?” Washington Post. The Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014.

Retrieved September 13, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/capitalbusiness/local-solar-energy-companies-have-enjoyed-growth-in-recent-years-will-it-continue/2014/08/29/8310cb3c-2ec3-11e4-9b98-848790384093_story.html

 

Many solar energy companies are expanding rapidly. The companies are experiencing growth and are doing financial well as a business. These companies are experiencing growth due to economic forces and government policies that have made renewable energy more attracted to customers. Due to the governments policies, the rapidly increasing solar energy companies will now have to face federal tax and solar has to compete with other renewable energy sources. The companies in the industry have enjoyed growth so far but with the federal tax, who knows if the growth will continue.

Competition of many companies in industries is very common. The solar energy companies should have predicted that they would soon have to face federal tax. And if for those companies who continue growing with the fact that they have to pay federal tax will have no competition with other renewable sources. But all this growth is meant to be a good thing, this only means that the amount of solar energy that is being demanded is helping out the environment a lot. It is also saying that solar energy is the highly renewable resource that is being mostly used today.

by

Giant battery packs that store Solar energy!

Roach, John. “Big Batteries Are Starting to Boost the Electric Grid – NBC News.” NBC News.

N.p., 5 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014, from http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/big-batteries-are-starting-boost-electric-grid-n172621

 

Many research labs are looking for innovative ways to take care of the environment and use solar energy. These researched have created a very effective way to use solar energy, along with wind energy. They have created rechargeable battery packs that is fossil fuel free and consists of solar & wind energy. The battery pack holds 3.6 megawatts that is rechargeable. Though, pricey they are very effective to conserving and cleaning up the environment. They take up little space and are usually placed near the solar or wind energy plant. The capacity of the megawatts that the storage holds will expand in 2020 to 11 gigawatts.

This article relates to environmental science because it relates how we can conserve the environment with rechargeable battery packs that get energy from solar or wind. Currently there are many researches finding new ways they can help the process of solar energy. This research group in Pullman, Washington, Avista Corp., did just that. It was a long process to come upon the rechargeable battery packs but in the end it was successful. And if any flaws they would fix it immediately. I believe this is an interesting way to use solar energy. I have never heard of battery packs until the day of research, i find it very effective and believe companies should invest in this rechargeable battery pack along with solar panels.

by

Solar energy in rainy Seattle?

Roach, John. “Home Solar Panels Make Gains in America, Even in Rainy Seattle – NBC News.”

NBC News. N.p., 4 Aug. 2014. Web. 16 Sept. 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2014, from http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/home-solar-panels-make-gains-america-even-rainy-seattle-n169021

 

Solar energy is expanding everywhere and fast. Seattle, being known for its rainy weather, has invested in solar energy. Though, the solar panels can be pricey, people managed to put solar panels on their home roofs to try and minimize their utility bill. These Seattle homeowners are encouraging everyone across America to invest in solar panels because in the long run it will be very beneficial to them. One might say, “really? solar panels in rainy Seattle that’s ludicrous.” Yes there is sun in Seattle, and all that sun can be absorbed from the solar panels. It has been said that 54% of solar installation will increase in 2015 by the Solar Energy Industries Association. This percentage is increasing by the years.

This Article shows how many people, even in rainy cities, are investing in solar energy for their homes. Many people are saving money by using solar panels; they are saving a lot on their utility bill. The increasing percentage of solar installation by the years is increasing rapidly. This is a good sign because it shows that people want to help out their environment. Solar energy helps out the environment a lot; there’s no need for other effective ways to get energy other than solar energy. It is amazing to know that there are people who care and want a better future for their environment.