Build It Solar has a great DIY article about an easy solar hot water heater (a thermosyphon system) made by a resident of Costa Rica named Peter. Peter wanted to build a simple, rugged, inexpensive system to provide hot water for showers: Like most houses in Costa Rica, our casita in Monteverde had no hot water. Our two showers were fitted with electric shower heads. At … [Read more...]
Family pays $26,750 for solar panels never received
A family in Belleville, Illinois paid A1 Energy, LLC $26,750 for solar panels they never received. Fifteen months after payment, they’re still waiting for the panels. They’re not alone – after complaining to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the BBB found other victims and lowered A1 Energy’s rating to F, which in this case probably stands for an expletive. A … [Read more...]
U.S. solar market grows 41%, record year in 2013
We all know solar is getting big, but these numbers are impressive: according to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association's (SEIA) Solar Market Insight Year in Review 2013, photovoltaic (PV) installations increased 41% over 2012 and reached 4,751 megawatts (MW). Solar was the number two source of new electricity following natural gas, and the cost of solar … [Read more...]
Easy, portable solar kits from Goal Zero
Portable solar power kits provide a easy way to get off the grid with a minimum of effort, and there are now a large number of portable solar solutions for mobile phones, GPS devices, computers, and even medical devices. These are a boon to today’s plugged-in travelers as well as the more rugged, off-the-grid types – and of course, we love how these products push green thinking … [Read more...]
Quick links: 3 stories about electric cars
Hybrid car challenge in UAE – if you’ve ever visited the UAE, you know people drive like crazy there. Now they'll drive like crazy in hybrids. Readers talk up Smart cars – and if you’ve visited Europe, you’ve undoubtedly seen a lot of electric cars from Smart. Their whole lineup is interesting. How much money would you save by solar charging an electric car? (The quick … [Read more...]
Solar Powered Car from Ford for 2014
Ford will debut a solar-powered electric car at the Consumer Electronics Show next week. The car, a concept vehicle not ready for dealer showrooms, is a version of the C-Max Energi plug-in car already sold by Ford (F, Fortune 500). Like the C-Max Energi, the new C-Max Solar Energi can go 21 miles on electricity between charges. It then can switch over and run on gasoline until … [Read more...]
DIY Solar Panel Kits from Silicon Solar
DIY solar panel kits are specifically designed for home do-it-yourselfers, experimenters, students and anyone interested in learning about solar power from the ground up. If you’re one of those people who learns best by doing, or just loves tinkering around with things and putting them together, a DIY solar panel kit is one of the best, most exciting and most fulfilling ways to … [Read more...]
Pure Energies Teams with WWF to Power with Solar
PURE Energies has teamed up with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to launch a new program to help Americans lower their household energy costs and reduce their personal impact on climate change. Starting today through September 2014, each homeowner who signs up for solar through the One Block Off the Grid (1BOG) online solar marketplace on WWF's Renewable, It's Doable website, 1BOG … [Read more...]
After Hurricane Sandy
In late October, when super storm Sandy came charging through the east coast of the United States, most renewable energy systems were left pretty much untouched. That was a good thing for most people, but when the power went out it seemed that the grid tied systems that were in place were unable to power up the system to any usable level. In all but a few cases, most residents … [Read more...]
MaxPower CS6X Solar Panels
In an interesting development from DNM Solar, the new MaxPower CS6X 300 watt model has been introduced. The MaxPower CS6X is a robust solar panel with 72 solar cells, and the noteworthy feature with these modules is the darker blue silicon material they use that absorbs more light. As everyone knows, the darker the material, the more light absorbed. It is kind of strange that … [Read more...]
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