Alternative Energy HQ solar power for homes, wind energy, and bio fuel issues

It’s a vision that would make the University of Iowa one of the top solar energy using universities in the country. “All over campus, on top of the dorms, even small little car charging points where students can plug their electric bikes into,” said Tim Dwight, who formed the Iowa Solar and Small Wind Energy Trade Association. Dwight is now …

California’s big solar farms have surpassed a new milestone amid the late summer heat, reaching one gigawatt of electrical generation capacity, the state’s main grid operator said Tuesday. The state’s large-scale solar fields hit a new peak in production on Friday at nearly 1.1 gigawatts, or 1.1 billion watts, according to the California Independent System Operator. That peak output, which …

SolEnergy owner Ken Olson has seen remote villages in Central America with no light. He knows the impact a small, two-watt solar panel can make. “What does strike me is the great gap between these two worlds,” he said, of his recent travels to El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. “On one hand, we provide two-watt systems, basically the panel is …

Global climate models may be overstating the warming properties of black carbon particles, according to new research led by the University of California, Davis. The study will be published online Aug. 31 in the journal Science. “Our results don’t change the fact that things are going to warm — just to what degree, literally,” said Christopher Cappa, a UC Davis …

Solar gardens to bloom on Colorado rooftop, farm field and parking lot Denver Post Where do you plant a solar garden? In Colorado they’ll be found on the roof of an old airplane hangar, on pillars hovering over a vegetable field and a school parking lot. Those are a few of the place that the first solar gardens – photovoltaic …

Building-Integrated Wind Power System The largest building-integrated wind power system in the U.S. is now spinning on the roof of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF), thanks to a collaboration between Venger Wind and SWG Energy. Venger Wind installed a series of 18 vertical axis wind turbines (their own V2 model) as a part of OMRF’s sustainability strategy of producing …

According to EnergyTrend, the green energy research division of TrendForce, the demand in PV market remained sluggish. Outlook for September appears bleak, and the expected demand rebound may not occur. On the other hand, shrinking end-market subsidies has affected the return on investment (ROI) of solar systems. Manufacturers and makers have become less flexible when it comes to cost control …

Actor and environmental advocate and Energy Upgrade CA in LA County spokesperson, Ed Begley, Jr., gives easy, do-it-yourself tips for homeowners looking to reduce their energy use. This segment highlights how homeowners can easily compost any yard clippings, food scraps, and other organic waste materials and replenish soil nutrients in their yards with the resulting compost. Making your own compost …

New solar financing methods help houses of worship go green in California They span the range of religions and faiths. New solar financing tools now enable houses of worship throughout California to go solar and reduce their energy expenses. Berkeley’s Sun Light & Power has pioneered solar installations for non-profits and houses of worship in the Bay Area and throughout …

Smokerspack asked: Renault’s march toward an electric future continues and Bob gets a chance to drive the Fluence ZE on the roads in Ireland. See the exclusive video here first

It’s not a difficult formula: the lighter a car is, the less fuel it needs to consume. So why aren’t all of our cars lighter and more fuel-efficient? The answer is a little more complicated. These days, drivers want a host of safety, entertainment and comfort features that ultimately make cars heavier. Lighter weight cars are more fuel-efficient, but they …

Anti-Dumping Cases between U.S., China, and Europe Render August European solar companies jointly filed an anti-dumping complaint to the EU against Chinese solar firms. In the meantime, the Chinese government is debating launching an anti-dumping investigation on multi-Si product imports from foreign companies. To top it all off, the United States’ final ruling on the anti-dumping and anti-countervailing cases will …

How your business can save energy this summer With summer upon us, now is the time for businesses to take steps to save energy before the temperature rises. Upgrading to high-efficiency cooling equipment and lighting are two ways businesses can use less energy and improve comfort this summer. Here are some specific tips to stay cool, save energy and keep …

drive asked: It has 17hp and might ***** 60mph if you drove it off a small cliff face. The Twizy is a part of Renault’s EV adventure: it has a 60 mile range.

100% Recycling Actor and environmental advocate and Energy Upgrade CA in LA County spokesperson, Ed Begley, Jr., gives easy, do-it-yourself tips for homeowners looking to reduce their energy use. This segment highlights recycling practices in the home and the importance of buying recycled products for the home. Other Energy Saving Tips: Number one Number two Number three Number six

Energy and Environmentally Conscious Laundry Habits Actor and environmental advocate and Energy Upgrade CA in LA County spokesperson, Ed Begley, Jr., gives easy, do-it-yourself tips for homeowners looking to reduce their energy use. This segment highlights how homeowners can do laundry in the most energy efficient and environmentally conscious way possible. Other Energy Saving Tips: Number one Number two Number …

Thermostat Episode Actor and environmental advocate and Energy Upgrade CA in LA County spokesperson, Ed Begley, Jr., gives easy, do-it-yourself tips for homeowners looking to reduce their energy use. This segment highlights how to use an energy conserving thermostat to regulate heating and cooling air in the home. Other Energy Saving Tips: Number one Number three Number four

Thermostat Episode Actor and environmental advocate and Energy Upgrade CA in LA County spokesperson, Ed Begley, Jr., gives easy, do-it-yourself tips for homeowners looking to reduce their energy use. This segment highlights “vampire power,” or those electronics sucking electricity but giving you nothing in return, and energy efficient lights for the home. Other Energy Saving Tips: Number two Number three …

Special shout out for this project just launched in Maine. Tidal power goes online with a FERC license and purchase agreement. Hats off to those who made it possible. The ocean is a tremendous bank of energy. Covering more than two-thirds of our planet, the amount of energy embodied in the ocean’s tides, currents, and waves, not to mention temperature …