Carrie Cullen Hitt, VP of State Affairs with SEIA explains to Meg Cichon the conflict between PV owners and utilities over net-metering. Utilities are questioning how useful the practice is for them. Hitt says it isn’t a battle yet, but it could be. source Gas prices

The premise behind the zero energy homes is that you have a house that not only generates its own energy through renewable energy sources but also has less of an initial carbon impact with the materials that are used to build the house. The theory is that you end up with a carbon neutral home. Zero energy homes and similar …

Part 3 of our discussion with Michael Gorton, CEO of Principal Solar. Part two is here, part one here We continue our discussion about mass market solar energy development with Michael Gorton. Today we are talking about the impact that wide spread solar development can have on jobs and growth of our economy. Kevin: If you could, before we close …

Despite difficult times economically over the last few years in the US, the solar market has been taking off, dramatically increasing the percentage of energy coming from clean, renewable sources. This growth has largely been thanks to a combination of factors. Consumer demand has dramatically increased due to mounting awareness of solar panels as an easy-to-install home improvement – they …

So you want to go green. But where do you start? Unless your sibling or significant other happens to be a green energy specialist or sustainable living expert, the path to true eco-friendliness and energy efficiency is difficult to take. Often times homeowners will simply spend money on perceived fixes because some TV talking head said so, while failing to …

Solar power can be used in agriculture to save money, reduce carbon emissions and increase self-reliance As governments, large corporations and homeowners alike seek to lessen their impact on the environment they live and work in, farmers too are looking to cut their emissions and work with the land instead of against it. Eco-friendly farming has been going on for …

With the ever rising prices of electricity bills, dwindling supplies of fossil fuel resources and the urgent need for solutions to climate change, solar power is rapidly becoming known as a viable solution for environmentally and budget conscious homeowners. Solar panels comprise of photovoltaic cells, fitting on the roof of a house to convert sunlight into energy which can power …

A Case for Energy Efficiency Rebate Program by Katia Lundy, Sr. Marketing Specialist, Member of the Con Edison Green Team If you think it’s hard trying to get a loan from a bank or selling real estate in this economy, try “selling” money. Well, not actually selling money but giving generous rebates and incentives for energy efficiency projects. The sales …

Utilities worry about a lot of things, such as keeping the lights on, earning a return for investors, and making regulators and customers happy with their service. Now there is a new worry: How can they protect customers from what one utility refers to as “mental fatigue?” By Elisa Wood January 11, 2012 In this particular case, the utility raises …

Since ancient times, individuals have depended on fossil fuels for their energy requirements. Coal was essentially the most utilized source of energy. Gradually the dominance of coal gave solution to petroleum. Control of the oil resources has played a most important role in world economic climate and politics. However, each of these fuels are finite. But long ago, they actually …

Guest post today from our friend Dan Auld who is a San Diego writer whose stories about solar at Wal-Mart and Google and other alternative energy sources. This article points out some interesting stuff about the issues that the solar installation business needs to be aware of in order to survive these hard economic times. Not sure if Rush should …

What is solar photovoltaic suitable for? On this period of unsure career and economic difficulty, a lot of homeowners are looking at installing solar photovoltaic for electricity. Although start-up prices are bigger than other renewable technologies, photovoltaic solar cells have vital advantages and benefits which should be considered. You’ll know what is solar photovoltaic suitable for as you read more. …

EV Connect and ClipperCreek Reach Major Milestone for Improving California’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure 100th deployment marks solid progress toward statewide upgrade of 600+ EV charging stations CULVER CITY, California, November 16, 2011 — In an effort to give California’s electric vehicle (EV) drivers greater access to quality charging stations and upgrade the state’s existing infrastructure, EV Connect, a leading provider …

Despite great leaps in solar panel technology, the biggest obstacle hindering their widespread use is quite pedestrian: stubbornly high installation costs. While the cost of panels has dropped by half since 2007, total installation costs, which include panels, labor and additional equipment, declined just 20% over the same period. Charlie Korman, manager of Solar Energy programs at GE’s Global Research …

PITTSBORO, NC – Miraverse Power and Light, Piedmont Biofuels, Southern Energy Management, and Piedmont Biofarm are pleased to announce their “Solar Double Cropping” project in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The endeavor consists of an elevated 92.16 kilowatt solar array that will generate electricity above the north field of Piedmont Biofarm, while sustainable produce is harvested at the ground level. The nine-foot …

Washington, D.C. – Global production of biofuels increased 17 percent in 2010 to reach an all-time high of 105 billion liters, up from 90 billion liters in 2009. High oil prices, a global economic rebound, and new laws and mandates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, and the United States, among other countries, are all factors behind the surge in production, …

GOING SOLAR PROGRAM Thanks To The New American Vision Solar™ Power Purchase Agreement Solar panels create a ‘green’, pollution-free source for heat, light and electricity. The technology has been around for a while, in fact, because satellites utilize solar panels, we already rely on solar power for many of the gadgets we use everyday from cell phones to GPS systems …

A large amount of people are starting to realize it’s feasible to continue enjoying all the modern amenities they became used to while also experiencing the independence of off grid living. Off grid living means exactly that – living off the grid. You can enjoy freedom from power lines, electrical bills and the sky-rocketing rates being charged by resources corporations …

The study used publicly-available data in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The analysis, entitled “Toxic Power: How Power Plants Contaminate Our Air and States” was jointly released today by NRDC and Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR).

Solar panels for homes which convert the sun’s rays to generate electricity have many great benefits to homeowners and our planet altogether. Nowadays, with so many homeowners switching to solar energy to power their electricity needs, solar energy has grown in demand. Its efficiency, durability and environment friendliness have contributed in its popularity. 1. Economical Electricity rates have been sharply …