Ryan Wiser is the author of the 2006 Solar Energy Report of the Solar Energy Industries Association and he says, “The vast majority of the solar PV installations occurring in the US at present are in California and New Jersey. Many other states also have aggressive programs to encourage solar photovoltaics but the results in California and New Jersey probably deserve particular note.”

[Via Forbes.com]
[Image from www.Renewables.com]

Post from: Blisstree

Oh Those Solar Homes

I know it may sound to be quite too hard especially for ordinary citizens but it does look like that living “off the grid” (meaning, without having to deal with regular utility bills) is very much possible. It is hard for we all have become used to just simply plugging in whatever device or gadget we have and that’s it. But some people are changing their lifestyles and getting the power from renewable sources of energy.

Pete Thornton is one of these off the grid-ers. What he did was he did go start from a total zero by building his own home so much so that he would be able to utilize power from alternative sources of energy. However, such a project was not because he really wanted to save the environment but because he says, “For the investment to bring power up here, it was actually cheaper to put in our own power system.”

Thornton did have a rough start at first but in the end, it does look like he’s the one who’s gaining a lot from doing such an off-the-grid project. Now, he sure is one of those examples we would have to look up to when we think just how possible can we live off the grid.

[Via ksl.com]
[Image from Chrononautic Log]

Post from: Blisstree

“Off the Grid”: Very Much Possible

Spinner did take out quite an interesting list just lately. This is about the top green musicians and just what makes them the best in being green. According to the writers of the list, these who are included on the list simply have gone beyond the usual efforts to keep our planet green.

• Dave Matthews Band – members of the band give out free bicycles so that instead of using vehicles, they could pedal their way to their destination. That’s free exercise and no emissions.
• Orbital – the used solar power to record their song ‘The Girl With the Sun in Her Head’ which was released in 1996. They also do insert environmental messages in their songs.
• Peter and the Wolf – the group decided to save up on money by traveling on the sea. They did not only save some cash but they also did lessen the amount of fumes being spewed out to our air.
• Bonnie Raitt – an environmental activist. She does lots of things to make others be more aware about our environmental situation. She is one of the founders of Musicians United for Safe Energy.
• Sarah Harmer – she and her crew do concerts so as to make people be more aware about commercialization and what could happen to nature because of it. She is the founder of the group Protecting Escarpment Rural Land.
• Cloud Cult – they make sure that all their CDs are eco-friendly. Their record label is Earthology Records. They use recycled jewel cases, nontoxic soy inks, recycled paper, and nontoxic biodegradable corn cellulose. Now how more eco-friendly can you get?

[Via Spinner]
[Image from Treehugger]

Post from: Blisstree

When Musicians Turn Green

Just imagine that time when we were about to meet the year 2000. The world was crazy about the Y2K bug. Well, when the clock struck twelve, nothing much happened. It was just a change of numbers and that was that.

But if you remember the heat of that time and we were all anxious about what could happen, that is the kind of heat that the youth feel when it comes to issues regarding the environment. And nature is one hot topic for the young ones. Not that it is something wrong. In fact, it is something quite important.

The United Nations did report that such a topic has been quite catchy among the youth. And in fact, as part of the World Environment Day, tons of youths did join in the fun and did show their concern about our environment.

Well, I guess this is pretty good news. And it would seem like we may have been destroying our environment before but we now are making up for that and passing on the right ways to the next generation.

[Via UN Chronicle Online Edition]
[Image from Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Parks District]

Post from: Blisstree

Youth’s Big Environmental Issue

Leno is saying that he would be using wind turbines made by PacWind. The turbines for Leno’s Green Garage would be able to create some 500 watts and its design is quite unique so much so that when tested it seems to be quite efficient. And this wind turbine has a name too – Seahawk.

The wind turbine in Leno’s Green Garage is going to be a vertical unit so much so that it does not consume much space. And when the wind blows hard, you would not even notice that the turbine is doing its job well for it would be silent as it works.

[Via Popular Mechanics]

Post from: Blisstree

Renewable Energy To Power Jay Leno’s Garage

Despite the high heat and the high temperature, Richard Eckman who resides in San Jose does not care much about it. After all, he can stay inside his home and be able to enjoy the coolness of his home’s temperature. And yes, he is getting cooled without spending much. He says about his solar power panel, “Since this system went in 1998, our PG&E bills have been zero. Except for gas, no electric bill.”

What Eckman has installed is a solar system that he has mounted on his roof. And that whole system is his source of energy so as to use all the electrical appliances in his house. And on this, Barry Cinnamon of Akeena Solar explains, “A combination of high energy prices and significant environmental problems has just contributed to long term increase in the demand for solar panel systems.”

They are saving much on electricity now and helping save the environment. How about you?

[Via ABC7]
[Image from Solar Power At Home]

Post from: Blisstree

Summer’s High Time For Solar Energy

If during previous years, the best of Silicon Valley were working on what would be the biggest things to happen to technology, it does look like times are a-changing. And the best of Silicon Valley are not pondering on what’s going to be a hit but they are now working on developing the kind of technology that would help out keep the environment greener.

Vinod Khosla is one of the top people in Silicon Valley and he asserts, “The best brains in the country are no longer working on the next pharmaceutical drug or the next Silicon Revolution. They want to work on energy.” And it is no secret anymore that these people of Silicon Valley are already working on and developing alternative energy which could range from wind energy to biofuels to power grids to solar power to fuel cells and to a whole lot more.

Although it may be so, Regis McKenna who is a marketing strategist, expresses, “We have yet to see any major successes. A lot happening right now is sort of a research-and-development wave for individual technologies, Silicon Valley and industry itself.”

[Via Yahoo! News]

[Image from Smart Meetings]

Post from: Blisstree

The Best Of Silicon Valley Talks On Alternative Energy

He may not be able to shout out loud but he has already gained much fame in his area around the San Francisco Bay. He may be called weird but his tactic sure did make people listen up to his advocacy.

His time for silence has already passed and now he is letting people learn about what he strongly believes in and he now shares his thoughts and ideas through speeches and messages. “I think it’s time for me to use my voice,” he explains.

He believes that his tactic sure did work because in the Bay Area, the noise could be overpowering but “because I didn’t speak, everyone paid attention” expresses Francis. But now, because he has decided to speak up again, he believes that he would well be able to express his advocacy just the same as he did during the silent times that the lived through.

[Via Yahoo! News]

Post from: Blisstree

Environment Advocate Makes Everybody Listen Through Silence

Well, if you did, you may want to keep on finding ways to make that dream come true. But if you were dreaming of being the first one to do a trans-Atlantic crossing with only solar power to help you, then you may have been a wee bit too late.

You see, Martin Vosseler has already done that deed. Vosseler is a Swiss doctor and he was using a motorboat which used solar energy as the source of power. So everything was quite clean and it all ended quite well for the doctor.

Vosseler started out his journey in a Spanish port last December and he arrived just recently in Florida. He was using a vessel that measured 14 meters and holds a roof using solar panels. And with that, Vosseler has been able to complete the crossing with a speed of 10 km. per hour.

[Via newswire.co.nz]

Post from: Blisstree

Trans-Atlantic Crossing Made Successful Thru Solar Power

I was checking my email when I received a forwarded message from a friend. As part of the email’s attachment was a poster-slash-teaser for a documentary entitled “An Inconvenient Truth”.

What caught my attention was the top portion which told me “10 Things To Do” and upon reading further, the list was actually comprised of things that one can do so as to help alleviate global warming.

Here is the complete list:

1. Change a light. Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

2. Drive less. Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more often. You’ll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don’t drive!

3. Recycle more. You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

4. Check your tires. Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere!

5. Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year).

6. Avoid products with a lot of packaging. You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut down your garbage by 10%.

7. Adjust your thermostat. Moving your thermostat just 2 degrees in winter can up 2 degrees in summer. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.

8. Plant a tree. A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

9. Turn off electronic devices. Simply turning off your television, DVD player, stereo, and computer when you’re not using them will save you thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

10. Spread the word.

[Image from Slapnose]

Post from: Blisstree

Mother Earth’s Situation: An Inconvenient Truth