Posts Tagged solar

LA’s Solar Power, Green Jobs Potential Largely Untapped

“World Bank financing has help put solar power systems on more than 300,000 homes and small businesses in Bangladesh. Working with its local partners, the World Bank’s International Development Association IDA’s Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Project (RERED), is aiming to boost that to more than 1 million with an additional $172 million credit facility.

Imagine what could be done here in the US if local, state and the federal government really got behind and supported solar and renewable energy. A lot of potential lies untapped, in many cases solely due to a lack of political will and determination.

An academic study conducted by researchers from UCLA and USC found that there’s a wealth of untapped human resources in LA just waiting to be employed in the solar energy industry. City and civic leaders have thus far failed to enact policies that would take advantage of it, however.”

LA’s Solar Power, Green Jobs Potential Largely Untapped via Andrew Burger – Triple Pundit

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Here Comes the Sun: Ford and SunPower Team up to Let Focus Electric Customers ‘Drive Green for Life’

  • Ford and SunPower  team up to provide a high-efficiency rooftop solar system that will provide Focus Electric owners enough renewable energy production to offset the energy used for charging.
  • The 2.5 kilowatt SunPower system will produce an estimated 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. SunPower systems are backed by a 25-year warranty.
  • Ford’s aggressive electrification strategy includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and Europe by 2013. The new Focus Electric is a zero-emissions, gasoline-free version of Ford’s popular global Focus model.

Dearborn, Mich., Aug. 10, 2011 – Ford and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) have teamed up to offer customers a rooftop solar system that will allow Focus Electric owners to “Drive Green for Life” by providing customers with enough clean, renewable energy to offset the electricity used to charge the vehicle.

“Under the ‘Drive Green for Life’ program, Focus Electric owners can reduce their total cost of ownership by generating enough energy from their high efficiency SunPower rooftop solar system to offset the electricity required to charge the vehicle at night,” said Mike Tinskey, Ford director of Global Vehicle Electrification and Infrastructure. “It’s an eco-friendly solution that perfectly complements our plug-in products and other green initiatives.”

“SunPower’s innovative partnership with Ford is a win-win for customers, providing a comprehensive sustainability program,” said Tom Werner, SunPower president and CEO. “By taking advantage of this program, Focus Electric customers can receive the added benefit of installing a SunPower solar system, the highest-efficiency, most reliable on the market today, generating the electricity needed to charge their vehicles.”

The 2.5 kilowatt rooftop solar system is comprised of the SunPower® E18 Series solar panels that produce an average of 3,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. These high-efficiency solar panels generate approximately 50 percent more electricity than conventional panels and utilize a smaller footprint on the roof. The system was sized to accommodate a customer who drives about 1,000 miles per month.

The complete SunPower solar system is offered at a base price of less than $10,000*, after federal tax credits. Local and state rebates, along with other incentives, may drive the system cost down even more, depending on a customer’s location. Included in the purchase is a residential monitoring system, which includes the ability to track the performance of their solar system on the web or through an iPhone application. Affordable financing options for the solar system are available through SunPower. This price point does not include local sales tax.

Interested Focus Electric customers will be contacted by a participating SunPower dealer who will visit their home to begin the installation process. SunPower leads the industry with more than 400 dealers in the U.S., and can support the initial Focus Electric roll out in all 19 markets.

In addition to the Focus Electric, the SunPower rooftop solar system will be compatible with the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Ford is rolling out in 2012.

Two Complementary Charging Solutions for Focus Electric Owners
By partnering with SunPower, Ford now offers Focus Electric owners two complementary charging solutions to make the overall experience of owning an electric vehicle easier. In January, Ford announced an agreement with consumer electronics leader Best Buy to offer a 240-volt home charging station for the Focus Electric and future electric vehicle owners.

“The goal of working with both SunPower and Best Buy was to offer Focus Electric owners solutions to charging needs that help lower the vehicle’s overall cost of ownership,” said Tinskey.

The Power of Choice
Electrification is an important piece of Ford’s overall product sustainability strategy, which includes the launch of five electrified vehicles in North America by 2012 and in Europe by 2013. Ford launched the Transit Connect Electric small commercial van in 2010 and will launch the all-new Focus Electric later this year. In 2012, these models will be joined in North America by the new C-MAX Hybrid, a second next-generation lithium-ion battery hybrid and C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. This diverse range of electrified vehicles allows Ford to meet a variety of consumer driving needs.

*This offer assumes normal installation conditions, not including modifications to a roof, electrical service panel or excessive wire requirements.

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visitwww.ford.com.

About SunPower
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company’s quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visitwww.sunpowercorp.com.

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Cutting Need for Energy by Using Less of It

“In Hong Kong, as in much of the rest of the world right now, a debate is raging about how best to generate the additional electricity that is needed to power economic growth and development.

Do we use more oil and coal, which pollute and are ultimately finite? Or nuclear energy, which comes with safety concerns, and is being phased out entirely in Germany? Or renewable energies likesolar power, which many nations are promoting, but which make up only a small portion of the energy mix in most countries, and often have physical limitations?

Relatively little attention is being paid to what some analysts refer to as the “fifth fuel”: ways to consume less energy in the first place.”

Cutting Need for Energy by Using Less of It via Bettina Wassener – NY Times

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Rooftop Solar Power Could Meet Half of New York City's Peak Energy Needs

“Solar power has been growing in New York City, but the installed capacity pales in comparison to the city’s potential. That’s at least according to a new study, illustrated by the map above, that found two-thirds of the city’s million-plus rooftops are suitable for solar panels—and collectively could meet half the city’s energy demand during peak hours, and 14 percent of the city’s total annual use. (And that’s accounting for typical weather conditions.)”

Rooftop Solar Power Could Meet Half of New York City’s Peak Energy Needs via Rachel Cernansky – Treehugger

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California city to get green prefab housing

“Zeta Communities broke ground yesterday on a net-zero housing development in Stockton, Calif., the company announced.

The housing community, which will consist of 22 units, is being developed by the nonprofit group Visionary Home Builders of California.”

California city to get green prefab housing via Candace LombardiCNET News

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Green Festival: Thinking Global, Acting Local

“The Chicago Green Festival, held at McCormick Place last weekend, rounded up more than 300 green exhibitors and 125 speakers for two days of cutting-edge sustainable lifestyle action and information.

We stopped by on Sunday to find out what’s new in the sustainability world. Here’s a look at what caught our eye in terms of cool products of note and environmentally friendly organizations with whom Morton Grove activists can partner.”

Green Festival: Thinking Global, Acting Local via Janice Cha – Morton Grove Patch – The Sustainable Beat

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Cassidy Quinn Brettler Interviews Green America Green Business Network Director and Green Festival Co-Producer, Denise Hamler

Cassidy Quinn Brettler Interviews Green America Green Business Network Director and Green Festival Co-Producer, Denise Hamler via Jack Olmstead – Seattle Pi Blog

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Green Festival 2011 Offers Organics, Innovations, and much, much more

The 2011 Green Festival took place this past weekend at the Qwest Field Events Center in Seattle, bringing with it a host of innovations and green products, as well as some truly energizing and eye-opening speakers. If you missed the event, don’t worry – there are more Green Festivals to come later this year, including stops in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, so be sure to check their website for future dates and tickets.

The Seattle festival was as energetic and illuminating as fans of the annual event have come to expect, with attractions ranging from local gardening advice to national environmental campaigns – via the samples at the organic chocolate tables, naturally. The two-day festival also offered a small beer and wine garden for the responsible adults, while the food options included a host of vegetarian delights, including felafel, burritos, and meat-free sausages.

Green Festival 2011 Offers Organics, Innovations, and much, much more via Dan Coxon – Seattle CultureMob

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Best to Know Before You Go – Seattle Green Festival

“The Seattle Green Festival is almost here, and here are some things to know before you go:

You can purchase your tickets online at www.greenfestivals.org and get a discounted admission. Or you can purchase your tickets at the door of theQwest Field Event Center on the day of the event. When you purchase your tickets, you’ll receive GF Bucks for either dining or shopping at over 300 exhibits. Online tickets are $10 for one day/$15 for two, and you’ll receive $5 back in GF Bucks. Tickets at the door are $15 for one day/$25 for two, and you’ll also receive $5 in GF Bucks in return.

Children under 18 get into the festival free. Discounts are available for students, seniors, cyclists or public transit riders. Government employees who show their ID also get in free. Cyclists can use the complimentary Green Festival Bike Valet Service on Occidental.

Speakers will have their books available for purchase at the Green Festivals Official Bookstore (sponsored by University Bookstore). Authors signing at the bookstore will include: Amy Goodman, David Korten, and John Perkins.”

Best to Know Before You Go – Seattle Green Festival via CBS Seattle

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The Green Festival environmental fair is this weekend in Seattle

“Looking for inspiration and know-how to help keep Mother Earth green and healthy? Learn about healthful, sustainable practices and products for your life and our world at this weekend’s Green Festival environmental fair in Seattle.
Exhibits, workshops and speakers on four stages Saturday and Sunday will address healthful, sustainable practices including solar power, green parenting, saving Puget Sound, eco-tourism, green remodeling, gardening, the slow life movement, electric vehicles, green tech, ecological economics and a host of other grass-roots solutions.”

The Green Festival environmental fair is this weekend in Seattle via Articles Base

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