If you have been concerned about the rising energy costs in your area, it might be a good time to look at ways in which you can save money with solar energy. Various areas in the world run on different power sources, which most of these sources being problematic in some way. The main problem is that even energy sources that are renewable use some sort of oil power to maintain them. This automatically increases the costs associated with the energy source, which is then passed onto the consumer. The vast majority of people are prepared to pay whatever the oil companies see fit, but you do not have to be one of these people if you are able to harness the money saving power of solar energy.

Durability

One of the most common ways in which people use solar energy is through solar panels. While these panels are somewhat expensive to install, they save you money over the years because of their durability. When you purchase a panel, it can provide you with energy for about 30 years. There are no other sources of energy that can come close to matching that level of durability. In addition, since it is at a one-time cost, you will be supplied with free green energy for many of these years after your original purchase. If you are a homeowner, having free energy coming into your home really adds up in a short period of time.

Power Levels

Another way in which solar power saves you money is by creating an unlimited amount of power for you. If you are running on gas power, you can use as much energy as the gas company will provide for you. Eventually, the planet will run out of fossil fuels and the gas company will no longer be able to provide you with this energy. As these levels get lower, oil companies will charge an even higher premium, which will cost you even more money. Solar power, however, is infinite because it comes directly from the sun. Since no one owns the sun, you can never be charged for harnessing as much of this power as you wants.

Taxes

While it might be a roundabout way to save money through solar energy, many locations will provide you with a tax break if you switch to solar power. It really depends on where you live, but some locations have made it very lucrative to switch over to alternative energy sources. In Australia, for example, the federal government supplies its citizens with an $8,000 grant for spending $16,000 on solar panels. When you factor in the monthly savings on your energy bill, it really makes sense to switch under those circumstances. As solar energy options become more readily available, we will likely see other countries jump on board with similar tax benefits.

Flexible Set Up

A common gripe with solar energy is that it costs so much to get started. This, however, does not have to be the case if you are smart about it. Your entire energy system does not have to be installed at once, as you can slowly add to it over the years. If you have enough money for one solar panel right now, you can install the first one and then wait to install a second. Having that first panel up will save you a little bit of money, as it can be used to store energy for when you need it. You can probably install these panels yourself as well, which saves money if you have to do it in multiple steps, since you will not have to hire someone each time.

Storing Energy

As was mentioned before, you can store your solar energy for when you need it the most, as long as you have a capacitor. If you produce too much solar energy for your home, you can either release this energy into a pool, where others would be able to use it, or you can store it for yourself. If you store the energy, you can use it whenever you wish. This comes in particularly handy if you have a prolonged period without much sunlight, as you can continue to rely on solar power. It is also useful during a blackout, as you can keep your house powered while the rest of the neighborhood is dark. Storing energy prevents you from having to rely on gas when you are not producing enough solar energy, which saves you money each time a cloudy period hits.

Other Methods

Solar power can also help you save money in smaller ways throughout the year, as long as you are smart about it. If you use flashlights when camping, bring a solar powered version to save on the cost of batteries. You can usually find radios that run on solar power as well, saving you additional money. All you have to do is remember to put the light or radio out in the sun during the day and you can enjoy the power when it is needed.

A simple way to harness some solar power to save money is to use black sheets on your bed or black curtains on your windows. If you do this during the winter months, you will find that your bed or room is warmer when you get into bed at night. This is because these black items store solar power naturally, which can cut down on how much you have to spend on heating your home each month. With so many ways to use the power of the sun, you should be able to find a money saving method soon.

About the Author: M.H is sharing his knowledge and passion about renewable energy sources at Alternative Energy Geek.com.

Article Originally Posted on Care2.com, by Author Kristina C.-

The heat wave that has already taken 22 lives has reached the East Coast. I confess to cranking up the air-conditioning, though not to the icebox-like conditions of my local supermarket. I’m just hoping we won’t have a power outage like the three-day one that Ottawa had. As Bryan Walsh writes in Time magazine, the heat wave is putting our aging electricity grid to the test.

Con Edison, the New York power company, actually pays industrial clients who volunteer to reduce the amount of electricity they use. But people are also using “extreme power” in their homes as well and, these days, people staying inside on 40 degree Celsius/104 degree Fahrenheit days means that lots of electrical appliances including TVs and computers are on. Power companies have no choice but to turn to aging power plants:

To meet the excess demand — which can be double the amount of power consumed during a cool day in April — utilities will activate peaker plants: small, inefficient power plants that are turned on and off as needed. Because they’re so inefficient, the power they produce is more expensive than the juice from the backbone fleet — and because the plants tend to be older, they can also lead to more air pollution as well. But when the temperature stays north of 90 F for days on end, those peaker plants are often the only thing preventing a brownout or even a blackout. And this heat wave will be particularly stressful because it will last for so long — at least through the weekend — and will cover such a large portion of the country. The grid will be reaching its limit, with little room for error

Barring a “region-wide blackout” as happened in 2003 (and on a day when it wasn’t as hot), Walsh says that the grid “should weather this heat wave, and all the other high-temperature days to follow this summer.” But the reality is that the grid, like the knob and tube wiring we found in our 1920s house when we moved in, was built in the early 20th century. It wasn’t, that is, meant to power the increasingly sophisticated, and numerous, devices we use today. Walsh writes:

Speaking to members of his advisory board yesterday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu warned that the electrical grid might not be able to handle the new renewable electricity generation expected to be brought online over the next 10 years. (Renewable power from intermittent sources like solar or wind tends to put more stress on the electrical grid than steady sources like coal or natural gas.) More heat waves of the sort the U.S. will experience over the next few days — headed our way over the next few decades — will only stress the grid further. That sizzling sound you’re hearing isn’t just the asphalt.

It’s a reminder that, as we sweat through the heat wave, we don’t have to have the lights on throughout the house, do loads of laundry in the early afternoon when energy use peaks and have the TV, two computers and the AC blasting away. I’ve found it helpful to do two things that might seem the opposite of what to do when outside feels like a steamy sauna: Drink hot tea (something I got in the habit of doing after spending a summer in Taiwan in an un-air-conditioned apartment) and go outside for relatively short, but more frequent, periods; my son still insists on riding bikes and going on walks in the hot weather and doesn’t seem to mind that it is over 100 degrees as he’s sprinting down the sidewalk.

Stay cool, but — though you may need to due to medical conditions — there’s no need for many of us to keep our homes icy cold.

Collaboration Will Give a Boost to EV Charging Infrastructure-

GE and Urban Green Energy (UGE) have announced its newest collaboration called the Sanya Skypump, an electric vehicle charging station that combines both GE’s WattStation and UGE’s Sanya hybrid wind/solar streetlamp technology. The station will provide consumers with green power to charge their EVs which will help to sustain America’s sometimes unreliable electricity grid. EVs are rapidly growing in popularity, seeing that they are an excellent alternative to gas guzzling, high maintenance automobiles. However the main problem still, and the reason that most people in America still don’t own one as of yet, is due to the lack of a sufficient charging infrastructure. “Our collaborative efforts with GE Energy have resulted in the breakthrough Sanya Skypump, which is powered by the energy available in both the wind and the sun,” said Poul Heilmann, head of business development at UGE. “Consumers’ concerns for a more environmentally friendly form of transportation include the source of power for the electric car. The Skypump uses a UGE-4K wind turbine along with solar panels to offset a significant amount of the usage of a commercial charging site,” he continued. “We are thrilled to be partnering with GE Energy in bringing innovative and elegant design to enhance the adoption of renewable energy technology while minimizing the impact on the environment.” Beginning this fall, UCE will begin installing first Skypump stations in New York, Beijing, and Barcelona while the global installations will begin in early 2012. “Building upon the success of the GE WattStation™, GE continuously is seeking evolutionary EV solutions,” said Michael Mahan, product general manager at GE Energy Industrial Solutions. “By marrying the elegant design of UGE’s Sanya Streetlamp with the GE WattStation™, we have enabled the further adoption of electric vehicles by making access to renewable power easier.”

An artist’s rendition of the Sanya Skypump collab:

New Technology Looks Past the Grid for EV Charging-

Mitsubishi Motors and Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc. have developed a new EV charging station powered solely by the sun. The charging station is powered by 96, 175W solar PV modules from Mitsubishi Electric and supports CHAdeMO-compatible EVs like the soon-to-drop Mitsubishi i. Its capable of charging up to four cars at once, and boasts three different types of chargers (Level 1, 110v; Level 2, 220v; and Level 3 quick charge). “This project will build awareness of solar power’s versatility and efficiency,” said Katsuya Takamiya, president and chief executive officer, Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA. “As electric vehicles’ popularity grows, we expect to see more charging stations at large employers, automobile dealerships, shopping centers and schools, where cars can charge while people work, shop or study.” MMNA President Yoichi Yokozawa said, “We hope that our dealers, learning institutions, and municipalities will look to this technology with a keen eye towards the future, and bear in mind that the gradual acceptance of the pure-EV transportation will be aided by increasing the number of facilities like this one.”

Exploring the Different Options for EV Owners with Today’s Seemingly Weak Infrastructure-

With EVs increasing in popularity thanks to steadily rising gas prices, businesses are flocking to cash in on the budding electric revolution. While many gas stations are installing Level 3 (440V) express charge stations to allow consumers a quick “stop and go” experience, Level 2 (240V) stations seem to be more common in shopping malls and public centers since people tend to spend more time parked in one location. SAE J1772-compatible Level 2 charging stations are the most widely used, seeing that the technology serves a wide variety of EV/plug-in hybrid models available today – like the Nissan LEAF, Chevy Volt, and Tesla Roadster, to name a few. Level 3 stations only take about 30 minutes to reach a full charge, while Level 2 takes up to roughly 8 hours if the battery is fully drained.

For longer trips along routes where the EV charging infrastructure has not yet been established, there are companies like U.S.-based Better Place that offer consumers the option of exchanging their old battery out for a new, fully-charged one. For those still worried that purchasing an electric car isn’t feasible with today’s insufficient charging options, rest assured that the U.S. government is working to handle that by offering Recovery Act funds to companies looking to develop such an infrastructure. ECOtality, for one, has been given over $230 million toward the installation of their Blink Level 2 stations in 16 cities throughout the U.S. AeroVironment is yet another company currently in the works with Oregon’s Department of Transportation (DOT) to install an undisclosed amount of Level 3 chargers between the California/Oregon state border and the Willamette Valley off the I-5 freeway. Ultimately, AeroVironment will develop charging stations along the busiest areas of the I-5 corridor running from San Diego to Northern Washington. The way things are progressing (despite obvious opposition), it seems like only a matter of time until EVs become the standard mode of transportation in America.

Project Will Secure EV Quick Charging Stations for I-5 Travelers in Southern Oregon-

In an effort to boost charging infrastructure for electric vehicles on the West Coast, the Oregon Department of Transportation has partnered with AeroVironment to install a numerous (yet undisclosed) amount of 480-volt Level 3 chargers between the California/Oregon state border and the Willamette Valley. “Fast charging stations along high-traffic transportation corridors will help make driving electric vehicles between communities a viable option for Oregonians,” Oregon Department of Transportation Director Art James said in a statement. The project aims to eventually reach across the entire I-5 corridor with EV chargers from Southern California to Northern Washington. AeroVironment has already collaborated with major players in the EV industry, such as NRG Energy for its eVgo Network, Nissan for its LEAF debut in the U.S., BMW for its ActiveE project and General Motors for the 1980′s EV1 project. CNET reports that drivers should look out for charging stations in So. Oregon as soon as fall 2011. The project is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Recovery Act Investment by DOE Intends to “Modernize Grid”-

In an effort to strengthen the U.S. energy grid infrastructure, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu has announced the installation of more than five million “smart” meters throughout the nation. These meters will give utility companies more in-depth glance at electricity usage in their service areas and customers will also be able to track their energy consumption real-time in order to help them make more informed decisions about their energy usage. “To compete in the global economy, we need a modern electricity grid,” said Secretary Chu. “An upgraded electricity grid will give consumers choices and promote energy savings, increase energy efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy resources.” Roughly 90 percent of all meters installed are in Florida, California, Idaho, Arizona, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Nevada. Projects include:

• Florida Power & Light Company (Miami, FL) is deploying an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), distribution automation technologies, new electricity pricing programs, and advanced monitoring equipment for the transmission system. The goal is to increase reliability, reduce energy losses, and reduce operations and maintenance costs. As of April 30, 1.8 million smart meters have been installed. DOE award: $200 million in Recovery Act funding.
• CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric’s (Houston, TX) project involves deployment of a fully integrated advanced metering system and Web portal access to over 2.2 million customers and installation of advanced monitoring and distribution automation equipment. The goal is to reduce peak loads, overall electricity use, and operations and maintenance costs while increasing distribution system reliability. As of April 30, 1.3 million smart meters have been installed. DOE award: $200 million in Recovery Act funding.

DOE has also announced its plan to offer a data map which will allow consumers to contribute information about the data on their electricity use that their utility company provides them. DOE energy infrastructure projects will help consumers better understand their energy use and opportunities to save money through energy efficiency improvements. The government agency is working with utilities, consumer groups, state and local officials, other stakeholders and the public to design the website which will launch sometime this fall. For more information about the Department’s smart grid activities visit the Smart Grid Website.

Partnership Allows Residential Homeowners to Install Solar Array, Worry Free-

Lowe’s, a nationwide home improvement retailer, has announced a recent partnership with solar installer Sungevity — a move which will bring renewable energy to the masses. The collaboration will allow residential homeowners to lease pv panels without any upfront cost and the worries that come with maintaining an expensive solar array. Customers will have direct access to Sungevity’s iQuote, a system that uses aerial images to calculate installation estimates to ease the process with no need for a home consultation. After the estimate is determined, Sungevity also provides an in-depth cost analysis to show the consumer what they will save in energy expenses. The company will design and install a system customized for any home with no money down, and lease the panels to the homeowners for a low monthly cost. To boot, the program includes monitoring, maintenance and repairs, insurance, and money-back performance guarantee. All Lowe’s stores throughout the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York are currently participating in the program. While its great that Sungevity is footing the responsibility of maintenance and repairs, the problem with a program like this is the fact that homeowners will never actually own these panels and therefore are just forking out money in the hopes that it will save them a buck or two in the long haul.

Celebrate Earth Hour 2011 on Saturday, March 26th at 8:30 PM Local Time-

Its that time of year again! On Saturday, March 26th, beginning at 8:30 PM local time, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is asking every around the globe to turn off their lights for one full hour. This effort, originally developed in 2007 by WWF and Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald to bring awareness to the vexing issue of climate change, took place in Sydney with an astounding 2.2 million participants. In 2008, many other cities around the world followed suit and is now an annual celebration of sorts, commemorating life and the conservation of our God-given resources. While the effort might appear to be negligible to some, it should be noted that even small changes have been known to make a big impact. Some interesting facts from Earth Hour 2010 as published on Wikipedia:

-Earth Hour 2010 was reportedly the biggest Earth Hour yet, aiming to garner more than the one billion participant goal of 2009′s Earth Hour.

-126 countries participated in Earth Hour 2010.

-In the United States polling shows that an estimated 90,000,000 Americans participated in Earth Hour as lights were turned off around the country, including iconic landmarks such as Mount Rushmore, the Las Vegas Strip, the Empire State Building and Niagara Falls.

-Earth Hour will be carried out in practical ways, as cities and landmarks apply the core principle of turning off the lights to their everyday routine. In Chicago, the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) developed lighting guidelines to reduce light pollution, and reduce the carbon footprint of downtown buildings. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota will now start powering down each night around 9 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.

-In Vietnam, electricity demand fell 500,000 kWh during Earth Hour 2010, which was three times larger than the first time the country joined the event in 2009.

-In the Philippines, 1,067 towns and cities pledged participation in 2010 and over 15 million Filipinos participated in the event.

-About 4000 cities participated, including landmarks such as Big Ben, the Empire State Building, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, the Parthenon, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Forbidden City.

-Celebrity Earth Hour ambassadors included South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, President of Vietnam Nguyễn Minh Triết, and London Mayor Boris Johnson.

-Earth Hour has garnered support from many corporations including Coca-Cola Enterprises, Wells Fargo, IKEA, HSBC, PwC, Accenture and Nokia Siemens Networks.

-Some critics point out that the reduction in power consumption in most cases is indistinguishable from zero. Sydney’s The Herald Sun equated the power savings in the Sydney central business district to “taking 48,613 cars off the road for 1 hour.” Critics, most notably Australian Columnist Andrew Bolt pointed out that “A cut so tiny [48,613 cars off the road for 1 hour] is trivial – equal to taking six cars off the road for a year”.

So take 60 minutes out of the busy schedule to relax, gather some friends together to play some games by candlelight, and celebrate life this Earth Hour!

Colossal Wind Farm to be Developed Off Holderness Coast-

E.ON Energy has been granted approval by the U.K.’s Department for Energy and Climate Change to develop a 230 MW offshore wind farm. It is being built off the Holderness Coast in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and will have the capacity to provide 150,000 homes with renewable energy from up to 77 turbines. It is expected that the farm will prevent up to 300,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. Earlier this year, E.ON was given the go-ahead to develop a new substation on industrial land near Salt End, which will connect the Humber Gateway wind farm to the national grid through 30km of underground cable. The Telegraph reports that “by 2050 offshore wind could be worth £65billion to the UK and could support 220,000 jobs.”


“The UK’s offshore wind roll out is continuing at full speed,” said Peter Madigan, Head of Offshore Renewables for RenewableUK, late last month. “…the first turbines at Walney and Greater Gabbard have started delivering electricity to the grid. Once completed these two offshore wind farms will take the UK over the 2 gigawatt (GW) mark. We now need to ensure that we are best poised to capture the full benefits such a massive infrastructure project offers, including increased employment and business activity.”