February 2008 Archives
Topics range from Inverter setup to mounting and racking solar panels to Colorado renewable energy legislation, data monitoring, and North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification.
Call 970.963.8855 or register online at: www.solarenergy.org and be sure to check out our Colorado Solar Guide to get some background on Colorado Solar before you go.
This is a very interesting and controversial argument as some of the most spectacular breakthroughs in solar energy generation have been produced by commercial firms such as Nanosolar. Nanosolar isn't focusing it's product on residential installations at this point so the impact of cut subsidies might not reach them, but it would certainly stifle other developments and commercialization of technology has historically produced the fastest results as economies of scale are reached. It's the same reason that the United States often outpaces the rest of the world in medical technology developments - the US commercializes them. I'm no fan of subsidies, and having studied business myself I do trust in the Haas study, but the thought of losing incentives for solar installation just doesn't feel right.
Certainly, as some of the world's greatest products and services were started from University level research, Google anyone? it is important to continue funding that research but commercialization is a key component to driving that research to the marketplace and capturing public interest which ultimately makes the largest difference.Japanese electronic company SANYO has designed a revolutionary, children-friendly, educational, solar photovoltaic building in the heartland of Japan. Today, the Solar Ark is the largest, photovoltaic, sun-capturing edifice in the history of the world, capturing the imaginations of business-leaders and children around the world. Utilizing innovative technology, posterity stands as the center motivation behind this modern marvel.
Based on the Solar Ark movement, which advocates reengaging our children with science and the environmental problems of today, this wonderful and beautiful facility can even be seen from Japan's famous JR Tokaido bullet train. Within the facility you can find a solar power museum with hands-on toys and a variety of solar-related exhibits.
The Solar Ark was designed to engage children with the endless wonders of solar technology and is free to the public and open 6 days a week. Leading the rechargeable, alternative energy industry for almost 50 years, SANYO has consistently sought new avenues to bring conscious energy supplies to the public.
One of the coolest features of this magnificent structure is that it is both beautiful and useful. The building is completely solar powered and the electricity created is sold to become funding for the SANYO Environmental Fund, which supports numerous environmental conservation organizations. With over 5,000 solar battery panels installed, the Solar Ark marks the beginning of a new wave of high-tech "clean energy" buildings. Resistant to earthquakes, this building is truly an example of sustainable design.
Bringing 21st century state-of-the-art architecture into the world through interactive public works, SANYO is leading Japan by exposure and encouragement of alternative energy. “We're working towards a brighter future for all of us, with 'technology you can trust'.”
You can learn more about the Solar Ark in Gifu, Japan or check out there educational solar ark website.
Sunflower has established this partnership at 17 Denver Metro Home Depot locations and other independent hardware stores. Co-Founder Will Sisk says there has been little competition for such contracts so far. But given their success, it appears likely that Sunflower is on the front end of a new trend.
“There’s a lot of relationship building involved,” notes Sisk. Standing contracts don’t work for every installer’s business model, especially since most of Colorado’s photovoltaic installers are still, essentially, start-ups.
The Home Depot program “shows how mainstream solar has been getting,” Sisk emphasizes—“and that’s something everyone in the solar industry has been waiting for.” Cells that turn light into electricity have been around for more than a century. First employed in only the most specialized uses, like the spacecraft, photovoltaics then moved into remote and off-grid markets. Today, we are witnessing solar’s move beyond early adopters and emergence into grid-tied, metropolitan applications everywhere.
It is stores like The Home Depot who will supply the mainstream revolution.
Some solar advocates may be dismayed at installers’ affiliations with big box stores, which have large ecological footprints. But, says Sisk, “our mission is to build more PV. We’re willing to work with stores like the Home Depot.”
“I was very happy to be shopping at Home Depot,” says homeowner Nancy Taddiken. Taddiken had thought about solar before, but dismissed it. When she found it at Home Depot, she found the same price the installers charged directly—only this time, it came with a 12-month, zero-interest loan.
Taddiken says she did not know at the time she purchased that Sunflower Solar would be her installers. Sunflower had been her top choice among installers when initially researching solar.
Sunflower has not seen groundbreaking sales increases from its partnerships, yet. But BP Solar Vice President of Sales and Marketing Geoff Slavin reports, “the BP Solar Home Solutions program, through The Home Depot, has become the foremost retail program for solar in the U.S.”
The Home Depot solar packages are also available in select stores in California, New Jersey, Arizona, Texas, and New York.
Sunflower Solar’s Kelly Whiteford poses with a 5.6 kW photovoltaic array purchased through the Solar Home Solutions program at The Home Depot. The Boulder, CO home is for sale (http://3390eastmanave.blogspot.com/) you can learn more about going solar in our Colorado Solar Guide
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