Here we are in the “dog days” of summer. Record temperatures over much of the U.S. might have some people wondering, how does heat affect solar panels? The answer can be summarized in a single phrase: less power. As days get hotter – or in regions in which it is often warm – solar panels [...]
We’ve posted a number of times about solar powered air conditioning, also known as solar cooling. It should come as no surprise that solar electricity generated by photovoltaic (PV) panels can be used to operate A/C systems and solar attic fans. But solar panels cooling effects go beyond just creating solar energy. At UC San [...]
With rising energy costs and concerns about global climate change, many homeowners are considering renewable energy options. Under the current circumstances, including the economy and technology, you might be asking: should you install home solar panels? Residential solar panels are more affordable than ever. Federal, state and local incentives are still available to help you [...]
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Building integrated photovoltaics (or BIPV) is one of the hottest trends for solar power. For property owners looking to generate solar energy on site, but not willing to impact the aesthetic appearance of their home or building, solar panes that are incorporated right into the building design are the way to go. As shown above, [...]
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Let’s face it. You can usually spot the home with solar panels, right? Residential solar power is convenient and efficient, but there are definitely a few strikes against it. Among them include the cost and aesthetic impact. With solar roofing tiles, you can go solar right away without compromising the appearance of of your home. [...]
Solar panels on state prisons in Colorado are saving taxpayers money. As of the date of this publication, nine state prisons have installed solar panel arrays to generate solar electricity and cut operational costs. By relying on solar power, the Colorado prison system is expected to save about $475,000 in utility bills over the next [...]
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Solar power art, like these solar panel pyramids forming the “Lunar Cubit” in Abu Dhabi, is a popular way to combine urban art with renewable energy. Some commentators even believe that these displays can raise awareness of and encourage deployment of other solar power projects. As part of the project, “Renewable Energy Can be Beautiful,” [...]
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Auto manufacturers are increasingly turning to renewable energy to cut costs and save energy. This week, we heard that solar panels on the Toyota manufacturing plant in the UK are planned to be installed, allowing Toyota to use solar energy to build cars. Partnering with British Gas, Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK submitted a land use [...]
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A new solar railway tunnel in Europe will be sited in the City of Antwerp on the link between Paris and Amsterdam. Using solar panels to generate electricity, the tunnel is expected to save millions and millions of tons of CO2 emissions. The solar railway tunnel will be powered by 50,000 solar panels, over a [...]
One of the biggest hurdles to widespread adoption of solar power as an energy resource is solar cell efficiency. That, plus the relatively high cost of solar, means that we currently generate less than 1% of all electricity from solar power. HyperSolar, based in Santa Barbara, California has developed a patent-pending solar technology to effectively [...]
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