Posts Tagged ‘renewable energy’

San Diego Introduces Innovative FIGTREE PACE Program to Help Contractors and Commercial Property Owners Fund Solar, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Upgrades

Published by fnever on January 20th, 2013 - in Knowledge Base


, CA (PRWEB) January 18, 2013

San Diego commercial property owners are gaining access to a unique financing option for money-saving renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation improvements this new year that can create positive cash flow from month one. It?s available through an innovative (PACE) program known as FIGTREE, now being offered by the City of San Diego.

?Applications are being accepted to provide commercial property owners with 100% up-front, long-term financing for energy and water efficiency building upgrades and renewable energy systems that can reduce operating costs, improve property values and provide a valuable hedge against rising energy costs for decades to come,? said FIGTREE CEO Mahesh Shah.

FIGTREE arranges financing (and mortgage lender consent) for property owners by aggregating and selling the projects as municipal bonds. FIGTREE ? now operating in 25 jurisdictions — was the first in California to successfully initiate this new mode of financing in multiple markets. No public monies are used to support these programs.

FIGTREE finances projects ranging from $ 5000 to those in the millions of dollars (all contingent upon qualified property values). The next bond issue is slated for the first quarter of this year.

?The unique properties of PACE provide solar contractors, energy efficiency and water conservation professionals with a brand-new funding vehicle to help clients realize the benefits of energy improvements without adversely impacting their credit scores ? or their borrowing capacity,? noted SunUp Energy’s President Rick Rothman.

?FIGTREE?s brand of PACE financing puts the benefits of cost-cutting energy and water upgrades (and the enticing tax credits and cash rebates for which they qualify) within reach of most any property owner,? said Rothman.

Rothman says that with the rich new incentives for solar water heating that are now available, 2013 will be a banner year for apartment owners, the hotel-motel industry and healthcare providers, who can see full system in as few as four years. ?From then on,” Rothman added, “all those solar savings translate into pure solar profit.”

PACE funds can be used for materials and labor costs of permanently-installed improvements that reduce a building?s use of grid-supplied energy or water. Solar photovoltaics (PV) and solar water heating; and ; cool roofs; heating and air conditioning (HVAC); energy-efficient lighting; windows, door and elevator upgrades; boilers and chillers; water treatment and conservation improvements, fixtures, xeriscaping and electric vehicle charging stations are some of the projects eligible for financing under the program. Financing obligations for PACE improvements can be transferred to new owners if a property is sold.

PACE funding requires no minimum FICO score for property owners and no money down. Financing is based strictly on property values ? usually 10% of an assessed property?s value; sometimes more ? something that bodes well for property owners in San Diego, where real estate prices are on the rise.

FIGTREE PACE also provides for attractive off balance sheet financing for property owners that can be amortized for periods of up to 20 years as a voluntary line item on their property tax bills.

?PACE is a municipal economic development tool that improves property values and puts contractors back to work while helping the City of San Diego meet its AB 32 emissions reduction goals,? noted San Diego City Council President Todd Gloria. ?PACE improves the integrity of local building stock, creates a more sustainable San Diego and — with the savings today?s energy efficiency, water efficiency and solar technologies provide — reinforces that good economic and environmental practices are not mutually exclusive. The entire region benefits,? Gloria added.

FIGTREE financing is available via an assessment district established by the California Enterprise Development Authority, a joint powers authority who works in partnership with cities and counties across the state. FIGTREE?s PACE program is endorsed by the California Building Industry Association, California Business Properties Association, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Region Builders, Inc. and municipal sustainability and economic development professionals throughout California.

ABOUT FIGTREE PACE: FIGTREE is a full-service, San Diego-based clean energy finance company providing breakthrough, 100% up-front off balance sheet PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing to help commercial and residential property owners improve their properties and realize the money-saving benefits of energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation upgrades with no money down. FIGTREE helps cities and counties create jobs, spur economic development and meet their AB 32 goals utilizing no public monies. FIGTREE is the first company in California to successfully raise private capital for commercial PACE projects via a multi-jurisdictional bond issue. Learn more by calling 1-877-577-7373 or visit us at http://www.figtreecompany.com.







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Advanced Solar Training Comes to the San Francisco Bay Area – Quick Mount PV Hosts Solar Energy International – PV202 Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid-Direct)

Published by fnever on December 20th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base


Paonia, CO (PRWEB) December 18, 2012

For over 20 years, Solar Energy International has been the leading solar photovoltaic provider for technicians currently working in the solar industry and thousands of new students every year that are seeking careers in the .

Next month, SEI will be offering some of the most advanced training in the solar industry with PV202 Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid-) January 21-25 in Walnut Creek, California at the Mount PV training facility.

PV202 is a required course within the SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program for those wishing to graduate from SEI.

Over the past few decades SEI has trained many of the leaders and small owners in the solar industry. Many of the Quick Mount PV team members are alumni of SEI’s technical training program and are long time friends and supporters of SEI’s non-profit mission of renewable energy education.

In PV202, students will learn how to apply the National Electrical Code (NEC) standards and industry best practices to residential and commercial grid-direct solar electric systems to ensure safe, code-compliant design and installation. This solar training workshop builds upon the core concepts from PV101, expanding them to address larger, more complex grid-direct PV systems.

PV202 focuses significantly on the National Electrical Code, including interconnection calculations, grounding, workspace clearances, and disconnect and overcurrent protection sizing and considerations.

Commercial system equipment specifications including inverters, racking, and commercial voltage service panels are covered; as well as site considerations for roof and ground-mounted arrays, including layout and inter-row shading. PV202 thoroughly addresses array sizing with various inverter configurations, in order to assess design options and optimize performance.

Students will learn to evaluate system performance under various operating conditions, and identify and correct installation errors including ground-faults. This course combines class lectures with individual problem solving exercises covering common design considerations.

SEI has also historically been the leading curriculum and textbook provider in the solar industry and has produced textbooks for over a decade. Check out their newly released Solar Electric Handbook: Photovoltaic Fundamentals and Applications. Visit http://www.solarenergy.org for more information or call the SEI Student Services department for alumni and textbook bulk ordering details: (970) 963-8855.

About Quick Mount PV

With a passion for solar energy and a commitment to doing solar right, Quick Mount PV was founded in 2006 to bring cost-effective, code-compliant, waterproof rooftop mounting systems to the solar industry. As PV installers and general contractors, Quick Mount PV founders Stuart Wentworth and Claudia Wentworth saw too many rooftop mounts that were doomed to failure, posing a threat not only to any given roof and building, but to the burgeoning industry itself.

Website: http://www.quickmountpv.com

About Solar Energy International

Solar Energy International (SEI) was founded in 1991 as a nonprofit educational organization to help others to use renewable energy resources and sustainable building technologies through education and technical assistance.

Our vision is focused on helping create a more sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants. Through our work, we see clear opportunities to influence people’s thinking and behaviors towards energy efficiency and the use of natural, sustainable methods of energy production and utilization.

Solar Energy International is a 501(c)(3) Equal Opportunity Institution and Employer, and is not affiliated with any dealer, manufacturer, distributor, or any other renewable energy commercial enterprise.

Media contact for SEI is Christopher Turek, Director of Online and Student Services – chris(at)solarenergy(dot)org – 970-963-8855 x115 – http://www.solarenergy.org







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Renewable Energy Credits Easily Explained

Published by fnever on September 11th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by Kris Hoffman

Easily Explained – Education

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In an effort to work toward a truly sustainable environment, homes and businesses alike are becoming more energy-conscious A greater focus on the and amounts of energy used, in addition to decreasing solid waste with repurposing and recycling, is having a tremendous positive impact on our environment. Even though there is a lot of work that still needs to be done, having a way to track efforts helps businesses and consumers alike refine their energy usage. A vital part of this process is understanding how credits work. When you understand how green certificates work (or RECs), you will be empowered to use or conserve with purpose.

• What are Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)? Also know as or greentags, they are actually a commodity that represents a specific cost/benefit amount as opposed to traditional ways energy is used for electricity production like coal or natural gas. RECs serve a second purpose, as well, by encouraging the growth and development of facilities such as farms.

• Where Do RECs Come From? They are generated by the renewable energy companies as electricity is produced. The amount of energy, or RECs, you purchase equals the amount placed on the grid by the facility. Since the energy is developed at wind farms and other renewable energy facilities, natural resources are spared.

• What Do They Do? Renewable energy certificates represent the amount of energy you intend to use and also indicate how much energy the facility needs to put on the power grid for you. You will receive the same energy you’re used to receiving but at a lower cost and with added value-added services and benefits to choose from.

• What is the Purpose of RECs? RECs serve a dual-purpose by providing consumers with affordable, environmentally-friendly energy while sustaining natural resources. Instead of purchasing energy that is based on coal or natural gas, wind farms, solar power grids and other alternative energy producing companies place the exact amount of electricity purchased onto the power grid. This serves to further conserve energy by ensuring that it’s placed onto the grid only to the extent that it will be used.

Having a basic understanding of how renewable energy credits work enables you to have the knowledge you need to fine tune your green practices, both at your as well as at your home. Using RECs is a simple process and help is available to get you started. As your understanding grows about how green certificates work for the benefit of your , your home and the environment, you will have the knowledge necessary to have a definite impact on your carbon footprint.

About the Author

Kris Hoffman wanted to find out how renewable energy credits worked so he did his research to see if it would benefit his business. Renewable Choice Energy has the information on renewable energy credits, wind power and more.

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Kris Hoffman

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Kris Hoffman wanted to find out how renewable energy credits worked so he did his research to see if it would benefit his business. Renewable Choice Energy has the information on renewable energy credits, wind power and more.












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SunMoney Solar is a installer located in Central New Jersey. Call 856-Sun-Money for a free solar evaluation today. Or visit www.sunmoneysolar.com or http

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Renewable Energy Speaker Line-Up Announced for Nextgen

Published by fnever on August 23rd, 2012 - in Knowledge Base


London () 21 August 2012

Some of the leading companies, entrepreneurs and in the cleantech sector are among the speakers at , Britain?s fastest growing event showcasing emerging technologies. Held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire on 10-11 October, the speaker programme will feature dozens of presentations and topical discussions in six seminar theatres at various locations across the floor.

With more than over 3,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors at last year?s conference and expo, nextgen also encompasses ebec, the UK?s largest bioenergy show which has shown steady growth since being founded in 2006, and microgen, a show serving small-scale (sub-50kW) producers.

On the opening day of the conference, there?s a policy update on the Green Deal by Dr Ute Collier at the Committee on Climate Change. This keynote paper is followed by a comprehensive review of progress made so far in the field of renewable energy, presented by John Sharpe, a director at Innovas. Good Energy founder Juliet Davenport assesses the impact of The Green Deal while Adrian Judge of the Green Investment Bank describes how the UK?s green infrastructure will be boosted by

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Necessary Training For Solar Energy Types

Published by fnever on August 9th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by Mike King

Necessary For Solar Energy – – DIY

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The renewable industry has grown dramatically in the last years; throughout you give return, you you hear speak to solar energy and the solar paddles, the biological farms and fuels. The solar industry, particularly, has gotten to be such present subject and so high in demand that there is something hardly hopes the solar bubble to distribute. Each dog is its, all have their fifteen minutes of fame, and the fifteen minutes of the solar industry were for above long ago.

Nontruth. The solar energy took the stage and remained in her, and the demand is rising only more above. What financial people, commercialization and tendency study are discovering is that, whereas the demand for solar products is high, there is an enormous shortage of people described with the solar training to install systems of picovoltio (photovoltaics), as well as many other areas.

The states such as Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and New Jersey have policies that let good places them to create or to grow solar businesses, between many other states. The solar integrators are watching many new technologies, looking for so that better ways harness solar energy.

The technology of picovoltio, for example, uses silicon to create energy when finding the light. The systems of picovoltio use the light photons that cause , and the majority of the modules takes control of the capsules of silicone, welded together in rows. Whereas many programs of the investigation and finance something, most of it is lead by the private market. This abre “to green works” in the investigation and , as well as the manufacture and the installation in the local communities.

During last the twenty-five years or therefore, the electrical systems photovoltaic have stored to an enormous reputation in the business and the private sectors. Therefore, the local levels also are undergoing a shortage of employees with the solar training. With the demand for the products of picovoltio that rise, those in the construction business as general contractors, electricians, roofers and similars will need to be able to cover that demand.

The businesses, especially, are taking interventions from energy and are watching ways to reduce power costs. Here it is where those in the construction business can really benefit from the solar training and the certification, as well as the learning of “the green” building.

The companies are becoming interested more in ways to save, of the insulator, to the illumination, the solar installation. If a general contractor takes an interest in the solar training, knows to measure use of the energy and knows to reduce it, that she is a general contractor who will be in one more a demand higher than others.

The Roofers and the electricians can also benefit from the solar training. The owners of a house are beginning to replace their tiles of material for old woman ceilings by solar matrices of picovoltio; roofer that he is also a described installer he will be able to find a more job. Nevertheless, the solar matrices will not work in a roof and they are due to sometimes install in the Earth. In this case, an electrician with the solar training can find the place perfect to work inside.

While the tendency to the rise continues in the solar industry; while people worry about the heating of the atmosphere and the planet; while the nations work together to make the world best, the training to pave will be a necessity in several social classes.

About the Author

I’m a avid research and test development guru on types. I have tested countless “Do It Yourself” solar applications and have rated the top DIY solar energy guide available. I will show you how to save alot of money on your electric bill.

For more information visit my review site at:

http://energy-types-review.info/

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Mike King

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I’m a avid research and test development guru on renewable energy types. I have tested countless “Do It Yourself” solar applications and have rated the top DIY solar energy guide available. I will show you how to save alot of money on your electric bill.

For more information visit my review site at:

http://energy-types-review.info/












Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

Intel, the larget US purchasr of green power according to the US EPA, has installed solar panels at its Oregon site. Intel Vice President Will Swope talks about the installation and Intel’s commitment to renewable energy.

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Solar PV Monitoring & Solar Thermal Monitoring Ensures Optimal Renewable Energy Payback, Says Wattsure

Published by fnever on July 26th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Exeter, Devon, UK () 30 April 2012

Despite recent cuts in the feed in tariff, is still profitable. But can no longer be left to chance. Even minor dips in performance can significantly affect long term and return on investment. Across large commercial renewable energy systems, any inefficiency can lead to lower profitability in the long term. Ultimately, renewable energy is about efficiency. The only way to guarantee efficiency is to monitor it constantly with , solar thermal & solar PV monitoring.

Wattsure’s green energy monitoring can deploy across solar PV installations, wind turbines and solar thermal systems, providing near real time (every 10 minutes) tracking of energy production. Using a wired or wifi connection (or GPRS module via a mobilh phone network) data is relayed to Wattsure’s central systems and data is aggregated into a simple and clear but highly effective reporting system which shows:


Solar PV generation
Solar Thermal production
Wind turbine production
Meter readings
CO2 saved today
Energy generated today & total energy (KWh)
Estimated FIT electricity buyback
Annual energy production

Additional modules such as a weather station can be added, measuring wind speed, humidity, temerpature and barometric pressure.

“We believe the importance of the system lies in its simplicity. All data is relayed to an internet dashboard which can be accessed online or via an iPhone mobile app. The data is automatically visualised as graphs making for easy interpretation.” says Will Grafton, Director of Wattsure.

But the advantages of wind, thermal and solar PV monitoring aren’t simply tracking data and understanding value of payback – though this is essential for peace of mind and, in the case of commercial systems, clear and fast reporting. Wattsure’s systems also include fault reporting. Whether a shading issue, inverter problem, or some other fault – as soon as energy production dips, engineers at Wattsure are immediately notified to escalate and take remedial action.

Originally designed for tracking solar PV production, it was a natural progression to offer a monitoring service for renewable energy technologies such as solar thermal. Wattsure are proud to have been chosen as a partner by Secon Solar. Secon Solar supply high quality products to the solar thermal industry and have chosen WattSure as their partner for RHI approved monitors.

Wattsure’s systems were also chosen by Body Shop to monitor its 883kWp solar PV system, the largest single solar PV system in the UK.

The company is keen to keep innovating. Just out of is the first stage of Wattsure’s new advanced commercial dashboard. This is for commercial sites typically with solar pv arrays using multiple inverters. The new dashboard will the live performance of the array and its output throughout the day. The data can be interrogated further by looking at inverter performance throughout the day and highlighting any inverters that are underperforming. This important addition to the dashboard capabilities makes it even easier to ensure systems are performing at their utmost efficiency and delivering maximum energy cost savings. More enhancements are in production now including accurate solar radiation versus system output.

Technical Details

-The WattSure unit has sizes of heat monitor to suit the full range of both

domestic and commercial applications

Fully reliable, WattSure heat monitors are fully approved and
EN1434 Class 2, MID004 and RHI compliant for use in solar thermal

systems where glycol is used.

Each meter is individually calibrated to match the glycol requirements
being used.

About Wattsure

WattSure is an independent renewable energy monitoring company that develops and supplies monitoring technology and services to the renewable industry. The software behind WattSure was developed in-house by our team of IT and telecommunication experts who have continued to enhance and develop its capabilities to remain at the forefront of this complex and demanding industry.

The multi-award winning WattSure product is proven to be reliable and remains highly flexible, able to read data from multiple sources across different forms of renewable energy generation including solar PV, solar thermal monitoring and wind turbines. The data is displayed on a dedicated webpage hosted by WattSure and accessible via the internet.

Available to all who work within the renewable industry WattSure is particularly sought by installers, OEMs and multi-site commercial entities who are able to access top level data across all their sites as well as individual site detail. This is a highly beneficial management tool.

For interviews, please contact Wattsure on 0845 052 2837.







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National Oil Business Appoints New PR agency From Marketing Quotes To Help With Brand Image

Published by fnever on June 24th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base


Basingstoke, UK () 22 June 2012

PR companies that have experience in the oil and petroleum are keen to talk about emerging markets and . As the oil and petroleum slowly accept that green energy and renewable energy is the way of the future, there needs to be a brand change to reflect companies that care about customers, care about the environment and care about reducing the carbon output of their customers through responsible energy usage. This is why a national oil company approached Marketing earlier in March 2012, as they were looking for advice from that have experience in branding in the oil industry and helping major corporations to protect their corporate image.

A spokesperson from the board of directors commented ‘we were looking for a PR that had experience of working for major corporations in the national media, but also one that knew the oil and petroleum market. We are investing into the green energy market at present and want to create a brand that shows us as being a responsible , not just for our shareholders, but our consumer customers to rely on.’

Anne Richards (who works with ) added ‘I guess everyone in the UK wants to feel that our oil, petrol and energy come from UK sources that are not damaging the environment, or at least the companies are doing everything they can to make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable green energy. But there is always going to be a cost, whether it is large wind turbines scattering the landscape, tidal barriers in front of our beaches, or solar cells in our fields; we do need to get the balance right and we are pleased that oil companies are starting to think about these issues.’

About Marketing Quotes – Marketing Quotes is a free service to UK businesses to help get free advice and quotes from local marketing agencies that know their industry.







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Election Year Politics will once again Impact the Solar Energy Industry

Published by fnever on June 17th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by Brock Morrison

Year Politics will once again the Industry – Education

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The last presidential election campaign polarized the United States. It wasn’t a question for voters of whether or not one side had some good ideas and some bad. It was a complete split in ideologies on all issues across the board – save one. Solar and other forms of were part of the platforms of both presidential candidates -Obama and John McCain. Their individual stances on the issue were so identical that you heard very little about it. There was nothing to debate. This year will be different.

In the four years since the last election, the viability of solar energy as a primary source has gone from questionable to inevitable. The Chinese are now making solar panels so cheap that even a proposed one hundred percent tariff doesn’t guarantee US competitive advantage in the renewable energy market. This disparity in what has become the next major energy race will need to be addressed during the 2012 election campaign. Those who don’t address it are simply not fit to lead this country.

Is that a political opinion? No, it’s reality. Leaders are chosen according to their ability to handle the current issues and affairs of today’s world, not by how well they understand the policies of yesterday. The American voter is savvier today by far than his counterpart of a few decades ago. Information and education on any topic is available at the click of a mouse or by doing a simple search on a smart phone. This year, the hot button issue will be energy. Solar will take center stage, as will wind and hydro power.

This is good news for educators. Those who offer solar energy certification and are due for a large influx of new students. This increased demand may make the prices for some of these courses rise and will most certainly limit availability, particularly if the candidate elected is a renewable energy proponent. We’re not talking strictly about the president either. There are plenty of seats up for grab in Congress and on city and state levels also. Where do those candidates stand on energy?

Electric cars are making a serious splash on the West Coast right now, and sales inland are improving. With electric cars come solar powered charging stations, a combination that provides a sustainable transportation solution that eliminates our dependence on foreign oil. You will hear each of the political candidates in every race, local and national, expound on our nation’s dependence on foreign fossil fuels and how it needs to end. The question is – what are they going to do to help end it?

Solar power will be the primary energy source of the future. That future should be right now, but our leaders have managed to complicate the transition. Subsidies and powerful lobbying efforts keep fossil fuels in the forefront of American energy options. This year’s election, if all of the “experts” are correct, should mark the beginning of a change in that philosophy – if you vote for that change.

About the Author

To know more about Solar Training and Online Solar Classes please visit solarenergy.org.

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Brock Morrison

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To know more about Solar Training and Online Solar Classes please visit solarenergy.org.












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Solar Installation at Kaz Winery by West Coast Solar Energy

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Solar Energy For Homeowners

Published by fnever on June 12th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Welcome to the solar energy revolution! We are all going to be involved in the drive toward , that is, becoming independent from foreign oil. Gasoline is selling for more than six dollars a gallon in both Germany and the U.K, and we know that, for all kinds of reasons, it’s bound to go up much more in the not-so-far future. Coal is plentiful here in the U. S, but the efforts to clean it up are going to be painful and slow in coming. The transition to solar power is also going to be painful and costly, but eventually it will begin to pay for itself. For homeowners especially, a move toward solar energy is really a wise investment, whether they are building new or doing remodeling.

Some banks are beginning to loan money for solar retrofits. The solar energy facts clearly show us that once the payoff is complete for such a loan, the homeowner is ahead a great -even as much as the whole of his total former energy costs.

We have many suppliers in this country who can design systems for every environment and climate.

We’re going to look at four main systems for a homeowner to consider when going solar:

-Solar hot
-Solar electric or photovoltaic
- heat pump
- turbine

Solar hot water is a terrific investment due to low cost and high efficiency. Space heating can be incorporated for a slightly higher expenditure. An outlay of three to ten thousand dollars could lower your energy demands from thirty to fifty per cent. Our solar energy facts show us that hot water represents the second highest energy demand in U. S. households.

Solar electric or photovoltaic is another of my personal preferences because this is an arrangement usable by almost every household. A system consisting of photovoltaic panels with a grid-tie unit eliminates the need for storage batteries, and if supplied with enough , can even pay a homeowner for excess electricity generated. The costs for such a system are probably going to run from five to twenty thousand dollars. Photovoltaic coupled with solar hot water can be an ideal solution for many homeowners.

Geothermal heat pump- Although geothermal is not really solar energy, it is certainly . Geothermal uses the constant temperature of the earth along with a sophisticated heat pump to either heat or cool the . There are also designs which supply hot water as a part of the process. The installation of this scheme requires either a well be drilled or extensive trenching be done. The cost of this along with the heat pump may be somewhat costly. Photovoltaics or wind would also be an important part of any complete project.

Wind power is an extremely good source of power for anyone who lives in an area of plentiful wind and preferably doesn’t have neighbors too close. If a grid-tie is not possible, storage batteries can be installed. Costs for wind power machines can range anywhere from five hundred dollars for a small unit to as much as twenty thousand for a high end grid-tie unit with a sixty foot tower.

When we lok at headlines that say, “Pump prices rising despite glut of gasoline” (Chris Kahn-AP) or this: “Oil prices rise again” (APA), the solar energy facts assure us that by investing in solar power we can go a long way toward guarding our energy future. With the abundant sun’s energy in the southwest and the winds available in other parts of the country, our goal of energy independence is much brighter.

Harry Faris has been involved with solar, wind, and renewable energy for many years-since Stewart Brand started the “Whole Earth Catalog.” He generated his own power for twenty years using solar and diesel. “12 volt is great!” solar energy, solar hot water.

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Seniors Going Green, Not Gray, with Solar Power!

Published by fnever on June 10th, 2012 - in Knowledge Base

Article by AM McElroy

Seniors Going Green, Not Gray, with Solar ! – Family – Seniors

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One of the largest markets for solar power is senior living communities, both those run by private companies and those managed by state or municipal agencies. For the most part, these are installations to supplement on-grid power and reduce energy and operating costs.

For communities managed by corporations or government agencies, it’s logical: the cost of running senior living communities, whether post-55 complexes or those providing assisted living or advanced care services, have small profit margins.

Along with lowering operating costs, programs instituted at senior communities often take advantage of incentives offered by federal and state agencies.

Lessons from Decades Past

Many people who buy and use solar panels and solar lighting are part over 55. To some, it may seem surprising that the “older crowd” would be so open to new technologies, even when many renewable subsidies are expiring with an unknown future given the recent debt ceiling and related financial issues in Washington, DC.

The fact is that unlike many younger members of the Green Community, these folks lived through the 1970s energy crisis and know that reliance on traditional fossil fuels will continually be more expensive and that the United States must become to be less reliant on fuel from the Middle East. This certainly does not mean that environmental concerns are not a factor.

One resident of a 12-acre, 318 unit campus in Portland, OR, that “went green” wrote to the facilities’ management to commend them “for their interest is protecting the environment.” The CherryWood Village Retirement Community in Portland installed a 92.4 kilowatt solar system that is estimated to reduce the facility’s main building electric bills by an estimated 25% annually. CherryWood Village is both a retirement and assisted living housing community.

Since Oregon is not a region known for its sunshine, it shows how far solar technology has come in recent years. Other regions that have or are now “Going Green” with solar include a 36-unit apartment building for moderate and low income senior citizens in Medford, NJ. In fact, the project is presently one of four national finalists for the 2011 award for “best New Senior Housing ,” granted by Affordable Housing Finance, a national trade magazine/website serving the affordable housing development market.

The Medford, NJ, senior residence was completed in September 2010 and with full occupancy by December 2010. Along with one and two bedroom units, building amenities include a community room, a laundry room, a lounge, a computer room and a wellness room. The new construction included a major solar roof panel installation. Along with communities in Northern and Southern California, the other finalist is located in Pennsylvania.

Even so, the California and the Sunbelt is where solar power took hold years ago and these regions have the most senior residences with hybrid solar systems.

In 2010, the City of Indian Wells, CA upgraded its Indian Wells Villa senior citizen apartment complex. The 90-duplex development with a clubhouse and pool spreads across 10 acres of property was originally built in 1992. In 2010, the owners did an energy retrofit that included new roofing, high efficiency air conditioners, water heaters, and toilets. The solar installation comprised of 1,092 solar panels, 39 inverters, and a web-based, 24/7 state of the art monitoring system.

The system, combined with the other energy-savings measures, is expected to reduce the low-income tenants’ annual electric bill by 80-90%. The .2 million project was funded by the City of Indian Wells Redevelopment Agency, coupled with .8 million from Southern California Edison through Multi-Family Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) incentives and grants. It was designed and installed by Solar Distributors, Inc. of Palm Desert, CA.

As a retailer of solar lighting, one of the author’s first large sale involved a residential community in Florida that was an “over 55″ condominium complex. When they wanted to replace 72 lamp posts, they told me they looked at solar for two reasons: reducing operating costs and environmental impacts; incentives were not available and were therefore not part of the decision making process.

Advocacy Plays a Role

As energy costs rise and both managers and residents of senior complexes become more conscious of energy costs, more solar development seems inevitable. And, website and publications for these communities are a key part of the effort.

For example, USSeniorCitizen.com, “U.S. Senior Citizen Resources for America’s Senior Citizens” continually educate their audience on the benefits of . TheAmerican Association for Retired People also actively supports through its online resources and magazine.

These and other sites and publications regularly publishes bulletins on the latest in incentive changes and other ways to save energy and articles on off-grid homes, “My Generation: Going Green,” “SolarCity Sees Bright Future for Residential Solar Systems,” and “Which US States Lead in Clean Energy.”

It’s still unclear what the future holds in terms of incentives for renewable energies, a topic deserving of its own article after the dust in Washington, DC settles and details of where spending cuts will occur.

Which means that regardless of your age, it’s a great time to make your voice heard: if renewable energy is an area you want the government to invest in, particularly rather than subsidies to traditional energy sources such as oil companies, now is the time to make your voice heard.

Seniors Are Often Active Advocates

Being an active advocate is easier than you think: phone, write or email your senators and congressional representative. True, the lobbyists spend the money, but ultimately its the voters who make the decision in the ballot box.

And one thing younger generations can learn from senior citizens is how to make their voices heard, a key reason Florida is a “battleground election state.” Senior citizens know very well how to make their interests, and the fact that they vote, known very well to politicians.

Copyright 2011, AM McElroy, SolarFlairLighting.com, SolarLightingSmart.com. All rights reserved.

About the Author

AM McElroy has over 20 years experience in corporate communications and marketing/sales within the banking, civil/environmental engineering, high-tech and natural sciences (physics) arenas.

An avid fan of solar lights and solar energy, she has an online store, http://www.solarflairlighting.com, that focuses on solar products. In addition to sales, the site hopes to educate consumer about solar lighting and other renewable energy as does her blog http://www.solarlightingsmart.com.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

AM McElroy

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AM McElroy has over 20 years experience in corporate communications and marketing/sales within the banking, civil/environmental engineering, high-tech and natural sciences (physics) arenas.

An avid fan of solar lights and solar energy, she has an online store, http://www.solarflairlighting.com, that focuses on solar products. In addition to sales, the site hopes to educate consumer about solar lighting and other renewable energy as does her blog http://www.solarlightingsmart.com.












Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

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