Solar Energy Grows, Produces Jobs
Back in April, the Solar Energy Industries Association releases news that solar energy is the fastest growing industry in America. Recent reports are backing up this claim with growth numbers that are far outpacing national averages.
In a report by Clean Technica, the U.S. solar industry posted a 6.2% growth rate in jobs this year through August. This is a staggering number compared to the national estimated job growth rate, fumbling along at an expected 0.7%, and a 2% net job loss in fossil fuel power generation.
These numbers might be unexpected in public circles after some misinterpreted the default of government-backed Solyndra earlier this year as doomsday for the industry. The reality is that today, the solar workforce is made up of over 100,000 employees at 17,198 companies nationwide. The Maryland solar industry is fairing well too.
The growth is linked to an increased demand for solar backed by government incentive and policies. The price of solar energy, aided, for example, by advancements in photovoltaic cell technology, has been dropping steadily, making it affordable for more households. Additionally, local and federal grants and incentives have helped drive demand. The states with the largest solar job growth are states that have strong renewable and solar energy policies.
There is also good news in terms of long-term growth. Experts expect that solar energy jobs will grow by 24% from now until August 2012. That is an addition 24,000 jobs added to the economy by solar energy. In fact, over half of the companies that cooperated in the recent solar census expect to hire in the next year.
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Under the Hood: Solar Hot Water Heaters
When people think of solar energy, often they think of photovoltaic solar panels on rooftops supplying electricity to homes. However, this is just one type of residential solar energy. In addition to photovoltaic systems, where solar panels convert the sun’s energy into electricity, solar thermal can also help homeowners save on their utility bills.
Solar thermal is the process of using the sun’s energy to generate hot water. Solar hot water heaters use collectors to capture the sun’s energy, heating up different types fluids, such as propylene glycol, that are then used to heat up stored water. Usually, the fluid runs through a central cylinder inside a water storage tank; as the fluid is heated by the sun, the fluid then heats the water inside.
Electricity and gas-based heaters are used to supplement solar hot water heaters. However, non-solar systems are only in use when the solar system cannot keep up with demand, drastically reducing energy needs to heat water for the home. Considering solar hot water heaters can provide almost all of a house’s hot water needs, saving homeowners up to 75% on their hot water bills.
Solar hot water heaters are a small step homeowners can take to go green. Just like solar electric, they are a great financial investment. Solar hot water heaters qualify for some government incentives, cut utility bills and increase property values. The best part is that solar hot water heaters have a much smaller initial investment, making them more affordable than solar alternatives with all the same great benefits.
Take a second and learn a little more about solar hot water heaters in this short video about a Maryland solar hot water heater installation:
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Solar Power Maintenance
Solar energy is truly one of the most hassle-free products in today’s market. With most properly installed systems lasting 30-40 years, you can rely on your photovoltaic solar panels to provide half a life time of energy with almost no effort and thought.
Solar panel maintenance is simple, usually only requiring a quick wipe down of hot, soapy water once every 5-6 months. This helps to keep your panels at their maximum output levels and guarantee long lasting life. Depending on your climate, you may need to check your panels more frequently in heavy rain or high pollen areas. For Maryland solar users, it all depends on what the unpredictable weather of the region brings.
We also recommend sporadic checks every 3-4 months for bird droppings and any blockage from rain storms. Limited trimming of tree branches or shrubberies is also recommended every 4-5 years, to ensure the continued highest levels of sun absorption.
With no moving parts, a few minutes throughout the year is all that is required to continue to power your home or business in an affordable, efficient, and renewable manner. Few other products can provide a greater return on investment with such little effort.
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Can I Build My Own Solar Panels?
The short answer: yes. It all depends on how handy you are around the house. Are you confident drilling holes in your roof? How about running electrical wires? There are a plethora of online guides and manuals to help people create a do-it-yourself solar energy system. The better question is: why would you?
Small DIY solar projects are a great idea, but when installing an entire photovoltaic solar panel system at your house, it is almost always better to hire a professional solar installation company. Solar Energy World‘s installation team has more than 74 years of combined experience in roofing and electrical experience. The team that designs our installations knows the subtleties of solar energy, including the correct angles and placement of solar panels to receive the maximum yield. Maryland solar systems have to be installed different than houses in, let’s say California, due to environmental factors.
If money is a concern, solar energy is more affordable now than ever. That means the amount of money you would save by installing a system yourself is marginalized. We are also well versed in the available federal, state and local tax incentives, grant and rebates that you can take advantage of by installing a solar system. In fact, we even do most of the paperwork for you.
In short, it is best to have a professional install a complete solar system. But we do encourage you to adopt other uses of solar energy in your home. Solar drying, rather than using a dryer is a great option. Or you could consider solar cooking. A project like putting together a solar hot dog cooker only takes aluminum foil and some cardboard, and could be a fun family project on sunny days.
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The Solar Installation Process
We know that normally installing a solar panel system is a pretty controlled and straightforward process, but we wanted to make this a little fun. This presentation includes videos and introductions of key people in the process. We hope you enjoy!
But…if you really want to read about the process – here is the detailed version of the solar installation process.
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International Solar: Lighthouse Tower in Dubai
The lighthouse tower is set to open in 2012. This amazing piece of architecture is set to be 1,319 feet high and contain 66 floors. The tower will be deemed a “green building” and have great emphasis on conserving energy and reducing its carbon footprint.
The building will also be clad in 4,000 photovoltaic solar panels to generate additional electricity. The tower will reduce its overall energy consumption by 65%, and its water consumption by 40% in comparison to an equivalent 
building. At the building’s base, a four story glass lobby will house an environmental visitor center. There will also be three large 225 kW wind turbines, on the building’s south facing side in order to generate electricity.
Dynamic Rotating Tower in Dubai
This will be the world’s first pre-fabricated tower that will sit 1,378 feet high and contain 80 floors. Ninety percent of the tower will be built in factories. Each of the floors will have the capability to rotate independently 20ft per minute, and complete a full rotation in 90 minutes. The tower was supposed to be finished in 2011, however due to financial crisis has not been started yet.
The entire tower will be powered from wind turbines and solar panels. Enough surplus electricity should be produced to power five other similar sized buildings in the vicinity. The turbines will be located between each of the rotating floors. Each turbine could generate up to 1,200,000 kilowatt-hours of energy. The solar panels will be located on the roof and the top of each floor.
Post written by: David Zamostny, Solar Energy World Intern
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First solar and wind powered building
Solar power, ever since the 1950’s, has grown in leaps and bounds. While wind power has been plotting a similar course, budding with increased energy demand, it lags behind solar in terms of commercial viability.
After the discovery of the silicon cell by Bell Labs in 1954, solar energy quickly garnered patents and the first commercial building to use solar was not far behind. While there were some residential homes that went solar earlier, the “Solar Building” in Albuquerque, N.M., is largely considered the first commercial building to use solar.
Completed in 1956 and designed by Frank Bridgers and Don Paxton, mechanical engineers, The “Solar Building” used an 800-square-foot collector array for the building’s heating system. At of cost of $58,500, the solar energy system was used successfully for six years until the building expanded and moved to a traditional boiler system. When it was built, the “Solar Building” garnered media attention in publications like Life and Popular Mechanics. The landmark was added to the New Mexico State Register of Cultural Properties in 1985 and the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
As technology develops and the need for alternative energy increases, more commercial buildings are considering sources such as solar panels to offset energy costs. Just like residential solar, there are commercial incentives available for business owners looking to go green or save money.
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Solyndra Not a Good Indicator of the Solar Industry
There has been a lot of press lately about the state of the solar energy industry after news broke about government-backed Solyndra. In case you missed it, the company received $545 million loan guarantee from the federal government, funds that were part of a $862 billion economic stimulus package that Congress passed in 2009. However, the company recently declared bankruptcy, defaulting on their loan and leading to an FBI investigation, as well as cries about the death of solar energy.
What is missing from current coverage, however, is what is really going on in the local solar industry. While people might be focused on the government and one solar company in California, here in the Mid-Atlantic, especially when it comes to the Maryland solar industry, the solar economy is fertile and growing. In fact, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Mid-Atlantic region is the largest market for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations, not California.
While it is unfortunate that a company the government invested in defaulted, the government is still investing in homeowners who want to cut their bills in half while going green using solar energy. Federal, state and local tax incentives and grants are readily available for anyone utilizing solar energy, making the switch to solar more affordable than ever. Solar is still a viable, economically sound, and environmentally friendly option for those looking to go green and save money.
The issues surrounding Solyndra, at least from a public opinion standpoint, are disturbing at best. But the real story is the irony behind Solyndra’s default: they were a victim of solar energy success. Solyndra was developing more expensive technology that did not use the industry-standard silicon conductors. Due to the success of the solar industry and technological advancements, such as the update to the photovoltaic cell, the price of solar power has fallen rapidly, 70% since 2009, making more expensive technologies like Solyndra’s uncompetitive. They failed because their product wasn’t competitive, and could not keep pace in a growing solar energy market.
Solar Energy World is a perfect example of the economic growth achievable through solar energy. The company officially opened in September 2009 with four employees. As of July 2011, the company employs 77 people. More than 50% of those people were unemployed. The company is growing the Maryland solar industry and the local green economy. If you are interested in learning about the truth about solar energy, and the benefits it offers, check out our solar learning workshops.
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A Journey From Colonial to Contemporary
It’s that time of year again! The 27th annual Decorators Show House in historic Ellicott City is set to be revealed to the public this weekend.
This years Show House just happens to be a Solar Energy World client, at a residence called Holly Manor, showcasing all that is right about the Maryland solar industry. The theme, perfectly named: A Journey From Colonial to Contemporary. Designers from Baltimore and the Washington DC area have paid homage to the home’s 18th century historic roots as well as its 21st century possibilities.
The home is open for touring from September 24th to October 23rd. While you’re touring, don’t forget to check out the solar panels on the barn!
Solar Energy World project and client:
Fulton, MD homeowners turned a newly built barn into a revenue generating rooftop. Once the tech-savvy homeowners compared solar energy to other financial investments, they found it to be a solid investment with the shortest ROI.
Connecting with Solar Energy World at a home show in 2009, the homeowner and Solar Energy World stayed in contact. When Solar Energy World learned that the Howard County Property Tax Credit was coming to an end – this Fulton homeowner was on the top of the list to contact.
Immediately he was ready to go and chose Solar Energy World because of the relationship built over the 2 years.
Installed in September 2011, the photovoltaic solar panel system includes 57 – 190-watt panels with Enphase microinverters – making this one powerful system. Each solar panel is linked to a microinverter to maximize the energy harvest of the panel. A traditional configuration would link several panels together in a series connected to one inverter located usually in the home near the electrical box.
Enphase Microinverters allow each solar panel to operate independently and control the power from each with 99.6% accuracy. This results in a significant increase in the performance of the entire system.
Choosing a trustworthy supplier was essential.
“Solar Energy World did a fantastic job,” this Maryland homeowner says. “They really knew what they were doing, they were responsive, and were very helpful. I have very high praise for everyone we dealt with. Now I just watch my electric meter run backwards.”
This 10.83kW system will reduce harmful CO2 emissions by 10.3 tons, which is equivalent to not consuming 1,050 gallons of gasoline.
Project Overview
Location: Fulton, Maryland
Completed: September 2011
Number of Panels: 57
Products: Schuco® 190-watt solar panels with 57 Enphase Microinverters
Benefits:
- Eliminates $1,950 per year in energy costs
- Earns $3,750 per year from Solar Renewable Energy Credits
- Saved $27,054 in government incentives
- Will realize ROI in 5 years and 5 months
- Reduce CO2 emissions by 20,647 pounds per year
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How Solar Energy Impacts the Environment
The main concern with a Solar Farm involves the adverse effects on surrounding wildlife and the ecosystem. With solar energy farms in generally arid regions, plants and animals must adapt to very specific harsh environments.
Environmentalists fear that any change, such as a large solar energy farm in the middle of the region could disrupt the ecosystem. While that may be so, do the environmental benefits of renewable energy out weigh the disruption?
The environmental impact of using solar energy are varied. Solar energy is renewable – emitting zero toxins and is always available.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is conducting wildlife studies comparing a solar array located in Boulder, CO to an existing control site. NREL has left areas of the Boulder site untouched near the array, which will help to naturally reseed the ground. They have also added a grass seed mixture beneath the array to help prevent erosion.
NREL Senior Biologist Brenda Beatty: “The experiments will begin to give us a handle on how photovoltaic installations and operations affect vegetation in our portion of the arid West, and the information obtained may be useful for other NREL projects, and for revegetation efforts at other solar installations.”
Can environmental preservation and renewable energy solutions work together? Is it fair to say that both have a positive effect on the environment?
More about NREL
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