Community Solar Gardens
Last August, the nation’s first community solar garden was activated in El Jebel, Colorado. Three hundred forty solar panels collectively owned by local residents is the first of its kind and may spur similar innovative projects to launch.
Community solar gardens allow residents of condos, shaded homes, or those who want to reap the benefits of solar energy. Participants can take use solar energy without a large up-front investment. There are many policies surrounding community solar gardens that have to be considered with such an extensive project.
The land in El Jebel was otherwise unusable, making it the perfect site for solar panels. Clean Energy Collective (CEC) sold the parcels of solar to residents for as little as $725. CEC predicts a 67% increase of community solar energy in the next five years.
Would you participant in a community solar garden? What would the pros and cons be for you?
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Can you truly get “off the grid?”
If you are using traditional energy sources, you’re considered “on the grid,” meaning that you’re connected to a public utility service for energy resources. If you’re “off the grid,” you’re not reliant on those energy companies to create power for your home. Solar energy gives you the opportunity to move further off the grid and rely less on public utilities.
To be truly off the grid, your home would be completely independent of public utilities and would not be impacted by outages. You have the option to choose a system that will lessen your dependence in varying degrees. It should be noted that if power goes out – for safety reasons – your solar system will automatically shut off.
Solar energy can help America become more independent of international fossil fuels. Because solar energy is generated locally, once the initial installation is complete, there is minimal upkeep and you’ll be freed of the rising cost of public energy companies. Living off the grid can also trickle into other areas of your life; you learn to only use what you’re producing, and no more.
One of the greatest perks of solar energy is being energy independent and not relying on public utilities – or paying into them.
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Springing into Solar
There’s a reason why spring is the hot time for hiring in the alternative energy field – people are ready to invest in solar! While you’re planning your spring cleaning, consider adding solar panels to your to do list. Spring is a great time to optimize the extended daylight hours as the final spots of snow melt away and allow solar panels to absorb more light.
With systems that we design and install, there is very little maintenance. Photovoltaic solar systems are inherently very low-maintenance, requiring the system owner only to wash the solar modules down with water when they get dirty so light can get through. If you already own panels, spring is a good time to give them a quick spray to remove any dirt and debris left from winter.
Another exciting reason to welcome spring? President Obama has agreed to have solar panels installed on the White House this season, which officials anticipate will include 25-75 panels and will convert sunlight into 19,700 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. That would equal about $2,300 in saving per year for a residential home in Washington, D.C. Although the cost to outfit solar panels on the White House would cost approximately $100,000, that money would be earned back in just five years.
Ready to spring in to solar? Give us a call or fill out the Contact form!
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Product Showcase: Mage Solar
It is absolutely critical that all of our solar energy systems be completely reliable, and Mage systems are no exception. Mage Powertec Plus modules are comprised of mono- and polycrystalline cell technologies to keep cell efficiency up to 17.3%. Mage modules allow tolerances of up to +5 watts to guarantee maximum power, while other modules of lower quality deliver less than they claim.
We offer a 10-year product warranty, but it won’t be needed with a Mage module; they’re guaranteed to produce 90% of their nominal power for 12 years and 80% for 30 years – three decades! Mage modules also surpass the most stringent safety procedures.
Are Mage Powertec Plus modules the best solar panels for you? Contact us and we’ll help you decide.
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World Water Day 2011: Solar Power in the News
Happy World Water Day 2011! In honor of today’s global event, let’s take a moment to talk about how solar energy can save water, the environment and money!
According to National Geographic Freshwater Fellow Sandra Postel, energy production around the world is the second-largest “slice” of global water usage, behind diet. Yet another reason why dirty energy is unsustainable. She writes:
“Thermoelectric generation accounts for 49 percent of the water withdrawn from the nation’s water sources, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In fact, the single biggest draw on U. S. rivers and lakes is not toilets, golf courses, or even irrigated farms. It’s thermal power plants that generate electricity to light our homes and cities, run appliances and factories, and generally keep our plugged-in society humming.”
Basically, water is used in the production of energy. And a LOT more is used in the production of dirty electricity, such as from coal, oil, natural gas, or uranium.
What if instead of using “40 gallons of water per day to power your refrigerator,” your fridge ran on solar electricity! Additionally, heating your hot water with solar thermal electricity saves water as well.
In 
the Midwest, a St. Paul convention center just unveiled the largest solar thermal system in the region. The $2 million system has enough panels to cover half of a football field, and will generate 1 megawatt of electricity per year! That’s the equivalent of about 1,000 homes turning off their faucets while they brush their teeth for a day.
Solar thermal is a great way to up your water efficiency. Heating your hot water is roughly 30% of the average home energy bill. Think of the (water) (money) (electricity) you can save!
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European solar market trumps US but there is a bright spot.
According to a report by the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA), published March 10, 2011, the US solar energy industry had a banner year in 2010 and is a bight spot in the US economy as the fastest growing sector. In contrast to the US GDP growth of 2.8%, the US solar market grew 67% in value in 2010 (SEIA executive summary).
US demand growth was, however, outpaced by a global market boom driven primarily by Germany and Italy. It’s reported that the growth in Europe was due to the large government incentives available at the time. However, those incentives have since expired.
The US solar market grew from $3.6 billion in 2009 more than doubling in 2010.
It’s expected that the US opportunity to expand its share in 2011 while the global market slows down. The numbers of installations are likely to double in 2011 in the US. Much of the global PV industry is turning its eye to the US with great expectations.
In 2007, only four US states installed more than 10 megawatts of PV. Now, 16 states have accomplished that feat, notably Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and New Jersey installed more than 50 megawatts. In 2010, New Jersey more than double it’s installations, ranking the 2nd largest state for solar installations with more than 100 megawatts in a single year.
“This report shows that solar energy is now one of the fastest growing industries in the United States, creating new opportunities for both large and small businesses. Every day, Americans across the country are going to work at well-paying, stable jobs at solar companies, from small installers all the way up to Fortune 500 companies,” said Rhone Resch, SEIA president and CEO. “This remarkable growth puts the solar industry’s goal of powering 2 million homes annually by 2015 within reach. Achieving such amazing growth during the economic downturn shows that smart polices combined with American ingenuity adds up to a great return on investment for the public. The bottom line is that the solar energy industry is creating tens of thousands of new American jobs each year.”
While New Jersey has outpaced even California, Maryland isn’t even on the map.
Maryland was one of the first states to adopt a Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2004. A solar “carve-out” was added in 2007, requiring that a percentage of the renewable portfolio standard must originate from in-state solar generated electricity; the percentage gradually ramps up to 2% by 2022. In April 2008 Governor Martin O’Malley signed Senate Bill 209, which accelerates the RPS to require that 20 percent of the state’s electricity supply come from renewable sources by 2022. In 2010, the Maryland legislature adopted provisions that further accelerated the RPS requirements in the early years (2011 through 2017), resulting in more residential and commercial solar installations during this period.
MDV-SEIA, the Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia chapter, is working on policy changes to fast track change, making it possible to hit the state requirements by 2022.
Overall, the state is at 27% of its 2022 goal.
Way to go New Jersey! Let’s get going Maryland! Be part of the solar revolution, green jobs and solar savings!
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Product showcase: SunPower
Solar Energy World offers the best products on the market to homeowners throughout Maryland, Washington DC and New Jersey. 
Throughout the year, we’ll feature various products we use on solar installations.
For our first product showcase is SunPower®.
SunPower is the perfect combination of brawn and beauty. What makes them one of the best products on the market?
Best Technology
Since SunPower panels are the most efficient, that means they require less space. According to third party testing, SunPower produces more electricity than other solar solutions*.
Not all watts are created equal. Solar systems are often described in terms of the amount of power they are capable of producing in a given instant (measured in watts or kilowatts). The most important factor to take into account, however, is the amount of actual electricity the system is expected to generate during its lifetime (measured in kilowatt-hours). When compared to other brands, SunPower panels produce the most electricity in a wide range of conditions.
Higher efficiency ratings mean more energy savings.
Strong Return on Investment
Among the many benefits of a SunPower solar system, the fact that it offers the greatest returns may be the most important.
SunPower generates up to 16% more electricity when compared to other solar solutions.
Solar is one of the wisest investments you can make today. According to Business Week, homeowners can expect a return on investment of 15% or more per year on their solar system.
Most Experienced
With a network of best-in-class, certified dealers, homeowners can have peace of mind. SunPower dealers are the most thoroughly trained in the industry. Every certified dealer is handpicked and put through the most rigorous training.
Certified SunPower Dealers handle every step – permitting, incentive applications, testing, connecting with the utility and serving maintenance needs.
Schedule a free in-home appointment to learn more about SunPower.
*Arizona State University: 7% more than Poly-Si (Test dates: June – Aug 2008); Loughborough University (CREST): 9% more than Poly-Si (Test dates: 2007-2008);University of Stuttgart (IPE): 7% more than HIT (Sanyo), 16% more than thin film (Test dates: June 2006 – May 2009); University of Cyprus: 7% more than a-Si (Mitsubishi), 16% more than Mono-Si (BP Solar) (Test dates: June 2006 – May 2009).
Solar Energy World is a Premier SunPower® Dealer
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Commercial Solar: Installation
Many people know that Solar Energy World is a leading installer of residential solar panels. But did you also know that we are one of the largest solar integrators in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and New Jersey? We design and install cutting-edge, highly efficient, versatile solar energy systems for businesses who want to be both green and financially savvy.
There are many options available to commercial building owners, including Capital Investment (customer-owned system) and Power Purchase Agreement. Once your business decides on the best system, our team will work with you throughout the entire installation.
Our commercial installation services include a through cost-benefit analysis, a feasibility study and detailed engineering design, a walk-through of the permit and rebate process, the system install, and on-going service and support. From the initial site survey to marketing support to promote your solar system, Solar Energy World is there, step-by-step.
If you own a commercial building, schedule a meeting to learn how you can start saving and earning with solar.
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Solar Panel use in the Winter
There is often confusion about solar panel use in winter: Can they be used? How do I clear snow? Are they less effective? Solar panels absorb solar energy and convert it into electrical energy, so it doesn’t matter if it’s warm outside or not. In fact, solar panels continue to work throughout the winter months.
Winter days are shorter, so there’s less time each day for the panels to soak up the sun’s rays. Snow covering the panels will prevent them from working as effectively. If snow covers your solar panels, the sun will likely melt it fairly quickly; the slant from the roof will also help snow slide off. And remember, if the snow knocks out power, you and your family won’t be without heat!
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“There is so much information! How can I choose the best system for my home?”
The easiest way to choose the right system for your home is to let us do the work! You can schedule an appointment to learn more about solar energy panels, solar hot water heating systems, and rebates and incentives. We’ll make sure that you understand how various systems can benefit you and increase savings.
You’ll want to contact your energy company to determine your average kilowatt hour usage for the past year. Once you have this information, it helps in choosing a solar system that will eliminate your energy usage.
Once we’ve provided you with a free cost/benefit analysis and you’re ready to move forward, we’ll send our technician to your home to confirm the measurements and energy savings.
We understand that all of the rebates and incentives can be confusing, so we’ll complete the tax credit and rebate paperwork to ensure that you’re getting all the financial support that is available.
The installation is usually complete within 2-3 days depending on the size of your system. Once your system is installed, we set up the final inspection with the appropriate municipality and/or utility company. Then we make sure you’re connected to the grid so you can start receiving the rewards for going solar.
We’ll complete the final paperwork for the appropriate Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) so you’ll start seeing savings and earnings immediately!
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