Tag Archives: electricity
Net Metering: Whats Not to Like?
There’s been a lot of talk lately about net metering. What’s so special about net metering, and why all the fuss? Net metering is a simple concept that’s policy in 43 states. It’s like rollover minutes on a cell phone bill — it lets utility customers who install solar systems feed energy they generate into [...]
U.S Army Announces $7B in Renewable Energy Projects
The U.S. Army has just launched the first in a series of renewable energy contracts that will eventually total $7 billion by the end of this year, using power purchase agreements along with a standard procurement tool that is expected to crush any obstacles that are put in its path. That includes the notorious budget [...]
In Focus: The Post-Subsidy Solar World
Let’s start out with a fact: the free market for energy is a myth. Every country uses subsidies in some way to encourage production and dictate consumption of different forms of energy. According to the International Monetary Fund, global post-tax subsidies for fossil fuels (which includes the external costs of pollution) amounted to $1.9 trillion in [...]
Electricity 101
This is a introduction to some of the fundamental concepts of electricity. Think of electricity like water flowing through a pipe that’s pitched on a hill. Gravity is the force that pushes the water down the pipe- this would be your voltage. The amount of water that moves through the pipe would be your current, [...]
Solarreviews.com: Helping Consumers Find the Right Solar Installer
The solar energy market grew by 76% last year, according to GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. As solar power becomes an increasingly competitive energy source, more Americans are looking for reputable companies that can meet their solar needs. Up until now, however, consumers have not had the ability to easily access ratings [...]
The Solar Shakeout Continues
The past few years have seen some spectacular flameouts in the solar energy industry, with none so prominent—at least in the U.S.—as Solyndra. Many of these flameouts were startups, but some were bigger players. Now Suntech is in the hot seat. The Chinese manufacturer was one of the world’s biggest PV producers, but it recently [...]
Net Metering: Why California Solar Needs It
For so many Californians who have chosen to install a solar electric system, the phrase Net Metering is simply a way of describing the way power from roof-top solar panels will reduce their own electric consumption and spin the meter backwards. But Net Metering also allows owners of solar systems to receive credit for clean [...]
How Could the Lights Go Out at the Super Bowl?
When I worked for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in the late 1980s, the San Francisco area hosted a classic World Series in which the San Francisco Giants played against their cross-bay rivals the Oakland A’s. Going into the Series, PG&E spent significant time and energy ensuring reliable power to both stadiums. My friend [...]
Top 5 Mistakes of New Energy Auditors
No doubt if you follow energy or environmental issues, you’ve heard over and over again that the least expensive way to tackle our energy difficulties is through efficiency. One report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) suggested that $168.6 billion could be saved through energy efficiency by 2020. Still, some of those [...]