Tag Archives: kids
In Focus: Kid-Friendly Solar
Want to teach your kids about renewable energy in a way that’s relevant and interesting? If you’re installing a new solar power system for your home, it’s a perfect opportunity to talk about how it works, why it’s important for the environment, and if you’re really motivated, you can throw in some math lessons, too. [...]
Children and The Future of Sustainability
As the most vulnerable members of our societies, environmental destruction impacts children first and foremost. Children are also those who are most likely to endure the impacts of a polluted environment over the longest period. Climate change is already killing one thousand children every day. The importance of educating children about the environment was addressed at [...]
Talking to 5th Graders About Solar Power
I spoke to about 100 fifth grade students at Tanglewood Elementary in Fort Myers today. After several questions about the cost of solar panels, one student asked, “How much do solar panels cost on Black Friday?” Needless to say, my answer was prefaced by a long pause – I didn’t prepare for that one. I [...]
In Focus: The Greening of American Sports
The multi-billion dollar American sports industry may not be the most polluting industry, but it is among the most visible. With over 60 percent of Americans identifying themselves as sports fans, the greening of the sporting world could serve as model for a wide swath of people. The White House seems to agree. Last week, [...]
Retail Solar Throwdown: IKEA vs. Kohl’s
It’s a bright week for the solar industry when two major retail chains announce their support of solar energy initiatives, so much so that they’re winning awards and setting new solar records! The international home products company IKEA recently reported its fourth solar PV installation in just one week, more than the store has ever achieved [...]
The Solar Eclipse Pavilion from Michael Jantzen
The Solar Eclipse Pavilion is a design proposal for a large steel public art gathering-place that converts energy from the sun into electricity for the community in which it is built. This solar energy conversion takes place through a 7000 square foot array of photovoltaic solar cells, which are mounted on the top of the [...]
Energy Efficiency: UK Destroying U.S
The United Kingdom took top rank in a new energy efficiency ranking of the world’s 12 major economies, according to a new study from the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. The U.K. was followed closely by Germany, Italy and Japan, with the U.S. coming in ninth. The ACEEE didn’t mince words, noting that [...]
The Solar-powered Son-X Octavia
Most parents will agree that it’s become incredibly difficult to get kids to stay and play outdoors. We’re living in a technological age that has spawned gadgets like MP3 players, PC and console games, tablets, notebooks and iPads, to name a very few. Consumerism, especially for gadgetry and electronics, has caught the attention of children [...]
California Schools Save $220 Million Going Solar
The Mount Diablo Unified School District in Northern California is about to make a huge commitment to solar energy. The school district and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWR) recently celebrated the completion of 40 SunPower solar power systems that will be outfitted on schools and facilities throughout the district. 11 more systems will be completed by the [...]