Google Launches Largest Solar Project

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With climate change now an ostensible fact to all but the most staunch nay Sayers, and the cost of fossil fuels steadily increasing as their limited availability becomes more readily apparent, people are turning to renewable energy. One particular renewable energy resource that is turning heads and earning almost universal nods of approval as a viable energy alternative is solar power. Thanks to monumental leaps in the cost and efficiency of this technology, it is now one of the most prominent—if not the most prominent—future resource for renewable energy in the US.

One company that is joining in on the solar revolution in a big way is Google. And we don’t mean that they are simply adding a few solar panels to their offices either. The world’s largest search engine and video sharing entity is bringing solar power to other people on a very large scale.

What amazing thing did Google do this time?

Google (which spent a grand total of $400 million on renewable energy in the US last year alone) recently invested in$168 million into the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation Station, which is located in the middle of the desert on the border of California and Nevada. The project that developed the Ivanpah power station, which is widely considered to be the largest solar panel project in the world, has resulted in a massive solar power plant that contains 347 thousand software controlled, rotating mirrors, covers 3,500 acres of land and is capable of powering about 140,000 homes.

What makes the Ivanpah power station amazing, however, is not just its scale, but also how it produces electricity. Most electricity suppliers in the US are connected to solar panel systems that deliver electricity directly from the panels themselves; these are known as photovoltaic solar panel systems. While this works, it will not be the most efficient method of transitioning to solar. For many years, fossil fuels and nuclear power plants have been used to superheat water so that it can power turbines that deliver electricity to the masses. The Ivanpah power station emulates this capability with its solar panels; this is known as a solar thermal system. Having more solar panel systems with this capability will make transitioning to solar much easier for many steam powered generators.

Is a solar thermal solar panel system really better than a traditional photovoltaic one?

Not really. As of right now, photovoltaic solar panel systems are much more efficient than solar thermal systems—and this disparity is expected to expand as time passes. The key, however, with solar power stations like the one at Ivanpah will lie in the fact that they will streamline transitions to solar for communities that are heavily invested in coal or natural gas steam turbine power systems. Also, as home solar panel use continues to expand, solar thermal can be combined wih photovoltaic as a home water heating element.

In atypical Google style, the search engine giant is a silent partner. The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generation Station is co-owned by Connecticut electric suppliers Bright Source Energy and DE electricity supplier NRG Energy. The $168 million dollar Google investment was used to supplement the 1.6 billon dollars in federal government loans to fully finance the project.

Google is neither beginning nor ending their efforts to bring more renewable energy to the masses at Ivanpah

The $400 million that Google spent last year on renewable energy in the US went towards a total of six power plants in California and Arizona. This investment makes Google the only massive company outside of the energy industry to make serious investments in our nation’s solar infrastructure outside of their own facilities.

They aren’t stopping there either. Google is also taking solar power straight to peoples’ homes. They are doing so by providing families with solar panel systems in their houses. So far, Google has added solar panels to over 3,000 homes throughout the country.

In total, Google has invested over a billion dollars in renewable energy like solar power.

Google believes that renewable energy in the US can replace fossil fuels very soon. As such, we can expect to see them make many more major investments into solar, wind, hydropower and other safe, efficient and reliable renewable energy resources.

What’s the Big Deal about an Energy Star Label?

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No matter where you live, energy costs are a major monetary concern, because they keep growing year after year and is one of the costs we seem to always expect to go up. The state of New Jersey has been hit especially hard by this uptick in energy prices and that leaves many people unsure what to do about these exorbitantly high NJ electricity rates. Taking a look at your appliances is a great place to start.

                                                  
 

Energy efficient appliances save you money

Most of your energy use comes from your home’s appliances (washer/dryer, dishwasher, fridge, HVAC, etc.), so it only makes sense that enhancing their efficiency will offer a great deal of protection from the costs created by high NJ electricity rates. But how do you know if your home’s appliances are energy efficient enough? The Energy Star label is a great place to start. Here is why:

What is an Energy Star label and what does it have to do with energy efficient appliances?

In short, the Energy Star label is a mark denoting a high level of energy efficiency. It is earned when a specific appliance or other energy using item passes a series of tests to prove that it meets a set of minimum standards. In order to make sure that you are getting the most energy efficient experience with your appliance or device possible, these standards are very high and difficult to match. The items eligible for recognition via the Energy Star label range from lightbulbs and televisions to home fixtures and appliances (there are over 60 categories in total).

The Energy Star program and the standard minimum requirements that must be met to earn its label were created by a joint effort by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Are all Energy Star labeled appliances the same?

The short answer to the above question is no, and here is why. Technology becomes better, parts become cheaper and mandates become stronger. That last factor is a key consideration to keep in mind when shopping around for an Energy Star certified item. This is due to the fact that the minimum requirements that must be met in order to earn the recognition availed by an Energy Star label increase all of the time. This means that an Energy Star labeled product from a few years ago that met the minimum requirements to wear that badge might not come close to earning that label today.

Also keep in mind that many appliance and electronics manufacturers will go well above and beyond the minimum requirements needed to earn the Energy Star label so that their products can contribute even more towards your goal of reducing the effects that NJ electric rates will have on your wallet.
Based on the information above, there are two factors that you should carefully consider when exploring Energy Star labeled products: model year and manufacturer energy efficiency guarantees.

Should I always look for an Energy Star label?

The short answer to this question is yes. Even an Energy Star labeled product that meets only the minimum requirements for Energy Star program approval is exceedingly more energy efficient than one that has not earned the label. For example, an Energy Star certified refrigerator alone can save you over $100 per year more than a less efficient one; this equates to thousands of dollars in savings over the course of the typical two decade lifetime of a refrigerator. Adding up the savings created by multiple Energy Star appliances will greatly reduce the financial strain created by NJ electricity rates. Any appliance that fits into one of the 60 plus Energy Star categories, but doesn’t have the label should be passed over.

Although an Energy Star appliance cannot reduce the actual NJ electricity rates, it can lower your bill

Do not overlook the value of an Energy Star label. Appliances bearing this mark can cut deeply into your energy bill. To learn more about how to fight against those extremely high NJ electricity rates, feel free to contact a member of our team at Make the Switch USA. We have been helping residents of the state battle the high rates charged by the power companies in NJ for many years.

Source:- http://powersuppliernj.tumblr.com/post/94615252806/whats-the-big-deal-about-an-energy-star-label

The Move Towards Solar

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Connecticut has some of the highest energy rates in the country, and the government is acting to change this. One of the most poignant of all the actions that they have taken involves harnessing the power of the sun. Solar power, which was once an inefficient pipe dream, is now one of the best—if not the best—renewable energy solution.

                                    

It is so viable as an alternative energy source that the move towards solar is drastically dropping electric rates in CT for those who are taking advantage of it. You should be taking advantage of this unlimited resource in order to keep your money out of the pockets of Connecticut electric suppliers. Below are some ways that you can make the move towards solar—with or without the government’s help.

Buy a solar panel system outright

This is the most direct way to transition to a solar powered lifestyle. You can buy your own solar panel system and have it installed at any time. Doing so yields huge tax benefits and instantly cuts your energy bill for your home or business to zero dollars. The Connecticut electric suppliers won’t like it much, but your pockets will love it in the long run. Also, keep in mind that the federal government will cover up to 30 percent of your solar panel system until 2016, regardless of the total amount that it cost you to have it installed.

Lease a solar panel system

Despite the sharp decline in solar panel prices, getting them installed is still an expensive endeavor—even with Uncle Sam footing nearly a third of the total cost. That is why the state of Connecticut has a solar lease program. With this, you can lease your solar panel system in much the same way you would do a car. The CT Solar Lease program also includes a zero down option for those who don’t want to make a big upfront payment.

The CT Solar Lease program doesn’t just free you from the burden of having to worry about paying Connecticut electric suppliers either. As a part of the program, you can also lease a solar hot water system that will make your home truly energy independent.

Get subsidies to help cover the cost of your solar panel system

Uncle Sam isn’t the only one who will help you buy a solar panel system for your home. The state of Connecticut has a Residential Solar Investment program that can drive the upfront cost of getting solar panels installed onto your roof into the ground.

How much of the upfront cost the state helps you pay for is determined by several variables, including the basic design characteristics of the solar panel system and whether or not the major components were manufactured in CT. The design characteristics, which the state refers to as a “design factor,” must be greater than or equal to 87 percent. Having major parts that were made in Connecticut grants you an additional five percent bonus in cost reduction.

You still get the 30 percent federal government cost reduction with this program by the way.

Find the Connecticut electric suppliers that provide solar power

If you would prefer not to have solar panels installed on the roof of your home or office building, you don’t have to. In fact, you can avoid having a set of solar panels of your own while still taking advantage of the solar revolution that is poised to turn the Connecticut energy market on its head. You can do this by signing up for one of the Connecticut electric suppliers that solely relies on green energy resources to produce their power. Most of these companies rely heavily on solar power to deliver energy to their customers—and being 100 percent green, the other resources that they use to generate energy won’t be so bad either. Using the power services of these companies has worked well for businesses and residents in Connecticut as electric rates have dropped dramatically for them.

How do I sign up for a100 percent renewable electric supplier?

It may seem hard to sift through all of the suppliers and options to find Connecticut electric suppliers that provide 100 percent renewable energy, there is a company that makes it easy for you. Thanks to Make the Switch USA, you can easily view a listing of all of the electric suppliers in your area, their rates, switching incentives and renewable energy options.

You can become a part of the solar revolution

The move towards solar is an inevitable journey. The only question is when you are going to join.

Source:- http://www.interestingarticles.com/electronics/the-move-towards-solar-20581.html

How Connecticut Residents can Help Reduce America’s Carbon Footprint—and Save Some Money in the Process

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Thanks to the polarizing weather extremes of Connecticut that causes blazing hot summers and frigid winters, your HVAC system is a necessity. Unfortunately, by taking up nearly half of most people’s total energy consumption, it is an energy sucking necessity that drives your carbon footprint and the cost of already high electric rates in CT through the roof. With the summer fast approaching, it will soon be time to crank up the A/C; to help reduce the effect that this will have on both your carbon footprint and how much the Connecticut energy suppliers bill you, we’re going to outline five tips that will cut into your HVAC system’s energy consumption.

1. Control your HVAC system with an automatic thermostat

Running your HVAC system all day is not a good idea. If you switch you’re A/C off when you leave, though, you’ll be coming home to an uncomfortably hot house. This leaves you with two undesirable options: either remain hot for long after you get home or allow your HVAC system to suck energy all day.

Fortunately you are not beholden to these options alone. Instead of worrying about whether or not you need to switch you’re A/C off, have an automatic thermostat installed. Such a device can be set to turn off right when you leave and switch on just before you come home.

2. Upgrade your HVAC system

HVAC systems take up a lot of energy in general, but low efficiency HVAC systems are big time energy hogs. Investing in a high efficiency (look for the Energy Star label) HVAC system will cut deeply into your energy consumption. Since having a new HVAC system installed usually runs in the thousands, this is the most expensive way to improve your home heating and cooling, but it is also the most effective tool in your fight against the high rates that Connecticut electric suppliers typically charge.

3. Make sure to get regular maintenance

Having your HVAC system inspected at least once a year will allow you to maintain optimal performance and discover any mechanical issues that could be causing your HVAC to take up more energy than it needs to.

4. Change your filters often

Changing your HVAC system’s air filter at regular intervals will reduce the likelihood of mechanical, issues occurring and maintain its optimal efficiency (the latter cuts into your energy consumption). The manufacturer’s recommendation for when to change your air filter will vary, but for best results you should change yours ever 30-60 days, especially if you are running your HVAC system a lot.

5. Don’t work against your HVAC system

The electric rates in CT are higher than they need to be due to the fact that people are working against their HVAC systems throughout the day; most of them don’t even realize it. Here are a few ways that you could be inadvertently causing your energy bill to rise—and how to fix it:

Leaving your windows open

The summer air is hot. Leaving your windows open invites it in, forcing your HVAC system to work harder to maintain a constant temperature. Unless there is a hazard or your HVAC system is broken (in which case it will not be affecting how much the Connecticut energy suppliers charge you anyway), keep your windows closed at all times.

Not closing your blinds

During the summer, the sun is looming all day. In order to reduce its ability to overheat your home, close your blinds so that its rays remain outside.

Turning the AC up too high

We know that some of you like to enjoy a relatively cool home after dealing with the sweltering heat. Connecticut energy suppliers are counting on this, because your HVAC has to work harder to maintain a low temperature, so it will allow them to charge you more. You don’t have to crank up your temperature so high that you’re A/C turns off either: even a one or two degree difference can have a strong impact on your energy bill.

To learn more about how to reduce your carbon footprint…

Please contact Make the Switch USA. They are dedicated to helping simultaneously reduce carbon footprint and energy rates in CT by connecting people like you with inexpensive, energy efficient Connecticut energy suppliers.

Source:- http://www.reddit.com/r/energyefficiency/comments/2e2p0h/how_connecticut_residents_can_help_reduce/

Electricity Rates—Short-Term Outlook

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Electricity is a necessity that everyone is willing to pay for. Without it, just about everything that we take for granted everyday—smartphones, computers, television, lights, ect.—could not work. That, however, doesn’t mean that we don’t worry about how much we’re paying for our electricity. While regulators across the country are working to keep energy rates as low as possible, they are still slated to rise due to a number of economic, market and supply factors. By the end of 2015, average energy prices are expected to rise to 12.73 (up from 12.47 by the end of 2014 and 12.12 in 2013) in the retail sector, 10.86 (up from 10.71 by the end of 2014 and 10.29 in 2013) in the commercial sector and 7.15 (up from 7.13 by the end of 2014 and 6.82 in 2013) in the industrial sector.

Overall increases in energy use are big contributors to the rise in rates. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency (EIA), total electricity generation in the country is expected to top 11.4 terawatts (11,400 gigawatts), which is a 2.2% increase from last year. Climate change is also having a huge effect on this increase in energy use throughout the country. The EIA estimates that the number of cooling degree days (hot days during which you need to run your air conditioner all day to stay cool) will increase by 5.7 percent in 2014. This means that customers will be running their heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system—the single largest contributor to a single household’s energy use (accounts for about half of an energy bill when in use)—for much longer than they otherwise would need to.

Increases in electric rates from PA to ME

The two most heavily affected regions in the United States are New England and the Mid Atlantic, where electric rates in PA, NJ, CT, OH, MD, MA, NH and ME are expected to skyrocket over the next few years. Let’s take a look at more details about the short term energy rate outlook in these areas:

New England

With energy rates soaring by over 11 percent in the past year, the energy industry in New England has been hit the hardest by the tumultuous energy market. State by state, these increases are very extreme. Massachusetts, for example, is projected to experience a 38 percent rate hike; Connecticut electric rates are expected to experience the lowest increase in the region despite the fact that the state will still carry some of the highest energy rates in the country. This is despite massive efforts by state governments to slow the growth rate of energy rates in the region.

Concerns about the natural gas supply in the region are greatly contributing to these increases.

The Mid Atlantic

With an 8 percent year over year increase in energy prices, the Mid Atlantic region is not far behind New England. For this region, energy prices are not increasing due to anything as complex as an issue with the distribution of natural gas. Electric rates in PA, NJ and NY are rising due to a reason that is much simpler than that: supply and demand; power use in the area so far this year has already greatly exceeded the forecasts for energy use made in 2013—and the HVAC driving hot weather has just begun.

These energy rate increases don’t have to be scary

Despite these increases in energy rates, savvy electric customers don’t have to worry. Many states have a competitive market thanks to fairly recent changes in the energy laws. For example, in PA, a power switch means that you will have the opportunity to browse dozens of power companies before making a change. These options mean that PA electric suppliers have to provide you with competitive offers that usually include lower rates to attract your business.

Regardless of your state, finding the lowest rate is easy thanks to organizations dedicated to helping you in this endeavor. Make the Switch USA, for example, allows you to compare the offerings of power companies in NJ, PA and CT. All you have to do is visit their website, MaketheSwitchUSA.com and enter basic information about your location and current energy rate.

Source:http://maketheswitchusa.wordpress.com/2014/08/27/electricity-rates-short-term-outlook/

Deregulation continues across America

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Monopoly has been a dirty word in the United States since the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890. This fact, however, has not prevented the nation’s energy industry from being held down by the weight of power supply monopolies in each state. However, times are changing, deregulation is here and now in full swing in many states.

Regulators (and more importantly, consumers) have been keenly aware of the monopolies utilities have operated for decades but in the past fifteen years, regulators have begun to act. This action is mostly coming in the form of altering and/or the removal of restrictive laws in the energy industry that make it impossible for a new energy company to exist, let alone compete with the energy industry monoliths. The common term for these changes is deregulation. Although the energy industries in many states are still unfairly regulated, there are many states in which deregulation is spreading and fast. As of right now, over half of all states have enacted deregulation at some level—and the list is growing fast. Let’s take a look at how the spread of deregulation in the energy industry has changed things:

How energy industry deregulation across America affects energy companies

The big energy companies may not have welcomed the prospect of deregulation. Electric companies in PA, for example, held off deregulation for years. This is due to the fact that when a company enjoys a monopoly, they can whatever they want to do—charge whatever rates they want, add arbitrary fees, provide mediocre customer service, etc. When they are the one company that holds all of the power, they can do what they like.

With deregulation in place, the industry has opened up to hundreds of new electric companies in PA, CT, NJ, MD, OH, MA, ME, TX, GA and every other state that is deregulated for that matter. Now utilities have had to adjust how they do business, sell off their generation assets and purchase power from wholesale power plants just like all of the new competitive suppliers do.  The utilities also promote electric choice now and help to grow the consumer awareness level in their state about the benefits electric choice can provide to their customers.

How deregulation could affect you

There are many changes wrought by deregulation, but the most important are those that affect you. Here is what you get from deregulation:
More choice

When a monopoly is in place and you need a product or service, you go to that one company that offers them. Since deregulation breaks up monopolies in the industry, you can choose from among other power companies in your area. The growth in the  number of energy companies across the USA has been substantial. For instance, there are now over 50 electric companies in CT, where there was once only two.

Lower energy bills

With choice comes competition, and when companies are competing, prices go down. When you take advantage of this by shopping around for the best rate, you end up paying less on your monthly bill.

A few avoidable problems

There are a few potential issues that you could run into in a deregulated energy market. Some of the electric companies in PA and CT, for example, are receiving complaints about extremely high variable rates. This problem can easily be avoided by customers who do basic due diligence and only consider fixed rates.

How to make a switch if you live in a deregulated state

To make the switch to another power supplier is easy, thanks to companies that connect you directly with the energy suppliers in your area. Make the Switch USA, for example, gives you the power to compare and contrast the offerings of electric companies in PA, CT and NJ.

What further action needs to be taken to enhance deregulation as it spreads?

Deregulation is helping, but more steps need to be taken to further improve the energy industry. Here is what you can expect legislators in deregulated and regulated states to do in the near future:

Informing customers

You can’t take advantage of energy industry deregulation if you don’t know about it. This fact is not lost on many states. For example, there are more power companies in NJ than ever before. Despite this fact—and the fact that they have been deregulated for 15 years—less than a fifth of all customers in the state use an electric company outside of the traditional utility companies.

Protecting customers

As we mentioned earlier, there are some ways that predatory energy companies can take advantage of deregulation in a way that harms customers. Fortunately, some states are taking action. In Connecticut, for example, legislators just passed laws that stunt the ability of electric companies in CT to surprise people with deceptively high variable rates.

Could Solar energy Take Over?

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For well over a century, residential and business energy users have been beholden to the power grid—and more importantly, the monolithic entities that control them—for all of their electricity needs. Thanks to the power of the sun, however, this is about to change. The solar power takeover is close at hand, and it will be here faster than you think, and from California to Connecticut, electric suppliers are terrified of the consequences.

Why solar?

There are many renewable energy resources other than solar power (wind, hydropower, biofuel, natural gas, etc.). There are no energy resources, however, that match the combination of abundance, cleanliness and raw power of solar energy. Since the sun is everywhere and absorbing its energy has absolutely no impact on the environment, there can be no argument against efficient solar technology by any group, including the electric companies in PA where 68 million tons of coal—by far our dirtiest source of energy and 56 percent of the state’s energy production—are produced each year.

The ability to harness solar power has existed for over a century. What is making it such a game changer now?

Better technology

Since its invention, the biggest problem with solar power technology has been its level of efficiency. It was so expensive to make and inefficient that few would reap any palpable benefits from its use and even fewer could afford it in the first place.

Over the past decade, two important things have happened to push solar technology forward. First, the photovoltaic solar cells themselves have experienced a massive improvement in efficiency and cost effectiveness. Second, thanks to efforts across all industries (not least of all the auto industry and their electric vehicles) the lithium-ion batteries that store and disperse the energy absorbed by the solar cells have become dramatically more efficient. To put things in perspective, this technology is now so efficient that a single day’s worth of solar energy could power the entire world for over a decade.

Solar technology is evolving beyond basic panels as well: cells are becoming so advanced that solar power technology is rapidly drifting into the realm of science fiction. For example, spray-on solar cells now exist and scientists are developing them for commercial use.

Government involvement

The US federal government and many state governments are stepping into the fray. Government programs are popping up like weeds; many of them involve helping consumers install their own solar panel system in a cost-effective manner. For example, in Connecticut—a state which has made many leaps towards solar energy in recent years—there is a program that allows traditional electric companies in CT to participate in their solar consumer assistance programs. In states like NJ, electric suppliers are required to use at least a certain percentage of renewable energy—solar is at the top of this list.

This solar invasion sounds great for everyone. Why are power companies so scared?

The answer to that question is simple: in the US, energy companies make over 100 billion dollars every year and they don’t want to give it up. Although they stand to make some profits from a solar nation, what they could make pales in comparison to the revenue they bring in now.

If they are so scared, why aren’t power companies doing anything?

They are. Solar is surrounding them and they are forced to take action regardless of whether they want to or not.  Some profit hungry energy companies are openly warring with solar, however, we know who will win. North Carolina’s Duke Energy, for example is claiming that solar users aren’t paying their fair share. On the other hand, some power companies are taking the smarter route: NJ electric suppliers NRG and PSE&G, for example, are actually selling their customers solar units.  At this point, it is time that the utilities all recognize the lead that solar is about to take and join in the revolution.

Can I take advantage of solar power now?

Yes. There are many programs that allow you to take advantage of environmental and economic benefits of solar power right now. For example, in CT Electric Rates are being completely replaced with home and business solar panel system leases. Also, there are many electric companies in PA that exclusively use renewable energy (including solar) to generate power.

For the latter option, it can be difficult to find a renewable electric supplier in your area if you don’t know where to look. Fortunately, there are entities that can help. Make the Switch USA, for example, provides you with a full listing of electric companies in PA, NJ and CT that explicitly details how much renewable energy they use.

Blog Source:- http://maketheswitchusa.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/could-solar-energy-take-over/