Over the last few years, there are more and more portable solar power options. You can recharge the batteries of your cell phone, GPS, mP3 player, computer, camera and more with energy from the sun. This means that you don’t need to find an outlet when you are camping, hiking, fishing or otherwise just enjoying the outdoors.
One of the latest offerings comes from a group of young Catalan entrepreneurs based in the Silicon Valley that developed YouShine, a 100% eco-friendly bag integrated with solar panels. This means that you can literally sling the bag over your shoulder, plug in your electronic devices and let regular sunlight (even filtered UV light) to recharge your batteries.
The company states that you can recharge a mobile phone in only 2 hours with UV light exposure. And, you can get these cool YouShine bags in 17 colors!
Don’t worry about an overcast day, or even if you are stuck inside a building (provided you have window exposure). YouShine can be taken anywhere and operates on simple ultra violet light – no matter how much it is filtered.
Tags: portable solar power, solar panels, solar recharging, youshine
With summer here in full swing and people looking for ways to cool down in an efficient, cost-effective way, its time to consider solar power air conditioning.
There are two new A/C units that run on solar power, and help save energy and money.
The first is the SplitCool DC18 solar air conditioner from Solar Panels Plus. Perhaps the best aspect about this device is not that its solar powered, but that it uses direct current (DC).
Generally speaking, solar energy must be converted from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) which is what you get when you plug into a socket. The SplitCool DC18 is a 48 volt DC air conditioning unit with a variable speed compressor.
Use of DC means that no inverter is needed to operate the unit. Not only does this save on the overall cost, but users also don’t experience the 15-20% power loss typically encountered during inversion. This makes this air conditioner far more efficient that a high-SEER AC unit connected to solar panels through an inverter.
Next, there is another solar power air conditioning unit from HotSpot Energy. This alternating current (AC) product is the ACWH18 Air Conditioner Water Heater. The HotSpot is a 18,000 BTU ductless mini-split heat pump that runs on 220v AC power. It is a SEER 18 EnergyStar certified unit with an integrated heat recovery circuit allowing it to make hot water as a byproduct of running the AC. A heat recovery circuit recovers heat that would normally discarded, and uses it to make hot water at temps up to 140F. About 100 gallons of solar hot water can be produced each day.
The typical user with a 7-month cooling season will save $1,000 per year in electrical and water heating savings, compared to a customer running a SEER 13 unit and using a standard water heater. Even more exciting is the fact that a purchase of the solar power air conditioning unit will qualify for a federal tax credit.
Tags: solar cooling, solar power air conditioning, solar power cooling, solar powered air conditioning
U.S. Conference of Mayors shows strong support for solar power
At a recent municipal conference last week, a survey revealed that solar power is supported by American mayors, overwhelmingly. The U.S. Conference of Mayors included leaders from all cities of more than 30,000 people, and took place in Baltimore, Maryland.
Among the issues facing municipal leadership are the development of clean energy technology, deployment of solar power and the creation of green jobs. To get to the heart of the matter, a Siemens survey was revealed to illustrate the fact that renewable energy resources for clean power is a high priority for American mayors across the country. This moves solar power, and other technologies, to the forefront.
According to Deborah Dehaney-Howard, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the survey did not focus exclusively on solar power. However, the results did show that many city leaders believe solar electricity production, along with energy-efficient building technologies and LED lighting systems, is among the top three most promising clean energy technologies. However, even though the mayors admitted that the Recession has impacted city budgets, they still plan on increasing use of green energy over the next 5 years.
Overall, one quarter of the cities represented at the conference have already established renewable energy production standards. In fact, notwithstanding the absence of a national policy on green energy, many cities have incorporated policies to encourage clean energy like solar power within their master plans.
Cities encouraging solar power growth
Even with solar power supported by American Mayors, there are still some geographical differences across the country. Generally speaking, you’ll find more solar electricity being developed in the West and Northeast. Yet, overall, 46% of the cities surveyed responded in the survey that they see solar power as one of the most promising clean energy technologies.
Tags: clean energy, green jobs, solar cities, solar conference, solar panels, solar power, u.s. conference of mayors
U.S. Conference of Mayors shows strong support for solar power
At a recent municipal conference last week, a survey revealed that solar power is supported by American mayors, overwhelmingly. The U.S. Conference of Mayors included leaders from all cities of more than 30,000 people, and took place in Baltimore, Maryland.
Among the issues facing municipal leadership are the development of clean energy technology, deployment of solar power and the creation of green jobs. To get to the heart of the matter, a Siemens survey was revealed to illustrate the fact that renewable energy resources for clean power is a high priority for American mayors across the country. This moves solar power, and other technologies, to the forefront.
According to Deborah Dehaney-Howard, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the survey did not focus exclusively on solar power. However, the results did show that many city leaders believe solar electricity production, along with energy-efficient building technologies and LED lighting systems, is among the top three most promising clean energy technologies. However, even though the mayors admitted that the Recession has impacted city budgets, they still plan on increasing use of green energy over the next 5 years.
Overall, one quarter of the cities represented at the conference have already established renewable energy production standards. In fact, notwithstanding the absence of a national policy on green energy, many cities have incorporated policies to encourage clean energy like solar power within their master plans.
Cities encouraging solar power growth
Even with solar power supported by American Mayors, there are still some geographical differences across the country. Generally speaking, you’ll find more solar electricity being developed in the West and Northeast. Yet, overall, 46% of the cities surveyed responded in the survey that they see solar power as one of the most promising clean energy technologies.
Tags: clean energy, green jobs, solar cities, solar conference, solar panels, solar power, u.s. conference of mayors
Many homes and businesses in California will be having smart meters installed pursuant to a mandate of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). But what does this mean, exactly? How can smart meters help you save money?
How can smart meters help you save money?
In short, smart meters give consumers the tools they need to help them manage their electricity demands and lower utility bills. When you have solar panels on your property and are grid-connected, they can also account for excess solar electricity generated, which can end up giving you a credit on your bill.
In short, a smart meter collects information for the smart grid. They have been described as connecting your home to the grid in a similar manner as a cable or DSL modem connects your computer to the Internet.
Unlike the electro-mechancial analog meters with which you are probably familiar, smart meters include digital displays that precisely record the amount of energy you use, and then sends the information directly to the utility company. That’s right…. the traditional “meter reader” is replaced with direct, 2-way communication between your property and the utility. This is more efficient and more accurate.
Utilities can cut costs related to on-site meter reading and can even address service disruptions remotely. The other benefit is that peak load times can be better managed. Utilities can match real-time demands on the grid with information flowing directly to it. Moreover, instead of simply looking at a consumer’s total consumption, smart meters pinpoint the exact times of day that electricity is used. If you want power during peak hours, you will pay more than if you shift energy consumption to off-peak hours, say by washing dishes or doing laundry later at night.
Generally speaking, smart meters record the solar power generated by your residential solar power system. This allows you the opportunity for net metering to get credit for solar electricity you feed back into the grid.
Consumers are finding that they can save money with solar power and smart meters. First, installing solar is more affordable than ever with falling prices and continued government rebates and incentives. Second, its much easier to finance solar power, which can further cut down on the cost of solar electricity. Experts believe that TOU (time of use) pricing via smart meters for residential use is just a few years away. When you factor in solar power, the impact of such a structure will be minimized because homeowners can “smooth out the gaps” in generation vs. demand. Lots of solar electricity generation during the day (when people are at school and work), and then higher demand in the evening and morning hours.
Turns out to be a win-win for both the homeowners and the utilities with solar power and smart meters!
Tags: smart grid, smart meters, smart meters solar, solar power, solar smart meters
YouShine Portable Solar Power
Solar power air conditioning
U.S. Conference of Mayors shows strong support for solar power
Cities encouraging solar power growth
How can smart meters help you save money?