The Puma Phone includes solar panels on the back

Look out world… solar powered phones are shaping up to be one of the new hot devices this year.  We’re not just talking about solar chargers.  Several companies are actually building the solar panels right into the phone.

At the 2010 Mobile World Congress, we were introduced to the Puma Phone.  On the back of the device is a solar panel that can recharge the phone’s batteries without the need to plug it in – simply set the phone in sunlight.  You can purchase one in less than a month, too!  That’s right – mark your calendars for three weeks from now.  Though we don’t know who will be carrying it, sources say that you can purchase it directly from Puma for around 400 Euros.

Several things we do know about the Puma Phone are pretty exciting, however.  The device itself is marketed largely towards sports/fitness enthusiasts.  It includes a pedometer, GPS, compass and stopwatch.  While you are out running or biking, be sure to use the 3.2 megapixel camera with 6x zoom.  A variety of apps tap into the fun factor: an animated Puma, a turntable for the audio player, and messaging to show you how many calls and/or songs you’ve enjoyed that were powered by the sun.

This is one smart smartphone!

Perhaps one of the coolest features in my humble opinion is point award system to encourage more solar power usage.  The more that you recharge your Puma Phone with solar energy, the more points you earn.  You can them redeem them at a Puma store.  Perhaps the more you are encouraged by its “solarometer,” the more you can rack up on accessories, including a protection sleeve, wristbands, sports armband, headset and a charger.

Lease solar panels to help defray costs (image from Wayne National Forest on Flickr)

One of the most exciting, easiest ways to install solar panels is gaining momentum!  Two new solar lease programs have recently been announced, which help people convert to solar energy while minimizing upfront costs.

Can you imagine tapping into solar electricity with no down payment?  Did you know that you can lease solar panels?

Consider these two new options that can help you reduce the cost of solar panels:

Sungevity is launching a 10-year residential solar lease program.  The monthly fee (there are no upfront costs) covers maintenance, monitoring, cleaning and insurance of panels installed on your rooftop.  Sungevity also helps you determine which solar system is best suited for your location, and has consultants on call 12 hours a day to answer questions.   In fact, customer service is such a priority that you can get a proposal based on your request within 24 hours of submitting it – weekends included!

Similarly, those who live in Texas can explore a solar lease with TXU Energy.  Through a partnership with SolarCity, the solar lease program will run you only about $35 a month!  You will save much more than that in monthly utility bills.

Once again, there are no upfront costs, no maintenance – its so easy.  I wish I lived in Texas!

Solar sponsorship for Pro Soccer!

News from SolarWorld this week, the largest solar manufacturer in the United States, may please both sports fans and solar power enthusiasts.  The company has entered into a deal which is the first of its kind for a solar company: sponsorship of a professional soccer team in the United States.

SolarWorld will be the primary jersey sponsor in 2010 of The Portland Timbers, based in Portland, Oregon.

The decision is not as random as it might initially seem.  SolarWorld has its U.S. headquarters and a 500-megawatt (MW) manufacturing plant in Hillsboro, Oregon, which is just outside of Portland.  In addition, the state of Oregon is a leader with respect to solar energy in America.

The German-based company will be the Timbers’ jersey sponsor for 2010.  In a press release, Timbers President Merritt Paulson stated:

“We pride ourselves on being a green organization – not just our colors – and partnering with a preeminent sustainable company like SolarWorld is a no-brainer.”

Portland Timbers Pro Soccer

The Portland Timbers, is now a member of the North American Soccer League, and will become a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise in 2011.

The sponsorship of the Portland soccer team is not the first foray into soccer for SolarWorld.  It has a marketing agreement with a German Team, FC Cologne, and also provides solar power to an African community studio that will broadcast this year’s FIFA World Cup.  In fact, that project is part of SolarWorld’s Solar2World program that works to bring solar energy to developing countries.

SolarWorld is quite excited about its new soccer sponsorship, not surprisingly.  Boris Klebensberger, President and COO of the U.S. branch of the company, observed:

“Soccer is the most international sport.  As a renewable-energy company involved in every major solar market, it’s only fitting for us to help support the sport in and around our various sites, including near our U.S. headquarters in Hillsboro.”

Somehow, I am inspired to head to Portland to catch a few pro soccer games this season!

Review

“…this book really does offer a comprehensive picture of the possible future of energy…well priced.” (UK-Energy-Saving.com, August 6th 2009)

Get the truth about alternative energy and make it part of your life Want to utilize cleaner, greener types of energy? This plain-English guide clearly explains the popular forms of alternative energy that you can use in your home, your car, and more. Separating myth from fact, this resource explores the (more…)

Solarize Portland - sunny side up!

When you are considering installing solar panels on your home or business, there are a number of questions you’ll have in mind:  How much will they cost?  How much will they save you?  How easy are they to use?  Can you qualify for rebates or other incentives?

What if there was a go-to company or organization that could answer all those questions and save you significant up-front costs?  There is!

Solarize Portland is a grass-roots organization with the overall goal of promoting solar power in the major metropolitan area of Portland Oregon.

For those of you that live in the Pacific Northwest, you can pull together with your neighbors through a Solarize Portland project in order to reduce solar panel system costs.  Much like One Block Off the Grid, you can work out the details as a group and achieve a bulk-purchasing benefit.

There are a number of easy steps to get you on the path to installing solar panels at a great price:

1.  Join Solarize Portland – its free!

2.  See if there is a project in your community of choice;

3.  If not, coordinate a Solarize Portland project yourself by calling the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability at 503-823-7581, or email Lee Rahr for assistance.

Let Solarize Portland help you on the path to install solar panels

Can you believe these possibilities?  Portland Oregon residents can save up to 80% of the costs of solar electric systems through incentive funding from the Energy Trust of Oregon, and State and Federal tax credits.  Truly, there are so many programs to help you defray the cost of switching to renewable energy resources.

O.K., so you are thinking, enough talk.  How does the Solarize Portland program work?

Let’s go through the step-by-step process:

1.  Find a group of people who want to invest in solar electric systems for their homes.

2.  Attend a free workshop offered by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

3.  Work with an Energy Trust approved State “tax credit certified” solar contractor chosen by project coordinators. The contractor will install solar panels for all participants, meaning that participants will likely receive a bulk-purchasing benefit.

4.  Participants get a free solar site-assessment with the contractor.  Find out what size solar panel system you will need, and what you can afford.  Don’t forget to factor in the discounts from incentives and tax credits!

5.  Get together with other participants and talk about your site-assessments.

6.  Now, decide if you will buy, or not!

7.  If you decide, yes, then each of you will sign a contract with the contractor selected by the group.  The contractor coordinates the purchase of equipment and installation.

8.  Now comes the exciting part… installation of the solar panels!  After that is complete, you’ll get an inspection to make sure that everything is A-OK.

9.  Start drawing on free solar power from the sun!  Oh, and don’t forget to submit paperwork to the agencies to get your renewable energy tax credits.

Portland General Electric to install large rooftop solar project

A new PGE solar rooftop project in Portland, Oregon will be the largest rooftop solar installation in the Pacific Northwest.  PGE (Portland General Electric) is planning a 2.4 megawatt (MW) solar project in partnership with U.S. Bank, ProLogis, and several other Oregon companies.  Northwest Solar Solutions estimates at least 60,000 green jobs (union wage electrical and roofing) will be created.

The project will be approximately 900,000-square feet in size and will cover the roofs of seven ProLogis warehouses in Portland and the neighboring cities of Gresham and Clackamas.  UNI-SOLAR thin-film solar panels will be installed, like the ones used in the 2008 solar panel partnership project between PGE and ProLogis.

Between the new solar rooftop project and the 2008 installation, approximately 3.5 megawatts of solar electricity will be generated.  Nearly 400 families could draw on the solar energy alone to power their households.

Observed Carol Dillan, VP of customers and economic development at PGE:

“PGE is continuing to steadily grow its solar energy resources for our customers.  It’s exciting to be able to bring innovative projects like this to Oregon and strengthen the state’s solar industry.”

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski at the Oregon Solar Highway Project

News like this isn’t rare in Oregon, which is a leader nationwide with respect to solar energy.  In fact, PGE is proud of the fact that its new solar rooftop project will help it meet the state’s renewable energy standard of 25% renewable energy by 2025.

Here’s some fast facts about PGE and its new project:

• PGE ranks 8th in the nation among utilities for total solar capacity, according to the Solar Energy Power Association
• With the new project, PGE will be have more than 12 MW of solar electricity in its resource mix
• PGE supports customer-owned solar energy projects through its net metering program
• SunWay3 LLC will own and operate the system, working to secure state and federal solar tax credits
• PGE garnered a lot of positive press through its work with Oregon Department of Transportation on the solar highway project
• The utility earned a Solar Business Achievement Award from the Solar Electric Power Association for being the first utility in the nation to develop a third-party ownership model to help develop large-scale solar projects
• Other incentives for the project will come from Energy Trust of Oregon, PV Powered and Tonkon Torp

All of this great solar news from a state that many think of as cloudy and overcast!

Shine on, PGE, shine on!

Solar net metering in California just got a big boost for consumers

If you are interested in, or have solar panels on your home or business, you probably know about net metering.  The concept is generally that any excess solar electricity that is generated by your panels can be sent back into the grid.  Your utility will then give you a credit against any draw you make from the grid overnight or during exceptionally high electricity demands.

Utilities are not always keen to “give away,” their product, however.  Usually you will find a cap on the amount of solar net metering credits that can be given to consumers.  Last week, the California Legislature raised the cap by double -  from 2.5% to 5%.  Governor Schwarzenegger, a big solar proponent in the Golden State is expected to sign the bill into law.  Its one of several new solar laws passed recently.

More incentive for Californians to install solar panels

The bill was passed in response to worry that the existing 2.5% cap would discourage new solar users, and thwart the state’s overall ambitious goal that requires 33% of the state’s energy to from renewable sources by 2030.  Bernadette Del Chiaro of Environment California commented of the new measure:

“It makes solar power affordable for people.  You couldn’t do that if you lost all that electricity.”

The primary downside to the new solar net metering credit increase bill is that solar electricity that is purchased by utilities from customers does not count toward state renewable energy mandates… unless the utility pays the customer a surcharge.  If that was to happen, utilities would simply increase rates for other customers to cover the additional costs.

Perhaps the next time the California Legislature takes up issues related to net metering and its renewable energy mandates it will continue to encourage, rather than dampen, desire for solar energy across the board.

Blooming Solar-Powered LED lights open up in the sun

Going green doesn’t have to be boring and utilitarian!  Phillips shows that you can employ solar energy and cool design with its blooming solar powered street lights.

Check out the gorgeous, unique street lamps, shown to the left, which were designed for the Phillips Simplicity Event in 2008.  If you can believe it, the Sustainable City Lights actually open up to the sun like the flowers in nature from which they are inspired.

Phillips LED street lights include five photovoltaic (PV) panels on the “flower petals,” that open up during the day to absorb sunlight and convert it to solar electricity.  At night, the petals close the the LED lights illuminate the city streets below.  Phillips street lights have sensors that automatically light up the surroundings when the sun goes down, and people walk in proximity to the lamp posts.  Otherwise, the system conserves energy by remaining off.

The efficient solar panels and timing system of the Phillips blooming solar-powered street lights generate more than enough energy to illuminate the streets.  Extra power is fed back into the grid for use by other power consumers.

Phillips Brings Great Street Lamps to Life!

Beauty and smart design, inspired by nature!

Love these amazing street lamps!

Beautiful and captivating - the solar sun jar

I cannot wait for the longer days of summer!  Lingering outside on our deck in the backyard until the sun goes down is one of my favorite things to do.

This year, I’m planning on getting a few of these solar sun jars to keep the sun shining just a bit longer.  This is renewable energy at its most basic and beautiful!

Solar sun jar comes in a number of glowing colors

Also referred to as a “flameless candle,” solar sun jars glow with power from sunlight.  All you have to do is put the jar outside during the day.  A small solar panel absorbs solar power, which is stored in the internal rechargeable battery to power the LED lights after dark.

Much like solar garden lights, the solar sun jar has a sensor; when the skies darken, the light automatically comes on.  Then, when the sun comes up again in the morning, the solar lamp will darken (and recharge) during the day.

With a full charge, the solar light will glow for 8 hours or more!

Of course, there is also a switch to manually turn the solar light on or off.

You can purchase the solar sun jar in a number of colors: red, blue, orange pink or green.   Prices range from $20-30 USD, depending on where you purchase them.  My favorite site is Amazon.com, which offers free shipping!

Get your glow on!

Solar development plans scaled back to protect the desert tortoise

The solar debates in the Mojave Desert have pitted green vs. green.  Proponents of renewable energy look at the vast expanse of land in sunny Southern California as a great location to generate solar electricity.  But concerns over the fragile habitat of the endangered desert tortoise have had some people seeing more red than green.  The clash in California appeared to be at an impasse.

But this week, Brightsource Energy announced it would scale back its proposed solar thermal power plant in order to protect the desert tortoise.  The move comes in response… and in an effort to compromise with… the environmental groups who have voiced concerns over the impact of utility scale solar projects in the region.

Instead of a three-phase project that would have covered five square miles of the Mojave Desert and produced 400 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity, Brightsource will significantly reduce the size of the planned Ivanpah solar power plant.  Overall area of the plant will be cut down by 12%, the third phase will be reduced by 23%, and only one power tower, instead of the five towers originally planned, will be constructed.

For an idea of the scope and scale of a solar thermal power plant, consider this video of a similar Brightsource Energy plant:

With respect to Brightsource Energy’s proposed plant in the Mojave Desert, the overall amount of the reduction is not as important as the location of the cut backs.  Specifically, the announced changes will carve out specific sections of land that would have required a significant amount of grading.  Now, the desert tortoise will not lose important desert flora and fauna, rocks and natural water features on which it relies for its habitat.

Defenders of Wildlife estimate that the population of the desert tortoise has decreased 90% in the last 50 years.  Many believe that there are less than 100,000 of the creatures alive today:

The reduction in size and scope of the Ivanpah solar thermal plant is probably not the last.  Developers of concentrated solar power projects have been considering and proposing projects that can be sited closer to the urban areas that demand electricity in order to minimize environmental impacts… and delays in permitting.

As environmental pressures mount from a number of different directions, the balancing act of all concerns may become more challenging.  Utility scale solar requires a great amount of land, but can efficiently power thousands of customers.  Greater numbers of smaller plants would be required, but perhaps at a savings with respect to the environmental cost.

Your perspective?