Alternative Energy For The Home

The most energy-efficient home on the block - at a competitive price

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:07:30 +0000

The latest new-home community from Pulte Homes includes some fairly typical features. But on top of the granite countertops, wood cabinets and recessed lighting, Pulte has included solar-power systems as a standard item in every home at Villa Trieste in Summerlin. After its private VIP opening today and its public grand opening Saturday, Villa Trieste could become [...]

Think Big About Energy-Efficiency Measures

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:09:45 +0000

Most of the discussion about energy efficiency has focused on new construction and major renovations. Now it’s time to shine the spotlight on existing houses and their often abysmal energy-use profiles. Houses built to the standard of the most recent building code revisions — the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code — are reasonably energy efficient. But [...]

“solar has the potential to supply 90% of grid power”

admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:13:55 +0000

The American Southwest has some of the greatest solar resources on the globe, it yet remains largely untapped. This trend may be changing as solar technology matures, market forces shift and concern for climate change mounts. One of the most common arguments against large-scale use of renewable energy is that it cannot produce a steady, reliable [...]

Solar cell efficiency hits a new record

admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:07:40 +0000

The University of New South Wales’ ARC Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence has reported the first silicon solar cell to achieve the milestone of 25 per cent efficiency. The UNSW ARC Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence already held the world record of 24.7 per cent for silicon solar cell efficiency. Now a revision of the international standard by [...]

California launches first solar in 20 years

admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:03:36 +0000

By turning a long line of mirrors, the first solar thermal plant in nearly two decades was launched last week in Bakersfield, California. Unlike solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into electricity, this plant will focus sunlight on tubes that contains water. The light heats the water, creating steam, thus turning turbines. At full capacity, Kimberlina [...]

Selling a house? make it green before you put it on the market

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:58:13 +0000

There is no question that green has captured the imagination, if not the pocketbooks, of new-home buyers. But that begs another question: What can sellers of existing homes do to compete with builders for the hearts and minds of potential customers? The answer is plenty. It’s just a matter of how much money you want to [...]

Financial Bailout Brings Green Energy Benefits

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:50:25 +0000

The economic bailout package contains an assortment of benefits for consumers. There are several new or extended tax credits to promote reduced energy use or alternative energy. The law extends for eight years a 30 percent tax credit for homeowners who put solar panels on their roofs. Previously, the maximum credit was $2,000; that limit is removed, [...]

solar energy system costs have been dropping

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:47:19 +0000

DAVID JOS has been soaking up the sun for almost a year now and, frankly, he’s becoming a bit strange. Take his daily ritual, for instance. First, he opens his front door and makes a beeline to two metal boxes, roughly a foot square, outside of his home behind a euonymus bush. He checks the digital [...]

Green technology still a draw

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:44:52 +0000

High energy prices, concerns about global warming, and an influx of venture capital are helping to insulate the state’s growing green technology sector from many of the forces battering the financial world, analysts say. “I think it would be tough to find another sector where you could say that the fundamental market drivers are as strong, [...]

“We want the greenest house you’ve ever designed, but we have almost no money”

admin — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:42:22 +0000

THOMAS SMALL is an accomplished cook, so it’s important for him to try new and exotic ingredients every now and then. When it came to the construction of his eco-friendly house, that’s exactly what his architects gave him. After all, crushed sunflower husks and shredded blue jeans don’t sound like typical building blocks. But in the [...]