Article by Nathan Brown

The Commercial Solar Electrical Power System At Spring Lake Inn Is Helping To Stop Global Warming! – Society – Politics

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If you want an unique, pleasant, environmentally sound experience, visit the 1880 inn we found that has completely converted to a photovoltaic solar power system. Andy and Barbara Seaman are the progressive thinking and environmentally concerned owners of a 16 room inn in Spring Lake New Jersey. Worried about global warming and the legacy they are leaving their children, the Seamans took advantage of New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program. This innovative initiative provides funding for both commercial and residential solar power systems. The Seamans installed a series of roof top solar panels that not only supplies all of their electricity needs but feeds unused power back into the state grid. The

Financial Picture for Spring Lake’s Commercial Solar Power System

The process wasn’t cheap, but the return on investment, the cost savings and the reduction in greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming are substantial. The solar power energy system equipment and installation cost around $ 75,000 and the state provided a grant for more than half the cost. But the savings didn’t end there. There was a federal tax credit, credit for the sale of excess electricity and cash back from the company where they purchased the system. The Seamans expect to break even in a few years and to make money after that. They are already planning to expand to a wind and solar power system in the future.

The Effect of Spring Lake’s Solar System on Global Warming and the Environment

The beneficial effect on the environment is significant. The firm that put in the system, Renewable Energy Concepts, estimates that over a 30 year period the Seaman’s solar power electric system will save 619 barrels of oil, be the equivalent of 541,344 miles of automobile travel not used, reduce acid rain emissions by more than a ton, reduce green house gases by 216 tons and be the equivalent of planting more than 1000 trees. That all adds up to doing a lot to help stop global warming while reducing resource use!

Spring Lake Is Inspiring Others To Install Commercial and Residential Solar Power Systems

The Spring Lake Inn is the only completely solar powered inn in the area but others are intrigued and are investigating commercial solar power systems for their businesses and guest visiting the inn are considering home solar power systems. Anyone concerned about the environment can’t help but be impressed. This 127 year old inn is a delight in its own right but the fact that it has become a leader in solar power makes it even more special. The inn is spotless, attractive, has an interesting history and is located in a village of multi-million dollar homes, tree lined streets, wonderful restaurants and it is one block from a huge unspoiled beach. Each of the 16 rooms is unique and the breakfast included with your room is varied and delicious. Andy took time to explain the solar system, show us the installation, the photovoltaic cells, the bi-directional meters and answer all of our questions. Not only did we enjoy our stay, but we came away determined to get into solar power too. Anyone can set up their own solar power system. From a purely financial point of view, the most appealing aspect is locking in your cost of power over the long term. In a future energy crisis you would be immune from the cost increases if you have a solar system. This is great news for those who anticipate or are already living on a fixed income. With a solar electricity system, even as electricity costs increase, home and business owners will not have to worry about increased utility bills. In addition, there are several studies that indicate every dollar saved on your utility bill with a solar electric system will increase your overall home value by twenty dollars. It is estimated that $ 1,500 in annual electric bill savings from solar will equate to $ 30,000 in additional resell value. In today’s increasingly tight housing market, a solar electric system helps set a home apart from the others in the neighborhood. A home with a fixed electric bill from solar power is “cheaper” to live in, and thus is very appealing to potential buyers.

The Nitty Gritty of Spring Lake’s Commercial Solar Electric Power System

The Spring Lake Inn has about 40 photovoltaic solar panels on its roof and two bi-directional meters in the basement. The panels are unobtrusive and the whole thing was installed in about 2 days. A good rule of thumb is to allow 100 sq. ft. of roof space per every kilowatt (kW) of electricity the system produces. A typical residential solar electric system will require approximately 300-500 square feet. Most businesses and homes are able to purchase a solar power system thanks to the incentives and aid offered by the federal government. In several states residents that install these systems are also eligible for rebates from their local energy company as well as certain federal tax credits. A home solar power system will also significantly reduce monthly utility bills. The average six-cent price of a solar kilowatt hour is less than half the average 14.5 to 15-cent rate of a utility company’s power rate. You can expect to pay back the price of the equipment within five to six years. Solar power is the cleanest and quietest electric technology available and an investment in a solar electric system offers many significant advantages.

You can:

* Reduce your electric bills because you no longer need to purchase as much power from your electric utility.* Further reduce your bills through net metering, which credits you for any surplus solar electricity generated by your system.* Stabilize your electric costs.* Enjoy an uninterrupted supply of electricity during power outages, if your system design includes batteries.* Benefit the environment because solar electric technology generates electricity without producing any emissions.

So why wouldn’t you put in a solar system? If you want to know more look on the net and treat yourself to a stay at The Spring Lake Inn. Here are some useful links to get you started.

About the Author

This article may be reprinted freely as long as this resource box is included. It is provided by ACoolerClimate.com.http://www.acoolerclimate.com/Articles/SolarElectricSystemAtSpringLakeInn.htmlhttp://www.acoolerclimate.com/Articles/TheGlobalWarmingRevolutionWillBeSolarized.html

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author’s information and copyright must be included.

Nathan Brown

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During a NASA Television Science briefing, scientists discussed the findings of the first global analysis of the giant asteroid Vesta by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft. The Dawn mission has confirmed Vesta’s status as a special fossil of the early solar system and revealed a more varied, diverse world than originally thought. Dawn has shown Vesta is the only known intact, layered planetary building block with an iron core surviving from the earliest days of the solar system. It therefore more closely resembles a small planet or Earth’s moon, not another asteroid.

If you thought that solar panels were just novelty items for hippies and rich home owners, that misconception is dead wrong now. In the past decade especially, technological innovations have brought photovoltaic panels down into a price range that the mainstream public can afford. At no higher a cost than a new car, residential solar electric power can make you energy independent immediately following installation.

If you produce enough power, you can even make a profit on your investment. As you’ll find out, there are many benefits associated with residential solar electric power, and there are few reasons left why you would not want a system installed on your own house.

Depending on where you live, the efficiency of your solar panels may be higher or lower than what the panels are officially rated. The more sunlight you receive each day, the more effective the panels will be.

Those in wintry climates stand to benefit the least from residential solar electric power, although newer models now provide a reasonable alternative to fossil fuels and the power grid.

Additionally, some solar panels rotate with the sun to pick up even more sunlight instead of being in a fixed position, which would limit the amount of sun that they receive in a given day. All of these technologies work together to optimize electrical output of the panels, and they will continue to be improved each year.

Energy Investment

It’s possible that you can receive tax benefits from going green. Not only that, but you will also be able to save thousands of dollars each year on your energy bill. That’s because sunlight is completely free, and it won’t run out for billions of years. Residential solar electric power makes you energy independent today.

As viable electric cars are introduced in the years to come, with the Chevy Volt being the first, you can completely eliminate your personal dependence on fossil fuels. In some locations, home owners also decide to supplement their energy needs with a wind turbine, although wind turbines are usable in less areas than solar electric power generation.

In an economy where you aren’t sure if you’ll keep your job from one year to the next, it’s vital to have a reliable source of energy that you can always count on. It’s so easy to install that a basic knowledge of electrical work will allow you to install residential solar electric power systems yourself onto your home. You can purchase them in kits or buy the parts separately for increased versatility. Although the price might be disheartening to look at, the cost of continued reliance on fossil fuels is much greater.

Part 3 of 3 of a tour of a home owners solar electric installation. Paul Risberg of Alt-Energy, the designer and installer of the system, talks to connecting to the power grid and the amount of electricity being generated.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Solar Impulse


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Solar Impulse


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Solar Impulse


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Europe’s first commercial solar plant, situated in Sanlucar la Mayor, 25 km west of Seville, was inaugurated in March 2008. The 11 MW plant, known as PS10, is the first tower technology solar thermoelectric power plant used for commercial purposes in the world and generates electricity to power 6000 homes. 624 heliostats, or movable mirrors, concentrate solar radiation onto a receiver located on a 115 m high tower. Water is turned into steam which is then blasted into turbines to generate power. The PS10 plant is part of the Sanlucar la Mayor Solar Platform which, when completed in 2013, will provide enough energy to power some 180000 homes, or a city the size of Seville.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

Whether or not a person has been doing a lot of reading on the environment or different energy sources it’s probable they have an understanding of the words ‘energy crisis’ and what it may mean. Whether really thinking about it and how it may be applied to a particular situation arises from a need to reduce money that is being spent on energy bills or because of a greater need to do the right thing by the environment, it’s the right that a person has started thinking about new options.

First, Understand What Commercial Solar Panels Are

These panels are an invention that has been around for quite some time now. They are fitted to the roof of a building where they collect and store energy from the sun. They store it in a DC format and then use wires to transmit it to inverters where it is made into the more universally usable AC form. This then allows the energy to work to maintain household items and their uses. Special appliances don’t need to be purchases and used when a person switches to solar energy, as the inverter will make the energy compatible.

Who Can Benefit From Commercial Solar Panels

The good news is that everyone can benefit from commercial solar panels. Getting equipped with them at a business can be a fantastic way to get a better grip on the bottom line. Not only can there be savings when doing the end of the year taxes, there will be a monthly savings on the energy bill. It will decrease the energy expense and often, when done well, will eliminate this expense all together. Getting a healthier bottom line is the biggest step to being able to increase a businesss profits, which will make or break a business as any entrepreneur will tell someone asking. In addition to this, the message a business sends their clients when using commercial solar panels is clear; we care about the environment. Letting clients know this will help create a better feeling overall, which will increase their desire to spend money at the business supporting good economic ethics.

Why Choose Commercial Solar Panels

Getting on the right track for the environment is crucial when it comes to thinking about options that can help with the energy crisis. Besides the benefits of saving money on energy bills and what that can do for a person’s budget, besides the positive effects it has on the environment, there are other positive reasons to choose this energy source. Choosing to use solar panels can create more local jobs. Being able to have jobs right here in America goes a very long way to building a better economy. Creating jobs here and not getting energy from foreign sources will stimulate local economies. With the economy as problematic as it’s been, anything we can do to help bring money and jobs for local workers is a major bonus. Summing it up, a person will save money through bills and tax incentives, will stimulate the economy creating local jobs, and will help the environment.

On January 25, 2011, NOLS employees helped to install 108 solar panel on the roof of the Noble Hotel. The Noble is a historic hotel that is used to house students and staff before and after their NOLS courses. This installation shows how we are reducing our carbon emissions and that we are mindful of our carbon footprint in town as well as in the backcountry.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

We have been waiting for this program for a very long time and are thrilled that it is finally here, said Kelly Smith, president of Ambassador Energy in Murrieta. This PACE program is the largest of its kind in the nation, offering customers the opportunity to add solar to their homes and businesses in a very affordable and accessible way. All the property owners need is 10% equity in their properties and to be current on their mortgage and property taxes. If they meet those qualifications, they may use the funds money to buy solar, and the cost is amortized for as long as 20 years on their property tax bill, paid twice per year. It works out beautifully, as a typical scenario will reflect a lower cost for the combined utility and property tax bill, so they are cash positive immediately with no money out of pocket.

Executives at Ambassador Energy learned of WRCOGs program two years ago, when the program was originally slated to launch. A hiccup occurred at that time, when Fannie Mae got involved on a national level to halt PACE funding. Since that time, Smith continued, we have been waiting to deploy a local sales team. Now that the program is back on track, we have built a team of professionals to share the news with the affected communities from Norco to Banning and down to Temecula. The response has been tremendous.

Ambassador Energys CEO, Steve Fulgham, said, The fund was the impetus to our putting together a local sales force. We are happy to be putting people to work by bringing in sales folks from slower industry segments, such as real estate and construction, and thoroughly training them in our educational facility in Murrieta. We not only train them in solar technology and sales, but we have them actually build a solar system as a part of the curriculum. We teach them the right way to sell solar, which includes giving customers options and education. Since part of what we do at Ambassador Energy is training other solar companies, training our own sales people has been a natural. And it is putting people to work, which is a win/win. I am grateful for the PACE program for giving us the ability to do that.

About Ambassador Energy

Ambassador Energy [AE] has a three-pronged business model, including Ambassador Energy College Solar Training, the Ambassador Energy Agency Program and Ambassador Energy, an EPC contractor. On staff are NABCEP Certified PV Installers, NABCEP Certified PV Technical Sales professionals [Fulgham/Kelso] and multiple NABCEP EL graduates. AE Agencies are nationwide. Ambassador Energy EPC installs PV systems throughout California.

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In a recent survey of more than 10,000 building professionals, CertainTeed

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Photos taken for an Inhabitat.com article. For commercial use of these works and any derivatives, contact Leonel Lima Ponce or Inhabitat.com.