September 18, 2007
From Reuters UK
Italy may soon become Europe’s next frontier for solar energy as new incentives prompt investors to bet on higher returns than in Germany, which has less sun but is currently the hub of a growing global market.
What’s the significance for the U.S? Both Germany and Italy have embraced the concept of the Feed-in Tariff, in which citizens installing solar arrays are guaranteed above-market prices from utilities for the solar power they generate and feed into the grid. Under the new Italian law, payback for such installations should occur within 8-12 years, somewhat faster than the German model. But both Germans and Italians are rushing to build solar, as the programs do what such incentive programs are supposed to do—encourage people with the ability to choose their power options to choose responsibly. In the U.S., we struggle with pallid net metering laws that have not, so far, caused Americans to replicate the rush to Solar that sun-kissed Italy and even cloudy Germany have witnessed.
Read the complete Reuters article here.
September 17, 2007
Solar-powered homes and buildings open across the country, September thru’ November
The American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour is in the final stages of preparation. The tour, now in its twelfth year, is the largest sustainable energy event in the U.S. It allows some 100,000 people across the nation to see how neighbors are using clean sources of energy to save on energy bills and protect the environment. Through a series of open-houses and informative tours participants learn about renewable energy options, energy efficient design, real-world costs, current rebates available, and other valuable insights.
Visit the American Solar Energy Society’ site here to find out about tours in your state.
September 6, 2007
From BBC News
Anyone with memories of Florida’s Disneyworld may recall the ‘Carousel of Progress’ feature, in which technical innovations going back 100 years are presented in a whimsical, animatronic, musical style. And anyone with memories of Britain may not automatically link the country with copious amounts of sunshine. But as this BBC report shows, an Englishman is spending the next two years building what might also be described as a Carousel of Progress; it’s a solar-powered house, which rotates to make the most of the available sunshine.
The report is courtesy of BBC News.
