Solar Incentive

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Tara Holmes

Rising energy costs, increased consumer demand, and climate change can make any of us feel overwhelmed about the state of energy production in the US, and the world. Many of us would love to go “off the grid” but aren’t sure how or how much it would cost. The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative – Renewable Energy Trust can help. MTC is a quasi public entity funded by a portion of each of our electric bills. The money goes to support communal renewable energy programs such as Community Wind Collaborative, Clean Energy Choice and Commonwealth Solar. Commonwealth Solar, a particularly successful program, was initiated in January, 2008 by the Patrick Administration and MTC. The program provides rebates for PV installation through a non-competitive application process. Residential, public, commercial and industrial parties can all benefit. If you’re curious about installing solar panels at your residence or business, it’s easier than you think! Please see: http://www.masstech.org/solar/ to learn more.

New Energy… One Atom at a time.

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Anthony Butler

340px-graphene_xyz2 MIT has just announced it is working with a substance called graphene to find new information technology and energy related applications.

For those of you without a post-grad science degree, graphene is a sheet of carbon atoms formed into perfect hexagonal patterns. Graphene has several other properties that identify it as a material with extraordinary potential. For instance, it was found to have a breaking strength 200 times that of steel.

It is also one of the most expensive materials ever produced. A ’sheet’ of graphene the width of a human hair current costs almost $1000 to produce. This is the part of the story that got Warm Home Cool Planet’s attention, however:

“Unique electrical characteristics could make graphene the successor to silicon in a whole new generation of microchips, surmounting basic physical constraints limiting the further development of ever-smaller, ever-faster silicon chips… that’s only one of the material’s potential applications. Because of its single-atom thickness, pure graphene is transparent, and can be used to make transparent electrodes for light-based applications such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or improved solar cells.”

If something invisible to the human eye can be used to make, store and transport energy, the possibilities for alternative energy generation would seem to be limitless. Now, if we could just do something about the price.

This man needs your signature on Earth Day.

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Anthony Butler

enviro-gore

Al Gore has aligned with Repower America to ask everyone throughout the US to send a message to their local congressman to support the energy legislation currently before the House. The Repower folks have made it easy too. All you have to do is add your email address and zip code. They’ll make sure it gets to the right politician.

Happy Earth/Wind/Sun Day

Posted on April 22, 2009 by Tara Holmes

Wind Turbine It’s Earth Day, 2009. What have you done this year to lessen your carbon footprint, save energy, and shop responsibly? I remain imperfect although I claim to be “green.” I educate myself, take public transit to work, turn off lights, shop with reusable bags and keep the heat off as much as possible. Still, is this enough? I’ve decided it’s important to not get overwhelmed and instead do what you can using the “every vote counts” motto.

For example, a simple way to support renewable energy is a mere few clicks away. Just recently I learned Boston-area residents have the option to support clean wind power under NSTAR Green . This program makes it easy for consumers to support wind energy by demanding their electricity be provided by wind, not coal. You have the option of choosing between 50% and 100% wind power. And no, it’s not that expensive. So, on this Earth Day, do your part by checking out NSTAR Green and switching from coal-generated electricity to wind.

Saving Energy with the Lego Model

Posted on April 21, 2009 by Anthony Butler

6177_lego_builders_of_tomorrow_box

A company in Western Kentucky has built more than 40 structures, including eight schools, using an innovative construction method called Insulated Concrete Forms. ICF consists of four-inch Styrofoam blocks reinforced by a rebar grid into which concrete is poured. The foam provides insulation while the concrete offers strength and durability.

President Larry Graves says the original ICF “test project” was his own home, built with Insulated Concrete Forms in 2003; “The initial investment costs up to 8 percent more than traditional building methods, but I made my money back in savings within the first two years.”

Gravesco is the exclusive provider of this building technology which, according to Graves, results in utility bills 50% lower than those generated by a traditionally constructed house; “Regardless of how hot or cold it is outside, the temperature of the structure stays the same,” he said. “Our electricity bills come from from our boys running their Playstation units all day long, the dozens of loads of laundry they generate, and the lights they forget to turn off.”

MIT Sustainablility Summit Friday April 24th

Posted on April 19, 2009 by Anthony Butler

Just another reminder of the MIT Sustainability Summit-Starting this Friday:

Location: Walker Memorial Building 50 142 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02139
Click here for more details
Description: The MIT Sustainability Summit, Discovering New Dimensions for Growth, brings together students, engineers, business leaders, academics, environmental activists, and public servants to discuss how we can most effectively support each other as we face the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to a sustainable world.

For questions contact:
Catharina Lavers clavers@MIT.EDU
Start Time: 9:30
Date: 2009-04-24

Recycling Soda Cans into Solar Panels

Posted on March 25, 2009 by Anthony Butler

Soda can

From Canada comes the rather amazing story of Cansolair, a company that reuses soda cans to make solar panels. Once installed, this soda/solar unit can provide up to 30% of the heating for your house. All this in the cloudy, foggy Labrador region. All without adding another CO2 particle to the environment. Maybe Coke knew it was onto something when they introduced this new flavor last year.

Check out this video to see how it’s done.

Putting Australia’s natural resources on the grid

Posted on March 24, 2009 by Anthony Butler

Australia

Various reports from our friends Down Under indicate Australians have also been looking at readily available alternatives to the use of non-renewable, greenhouse gas emitting forms of energy. And decided using less energy overall is the first and easiest step to take.

This report from an Warm Home Cool Planet colleague visiting Queensland:

One of the best things I’ve noticed, which is all over the place on TV and billboards, is the ClimateSmart Home Service. It’s run by the Queensland Government to save energy, money and the environment, and is part of the ClimateSmart Living Intitiative. For just $50 a qualified and licensed electrician comes to your home to install a wireless energy monitor for you to keep and conduct a constant energy audit of your home. You also get free water-and-energy efficient shower heads, and up to 15 free energy efficient light bulbs.

There is, however, another reason why are utility company trucks are prowling the streets of Australia’s capital cities handing out free Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs.

If Australia continues to grow demand for electricity at historic rates, energy retailers will need to generate 70,000 GWh/year in renewable energy to meet the Australian Government’s 2020 Mandatory Renewable Energy Targets (MRET). Penalties will be up to $40 for every MWh they fall short.

With current renewable energy generation in Australia around 25,000 GWh/y, tripling the amount of renewable energy on the grid over the next 1o years will be challenging to say the least. Energy retailers have decided that helping consumers to reduce their energy consumption should dampen overall energy demands, making MRETs more achievable.

With Obama Administration’s stated intention to focus on energy policy as soon as the current economic crisis subsides, will Renewable Energy Targets soon be enacted here? If they are, look for the price of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to skyrocket.

Dow Corning gets boost from Economic Stimulus Package

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Anthony Butler

: The Pink Panther saves the World… and Newark.

Dow Corning, the largest maker of residential insulation in the US, can expect their economic recovery to start ahead of time due to the tax rebates and incentives for housing weatherization included within the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law by President Obama last month.

“The weatherization program is the sort of activity that is likely to spur demand,” said Owens Corning spokesman Scott Deitz. “No doubt, people will install insulation because of this program. We just don’t know how many.”

This could also boost employment at Dow Cornings’ largest US insulation manufacturing plant in Newark, which has lost over 700 jobs in the last decade.

An estimated 80 million homes in the United States are currently under-insulated. Any home built before the mid-1980s and that has not been remodeled is unlikely to meet insulation building codes in force today.

Available Renewable Energy Tax Credits & Rebates

Posted on March 18, 2009 by Anthony Butler

Here’s a list of the latest Renewable Energy Tax Incentives now available to residents and businesses in Massachusetts. The highlight being if you can somehow generate hydro-electric power from that attractive water feature in your backyard and hook it up to the grid, you’re good for a $50,000 tax credit from the Commonwealth.

water-statue

On the other hand, if you’re interested in available Tax Credits for Qualified Hybrid Vehicles.

Warm Home Cool Planet

Sustainability begins at home

Category Archives: Alternative Energy