Archive for July, 2009

US Treasury to pay 30% of project costs for new solar.

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

In about 65 days, the US Treasury will begin to issue cash grants to owners of solar power systems of all sizes.  The grant is equal to 30% of the project's cost.  This includes households, solar developers, businesses, commercial buildings, and utilities.  The grant is scalable.  On a $34,000 home ...

Solar and LEED 2009: An Old Challenge in A New System

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Cost/benefit analysis is certainly nothing new.  Leed 2009 NC adds a new twist when your design team compares maximum LEED points against maximum potential energy savings from on-site solar. Project budgets are especially tight in the current economic downturn, and a 'least cost' point strategy may be attractive.  LEED 2009 ...

Solar in the LEED: Significant changes for solar in LEED 2009

Monday, July 13th, 2009

LEED 2009 introduces new standards for on-site solar power: "To encourage and recognize increasing levels of on-site renewable energy self-supply to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use." What are the basics, and what are the implications for LEED point calculations and actual energy cost reductions?  What ...

Milestone Year for Solar, But Many Miles Yet to Go – Part 3

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Why isn't solar energy growing faster among households, businesses, government, and non-profits? In several states, on-site solar power is affordable and profitable through a combination of power generation, state and federal tax subsidies, and state incentives. In 2008, 11,877 California households, businesses, and commercial solar developers installed 322 megawatts of ...