Rolling Solar : Generator on a Cart
By Holy Solar | March 26, 2009
Solar Power On the Move
The Harvester Solar Electric Generator is a non-polluting portable and durable power gathering and storing unit ideal for providing power when and where on-grid power sources are not available.
This unique design features quick and painless setup, easy storage, and maximum portability for such a high-powered unit- just grab the handle and roll.
Topics: Sustainable Energy | 2 Comments »
How realistic is the plan to create five million new ‘green collar’ jobs?
By Renewable Energy Jobs | March 25, 2009
President Obama’s plan to turn around the US economy includes $150bn of investment in green energy over the next ten years, driving America towards energy independence whilst creating 5 million ‘green collar’ jobs.
Nobody could question the need for the new US president to take action to resurrect the US economy or our need for the US to take a prominent role in the battle against climate change. However, is creating five million renewable energy jobs in the US realistic currently? And if not why not? Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Green Technology, Sustainable Energy | No Comments »
Determining Electricity Consumption of Your Home Appliances
By Energy Efficiency | March 13, 2009
Improving energy efficiency and conservation around the house requires a certain attention to detail. There are a multitude of electronic appliances that populate the modern home. Knowing how many watts of electricity each appliances uses is a key step toward reducing your electricity consumption. You’ll know which ones to trade in for newer, more efficient models- creating a general awareness and knowledge that will aide in all of your energy conserving endeavors.
Figuring out how many watts of electricity an appliance uses is typically very easy. It is generally printed right on the device. It will either be stamped on it somewhere or printed on a nameplate that is usually affixed to the back.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Conservation, Green Technology, Sustainable Energy | No Comments »
LA Biodiesel Station Saved by E-Mail Campaign
By Holy Solar | December 17, 2008
Happy Solstice from Holy Solar! This year has seen an amazing growth of alternative energy, real action from Washington and credible promises of much more to come from what may prove to be the administration which solves the energy crisis.
We’ve been away for a couple of months performing seasonal agricultural work on the Coast, and just now completed our regular migration to the Southwest. The price of biodiesel has not been as fast to fall as it was to rise, and remains up to twice the retail of petro-diesel.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Biofuels, Green Leap Awards, Green Technology, Sustainable Energy | 1 Comment »
Federal Tax Credit Increase Brings Solar Within Reach
By Holy Solar | October 12, 2008
The recent stock market collapse and subsequent Congressional bailout have brought a collective groan to pocketbooks across America and financial markets around the world. Afraid for their savings and jobs, and worried for the future of their homes and college funds, this may not seem like the time for homeowners to invest in expensive improvements.
The $700B corporate welfare package was passed through Congress, much as previous legislation overreached the bounds of government on the pretext of crisis. Stuffed with pork and served with theater, this move will haunt the world economy for years to come.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Green Technology, Solar Panel Installation, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 1 Comment »
Google Grabs Green Leap Award for Alternative Energy Plan
By Holy Solar | October 5, 2008
Search Engine Giant Google Wins Green Leap Award
This is a new feature we’ve added in order to highlight organizations and companies who have made noteworthy contributions to developing a clean energy policy based on renewable power. We recently profiled Cal Green Lending, Real Goods, and Nanosolar, and these companies are retroactively awarded this distinction as well.
Today we’d like to salute…well…a giant media corporation. Not just any multibillion-dollar press magnet, either; Google is the most active web entity on Earth, attracting over 80 million visitors daily to its search result pages and other web services.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Green Leap Awards, Green Technology, Sustainable Energy | No Comments »
Green Leap Award-For Leadership in the Green Revolution
By Holy Solar | October 1, 2008
This distinction is conferred upon alternative energy and environmental organizations and businesses who have caught the attention of the Holy Solar team as especially deserving of recognition. Each week or so, a different group will be profiled in connection with this award.
If you feel your group qualifies for to be a Green Leap recipient, please submit your webiste details and why this effort is noteworthy in the form below.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Green Leap Awards, Sustainable Energy | No Comments »
Sustainable Aviation: Bio-Fuels Reach the Stratosphere
By Holy Solar | September 12, 2008
Flying the Earth-Friendly Skies
Biofuel enthusiasts have been saying for a long time that the sky is the limit for organically-based, sustainable transportation solutions. Now, that barrier, too, seems to have been rapidly passed. With the announcement of the world’s very first organically produced aviation fuel from micro-algae, San Francisco biofuel pioneer Solazyme may have helped solve the missing link in the alternative energy puzzle.
The new jet fuel, which is made from algal culture grown in vats from a sugar medium, addresses the enormous global issues tied up with petrochemicals as fuel for flight, just in time for the sixth anniversary of the Word Trade Center destruction. This development comes on the heels of tests earlier this year by Virgin Airlines, which has since moved its program to Europe.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Biofuels, Green Technology, Sustainable Energy | 2 Comments »
Alternative Energy Financing :
Making Solar Make Sense
By Holy Solar | September 6, 2008
Fed up with paying in to a private monopoly which is still holding us hostage with pollution-generating power plants? Tired of talking about the energy crisis and ready to invest in a future off the grid? Good for you.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Green Leap Awards, Green Technology, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 8 Comments »
Tree-sitters Outlast Pacific Lumber in the Headwaters
By Holy Solar | August 29, 2008
Pacific Lumber is dead…long live…Mendocino Redwood Company…?
The long-fought standoff between Redwood forest defense activists and Maxxam/Pacific Lumber seems to have come to an end, and the trees are victorious.
The villain of the tree-sitter’s movie under the pernicious leadership of Charles Hurwitz, Pacific Lumber has killed more than trees in their pursuit of old-growth lumber among the world’s most ancient living beings.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Sustainable Energy | 1 Comment »
Solar Living Experiment : Spoken Word
By Holy Solar | August 24, 2008
The Holy Solar crew trucked down to Hopland, California, for the annual SolFest celebration at the Solar Living Institute & left with this song and video.
In Joy!
Solar Living Experiment
For those of you who’ve never been
It’s so amazing as to be a sin
Right along scenic highway one-oh-one
There’s a magical place, mostly about the Sun
We’d heard about the Redwoods, so we came to see,
What it felt like to be under all of those trees
We weren’t the first to hear their call
Hundred foot Redwoods dwarfing any wall
Under their canopy you might feel a little small
Until you give one a hug and feel part of it all.
With towering trees and ancient ferns
Restoring the forest each time it burns
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Biofuels, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 6 Comments »
SolFest Alternative Energy Expo-Hopland, CA
By Holy Solar | August 12, 2008
Once again, we’re headed down to the Solar Living Institute in Hopland California to take part in the annual Solfest gathering. For those who are not familiar, the Solar Living Institute is one of the most active and established sites using green technologies and earth-friendly land strategies since 1998.
Associated with the Real Goods Eco-store, the Solar Living Institute is one of our favorite places on Earth. Featuring the largest array of solar panels in Northern California, SLI’s Solar 2000 module grid produces more than 160,000 kilowatt hours of power annually. Since 2003, anyone traveling Highway 101 has been able to top off their biodiesel tank while visiting this historic landmark of the future.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Biofuels, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 1 Comment »
Nanosolar: Thin is In for Renewable Energy
By Holy Solar | July 23, 2008
Enough sunlight falls on the Earth in two hours to support all of civilization’s power needs for an entire year. This compelling statistic ought to have mobs unplugging from the grid and off to the solar store for some PV modules and wires. When we see how energy is free, that it literally falls from the sky and all we have to do is collect it, why should we live under the whim of a heartless energy monopoly, in dread of their threatening pink notices?
At some level, however, we all know that unless the grid itself is powered by renewable energy, the economic, social, and environmental plague of fossil fuels and nuclear power will go on to pollute the world regardless of how tiny our individual footprints may be.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Green Technology, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 8 Comments »
Drilling & Mounting-RV Solar Panel Installation
By Holy Solar | July 15, 2008
Part Two
In the previous post, we covered some of the main reasons why we chose the Unisolar 64 Watt solar panel for supplemental power in our alternative energy bus. We made the purchase at the Real Goods store in Hopland, California, but because our roof had no metal to fix the mounting brackets to, installation was pretty much up to us.
Erik at Real Goods helped us develop a plan, drew a diagram showing the proper way to hook up the wiring between the junction box of the solar panel, the regulator, and batteries, and wished us well. We had his card in the event of emergency; fortunately, we never needed it.
Topics: Green Technology, Solar Panel Installation, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 2 Comments »
RV Solar Installation- Unisolar 64 Watt Thin Film Panel
By Holy Solar | June 27, 2008
Part One
We are proud to announce that the production of this site is now completely solar powered, as our two computers currently run off of our recently installed Unisolar Thin Film solar panel, which soaks up light like a sponge and allows the two of us to write and design to our hearts content, without using fossil fuels or depending on grid power.
Frankly, we’re pretty excited about it. Our hardy road-boat, Mahayana (which means “The Big Vehicle,” a type of Buddhism), has sailed the highways for over two years under the faint scent of French fries from the biodiesel she drinks with glee. Adding a to our array of alternative energy was a logical next step, but we found suppliers and information to be shockingly scarce…which is part of what motivated the construction of this site.
Topics: Alternative Energy News, Biofuels, Green Technology, Solar Panel Installation, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 2 Comments »
Solar Powered Portable Reading Devices
By Holy Solar | June 17, 2008
And for the first 500 years or so that his seminal invention helped reproduce the philosophies, theories, and conclusions of the finest minds in Western and Eastern cultures, it wasn’t much of an issue. Woodlands were abundant, print runs relatively short, and storing the sum of human knowledge certainly ranked in importance above a few trees.
Topics: Green Technology, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | No Comments »
Biodiesel Update – Arizona to Oregon
By Holy Solar | June 10, 2008
Twice each year, the ambient clime and bi-regional commitments demands that we set sail, following the wise birds to where the climate suits our clothes. More in the style of turtles than our flying feathered friends we drive our mobile headquarters and bed-quarters along with us.
In January, after touring Oregon and Washington, we departed Northern California and arrived in Arizona on 99+% biodiesel, purchased at a maximum of $3.99/gallon. We were gratified to establish that blends of at least B-99 were available at regular enough intervals to allow transit between the Canadian and Mexican borders without resorting to petro-diesel.
Topics: Biofuels, Sustainable Energy | No Comments »
Wholly Solar
By Holy Solar | June 7, 2008
The purpose of this site, as we’ll keep mentioning until we’re sure it has been made quite clear, is to advocate for and provide information on renewable, nonpolluting energy sources. There are quite a few reasons why we feel this is important, but all of them boil down to a concern over the toxic social, economic, and environmental impact of petrochemical dependence.
The solution, we believe, is to turn to nature. When we talk about solar power, we don’t just mean photovoltaic modules, although that is certainly one of our favorite forms of electricity generation. Solar power includes windmills, biofuel, and non-PV applications such as solar heaters and ovens.
Topics: Green Technology, Solar Power, Sustainable Energy | 2 Comments »
Solar Powered Water Purifiers & Distillers
By Water Purification | June 6, 2008
Solar water purification is a great example of an efficient green technology, as it replaces a machine which everyone has a need for that would normally use standard electricity. A solar water purifier makes it possible to produce pure drinking water that is healthy for all with a minimum of input.
Topics: Solar Power, Sustainable Energy, Water Purification | 4 Comments »
Raising Hopes for the Environment
By Holy Solar | June 1, 2008
Carbon Neutral Sweepstakes Spreading Awareness of Offset Credits
The problem with alternative energy is that it’s, well, alternative. Clean, renewable energy may be the only hope for a green future, but it remains a minority source and inaccessible to the largest number of consumers. As a result, the dominant energy paradigm-burning things and never mind emissions-is still powering most of our homes and businesses.
Solar power is really nice for homeowners in moderately sunny climates, but the residents of urban highrises haven’t the option to go grid-free. Similarly, the nature of many businesses is such that wind or photovoltaic power is not practical on the small area available, in line with leases, or inexpensive enough to justify the conversion.
For the rest of us-those without the space or funds to install solar modules or windmills, not to mention a battery array-there is a simple solution which allows everyone to participate in the green revolution.
Topics: Sustainable Energy, Water Purification | No Comments »
