Alternative Energy News
News and updates in the alternative energy industry
How realistic is the plan to create five million new ‘green collar’ jobs?
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? (more…)
Determining Electricity Consumption of Your Home Appliances
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.
LA Biodiesel Station Saved by E-Mail Campaign
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.
Federal Tax Credit Increase Brings Solar Within Reach
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.
Google Grabs Green Leap Award for Alternative Energy Plan
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.
Green Leap Award-For Leadership in the Green Revolution
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.
Sustainable Aviation: Bio-Fuels Reach the Stratosphere
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.
Alternative Energy Financing :
Making Solar Make Sense
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.
Tree-sitters Outlast Pacific Lumber in the Headwaters
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.
Solar Living Experiment : Spoken Word
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
(more…)
SolFest Alternative Energy Expo-Hopland, CA
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.
Nanosolar: Thin is In for Renewable Energy
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.
RV Solar Installation- Unisolar 64 Watt Thin Film Panel
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.
