Hurricane Sandy Puts Solar Installation to the Test

Written by Anne Fischer | 29 April 2013

Simon Property Group is a real estate company on a mission of sustainability. The company recently installed its first wholly-owned and operated solar panel project at its Jersey Shore Premium Outlets in Tinton Falls, New Jersey (US). The solar installation was completed in conjunction with Chicago-based SoCore Energy just one week before Hurricane Sandy devastated the northern Atlantic coast of the US, but according to Jessica Theilmann, SoCore’s Vice President of Portfolio Management and Project Manager of the Tinton Falls project, “The system was unaffected by the storm and performed as expected with the weather conditions.  There were no issues and the system stayed completely intact.”

Solar on Affordable Housing

Written by Anne Fischer | 01 April 2013

Residential developers are catching onto the fact that putting solar on new housing construction saves money in the long run, plus it adds to the marketability of the home. One example is a new 69-apartment complex in Davis, California (US) being built by Mutual Housing that will offer affordable living for working people with limited incomes.

Solar Schools: Budget friendly and forward thinking

Written by Anne Fischer | 04 March 2013

With tight budgets for schools everywhere, it might seem that solar is too much of an extravagance for schools. Think again, it’s a perfect match.  Alan H. Lee, founder and CEO, Ecosolargy said it’s smarter, cheaper and easier now for schools to go solar than ever before.  He said that first of all, the cost has come down about 300% from five years ago. And new financing and leasing structures are available that are very attractive to schools. Not to mention the fact that most schools have large areas of roof space that can be used for energy generation, plus when schools are closed during vacations, holidays and weekends, the energy generation goes into the grid, making a net gain for the school.

Solar Golf Carts: New wave in transportation

Written by Anne Fischer | 28 January 2013

Sustainability and environmental efforts do not traditionally go hand in hand with the sport of golf. But times are changing. The International Golf Federation identified sustainability as a fundamental priority for the global golf community, a policy for which the USGA recently announced its support. While a great deal of that focus is on reduced use of chemicals on the greens and limiting water use, there is also emphasis on managing golf courses with reduced resources. And that is where solar comes in.

Solar Solution: Plastic replaces metal

Written by Andreas Breyer | 31 December 2012

Until now, substructures for PV mounting systems on flat roofs were generally made of steel and aluminum. As a project developer mainly for large PV flat roof installations, German Goldbeck Solar has had much experience with various mounting systems on the market and found that none of the systems available entirely met their requirements. For example, some substructures with a sufficient current carrying capacity do not ensure proper water drainage and vice versa. Other substructures do not have built-in cable ducts or come with a dozen small parts and different screw types.

Case Study: Blackfriars Railway Station Goes Solar

Written by Anne Fischer | 19 December 2012

Powering a railway station with solar energy is a winning situation all the way around. Not only is railway travel one of the cleanest form of transportation, but the Blackfriars station will be getting 50% of its energy needs right from its own roof with a recent solar installation. A further benefit is the high visibility, showing all who travel through this busy station in Central London, that really works, it’s affordable and is an attractive showpiece on this Victorian-style station.

Solar Solution: Bringing solar to Native Americans

Written by Anne Fischer | 04 December 2012

For hundreds of years, Native American ancestors lived close to the earth in balance with nature. Yet one challenge today is providing power to the remote areas in which they live. Long having relied on kerosene generators for power, the costs in terms of transportation, fuel charges and healthcare are high. In attempt to solve the problem, Sacred Power was formed. This Native American-owned and operated company is a provider of renewable and distributive energy systems. Working with partners, the company has designed, manufactured and installed more than 650 fully-assembled patented energy system kits for the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, in cooperation with the USDA Rural Utility Service.

Case Study: Solar on Abandoned Military Sites

Written by Andrew Williams | 12 November 2012

German solar PV company Gehrlicher Solar has recently completed the construction of a 90 hectare solar park on the grounds of the former Perleberg military airport in Brandenburg, Germany.  The expected electricity output at the site runs to an impressive 33,000,000 kWh per year, equating to annual CO² savings in the region of 32,000 tons when compared to 'conventional' power generation from fossil fuel based sources.