In early March, two influential green technology companies announced a joint plan to study the effects of solar photovoltaics (PV) on the electric grid in Sacramento, California – an initiative that could pave the way to greater solar power adoption throughout the city. Stem, an organization that analyzes energy consumption and develops solutions for optimizing it, is partnering with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for a two-year research project that will use in-house technologies to measure…

Researchers at UCLA announced on July 29 that they had developed a new solar cell material that could lead the way for more flexibility in solar cell applications. Graduate students at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have created a thin material that absorbs infrared light rather than visible light, making it transparent and suitable for use in windows and other areas that are meant to be see-through. The research is to…

It’s no secret that solar energy solutions are beneficial to the environment and enable homeowners to drastically cut costs on their monthly utility bills. But, according to new research from The Solar Foundation (TSF) – a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that uses education, research and market transformation to increase the use of solar power worldwide – embracing this form of renewable electricity has also helped create a significant number of jobs across the United States. TSF recently…

The expansion of California solar energy continues apace. EDF Renewable Energy, a company that develops utility scale solar and wind projects, announced that the Catalina Solar Project, located in the Mojave Desert, has been completed and begun producing electricity for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE). The 143 megawatt (MW) plant, which makes up just a small part of EDF’s 5 gigawatt portfolio, will generate enough power to electrify 35,000 homes. Situated on 900 acres of…

One of the bigger controversies in the last few years as been the Chinese practice of “dumping” photovoltaic (PV) panels into the U.S. marketplace, driving down prices and making American PV panels look less competitive as a result. The conventional wisdom is that China can produce solar panels for homes so cheaply because the manufacturing firms pay their workers much less than American companies could get away with. But a new study from the U.S.…

California residents who have found themselves wondering whether residential solar energy solutions are the right choice for them can benefit from solar panel advocacy organization Sun Number’s new service, which helps individuals determine how suitable their homes are for this particular kind of alternative power system. According to a March 26 press release, people who live in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and other surrounding towns can go to the Sun Number website, type in their address…

It’s easy to see the benefits that solar can offer, but as a homeowner, there is usually one huge unknown. The major concern most homeowners in the greater Sacramento and San Francisco Bay area have is just how many solar panels they will need put on their roof. Answering this question starts with this consideration: How much power does your home need? Have you ever spent time drilling deep down into your electricity bills? Do you even…

When reading or discussing renewable energy and California residential solar, one often hears the term Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) used, which refers to the minimum amount of electricity that utilities must procure from renewable sources. RPS levels are set by the state and enforced by the California Public Utilities Commission. We often write about these subjects on this blog, but you may be wondering how they work exactly. Here is a basic rundown on California’s RPS…

Innovation and research into renewable energy, especially solar power, is booming, according to a new paper in PLOS One. An analysis conducted by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Santa Fe Institute have found that the number of renewable energy patents filed per year have increased fivefold from 200 in 2000 to 1,000 annually in 2009. Patents for fossil fuel related technologies rose as well, but just only tripling from 100 per…

With cooler weather and shorter days ahead, it’s time to start thinking about the best ways to keep your home warm without blasting the heater all winter. Space heating is the largest energy expense in the average U.S. home. While you could just kick up the thermostat a notch, those few extra degrees can add up big time.  When it comes to selecting a heating system for your home, you have a few options. Active…

Palo Alto is known as a hub for technological innovation and excellence. Sitting right in the middle of Silicon Valley, it’s the home of many tech companies and venture capitalists, as well as one of the best colleges in the world, Stanford University. It’s also a spectacular place to live, with safe communities that provide a superb environment for raising children and leading healthy lives. So it’s not surprise that Palo Alto is also joining cities…