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| Recent Research Reveals: Education Is The Cornerstone To Solar Energy Expansion |
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A recent poll revealed that 94% of Americans say it’s important for the U.S. to develop and use solar energy but according to this national survey 88% of Americans don’t feel informed about solar. Further underscoring the important need for education, 75% of respondents expressed that they wouldn’t know how to go about getting solar energy on their home but at the same time, over 60 % of those surveyed said that they wanted to install in the next five years.
These were the key messages that Rhon Resch from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) discussed with Renewable Energy World during an interview at the Solar Power International Conference in Los Angeles, which the publication featured in its November 4, 2009 issue.
The SCHOTT Solar BarometerTM, a nationally representative survey conducted by the independent polling firm, Kelton Research, which first reported these and related findings in June of 2009. The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) and SCHOTT Solar commissioned the survey which was conducted between May 29th and June 2nd, 2008 using an email invitation and an online survey.
The Renewable Energy World article further explains that the SEIA underscores the importance of education. In fact, they emphasize education as the key component left to make solar energy an integral part of the American energy economy since solar energy technology is on solid ground and the stimulus plan is addressing both the finance and policy components. NorCal Solar has supported solar energy education efforts for several decades and is in the process of expanding its mission to meet the needs of expanded consumer education.
Resources:
• Schott Press Release review here
• Renewable Energy World article review here
| Message from the President |
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Happy Holidays to all of our members, colleagues and friends! Our Board of Directors and staff have appreciated your support and commitment throughout 2009 and we are looking forward to working with you in 2010.
NorCal Solar is moving forward on many important program fronts with special emphasize on expanded solar education with revisions to our website with a new solar education advocacy effort involving cities and communities around us. With our newly appointed Education Committee we are planning to develop an expanded edition of the Solar Energy Resource Guide and many educational fact sheets and other fundamental tools that can serve as part of a solar ambassadors grassroots effort. On November 19th the Education Committee met and finalized preliminary project steps which will be executed over the months to come.
We are at an important crossroads with opportunities for education and solar awareness building which can strengthen industry growth in many important ways. We are excited about the endless opportunities and hope to garner increased financial support for the many unique programs such as the upcoming solar advocacy efforts. Further announcements will be made as we are proceeding with our important educational program initiatives.
In the meantime, we are urging you to consider a year-end-tax deductible solar education program donation to NorCal Solar to support our many initiatives. We have a generous anonymous donor who has agreed to match up to $10,000 in donations before the end of 2009. We are one fourth underway and we hope that many more individuals and/ or companies will help us take advantage of this matching gift by donating now!! Please donate directly through PayPal on our website or send your donation by mail to NorCal Solar, PO Box 3008, Berkeley, CA 94703.
Please contact Elisabeth Holmgren, Executive Director at ed@norcalsolar.org if you have any additional questions on the above, or if you are interested in serving on one of our committees.
Solar Greetings,
Claudia Wentworth
On Behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff |
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| Book Review |
Book Breaks New Grounds on Global Ecological Problems: Gaia in Turmoil
Climate Change, Biodepletion, and Earth Ethics in an Age of Crisis
Edited by Eileen Crist and H. Bruce Rinker
Foreword by Bill McKibben
Contributors:
David Abram, Donald Aitken, Connie Barlow, J. Baird Callicott, Bruce
Clarke, Eileen Crist, Tim Foresman, Stephan Harding, Barbara Harwood,
Tim Lenton, Eugene Linden, Karen Litfin, James Lovelock, Lynn Margulis,
Bill McKibben, Martin Ogle, H. Bruce Rinker, Mitchell Thomashow, Tyler
Volk, Hywel Williams
According
to the official MIT press release, “the Gaian theory, which holds that
Earth's physical and biological processes are inextricably bound to
form a self-regulating system, is more relevant than ever in light of
increasing concerns about global climate change.” Contributors focus
first on the science of Gaia, considering such topics as the workings
of the biosphere, the planet's water supply, and evolution; then
discuss Gaian perspectives on global environmental change, including
biodiversity destruction and global warming; and finally explore the
influence of Gaia on environmental policy, ethics, politics,
technology, economics, and education.
The
press statement also emphasizes that Gaia in Turmoil breaks new ground
by focusing on global ecological problems from the perspectives of
Gaian science and knowledge, focusing especially on the challenges of
climate change and biodiversity destruction.
One
of the book’s contributors, Don Aitken , has been on the NorCal
Advisory Board for many years giving seminars on many solar topics such
as passive solar design in our earlier days. He went on to serve as
Chair of ASES and later as Chair of ISES (International Solar Energy
Society). Don is coming to the Bay Area in February and is planning to
talk at one of our networking events. We will keep you posted on the
exact date, time and location in the January E News.
For more information, review the MIT Press statement here.
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| What you May Want to Know! |
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CPUC Approves a Cutting Edge Project for PG&E to Facilitate Space Solar Energy
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a renewable energy contract for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in an unprecedented effort to meet the state's progress towards its renewable energy goals through a unique supply of solar energy. Through its power purchase agreement with the technology company Solaren Corporation, PG&E is entitled to generation from a first-of-its kind space-based solar project, starting in 2016.
According to the CPUC press statement, “the experimental technology uses orbiting satellites equipped with solar cells to convert the sun's energy into electricity, which is then converted into radio frequency energy that can be transmitted to a local receiver station.”
It is further explained that California-based Solaren Corporation anticipates 1,700 gigawatt-hours of energy per year throughout the 15-year contract term beginning in 2016 at a facility in Fresno County. This is a smaller supply than a full-scale nuclear or natural gas plant, but enough to supply thousands of homes through a new technology. The idea of space-based solar has been around for decades and is being pursued by companies and researchers around the world. Its key advantage over land-based solar or wind power is that it can generate ongoing 24 hour renewable energy . The CPUC approved the agreement for this experimental project as “it is consistent with the state's objective of increasing its reliance on a diverse supply of renewable energy resources and of supporting renewable technologies at reasonable costs and risks to ratepayers.”
Learn more at
• CPUC - News release
• CPUC - Agenda Resolution
• CPUC - Web Site
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| Solar Ambassador Tips |
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Overview On How Passive Solar Homes Work
Passive solar building design uses a structure's windows, walls, and floors to collect, store, and distribute the sun's heat in the winter and reject solar heat in the summer. Here is a quick overview from the Department of Energy on how it works:
Every passive solar building includes five distinct design elements:
An aperture or collector — the large glass area through which sunlight enters the building.
An absorber — the dark surface of the storage element that absorbs the solar heat.
A thermal mass — the material that stores the absorbed heat. This can be masonry materials such as concrete, stone, and brick; or a water tank.
A distribution method — the natural tendency of heat to move from warmer materials to cooler ones (through conduction, convection, and radiation) until there is no longer a temperature difference between the two. In some buildings, this strictly passive distribution method is augmented with fans, ducts, and blowers to circulate the heat.
A control mechanism — to regulate the amount of sunlight entering the aperture. This can be as simple as roof overhang designed to allow more sunlight to enter in the winter, less in the summer.
Next month we will report on the three basic passive solar designs for heat regulation, ach of which incorporates these five elements in different ways.
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| Solar in the News |
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Solar panel thefts become a growing trend in rural areas
With new laws in place making it more difficult for thieves to turn stolen metal into cash, they are looking elsewhere to make quick money. Crooks have gravitated to farms that have installed valuable solar panels—and the vineyards of Napa County have become a center of such criminal activity.
CFBF.com, November 2009
Read more here
The Emerging US-China Strategic Alliance on Clean Energy
The bilateral relationship between the United States and China has begun to take on a more pragmatic and secure quality under the Obama Administration.
Renewable Energy World, November 2009
Read more here
Solar panels causing some storms
Even as California and the federal government encourage solar power, homeowners often have to fight homeowners associations for their right to install the systems.
Los Angeles Times, November 2009
Read more here
Why Solar Works
Whether they like it or not, utilities are starting to deploy more solar. Utility support of solar PV and CSP has been one of the most important developments for the industry.
Renewable Energy World, November 2009
Read more here

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| NorCal Solar Education Message |
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NorCal Solar
is committed to increase solar awareness and appreciation as a
fundamental roadmap for solar technology expansion in Northern
California.
Towards this end, NorCal Solar
is dedicated towards a world where clean, renewable energy is available
to all sectors of society; where energy supplies are secure and easily
accessible; and where solar energy takes its natural place as a primary
energy source in our economy.
The NorCal Education program is made possible through contributions
from our entire membership---individuals, business and corporate
members, as well as member organizations ( see listed on the top
banner) who have provided additional sponsorship for the ENews.
Support
NorCal Solar's Education Message; If you are interested in featuring
your company logo in our eNews, please contact us at
info@norcalsolar.org
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