Solar Power

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have recently developed a solar paint.  The thought is that this paint could eventually replace solar panels, making solar energy far more affordable.  

The paint is made of "quantum dots" and it can be painted on any surface to produce power from the sun.  The little dots are semiconducting crystals which are 2-10 nanometers in diameter.  They're mixed into dye and it actually looks like normal paint!

Here's how they did it:  The scientists at the University of Notre Dame used nano-sized particles of titanium oxide and then covered them in cadmium sulphide or cadmium selenide.  They made a paste by putting the particles into a mixture of water and alcohol.  When the entire mixture was put on a conducting material and light was shone on it, the electricity was generated from it.  ... read more

Today we have another guest blog post from Hasic M, who previously wrote the helpful guest blog post:  How To Recycle Mattresses.  This blog post discusses different types of alternative energy and how we can use them.

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The world as we know it cannot continue on as it is, simply because we are constantly damaging the environment more and more every day. The amount of waste generated by mankind is causing the Earth to deteriorate, as well as the pollution leaked into the atmosphere. One major concern is the amount of fossil fuels that we are using on a daily basis, which is why it is vital that we all do our part to use alternative energy more frequently.

There are many ways that we can all use alternative energy more frequently, and you will find that you can do your part to change the world one day at a time by using more alternative energy. Here are some of the main sources of alternative energy, as well as ways that you can use them more frequently in your life:... read more

A 4-plex of residents in a Walnut Creek, CA retirement community decide to go solar. The result is a small solar community, with other residents watching on and catching the “solar bug.” - “It's a win-win situation.”

“Solar Communities” are beginning to pop up around the country – especially in states such as California and New Jersey where financial incentives are strong. A solar community is a block of residents joined together to install solar panels – often receiving the same bulk discounts you might get on a 42-pack of socks at Costco.

Tim O. of Walnut Creek, California recently did just that in his retirement community. Rossmoor is a large retirement community which houses single-family homes, duplexes, four-plexes, and condo apartments for those 55+.... read more

In theory, going solar is a no-brainer. The amount of gas saved and emissions reduced annually is tremendous. And the long term financial savings are also clear. However, the initial cost can be more than most homeowners are able to afford (the average out-of-pocket cost after government rebates is about $15k). Paying for solar panels seems out of reach... But it's not! There are many options that include solar loans with low interest rates and solar leases with no money down.

In the past decade, local and national government policies have driven private companies and public policy to make solar panels more affordable for Average Joe. Enter: Solar Loans. Power Purchase Agreements, and Solar Leases.

Solar panel leases are offered through private companies such as Sungevity and Solar City. They allow homeowners to borrow solar systems. The homeowner is often not required to put any money down and then pays a set amount of money per month. This monthly rate is almost always equivalent to the current energy bill, so the homeowner does not see an increase in monthly cost-of-living expenses.... read more