New Orleans - Solar American City

We all know how Hurricane Katrina, has made New Orleans. The filthy water that flooded 80 percent of the city, after that it was very difficult for the residents had to move to other states and it was a chaos for those who wanted to settle again. The hurricane changed many people’s life.

The hurricane destroyed the city and they had to rebuild the whole new city. It created testing ground for ideas and initiatives. Before hurricane the government officials talked about installing solar technologies for the city. But the technologies include little parking meters, solar powered cameras or so.

For decades, Louisiana's state budget has been dependent on oil revenue. Some policymakers and investors say, the state is rich in water, wind and sunshine, which can be used to reduce carbon emissions.

Now we can say that the city is really shaping up and many homes and businesses are using solar powered products. In rebuilding the homes are equipped with solar panels; organic farming is also catching up. The city got a new hybrid buses too. New Orleans is going green.

In 2007, New Orleans is named to be a “Solar American City” by the U.S. Energy Department, which gave the city a $450,000 grant to establish solar programs.
New state and federal tax credits are driving a niche solar technology market. It was a time that the city was facing so many problems, but now with the green attitude the city will shine and drive more renewable energy companies to invest in the energy efficient program.

New AC Power Solar Panel is on its way.

Akeena Solar Inc. and Enphase Energy, both companies will work together to give us new AC power output solar panel. The current solar panel captures sun energy and transfers it into DC power. Then we have to buy the converter to transfer the power to AC power so that we can use the electricity.
But thanks to these two companies, Akeena Solar Inc. and Enphase Energy we will have solar panel that will generate the electricity in AC power output. So we won’t need the converter anymore. The new system is called Andalay solar panel systems. These panels have integrated racking, wiring and grounding and that operates with standard AC wiring. Under the agreement Akeena Solar Inc. will purchase a minimum of total 10,000 micro inverters in 2009 and 2010. Emphase Energy will supply 100,000 micro inverters to Akeena during this time. These micro inverters will be used to build Andalay solar panels. The micro inverters from Emphase boost solar energy collection by 5 to 25 percent.
Akeena estimates that up to 25 % of the total costs of installing solar power system can be eliminated with Andalay Solar Panels. In the end, the solar power systems using Andalay solar panels could be cost effective to design and install. These panels have the potential to provide higher efficiency and better long-term performance for home and businesses.

Renewable Energy Stocks - A Good Investment

During his campaign, President Obama has said many times to promote renewable energy sources like solar and wind. He wants to reduce green-house gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and his plan for the U.S. to generate 10 percent of its electricity from solar and wind by 2012. Now that is good news for the companies that provide climate-change solutions and also for socially responsible mutual funds. They have invested in companies with strong environmental records and sustainable business practices.

Many financial institutes suggest investing in green energy stocks as with the time the price will go higher. Amy Domini, founder and CEO of Domini Social Investments says that although oil prices have fallen, the world is facing a long term energy crunch.
She also says that solar cells and wind farms companies are the “low hanging fruit” in the green sector, but they are still smart slays with investment potential.

Another company Praxair, an industrial gas company is helping its customers reduce emissions and drive energy efficiency said Ingrid Dyott, a co-manager, Neuberger Berman Socially Responsive Fund. He also sees the opportunities in infrastructure play such as the energy grid, which an estimated $50 billion needs overhaul.

Get tips on energy stocks at http://www.solargadgetsinfo.com/green-investing.html

Solar Energy's Dark Side

Solar energy is a most known form of renewable energy sources. We have been using solar energy from a decade. But the solar industry has developed many products that we are using on every day basis that operates by using solar energy.

As far as we heard, solar, wind, geothermal are natural energy sources. They are also called “clean energy”. But many people believe that in making of solar products, vast amount of fossil fuels are used. They also believe that solar cells contain toxic materials that are not good for the environment, and some parts can not be recycled easily.

That has made some environmentalists worried that these hazardous waste is on it’s way to nation’s landfills, when the panels eventually wear out. Recently, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has released a report on this issue. In the report they have warned the industry and lawmakers need to set policies now to ensure it doesn’t leave a dirty legacy.

After the issuance of this report many people raising questions. Sheila Davis, executive director of the San Jose, Calif., nonprofit that pushes for green practices in the technology sector said “You can’t just call your product green and close your eyes to what’s happening in the supply chain”.

1 percent of nation’s electricity is provided by solar energy. But the technology is growing. China is major producer of polycrystalline silicon, a key component of solar cells. Silicon is not the only conductor that is harmful but virtually all materials use hazardous chemicals that pose potential risks to workers and the environment, according to the report.

Go Green Expo At Los Angeles Convention Center

The first Go Green Expo was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center for two days. This is the second green expo held at the center in the last eight months. More than 10,000 people went to the expo. People were exited to learn about energy efficient products. The coordinators of the event saw the expo as a way to challenge the people of Los Angeles to take care of Southern California.

The environment-conscious builders, business owners and families took more than 200 booths to display the latest trends in a global campaign that has gained momentum in the last few years.

There were electric cars, soybean fiber teddy bears, organic bubble gum, cornstarch drinking cups and a vast menu of energy-efficient products from windows to lightbulbs, air purifiers to irrigation systems. At the center of the convention floor, a massive earth dome made of recycled plastic housed a band playing solar- and exercise-powered instruments.

Many people have been recycling for many years, who say that it is nice to look around and see it works. At the expo people learned about the green industry and are thinking about involving in a renewable energy business.

Willis Smith who is 68 years old, has began to reduce and reuse after his teenage daughter inspired him. "I can't bring plastic home from the market, and when I shop, I got to take one of these doggone bags," he said.

As some people checked out the competition the event was a big hit. The green industry is hoping that through the expo and convention, people will aware of green energy products.

Find more solar products here.

Green Trend was seen at the International Builders’ Show

At the International Builders’ Show the vendors were showing energy efficient products to home owners. The attendance at the show was lower than last year. The green industry is growing as more home owners are buying energy efficient product.
Here are the glimpses of the show held in Las Vegas few days earlier. Matt Belcher, president of Belcher Homes in St. Louis, Mo said about the technology that has become cheaper is radiant floor systems, which function as heaters. He said that they are affordable now and they are made better and more efficient. He builds near-zero energy homes with green products by using geothermal and solar power.

Among all the products, Belcher was impressed with new “flashing materials”. They look like tape and are used to keep water from getting trapped inside the home.

Among many of the latest innovations on display the 8,721 sq. foot home features solar paneled awnings that draw energy from the sun and from sunlight reflected off the ground, walls made from insulated concrete and some 40 percent of its indoor lights from LEDs and compact fluorescents.

Many of the latest innovations were on display in the New American Home, billed as a state-of-the-art laboratory for new construction and built in Las Vegas in conjunction with the convention.
The 8,721 square-foot home features solar paneled awnings that draw energy from the sun and from sunlight reflected off the ground, walls made from insulated concrete and some 40 percent of its indoor lights from LEDs and compact fluorescents.

Get more information on other solar products at www.solargadgetsinfo.com

Green Trend at the Buliders Convention

At the International Builders’ Show the vendors were showing energy efficient products to home owners. The attendance at the show was lower than last year. The green industry is growing as more home owners are buying energy efficient product.
Here are the glimpses of the show held in Las Vegas few days earlier. Matt Belcher, president of Belcher Homes in St. Louis, Mo said about the technology that has become cheaper is radiant floor systems, which function as heaters. He said that they are affordable now and they are made better and more efficient. He builds near-zero energy homes with green products by using geothermal and solar power.

Among all the products, Belcher was impressed with new “flashing materials”. They look like tape and are used to keep water from getting trapped inside the home.

Among many of the latest innovations on display the 8,721 sq. foot home features solar paneled awnings that draw energy from the sun and from sunlight reflected off the ground, walls made from insulated concrete and some 40 percent of its indoor lights from LEDs and compact fluorescents.

Many of the latest innovations were on display in the New American Home, billed as a state-of-the-art laboratory for new construction and built in Las Vegas in conjunction with the convention.
The 8,721 square-foot home features solar paneled awnings that draw energy from the sun and from sunlight reflected off the ground, walls made from insulated concrete and some 40 percent of its indoor lights from LEDs and compact fluorescents.

Get more information on other solar products at www.solargadgetsinfo.com

The 2009 Green Inaugural Ball

Yesterday, we all became part of history in Inauguration of our 44th President Mr.
Barack Obama. The green inaugural ball was celebrated by the concern citizens who know that restoring America’s economic health is linked to restoring the health of our natural resources and reducing the impacts of global warming.
The green ball celebrated Mr. Obama’s election by bringing together the environmental, labor, civil justice, , youth, religious, and business communities who are working together to design the policies, invent the technologies, and create the green jobs that will be at the heart of our economic recovery and long-term health and wealth of our country and the world. said Aimee Christensen, a National Co-Chair of Cleantech and Green Business for Obama and a member of the Green Ball Organizing Committee.

It was truly a historical moment for our nation, on the environmental front and we are blessed to have a president who has an ambitious vision for restoring and building up our economy in a big, green way, said AWEA CEO Denise Bode.

The CEO of Burt’s Bees, John Replogle who came to the ball in his hybrid car. He said “We've cut waste 85% in the last five years, and cut the energy per unit of production by 40%. We've saved hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

The event celebrated strength and diversity of many corporations, organizations and individuals who are committed to creating the new energy economy that will re-power, rebuild, refuel and restore America.