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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

New, inexpensive production materials boost promise of hydrogen fuel




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





New, inexpensive production materials boost promise of hydrogen fuel



Generating electricity is not the only way to turn sunlight into energy we can use on demand. The sun can also drive reactions to create chemical fuels, such as hydrogen, that can in turn power cars, trucks and trains. Scientists have now combined cheap, oxide-based materials to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases using solar energy with a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 1.7 percent, the highest reported for any oxide-based photoelectrode system.






ENERGY NEWS

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Researchers harness sun's energy during day for use at night




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Researchers harness sun's energy during day for use at night



Solar energy has long been used as a clean alternative to fossil fuels such as coal and oil, but it could only be harnessed during the day when the sun's rays were strongest. Now researchers have built a system that converts the sun's energy not into electricity but hydrogen fuel and stores it for later use, allowing us to power our devices long after the sun goes down.






ENERGY NEWS

Monday, April 28, 2014

Solar power: Making it less expensive and more efficient




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Solar power: Making it less expensive and more efficient



Researchers are reporting early results on a way to make solar-powered panels in lights, calculators and roofs lighter, less expensive, more flexible (therefore less breakable) and more efficient.






ENERGY NEWS
  How To Get Your Utility Bills Down To Zero  

     Okay, so I've got your attention. You're sick of paying $100+ per month for electricity and you're not going to take it any more. Well you'll be excited to learn that cutting your costs by as much as 70% or yes, in some cases, 100%, is not as difficult or expensive a transition as you might think. You should, however, be realistic. The steps you'll need to take are an investment that isn't going to pay for itself overnight, but ask anyone who has committed to energy efficiency in their home and they'll tell you it was well worth it. So, how do you get your utility bills down to zero?

     The first step is to schedule a home inspection to seek out and eliminate wastefulness. For example, your house could be poorly insulated rendering your air conditioning and heating ineffective. Your air conditioning ducts could also be leaking air into your attic. Are you up there to enjoy all that cool air? I didn't think so. Who hangs out in their attic all day? I know I wouldn't do that at my house…my attic gives me the creeps! So anyway how much cool air are we talking about? In the average home, about 20%! That's nothing to shrug about, so I would go ahead and schedule that inspection. I learned through my energy efficiency audit, which was conducted using a blower door and a pressure pan test, that my AC was actually leaking closer to 30% due to some very old and shoddy duct work. I had my ducts replaced and not only did I notice the difference, but I now actually use the AC for much shorter periods of time and I set it to 72º instead of 68º to get the same or better results.









     So before I cover the single best way to shrink those bills, I want to touch on the subject of your light bulbs. By now you've no doubt heard about compact fluorescent bulbs. If you are using standard bulbs, consider the following: a compact fluorescent lasts literally 10 times as long and uses under 25% of the wattage. Yes the bulbs cost nearly three times as much, but light bulbs are cheap! Either way, you are looking at nearly a 7,000% ROI when you do the math. This might sound trivial but it is definitely a move in the right direction. LED lights are even more impressive, though more expensive up front. They last 30 times as long as standard incandescent bulbs.

     The single best way to shrink those bills, you may have guessed it, is renewable energy. Here in Southern California we've got sunshine and plenty of it, so I'm going to cover solar power - known more scientifically as photovoltaic power. The word photovoltaic comes from the Latin roots "photo" for light, and "voltaic" for electricity. Solar power works at the cellular level. That's right, those panels you see on roofs are made from millions of semiconductor cells, usually made from silicon which comes from - you guessed it, sand. These cells absorb photons (radiation energy particles) from the sun and convert the photons into energy. The technology is so efficient that a solar system will typically produce more electricity than your home needs. This excess electricity is fed back into the power grid, and your local utility company will actually deduct an equivalent value from your utility monthly statement to compensate you. Not only that, but there are federal and state rebate and incentive programs available to you that will dramatically reduce the cost of solar system installation. Read more about these rebates at http://www.dsireusa.org/. Solar power is scalable. Your home could run on 20% solar power, or you could beef up your system and run on 100% solar. The choice is yours.





     Are there more ways to help you can do to get those utility bills down to zero, while reducing your carbon footprint? Sure there are, but follow these steps first and you're off to a great start.
ENERGY NEWS

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Scientists achieve first direct observations of excitons in motion




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Scientists achieve first direct observations of excitons in motion



A quasiparticle called an exciton -- responsible for the transfer of energy within devices such as solar cells, LEDs, and semiconductor circuits -- has been understood theoretically for decades. But exciton movement within materials has never been directly observed. Now scientists have achieved that feat, imaging excitons' motions directly. This could enable research leading to significant advances in electronics, they say, as well as a better understanding of natural energy-transfer processes, such as photosynthesis.






ENERGY NEWS

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Scientists develop silicon cells capable of absorbing infrared radiation from the sun




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Scientists develop silicon cells capable of absorbing infrared radiation from the sun



Researchers have developed a silicon photovoltaic cell capable of turning infrared radiation into electricity. The sun is an inexhaustible source of energy which well-exploited, could solve many of the energy suply problems we have today. The photovoltaic cell, commonly known as solar cell, is a device capable of turning solar light into electricity. However, there are many obstacles that prevent a massive use, such as a relatively high cost (0.02 euros per watt generated) and the low efficiency of silicon based solar cells, around 17 per cent.






ENERGY NEWS

Friday, April 25, 2014

Scientists come up with method of reducing solar panel glare




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Scientists come up with method of reducing solar panel glare



The glare from solar farms could be a thing of the past, thanks to new research. Researchers have developed a multi-layer anti-reflection coating for glass surfaces, which reduces the sun's reflection from photovoltaic panels while at the same time improving their efficiency. It is applied using the same technology as that used for depositing anti-reflection coatings on eye glasses.






ENERGY NEWS

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Tiny step edges, big step for surface science




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Tiny step edges, big step for surface science



New experiments can explain the behavior of electrons at tiny step edges on titanium oxide surfaces. This is important for solar cell technology and novel, more effective catalysts.






ENERGY NEWS

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Like a hall of mirrors, nanostructures trap photons inside ultrathin solar cells




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Like a hall of mirrors, nanostructures trap photons inside ultrathin solar cells



In the quest to make sun power more competitive, researchers are designing ultrathin solar cells that cut material costs. At the same time they're keeping these thin cells efficient by sculpting their surfaces with photovoltaic nanostructures that behave like a molecular hall of mirrors.






ENERGY NEWS
SunEdison Closes Adobe Plant Sale to Southern, Turner Renewable - from

SunEdison Closes Adobe Plant Sale to Southern, Turner Renewable

ENERGY NEWS

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Wind farms can provide society a surplus of reliable clean energy




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Wind farms can provide society a surplus of reliable clean energy



Researchers have found that the wind industry can easily afford the energetic cost of building batteries and other grid-scale storage technologies. However, for the solar industry, scientists found that more work is needed to make grid-scale storage energetically sustainable.






ENERGY NEWS

Monday, April 21, 2014

An improved, cost-effective catalyst for water-splitting devices




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





An improved, cost-effective catalyst for water-splitting devices



Scientists have created a simple and scalable technique for greatly improving water splitting as a source of clean energy.






ENERGY NEWS
Swiss engineers have built a solar powered plane that will "fly forever!"


ENERGY NEWS

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Passive houses save lots of energy




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Passive houses save lots of energy



Housing is the easiest sector to change if we are to reach the climate targets, experts say. Norwegian research shows the housing sector today represents about one-third of the country's energy consumption, or about 35 terawatt hours out of a total of 112 terawatt hours. As a result, it is indirectly one of largest contributors to Norway's greenhouse gas emissions.






ENERGY NEWS

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Flat-pack lens boosts solar power: Fresnel lens concentrates solar without bulk




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Flat-pack lens boosts solar power: Fresnel lens concentrates solar without bulk



Micro-machining could be used to create almost flat, Fresnel lenses, that boost the electrical efficiency of solar panels, according to new research.






ENERGY NEWS

Friday, April 18, 2014

Organic solar cells more efficient with molecules face-to-face




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Organic solar cells more efficient with molecules face-to-face



New research reveals that energy is transferred more efficiently inside of complex, three-dimensional organic solar cells when the donor molecules align face-on, rather than edge-on, relative to the acceptor.






ENERGY NEWS

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Atomically thin, flexible, semi-transparent solar cells created




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Atomically thin, flexible, semi-transparent solar cells created



A lot of research has been done on graphene recently -- carbon flakes, consisting of only one layer of atoms. As it turns out, there are other materials too which exhibit remarkable properties if they are arranged in a single layer. One of them is tungsten diselenide, which could be used for photovoltaics. Ultrathin layers made of Tungsten and Selenium have now been created; experiments show that they may be used as flexible, semi-transparent solar cells.






ENERGY NEWS

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Concentrating solar power: Similar values in two technologies




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Concentrating solar power: Similar values in two technologies



Parabolic troughs and dry-cooled towers deliver similar value for concentrating solar power plants, despite different solar profiles, a new report has found.






ENERGY NEWS

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Better solar cells, better LED light and vast optical possibilities




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Better solar cells, better LED light and vast optical possibilities



Changes at the atom level in nanowires offer vast possibilities for improvement of solar cells and LED light. Researchers have discovered that by tuning a small strain on single nanowires they can become more effective in LEDs and solar cells. 






ENERGY NEWS

Monday, April 14, 2014

New theory may lead to more efficient solar cells




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





New theory may lead to more efficient solar cells



A new theoretical model may hold the key to methods for developing better materials for solar cells. Researchers say the model could lead to new solar cell materials made from improved blends of semiconducting polymers and fullerenes.






ENERGY NEWS

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Nanosheets and nanowires




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Nanosheets and nanowires



Researchers have found a convenient way to selectively prepare germanium sulfide nanostructures, including nanosheets and nanowires, that are more active than their bulk counterparts. Germanium monosulfide, GeS, is emerging as one of the most important "IV-VI" semiconductor materials with potential in opto-electronics applications for telecommunications and computing, and as an absorber of light for use in solar energy conversion. One important property is its much lower toxicity and environmental impact when compared to other semiconductors made with cadmium, lead and mercury.






ENERGY NEWS

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Anti-soiling coating keeps solar reflectors clean and efficient




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Anti-soiling coating keeps solar reflectors clean and efficient



Scientists are developing a low-cost, transparent, anti-soiling coating for solar reflectors to optimize energy efficiency while lowering operating and maintenance costs and avoiding negative environmental impacts.






ENERGY NEWS

Friday, April 11, 2014

Solar-induced hybrid fuel cell produces electricity directly from biomass




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Solar-induced hybrid fuel cell produces electricity directly from biomass



Researchers have developed a new type of low-temperature fuel cell that directly converts biomass to electricity with assistance from a catalyst activated by solar or thermal energy.






ENERGY NEWS

Thursday, April 10, 2014

A new renewable energy source? Device captures energy from Earth's infrared emissions to outer space




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





A new renewable energy source? Device captures energy from Earth's infrared emissions to outer space



When the sun sets on a remote desert outpost and solar panels shut down, what energy source will provide power through the night? A battery, perhaps, or an old diesel generator? Perhaps something strange and new. Scientists now envision a device that would harvest energy from Earth's infrared emissions into outer space. Heated by the sun, our planet is warm compared to the frigid vacuum beyond. Thanks to recent technological advances, the researchers say, that heat imbalance could soon be transformed into direct-current (DC) power, taking advantage of a vast and untapped energy source.






ENERGY NEWS
This is what a happy Zero Energy customer looks like!


ENERGY NEWS

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Simple, cheap way to increase solar cell efficiency




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Simple, cheap way to increase solar cell efficiency



Researchers have found an easy way to modify the molecular structure of a polymer commonly used in solar cells. Their modification can increase solar cell efficiency by more than 30 percent.






ENERGY NEWS

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Copper promises cheaper, sturdier fuel cells




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Copper promises cheaper, sturdier fuel cells



Chemists are exploring the use of copper nanowires in fuel cells to convert solar energy into storable fuel. Copper nanowire catalysts cost less to produce than their indium tin oxide counterparts because they can be "printed" on pieces of glass or plastic in a liquid ink form, using a machine that functions much like a printing press. The nanowires can also be incorporated into transparent, flexible films.






ENERGY NEWS
In Recognition of National Beer Day:
A Solar Powered Beer Cooler!

ENERGY NEWS

Monday, April 7, 2014

Synthetic natural gas from excess electricity




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Synthetic natural gas from excess electricity



"Power to gas" is a key concept when it comes to storing alternative energy. This process converts short-term excess electricity from photovoltaic systems and wind turbines into hydrogen. Combined with the greenhouse gas CO2, renewable hydrogen can be used to produce methane, which can be stored and distributed in the natural gas network. Researchers have now succeeded in further optimizing this process.






ENERGY NEWS

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Revolutionizing solar energy: Quantum waves found at the heart of organic solar cells




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Revolutionizing solar energy: Quantum waves found at the heart of organic solar cells



Researchers have been able to tune ‘coherence’ in organic nanostructures due to the surprise discovery of wavelike electrons in organic materials, revealing the key to generating “long-lived charges” in organic solar cells - material that could revolutionize solar energy.






ENERGY NEWS

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Superabsorbing design may lower manufacturing cost of thin film solar cells




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Superabsorbing design may lower manufacturing cost of thin film solar cells



Researchers have developed a 'superabsorbing' design that may significantly improve the light absorption efficiency of thin film solar cells and drive down manufacturing costs.






ENERGY NEWS

Friday, April 4, 2014

Scientists discover material that can be solar cell by day, light panel by night




Solar Energy News -- ScienceDaily





Scientists discover material that can be solar cell by day, light panel by night



Scientists have developed a next-generation solar cell material which can also emit light, in addition to converting light to electricity. This solar cell is developed from Perovskite, a promising material that could hold the key to creating high-efficiency, inexpensive solar cells. The new cells not only glow when electricity passes through them, but they can also be customised to emit different colors.






ENERGY NEWS
SOURCE: Huffington Post
ENERGY NEWS
                 Top 5 Reasons to Go Solar

1.) Save $50/month On Average

What would you do with an extra $50/month? It might not sound like much, but really think about it for a minute. You could just pocket the $600/year. Or you could join a gym. Or you could start cooking with fancier ingredients, or you could go see all of the Oscar nominated movies while they're still in theaters, or you even make monthly payments on a shiny new motorcycle. In a lot of little ways, you could literally change your life and create exciting new experiences with that money.

Well, that's how much the average household saves by switching to solar power. $50/month or $600/year. Further, there are federal tax credits and several state-by-state incentive programs in place to persuade homeowners to make the switch.

2.) Save On Installation And Make It A Good Investment

Already as a give-in, you save 30% on installation of photovoltaic panels through the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit established in The Energy Policy Act of 2005. There are other incentives as well, too many to list here! Click here to search by state.

3.) Be A Force for Positive Change

Obviously in a perfect world solar installation would be free, but 30% or more off approved expenditures is not too shabby. It’s also worth noting that, in a down economy, the solar energy sector has been a great job creator. All of that aside, to be convinced to go solar, you need only to take a closer look at your current utility bills, as well as the way your home is powered right now. Power plants burn fossil fuels all day and night to generate electricity, as if our cars don’t produce enough greenhouse gas emissions!

Have you ever considered yourself a leader? An influencer? Well if you go solar, you can bet your bottom dollar that your home is going to turn heads and get people thinking. Your neighbors are going to want to know, is it worth it? When you tell them yes, it’s worth it, and they get a PV installation of their own and thank you for opening their eyes to the future – well that’s the day you can go ahead and pat yourself on the back.

4.) Electricity Prices Are On The Rise
Not only are utility companies hiking prices by a factor of nearly 2%/year on average for electric, but consumers are using more and more power as new technologies emerge. Looking at your utility bills really is guaranteed to keep getting worse unless you decide to take action.
5.) You Have More Options When You Switch To Solar
Solar panels, converters and thermal units come in a variety of styles and prices to fix your individual needs. Additionally, it is a competitive industry right now, so you will have your choice of several providers. This stands in contrast to the traditional electric power grid, which has been nearly 100% monopolized.

Still not convinced? Check out some of the resources below.






If you live in Southern California, you’re really in luck. Check us out at zeroenergyco.com.

Save money and be a part of the solution to the energy crisis. Call (855) 275-9376 today and schedule your free consultation.

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