Japan Planning Massive Solar Power Plant in Space

As far-fetched as it may sound, engineers from Japanese companies Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and IHI Corp. are teaming up with an international research group to develop a satellite-based solar power plant that will beam green energy back to Earth.

The proposed satellite would feature four square kilometers of solar panels and be able to generate one gigawatt, which is enough clean electricity to power about 294,000 homes. All of that energy would be beamed down to Earth via microwaves to large, almost two mile wide receiving stations.

This system would avoid one of the biggest pitfalls commonly associated with solar panels: clouds. Far above our climate, the panels would be able to soak up the sun’s rays all day, every day. It’s not all good news though, as all sorts of new problems—such as the cost of lugging thousands of tons of solar panels into space and dealing with micro-meteoroids and space debris strikes—will have to be tackled.

Clocking in at a rather stout $21 billion price tag, the system will undergo extensive testing and trials before going full-scale. The Japanese government hopes to have a smaller-scale test unit in orbit by 2015.

I wonder what happens to a plane that flies through the beam.

We May Soon Be Driving on Solar Highways

Idaho-based Solar Roadways has a bold new plan to generate clean energy on a massive scale. They are planning on manufacturing pre-made segments of road that are essentially large solar panels. With the sheer amount of road surface in this country, we’re talking about enough energy to potentially power the entire United States. The concept was exciting enough to the Department of Transportation that they just awarded the company a $100,000 grant to develop the system.

The company isn’t planning on stopping at just generating electricity, though. One proposed addition to the panels is a system of LED lights that would function as signage to alert drivers of upcoming hazards and road conditions. Another idea being floated around is embedded heating elements that could help prevent icy roads. This system really opens up the potential for a “smart road,” able to adapt to changing conditions while it generates electricity.

So, what’s the catch? Unsurprisingly, the panels are what you might call “cost prohibitive” at the moment. While one mile of four-lane solar highway could generate enough electricity to power 500 homes, it would also cost upwards of ten million dollars before you factor in any construction or infrastructure costs. Then, there are other major concerns about the panels, such as a potentially short lifespan, the ability to stand up to the pounding dealt by both heavy traffic and the environment and how cars would interact with the new surface.

But hey, maybe they’ll be able to engineer around the steep cost and other challenges, and we’ll soon be driving on a road surfaces that not only keep us safer, but protect the environment too. Here’s hoping.

Introducing: The Energy Allowance

One of my best summers as a kid was the year that I started getting an allowance. Sure, it was only a few bucks a week, but suddenly having some money to spend on candy, soda and comic books was like a whole new world for me. Obviously, I had to work to get the money, but it was life-changing at the time to receive it, even if it meant doing chores.

Apparently, there is a way to give kids an allowance and teach them about active energy efficiency. Energy Circle is offering a way for you to provide the kids with a monthly allowance based on how much energy they help the family save around the house. It provides some easy-to-use tools for parents, so that kids can monitor their monthly progress and help save on the electricity bill. After that, they share in a percentage of the savings.

This seems like a win-win situation for parents out there. Not only does it teach kids about energy efficiency, it gives them a way to participate in it and see the benefits in a tangible way. To read more, be sure to visit EnergyCircle.

How to Slay Your Energy Vampire

Is your home infested with energy vampires? You know, those pesky plugged in appliances that suck energy even though they are turned off. Well if your answer is yes, then I've got a solution that will banish those energy draining vampires for good and lower your energy usage.

It's as easy as unplugging unused appliances and getting some up-to-date power strips. Doing those two simple things can save you money on your monthly electric bill.

Now I know some of you already use power strips, and that's great, but do you have the fancy new smart power strips that are out on the market? Some of these new power strips will automatically cut power to everything you have plugged into it when you turn off one designated item. Another power strip has a motion sensor that will turn itself on when you walk by.

Sure these new power strips will cost a little more but in the long run they will cut your energy usage and lower your energy bill. To read more about how you can slay your energy vampire, visit EnergyCircle.

Intel, Pepsi and Whole Foods Top EPA List of Green Power Purchasers

In the most recent release of Top Partner Rankings by the Environmental Protection Agency, Intel Corporation, PepsiCo and Whole Foods Market were named the top three green power purchasers. 

These three companies and the rest of the Top 50 are recognized as the best at helping reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use and supporting the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide. Purchase amounts reflect U.S. operations only and are sourced from U.S.-based green power resources. Organizations can meet EPA purchase requirements using any combination of three different product options (1) Renewable Energy Certificates, (2) On-site generation, and (3) Utility green power products.

Combined, the top 50 largest purchases amount to nearly 12.3 billion kilowatt-hours annually, which represents more than 70 percent of the green power commitments made by all EPA Green Power Partners.

The Houston, Texas was the top city the list at 6, followed by Dallas, Texas and Chicago, Illinois at number 12 and 16 respectively. 

For more information, check out the EPA's Top Partner Rankings, which includes the Top 50 overall, as well as the Top 20 Colleges & Universities, Fortune 500 rankings,  and state and local government rankings.

Study Finds Finds Clean Energy Economy Generates Significant Job Growth

According to a report recently released by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the number of jobs in America’s emerging clean energy economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than overall jobs between 1998 and 2007.

Pew found that jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent, while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent between 1998 and 2007. There was a similar pattern at the state level, where job growth in the clean energy economy outperformed overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia during the same period. The report also found that this promising sector is poised to expand significantly, driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital infusions, and federal and state policy reforms.

“The clean energy economy is poised for explosive growth,” said Lori Grange, interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the States. “These jobs are driving economic growth and environmental sustainability at a time when America needs both. There is a potential competitive advantage for federal and state policy leaders who act now to spur jobs, businesses and investments in the clean energy sector.”

The report also showed that the emerging clean energy economy is creating well-paying jobs in every state for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds. Included in Pew’s definition are jobs as diverse as engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others, with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.

For more on Pew's findings, download the full Clean Economy report (PDF).

Google can Help You Save Money on Your Electric Bill

Would you like to lower your electric bill? I mean who wouldn't, and it looks like Google has just the tool we could all use.It's their PowerMeter and they've begun their initial roll out partnering with electricity companies nationwide.

The Google PowerMeter is a tool that consumers can use to gauge how much energy they are using at any given day. The PowerMeter can let you know how much electricity each of your appliances use. How great is this? What if your fridge was sucking money right out of your pocket and you didn't realize it. You could then make an educated decision to buy a new more energy efficient fridge that would save you money in the long run. 

Some of the electric companies partnering with Google are TXU Energy in Texas, JEA in Florida and Glasgow EPB in Kentucky.

To read more about the Google PowerMeter and how it can help you, hop on over to the PowerMeter article on Google.

Green Mountain Energy Offers a Hot Summer Special

Now that summer is almost officially here, those electricity prices are probably starting to climb. Especially in a hotter state like Texas, we're starting to rely on that precious air conditioning to get us through the heat. Well, Green Mountain Energy is now offering a new low rate electricity special that's bound to keep you cool for less.

This low priced and exclusive 6 month plan from Green Mountain is a special limited time offer. At as low as 10.8 cents per kWh, it's one of the lowest offers available for electricity shoppers in Texas. In addition, Green Mountain customers have the assurance that they are purchasing 100% renewable energy to power their home. On top of that, Green Mountain Energy will plant up to 5,000 trees for every person that pledges an earth-friendly action after ordering their electricity.

So if you're looking to turn the lights on without breaking a sweat over your monthly electricity bills this summer, shop with Green Mountain Energy for your home power needs.

Five Ways to Keep Your Energy Bills Low

Whether it's summer or winter you have plenty of options and tools to keep your energy bills low. There are basic things you can do and some that will consider a chunk of change that will pay off in a few months to a year.

Below is a list of things you can do to lower your energy bills.

• Digital Thermometer - Install a programmable digital thermometer so in the summer months you can set your home to be at 78-80 degrees when no one is home.
• Ceiling Fans - Running ceiling fans in the summer months is an inexpensive way to keep your home cooler.
• Unplug Unused Electronics - A major drain on your electricity is leaving electronics that you hardly use plugged in.
• Insulation - Look into investing in more insulation for your home. This might not be a cheap solution but it will pay off in the long run. Your home will stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
• Washing Clothes - Use you're washer in the evenings when less electricity will be used. Also wash in cold water and hang dry most or all of your clothes.

For more tips on lowering your energy bill, read this article, Slash Energy Costs by 30%, that I read on CnnMoney.com.

CEA Study Finds Homeowners Use Electronics to Reduce Home Energy Costs

According to a new study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, homeowners are factoring energy efficiency into purchase decisions of consumer electronics in an effort to reduce home energy costs. The study, Home Technologies and Energy Efficiency: A Look At Behaviors, Issues and Solutions, found increasing consumer interest in the energy efficiency benefits of consumer electronics products.

The study revealed that approximately one in 10 households conducted a home energy audit in the past two years alone. Of those who had undergone an audit, 61 percent replaced appliances or consumer electronic devices with more energy efficient models. Fifty-six percent of consumers show interest in "smart energy meters" that provide information on optimum times to run appliances for energy bill savings.

CEA also found that 57 percent of consumers believe an equal mix of behavioral changes and the use of new technology will help them conserve household energy. On average, consumers told CEA that they would need to see a 31 percent increase in their monthly home energy costs before they would seek out technology options to improve energy efficiency within the home.

One issue that needs to be addressed is low consumer awareness for terms used by the custom installation industry to describe home energy efficient technology. CEA found that, while consumers are highly aware of the EPA's ENERGY STAR® designation (84 percent), only 50 percent are aware of the term "smart home" and 38 percent are aware of "home automation". When given a sample of five major companies that sell smart home products or technologies, a little over a third of respondents are aware of those companies.

For more info on the study, check out the CEA press release.