France Requires All New Buildings To Have Green Roofs Or Solar Panels

France has just passed a trailblazing new law that requires that all new buildings constructed in commercial areas to be partially-covered by either solar panels or green roofs. Not only will this bring dramatic changes to the nation's skylines and bolster the efficiency of all new commercial construction, but the law will help France pick up the pace the solar adoption-which has lagged behind other European nations in recent years.

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Post tags: "energy efficiency", building efficiency, commercial building, environmental law, Europe, france, government, Green Building, green roof, new construction, photovoltaics, rainwater, solar panels, Solar Power, urban heat island

Credit: renewable-technologies.blogspot.com

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Home Power In Every Day Life

Numerous individuals have gone on and on regarding the rewards of solar power. When theoretical arguments are usually fascinating, what about every day applications?

Uses for Solar In Every single day Life

Solar power is an essential advancement in the effort to save the environment. Perhaps by far the most effortlessly usable and most handy from the renewable energy sources (which also incorporate wind and water), solar power has been employed since the beginning of time as a heating source. Inside the 1830's one of the other solar power platforms was created, as a solar power cooker was employed on a safari. Since then, several other solar power applications happen to be formulated, and pretty much everybody can benefit from one of these.

One of the most prevalent from the solar power application is always to use it as a power source. Since the 1970's, several individuals happen to be placing solar collectors on their roofs and making use of the resulting collected power to run their households. When getting sufficient solar collectors to acquire power which will run a whole house may not be common, it truly is becoming more. Most of these types of solar powered houses run their appliances along with other demands directly off the solar collectors' power during the day, and use power that was stored from the solar cells in batteries at night. In this way, the homeowner can stay clear of ever getting to work with power that was generated by a non-renewable resource.

An additional from the prevalent solar power applications is always to use solar power to heat your hot water. These home solar power systems may either use passive solar power (in the case of heating a tank of water by leaving it out in the sun) or by making use of solar collectors with a heat transfer fluid. These systems demand the homeowner to install solar panels, behind which run tubes filled with fluid. These tubes collect the heat from the sun and transfer it into the fluid these tubes, filled with the heated fluid, then run about a water storage program, as well as the heat from the fluid is transferred into the water. An additional way is always to have water running through the tubing and have it acquire the sun's heat directly - this heated water is then pumped into swimming pools, to ensure that pool owners do not must run a pool heater to help keep their water warm.

Inside the last 10 to 15 years, solar producers have began to create new, creative applications for solar power. One development would be the portable solar panel, a well-known item employed on RVs by vacationers. On a smaller scale, you'll find solar panel packs that fold out like a compact ledger and are employed to power up anything from laptops to cell phones. As time passes, new items along this line are expected to continue to come on the market.

It doesn't matter which from the solar power applications you select to implement in your personal dwelling or life even a compact modify to solar power more than standard power sources will help the environment. The extra we are able to use solar power, the much less dependent we develop into on non-renewable resources, as well as the more we aid the Earth.

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Worlds Largest Solar Thermal Plant Opens In California

Put it in the record books. NRG Energy, BrightSource Energy and Google have opened Ivanpah, the world's largest concentrating solar power plant at 392 megawatts of capacity.

The project received a controversial 1.6 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, a loan without which the plant would "unequivocally and without doubt" not have been built, according to NRG Energy CEO David Crane. The plant, which went fully live in the Mojave desert yesterday, now makes up 30% of all solar thermal energy currently operational in the U.S.

If you've never heard of Ivanpah, it's a pretty breathtaking project. The plant produces electricity through 173,500 mirrors that track the sun (known as heliostats) and beam sunlight to the plant's three towers and their boilers. These boilers heat up, turning white hot when they reach 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and produce steam. The steam then powers turbines to generate electricity.

The electricity from Ivanpah is being bought by utilities Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE). Both need the power to meet California's lofty renewables mandate, without which "there would be no Ivanpah," says Giga OM's Katie Fehrenbacher.

The post World's largest solar thermal plant opens in California appeared first on National Tax Credits Consultants LLC.

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Germany Is Leading The Way In Hydrogen Fuel Infrastructure

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GOVERNMENT AGENCY HIGHLIGHTS GERMANY'S GROWING HYDROGEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Germany may soon have the world's leading hydrogen fuel infrastructures according to Germany Trade and Invest, an economic development agency that is part of the country's government. By the end of the year, the country aims to add an additional 50 hydrogen fuel stations to its existing infrastructure, which has been taking form over the past few years. The government agency believes that more than 400 hydrogen stations will be in operation by 2023.

COUNTRY CONTINUES TO WORK ON BOLSTERING ITS INFRASTRUCTURE TO PREPARE FOR THE LAUNCH OF FUEL CELL VEHICLES

Germany has shown strong support for clean transportation, particularly when it comes to hydrogen fuel cells. These energy systems have come to play a significant role in the auto industry, helping automakers develop a new generation of zero emissions vehicles. In order for these vehicles to find any degree of commercial success, however, a hydrogen infrastructure must be established. Over the past few years, the German government has been investing in the construction of new hydrogen fuel stations, working with automakers to do so.

Automakers Show A Great Deal Of Interest In Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Fuel cells vehicles have yet to become popular among consumers, largely because these vehicles are not yet widely available. Consumers also question whether fuel cells are efficient and capable enough to compete with lithium-ion batteries. Several automakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, believe that hydrogen fuel could be the future of clean transportation, but other companies are not as supportive of this form of renewable energy. One of the more common criticisms concerning fuel cell vehicles is the lack of an infrastructure that can support them.

Germany Is Leading By Example When It Comes To Building A Hydrogen Infrastructure

Germany is currently leading the way in hydrogen-powered transportation support in Europe. The country has served as an example to its neighbors, showing how a hydrogen infrastructure can be established in a relatively efficient and economic manner. Because of the country's growing hydrogen infrastructure, it will likely become a very prominent market for automakers that plan to release fuel cell vehicles in the coming years.

For more alternative energy news headlines today.

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Portable Small Generators Discover The Exact Cost Of All Thematerials Youll Need Hint The List Of Items Cost Less Than Onehundred Dollar And Will Last For Years

We've got To Stop Making use of Coal To Generate Our Electrical Energy

It's established that coal and oil reserves are drained. Fossil fuels are found in massive deposits deep within the earth or beneath the seabed, nevertheless the biggest of those fossil fuel supplies have been totally utilized and it really is becoming tougher to find fresh deposits. Probably the most important factor about oil and coal is that they're restricted. Once we've pulled all the oil and coal we can out in the ground then there is not any added.

Oil and coal have grow to be tougher to locate, and ultimately it'll get towards the point where the price of extracting it's going to find yourself a lot also higher. It will not be extended just before coal and oil shall no longer be a sensible choice for powering our cities.

Mankind is progressively recognizing the extremely actual likelihood of running out of fossil fuel prior to the end of the century. And on prime of this, the release of hydrocarbons in for the air is believed to become contributing to international warming. Plainly relying on classic fuels is just not an option.

The value of extracting coal and oil is displaying up in rising energy fees, both inside the cost of refined fuels like petroleum and diesel, but moreover within the expenses of electrical power. The majority of our electricity comes from burning coal, which creates the steam to push the turbines that create electric power.

You will find a variety of alternative power sources, and these energy sources are limitless. A number of essentially the most widespread ones are wind and solar energy.

Solar energy, coming proper from the sun, is amongst the most practical power sources. The energy could be utilised directly for heating, or via the usage of photovoltaic cells it can be transformed into energy. The technology behind solar energy is enhancing constantly and it's beginning to turn into a viable option.

Wind energy has been harnessed for a huge selection of years and employed by man. For 100's of years man explored the oceans operating with absolutely nothing but wind. Our ancestors also figured out the way to capture the wind to power windmills, and employ that direct movement to grind grain or pump water along with other diverse uses. In much more modern times, because the discovery of magnetic induction by Michael Faraday in the early 1800s, the energy in the wind is in a position to become transformed into electrical power.

Wind energy is seriously a workable supply of electrical energy. Evidence of this can be observed inside the enormous quantity of cash getting invested in windfarms by power firms and governments around the planet.

Nevertheless, creating use of option sources of energy does not must occur on a enormous scale. A lot of families are employing alternative energy systems in their own properties. Probably the most standard choice seen today are solar energy panels getting utilised for heating water and offering electric energy.

Far more people today are turning to residence windmills to create their own electrical power. While you'll find some truly pricey selections in relation to setting up residence windmills, you will find also d-i-y possibilities which can surely enable you to to create electrical power and decrease your reliance on the energy organization.

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Eu Reaches Tentative Deal To Cap Food Based Biofuels

European Union lawmakers reached a tentative deal on Wednesday (1 April) to place a 7% limit on how much crop-based biofuel can be used in the transport sector, EU sources said.

The agreement on a legal text, thrashed out by representatives of the European Commission, Parliament and member states follows years of argument on traditional biofuels, which were once seen as environmental, but are now considered to do more harm than good.

Wednesday's compromise deal should mark almost the final stage in establishing a new piece of EU law, although it still needs official endorsement.

The Environment Committee of the European Parliament will vote on it on 14 April, and then a plenary session of the parliament will have to endorse it, parliamentary sources said.

Current legislation requires EU member states to ensure that renewable sources account for at least 10 percent of energy in transport by 2020.

But research has shown the damage caused by many crop-based biofuels, such as those from maize and rapeseed.

Apart from driving up food prices, using farmland to produce biofuels adds to pressure to free up land through deforestation, which can result in increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Those seeking to promote a new generation of advanced biofuels made from seaweed or waste favoured a tighter limit on traditional biofuels. The parliament had also called for a 6 percent limit.

But the European Council of member states held out for 7%, while those who have invested in biofuels made from crops say too low a cap would put jobs at risk.

Bioethanol lobby ePURE gave a cautious welcome to Wednesday's deal, saying it did not provide enough incentive for the new generation biofuels.

"We welcome Council's continued commitment to a 7% cap for conventional biofuels but we are disappointed with the lack of a binding target for advanced biofuels," Robert Wright, secretary general of ePURE, said in an email.

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World First National Electric Vehicle Charging Network Launched

Ecotricity and Welcome Break have today launched the first of a national network of free electric car charging points situated at motorway services and powered by the renewable electricity company's wind turbines.

Dubbed the Electric Highway, the network will, when completed in three months, allow EV drivers to travel from Exeter to Edinburgh via London without fear of running out of juice.

Further connections are planned for the next 18 months.

Both businesses expect to benefit from a unique synergy, where Welcome Break sees an opportunity to attract more custom to its motorway service stations, and Ecotricity is keen to find new markets in an emerging and potentially huge area.

Together, they hope to open up low-carbon transport routes to the whole of the UK - not just within cities.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity's founder, said: "Until now, charging posts have all been in city centres like London, but statistics show that it's not in towns and cities where electric cars need to recharge, but on longer journeys between cities - and that means motorways."

The first 'top-up zone' is being installed this month at Welcome Break's South Mimms services (at the Junction of the M1 and M25), and the first phase of the network spread across 12 motorway services will be completed by September.

Each post will be located outside the main entrance, with two sockets that can be accessed by registering for a free swipecard at the website ecotricity.co.uk/onthemove.

Within 18 months all 27 Welcome Break motorway services will have charging points.

The partnership claims that electric cars will be able to top-up in just 20 minutes using rapid recharge points (32A supply) or fully charge in two hours; while those using the slower (13A supply) will be able to recharge fully if staying overnight in adjoining hotels.

"We're creating the infrastructure to get Britain's electric car revolution moving," added Vince. "This marks the beginning of the end for the old combustion engine. With world oil prices going through the roof, you'll now be able to get around Britain using only the power of the wind. It costs 1p a mile in an electric vehicle, compared with 10p in a petrol car (at today's oil prices)."

A driver travelling a year's typical 12,000 miles could save almost lb2000 in petrol costs at today's prices, and around 2500kg in CO2 emissions.

Rod McKie, CEO of Welcome Break, spoke of his excitement at the project, and affirmed that the company "wants to be at the forefront" of the coming change in motoring habits: "as hybrid and electric cars become part of everyday life, Welcome Break will have the facility to fast-charge these cars, giving electric car drivers the opportunity to travel the length and breadth of the UK".

Ecotricity has also installed a charging post at its windmill next to the M4 motorway in Reading. It is the first charging post to be powered directly from a wind turbine.

"Video production: Tim Walter Associates"

In November 2010, Ecotricity launched the Nemesis, a wind-powered sports car that can reach 0-100mph in 8.5 seconds and with a top speed of 170mph. The first electric "supercar" to be designed and built in Britain, the Nemesis was created by an A-team of ex-Formula 1 engineers with the brief to "blow the socks off Jeremy Clarkson" and show that electric cars can be sexy, fast and fun to drive.

It will be the first electric car to drive from Land's End to John O' Groats this summer.

This year, major manufacturers are launching all-electric mass-market models including the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi MIEV and Peugeot iOn. Ford will also launch an all-electric version of its Ford Focus, on sale in 2013.

COULD WIND POWER REPLACE THE COMBUSTION ENGINE?

Dale Vince, long an evangelist for renewable electricity, asserts that "with 10,000 of today's wind turbines, or just 5,000 of tomorrow's" we could replace all of the "25 million barrels of oil" that we consume in the UK to travel "the 250 billion miles we drive every year."

His company has calculated that if all 30 million vehicles on the roads were replaced by EVs, which typically do 5,000 miles on one MWh of electricity, then the UK would need 13% - or 50TWh - more electricity to power those journeys than is currently generated.

Total UK grid demand was 378TWh in 2009, and a 13% increase in output is equal to just four years of annual demand growth, and to the output from 10,000 wind turbines (assuming their current design) - which would save 69 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

However, as most EV charging is expected to happen overnight, when grid demand is traditionally lowest, this may not translate directly to a corresponding 13% increase in capacity.

But the revolution, if it is to happen, will take around a decade. There are currently only about 2,000 pure electric vehicles in the UK; on top of that there are a few hundred plug-in electric hybrids.

The 30,000 petrol hybrids on the roads that have a battery fitted cannot plug them into a socket; their charge either comes from the petrol engine or from energy stored during braking.

There are now around 400 charging points in cities around the UK, most of which - around 250 - are in London. But most charging is expected to happen overnight at home, with some to be offered at the workplace.

Dale Vince founded Ecotricity 15 years ago. A 'not for dividend' company with no shareholders, it now powers 50,000 homes and businesses in the UK from its fleet of 52 wind turbines, and invests more per capita in building new sources of green energy than any other UK electricity company. It is the only energy supplier supported by Oxfam and the Soil Association.

Welcome Break's 27 service areas house the firm's own brands alongside high-street names such as Burger King, KFC, WHSmith and Days Inn. Recently Waitrose and Starbucks have also been added.

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The Financial Crunch And Wind Power

While I've been paying attention to political matters, I've been fielding questions about how the financial crisis could be affecting wind power projects. The News Journal today ran this Bloomberg story about possible delays for speculative wind power projects in Europe:

Offshore wind power projects in northern Europe, key to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, face delays because of a shortage of bank finance.

"Things are being delayed," Maartje van den Berg, a clean-technology analyst at Rabobank International, said in an interview Oct. 22. "We are involved in several projects that were close to financial close and they've just stopped. The banks are sitting and waiting for things to improve."A reader last week asked how the financial meltdown could affect the Bluewater Wind project here in Delaware:

But I was wondering what your thoughts are on the possibility that Blue Water might run into financing difficulties due to the global economic implosion. After all, alternative energy projects are still considered high risk, and given the tightness of the credit markets, I could easily picture a financing problem either postponing or perhaps even killing a large wind power project such as the one Blue Water has planned for Delaware.The Bluewater project is different from the European projects, which don't have the benefit of a long term power purchase agreement or PPA. Financing is much easier when investors see a secure revenue stream, as the Bluewater PPA provides. Fortunately, Bluewater won't need much of its capital right away. The Financial Times reports that parent company, Babcock ">:

Babcock ">While it appears that B&B's overall corporate structure is under pressure, the B&B wind fund, which is separately listed on the Australian stock exchange, is profitable. Also, the PPA between Bluewater and Delmarva Power, with its contractual revenue stream, is in itself an asset. Whatever happens to B&B, I expect Bluewater to find the financing to build the wind farm.

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