Solar Lighting and Solar Power

International Green Building Conference Review

Part 4 of 5

It is becoming more efficient, affordable and aesthetic to harness the power of the sun!

You can lower your need for electricity by channeling the sun’s light through Solatube. They have recently improved minimizing heat transfer, and it qualifies for the 30% tax credit (currently good through the end of 2010). Remember to check if there are other rebates or incentives in your area. This high performance product is energy star rated. It uses advanced optics to flood a space with natural light, without the accompanying heat, which is more beneficial than a skylight. Our family bathroom does not have an exterior wall and has attic space above, so there was no other way to enjoy daylight before. It was as dramatic as night and day to add the Solatube. Not only did it flood the room with natural light, it brightened the hallway, and one’s mood!

Another major savings for consumers is the significant drop in pricing for solar panels (customarily placed on the roof)—some 40% over the last year according to Chad Corwin, a market research specialist for Kyocera Solar. He told me that thin film is less efficient, to look at the products energy output, with a benchmark of 5.52 watt per hour. All states are establishing standards of how much of their energy will be generated from a renewable source. For example, Arizona is considered a progressive state, since we do not classify nuclear power as a renewable energy source, so there will the requirement for utility companies to cooperate with net metering—the selling of excess power back to the utility company. Chad pointed out to me, that homeowners generating their own power can be considered a competitor, loss of revenue for a utility company. I hadn't thought of that before. With the requirements of a percentage of energy that must be from renewable sources, utility companies need to cooperate with homeowners who harvest the power of the sun.

There are several companies that have developed solar roof tiles, an example is shown in the picture above. Time Magazine (Nov. 23, 2009) featured, The 50 Best Inventions of the Year, and coming in at # 13 was the Solar Shingle by the Dow Chemical Company. Their innovative solar shingle unveiled in October, is expected to cost 10-15% less than traditional solar panels, and is to be widely available in 2011. Solar shingles will be easier and less expensive to install than solar panels.

Kyocera was chosen to be the company to supply the Toyota Prius a solar ventilation system, an optional feature for the hybrid car, to cool a car's interior when it is parked. And for those of you who do not live in the desert you cannot appreciate the need for this! --I first moved to Arizona in July, soon after the record temperature of 122 degrees. I did not have tinted windows yet, and after the car was parked for several hours in the treeless parking lot, when I tried to drive it, the steering wheel burned my hands! Who knows, hopefully soon the technology will bring us affordable solar cars!

Stay tuned, I've saved the best for last!