Solar users in Northwest America are proving that solar panels are a good investment. They have found that summer’s long days and lower energy needs enable them to produce more power than they need. In addition, high heat makes photovoltaic solar panels less efficient, so cool days help solar cells produce more energy. And while overcast skies are not as productive as direct sun they make orientation and pitch of solar panels far less important! … [Read more...]
Japanese Going Off The Grid In Huge Numbers
In a post-tsunami revolt against conventional electric utilities, tens of thousands of Japanese homeowners have started generating their own power from hydrogen fuel cells and solar panels, turning the country into the world's leading laboratory for overturning the traditional grid and the century-old business model behind it. Two and a half years after a nuclear-plant disaster crippled a primary source of electricity, major home builders are … [Read more...]