Solar Decathlon starts despite US Government shutdown

When disappointed some local may be the Solar Decathlon fans it is out that should have been a good year for the event in Washington, D.C.

During budget dispute clouds over the Federal Government and the Capitol loom, throws the bi-annual Department of energy event an own sunshine in Irvine, California.

Decathlon, started in 2002 by Dr. Richard King of the U.S. solar program has University of team designs for solar-powered houses, so spotlight on America's best and brightest minds millions of visitors from around the globe in the last 11 years taken. Competition, DOE site according to should first "Students and the public that money saving opportunities and benefits for the environment through clean energy presents educate about products and design solutions." On the other hand, tries the event, "showing the convenience and affordability of houses, which combine energy-efficient construction and appliances with renewable energy systems now available the public."

Competition. Innovation. Affordability. Our students show us the spirit of team work can do, how we're fighting here in Washington. In this case, the students are better teaching the lesson.

The Solar Decathlon slogan this year - a path to a better future - pointing a much better prospects. In the solar industry, we find that Americans are finding that solar actually is the bright way.

Residential energy costs are an everyday concern. In the United States 115 million homes consume the energy value $266 billion annually. In its new report on solar heating and cool was the solar energy industries Association, that 72 percent of home energy use related room with hot water, space heating and cooling.

The technologies on display in Irvine for the next couple of weeks face front on this issue. Despite the Government shutdown is the Decathlon happy as planned with the opening of the kickoff Thursday events continue. Visitors of the event can students designed and built by features such as an outer walkway shaded by solar cells, solar chimney with a retractable skylight for natural ventilation and light and houses with enough energy left to your car fuel tour.

Houses of the future? How about houses of today. Already solar provides that concrete income investment for homeowners and businesses alike, while educational programs such as the Solar Decathlon treat visitors the world drawing boards today real options and honor of some of the world's best innovators.

Students urged for their best through a global public competition to sunny skies for us all to create: that is a forecast which could win even some cross-party support.

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One of World's Largest Wind Farms Starts Up in Oregon

The Shepherds Flat wind farm, one of the largest in the world, is now operating in Oregon.
Credit: Energy Department

Caithness Energy announced on September 22 that its Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon—one of the largest in the world—is now operational and generating up to 845 megawatts of electricity. The Energy Department supported the project with a $1.3 billion partial loan guarantee through the Recovery Act in 2010. The company said the project in the northeastern part of the state will generate enough electricity to power 235,000 U.S. homes.

Sponsored by Caithness and General Electric (GE) Energy Financial Services, the project consists of 338 GE 2.5xl turbines, which are being deployed for the first time in North America. The project's output is contracted through 20-year power purchase agreements with Southern California Edison. The project will eliminate nearly1,216,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year, an amount equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions from more than 212,000 passenger vehicles. See the Caithness press release and the October 13, 2010 edition of the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy newsletter.

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Department of energy starts SunShot price competition

The SunShot prize is intended to reduce in the soft costs associated with small solar systems of more than 65%.
Credit: MREA

Within the framework of the initiative announced the Energy Ministry SunShot the Department on September 12 beginning to make a new contest faster, easier and cheaper, solar panels on the roof to install. The SunShot price makes a total of $10 million in cash prizes for the first three teams that consistently demonstrate that the non-hardware costs or price to plug in, as low as $1 per watt (W) for small photovoltaic (PV) systems, which can be installed to American homes and businesses. This objective corresponds to a decline in the "soft costs" of solar installations - including permitting, licensing, connection to the grid and other non-hardware costs - more than 65%. The winning teams will show that solar energy is a solution affordable for families and businesses in the United States.

The SunShot Prize to inspire innovative, sustainable and verifiable business practices to reduce soft costs $1 / W. achieving which this target SunShot within will bring soft cost target of $0.60 / W for residential system, reach by the end of the Decade. During phase I of the competition to win the teams will be successful to deploy, 5,000 small-scale (is kilowatt) rooftop PV systems with non-hardware costs an average $1 / W. phase II, which is provided the company sustainability the winner, calls for the installation of an additional 1,000 qualified systems.

The competition runs over 2015.The winner first place will receive $7 million, $2 million will get second place and runners-up will receive $1 million for the competition to achieve goals successfully. In addition to the prize money, which are officially first place team "the winner of America's best rooftop solar"-price. The SunShot initiative is a joint project of the national to solar energy until the end of the decade with other energies get competitive. See the press release of Ministry of energy and SunShot Prize Web site.

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Office leasing starts heat in the East Bay

While some Office markets in San Francisco and the peninsula have reached a boiling point, the East Bay is up to a simmer.

Yet markets such as Emeryville and Oakland Downtown it went well, while s other markets continue to wait an important stimulus to demand.

In the second quarter vacancy for which was a total inner East Bay, from Richmond to Oakland, 20.38%, slightly of 20.68% in the first quarter according to Cornish & Carey Newmark Knight Frank.

In the meantime crept into the outer East Bay, including I-680 corridor and Tri-Valley, vacancy rates also down...

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