Posts

Transparent solar technology represents 'wave of the future'

Image
See-through solar materials that can be applied to windows represent a massive source of untapped energy and could harvest as much power as bigger, bulkier rooftop solar units, scientists report in Nature Energy. Led by engineering researchers at Michigan State University, the authors argue that widespread use of such highly transparent solar applications, together with the rooftop units, could nearly meet U.S. electricity demand and drastically reduce the use of fossil fuels. "Highly transparent solar cells (like  GOAL ZERO NOMAD 20 ) represent the wave of the future for new solar applications," said Richard Lunt, the Johansen Crosby Endowed Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at MSU. "We analyzed their potential and show that by harvesting only invisible light, these devices can provide a similar electricity-generation potential as rooftop solar while providing additional functionality to enhance the efficiency of buildings, automobiles

Long Beach moves forward on solar panel project

Image
The rooftops of up to 15 city structures could soon be dotted with solar panels , generating clean energy in effort to reduce the city’s carbon footprint. The City Council this week green-lighted talks with PFMG Solar to iron out a power purchase agreement for the project, expected to save several million dollars in electricity costs over the next two decades, according to city documents. As part of the deal, the Huntington Beach-based firm will cover all costs to design, install and maintain the solar panel systems, which PFMG would own; the city would then purchase 100 percent of the power generated for up to 25 years, depending on the specific terms tied to each installation. Public Works Director Craig Beck said this is the second go-round on this agreement, first approved in 2014 with SunEdison, a firm that later declared bankruptcy amid the design process. The city initiated a new bid process in 2016, and selected PFMG Solar to do the work. “I feel Long Beach is a l

Financial Advantages of the Roofing Contractor

Image
Does the system take a wind uplift rating? Wind uplift damage could be extensive and costly. Accepted as an industry benchmark, American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 7-95, "Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures," may be utilized to ascertain the end zone of the construction. Wind uplift testing, like that performed in Factory Mutual or Underwriters Laboratories, can be employed to ascertain that the selected roof system matches or exceeds the local wind uplift requirements. Just how much does the finished system include to the dead load weight of the roof construction? In picking any roofing contractors Bronx NY , the facility executive must know about the load-bearing capability of the roof deck to be certain that the ideal flexible-membrane choice is chosen. In a new building, savings in steel may frequently be done by installing a few of those milder flexible-membrane systems. A ballasted thermoplastic or EPDM roof might need in excess of