December 6, 2017 · Fellows By Hannah Capshaw, CU Boulder MENV Candidate / Chief of Staff and Energy Fellow, Dream Tank As I started my graduate career at CU Boulder’s Masters of the Environment (MENV) program this past fall, I had a broad, yet shallow, range of experiences under my belt as the youngest person… Read More
Posts Tagged: Solar
Situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, watched over by the iconic Flatirons, Boulder, Colorado is a 21st century hub for forward thinking technologies and lifestyles. The city is committed to environmental stewardship as evidenced by its innovative solutions to climate change and its commitment to creating a healthier, more resilient and prosperous community…. Read More
The benefits of a tracker solar system: on and off the grid Tracking solar arrays are a beautiful thing to behold; like sunflowers they optimize their energy absorption by following the path of the sun throughout the day. Trackers come in two basic designs: single and dual axis. The latter type maintains perfect perpendicular orientation… Read More
Our civilization is imprinted with the modern infrastructure and technology necessary for our modern lives: buildings that we live and work in; roads and refineries for our transportation; power plants and the grid for our electricity, etc. From our kitchen gadgets to our communication devices to our vehicles, we are constantly surrounded by technology. And… Read More
Solar energy is one of the first things we think of when considering “going green.” What could be more renewable than the sun? Abundant, pollution-free energy that also has the means to dramatically reduce your electric bill. Of course, from sunshine to electricity for your home or office, there is an intermediary step or two…. Read More
PV4EV! Photovoltaic Electric Systems are the ideal match for electric vehicle owners seeking a low-cost and low-impact lifestyle. Get your solar on! The electric cars (EV = electric vehicle) are coming! Fact is, they’re very much here. In 2014 at least thirteen new electric car models came to market in the United States; 22 EV… Read More
As a long-time advocate of solar energy – and an employee at one of the longest established solar design and installation companies, Independent Power Systems, I often talk to people about the benefits of getting a solar electric system installed to power their home. And a typical question I encounter is: “Shouldn’t I wait until the… Read More
As we’ve discussed in previous posts, a south-facing roof is best for solar panels (in the northern hemisphere). However, east-facing and west-facing roofs might make sense, financially, depending on the average number of peak sun hours per day in your locations, as well as the state-specific incentives you will be able to take advantage of…. Read More
Oil and utility companies use more solar energy than anyone on the planet. It’s true, oil companies like Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil have been pulling solar energy from the ground for hundreds of years. Fossil fuels are made from just that, fossils; and fossils come from plants and animals. Plants get their energy from the… Read More
The answer is: yes! We get this question a lot, and the truth is that solar photovoltaic modules perform better when they are cold. We had one of our customers call us last year, saying that her 5 kilowatt system was producing 5300 watts of power and it was the middle of winter. She thought something… Read More