Happy Halloween

Here's my costume. My girlfriend is going to dress up as this.


The bottom line is...

I'm sure there will be many people dressing up as a 3G iPhone this year.

Go Solar This Halloween

With all the lights and decorations needed to make Halloween fun, it's a great time to go solar.

I found the pictures above on Target's website. I'm sure many other retailers have plenty of solar Halloween lights and products.


The bottom line is...

Have an environmentally friendly Halloween.

Energy Efficiency

I've noticed that we haven't had an education post in awhile, so here we go.

Several facts that you didn't know about energy efficiency:

• By taking appropriate energy-saving measures, by 2010 the United States can have an energy system that reduces costs by $530 per household per year and reduces global warming pollutant emissions to 10 percent below 1990 levels. (Energy Innovations report)
• Just by using the "off the shelf" energy-efficient technologies available today, we could cut the cost of heating, cooling, and lighting our homes and workplaces by up to 80%. (U.S. Department of Energy and Maryland Energy Administration)
• Replacing one incandescent lightbulb with an energy-saving compact fluorescent bulb means 1,000 pounds less carbon dioxide is emitted to the atmosphere and $67 dollars is saved on energy costs over the bulb's lifetime. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Alliance to Save Energy)
• A decrease of only 1% in industrial energy use would save the equivalent of about 55 million barrels of oil per year, worth about $1 billion.

The bottom line is...

Let this be your motivation.

Turn Everything Off, Save Battery

Here's another video about saving battery life on the iPhone:




The bottom line is...

What's the point of having a 3G iPhone if you have to turn off all those features?

Solar Arcadia Community

As you may have noticed, we've made some minor changes to our blog. We've also made some changes to our website. Be sure to check it out.

Please keep in mind that we are building a Solar Arcadia Community. If you have a product that you think should be sold by Solar Arcadia or you simply want to express yourself, then you should definitely take a look at the page for more information.


The bottom line is...

Now's your chance.

More from Sharp

Here's another cool video from Sharp. This one features a pretty amazing solar TV.




The bottom line is...

I'd love to have one of these.

Sharp's Solar Commercial

Back when I wrote this post about wind & solar, I mentioned a Sharp commercial that I wanted to show. Back then, I couldn't find it, but it has finally made its way to YouTube.

Here it is:




The bottom line is...

Exciting stuff.

Unusual Solar Photos pt. 7

As we head into the weekend, we'll keep this post lighthearted and show you an Unusual Solar Photo. How's this for a fashion statement?


The bottom line is...

Ladies, would you walk around with this on your arm?

Moonlight

Who needs the sun when you can use the moon to power your iPhone solar charger?



The bottom line is...

Or maybe not.

Both Sides of Prop. 10

Just like Prop 7, Prop 10 has two opposing views.

Here's what the folks from prop10yes.com want you to know:

PROPOSITION 10 WILL PROVIDE URGENTLY NEEDED FUNDING TO...

• Generate electricity from renewable sources, including solar, wind, tidal and low‐impact hydropower.
• Provide consumer rebates for the purchase or lease of clean alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrids, electric vehicles and fuel‐efficient vehicles that get at least 45 miles per gallon.
• Replace older polluting diesel trucks with clean alternative fuel trucks.
• Fund research and development of cheaper and cleaner alternative fuels.

Here is NoOnProposition10.org side of the story:

• Prop 10 is a $335 million per year raid on the state’s General Fund. California has a $15 billion budget deficit. Spending another $335 million each of the next 30 years to pay off Prop 10 bonds means more cuts to our schools, public health and public safety.
• Prop 10 does not require any clean air improvement. Taxpayers will shell out $2.5 billion in subsidies to trucking companies to purchase so-called “clean” vehicles that can pollute every bit as much as diesel and gasoline powered trucks. Hybrids are not considered “clean” under Prop 10.

The bottom line is...

You do the math.

Proposition 10

We have some information on another proposition relating to solar energy and the environment. Last time it was Prop 7. This time, we're focusing on California Proposition 10, also known as Big Solar.

The purpose is to get Californians to be more energy efficient. The plan is to use $5 billion in bonds paid from state’s General Fund.

Here's how the money will be split up:

• 58% in cash payments of between $2,000 and $50,000 to purchasers of certain high fuel economy and alternative fuel vehicles
• 20% in incentives for research, development and production of renewable energy technology
• 11% in incentives for research and development of alternative fuel vehicle technology
• 5% in incentives for purchase of renewable energy technology
• 4% in grants to eight cities for education about these technologies
• 3% in grants to colleges to train students in these technologies.

Source: californiapropositions.org/prop10.html


The bottom line is...

Good? Bad? You decide.

Saluting Chevron

I recently saw a commercial for Chevron's "Will You Join Us" initiative. I decided to check out the website, and found a great deal of information regarding solar energy and environmental issues.

Chevron seems to be doing great things with this entire campaign, which is why I chose them for this edition of the Salute.

Since Solar Arcadia is located in the Bay Area, the following quote from the website stuck out:

Chevron Energy Solutions is helping the Contra Costa Community College District in Northern California to save energy and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The 3.2-megawatt solar system and other improvements make the college's three campuses and district office more energy efficient. It's the largest solar power installation ever built at an institution of higher learning in North America.

I never thought I'd be writing positive things about an oil company on this blog.


The bottom line is...

Keep up the good work, Chevron.

Children's Apparel

New t-shirts for children have been added to the Solar Arcadia site.


The bottom line is...

We've got the adults covered as well.

More Info on Prop. 7

10/7/2008 UPDATE: The last thing we want to do is provide incorrect information. We've updated this post with facts for each point of view.

Just in case our first post about Proposition 7 didn't provide enough information for you, we've collected some of the pros and cons for you to review.

Again, we're just a solar company. We're not trying to tell you how to vote. We simply want to provide the information that you need.

...............PROS (via yeson7.net)

1. Prop. 7 expands the renewable requirements for all utilities from 20% to 50%. All wind and solar companies will benefit from this market growth, regardless of size. It is basic economics.
2. Replace half of the fossil fuels used for electricity generation in California with clean energy technologies such as solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, and small hydro.
3. Unlike today, all utilities -- including municipally owned utilities like Los Angeles Department of Water and Power -- will be required to comply with renewable energy laws.

...............CONS (via NProp7.com)

1. Contains a provision that virtually guarantees that electricity consumers will pay 10% above market rates for renewable power forever -- even when the costs of solar and wind sources become more competitive.
2. Will cost consumers and taxpayers hundreds of millions per year in higher electric rates – a $300 increase per household per year.
3. Prop. 7 locks into law many flaws that are currently stifling renewable power development in California and creates new roadblocks to renewable development. For instance, Prop. 7 arbitrarily shifts authority over the renewables market from the California Public Utilities Commission to the California Energy Commission, which could lead to significant delays, added bureaucracy and costly lawsuits.

The bottom line is...

What do you think?

Unusual Solar Photos pt. 6

Here you have a solar heating system for a swimming pool.

It isn't really "unusual." It's actually pretty cool. The reason why choose it for part 6 of solar photos is because I didn't know that there were companies making this product. A great deal of energy is needed to heat a pool, so this product solves a huge problem.


The bottom line is...

When summer rolls around next year, you'll have a better way to keep your swimming pool heated.

Saluting REI

I think it's time that I salute another company for making strides toward being more environmentally friendly. This time, the props go to REI, the company that sells outdoor recreation gear and sporting goods.

According to an article on Triplepundit.com,

Recreational Equipment Inc., better known as REI, announced on May 15 that it will install photovoltaic solar panels in 10 percent of its stores. The stores chosen are located throughout California.

The solar panels will generate about 1.1 million kilowatt hours of electricity, and prevent 880 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Photovoltaic panels can generate around 35 percent of each store's electricity needs.

And if you check REI's website, you'll find the following statement:

We’re committed to increasing our energy efficiency and switching to new renewable power sources wherever possible. We purchase about 20 percent of our electricity from green sources such as wind and biomass, and we are working with utility companies to develop more options. We’re also introducing on-site energy generation technologies such solar hot water heaters and solar electric systems like the building integrated photovoltaic system at our Boulder store.

The bottom line is...

Keep up the good work, REI.