Japan Approves National Feed-in Tariff | Renewable Energy News Article

Japan has positioned itself to become the next large growth market for renewable energy.  The approval on Friday of this national feed-in tariff law will bolster the solar, wind, and geothermal industries by mandating that utilities buy power from renewable sources at above-market rates.

As of 2010, Japan had 2.3 gigawatts of wind power installed and 3.6 gigawatts of solar PV (mostly in rooftop residential installation), according to the Global Wind Energy Council.  Geothermal activity could also increase since the country sits atop a hotbed of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’.

While other states are phasing out the 100-Watt bulbs Jan 1st, California is getting a head start.

The changeover should shave $35.6 million off consumers’ electric bills this year alone, the California Energy Commission estimated.

More savings are planned for the next 3 years as California phases out the 75-watt bulb next year, the 60-watt bulb in 2013, the 40-Watt bulb in 2014.

100 Watt Bulbs California | California phasing out 100-watt incandescent light bulbs – Los Angeles Times

Church going green in $14 million renovation – Local News – Delaware Valley, PA/NJ – msnbc.com

Doylestown Presbyterian Church in Doylestown, PA is nearing the completion of a $14 million renovation and expansion of their building.  The church members agreed that even though it would cost more to go as green as possible, they believed that it was more important for them to be models of good stewardship.  The church installed a solar thermal array on their roof, which will not only help reduce the cost of electricity, but also the cost to heat up their water.

The solar array is constructed with a series of pipes which are filled with glycol (a type of antifreeze).  When the roof heats up, so does the glycol.  The heat transfer from this liquid will help reduce the work load of the current water heating system, thus reducing cost.  The church building envelope was also upgraded with energy efficient windows and insulation.  This is a great example of how to think about the “big picture” when deciding to invest and upgrade your existing building.  Not only did the church take care of reducing their electricity costs, but also their water heating costs.

Veterans, Politicians Team Up in Battle to Change Energy Policy | Renewable Energy News Article

Retired Rear Admiral Larry Baucom and Republican Garry Lambert have teamed up to change US government and military policy toward our dependence on foreign oil.  America’s ‘addiction’ on foreign oil is not only a huge burden on our military, but also a national security issue.  The US consumes a fourth of the world’s oil, and yet only holds 3% of the known reserves.  Domestic drilling, as the GOP often sees as the solution, will not solve the long term problem, “We cannot drill our way out.”  Climate change is an interwoven concern since change in weather patterns, and the severity of future storms, will create greater national security issues as it pertains to resources.

The Department of Defense is the single largest consumer of oil; 93% of all federal energy consumption.  That figure equates to nearly 340,000 barrels a day.  A national policy change is currently under way towards renewable energy, and the promise for a more secure future is looking brighter.

Solar Panels Reach Record-Breaking Efficiencies

The solar industry is becoming more competitive by increasing the efficiency of the panels that companies are now producing.  Trina’s solar panels can produce 274 watts with cell level efficiency of 18.7%.  This is compared to current typical efficiencies of 13-14%, a huge difference in terms of output per panel.  This will increase competition among panel makers and thus push the price down for consumers.  New innovations in solar include solar shingles and solar skylights, all pointing to a brighter future for the industry.