Posts Tagged ‘solar’
Monday, May 16th, 2011
(For a Few Days, At Least)
This week is going to be a BIG deal for the solar industry in North Carolina. The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is bringing the 40th annual National Solar Conference to Raleigh. Not only is this the longest-running solar event in the country — but it’s also one of the most popular. Industry leaders from all over the country will be gathering at the Raleigh Convention Center to talk about trends and best practices, learn about advancing technologies and, of course, network with other people dedicated to helping the clean energy sector grow. (more…)
Tags: ASES, solar, SOLAR 2011
Posted in Industry Insights, Solar | 4 Comments »
Thursday, April 28th, 2011
Interconnection Is Just As Important As Installation
Most home owners who choose to invest in photovoltaic (PV) systems are initially excited about their new array, as they should be! However, many homeowners don’t have visibility to what it actually takes to get a PV system switched on and connected to the grid. In order to get up and running – or interconnected, as it’s technically called – you first have to know the rules.
That’s where I step in. Interconnection is required because (more…)
Tags: interconnection, solar, utility companies
Posted in Solar | No Comments »
Thursday, April 7th, 2011
I was fortunate to be able to make a business trip to California recently, where we met with leading manufacturers of equipment, solar financiers and national solar installers. I left with new perspectives on both opportunities and challenges our growing industry is facing. A common obstacle is better defining what we as an industry are selling in relation to upfront solar costs vs. long term energy production.
Simply put, many purchasing decisions are being made on (more…)
Tags: panel prices, solar, solar costs
Posted in Industry Insights, Solar | 1 Comment »
Thursday, February 17th, 2011
Anyone who’s visited Southern Energy Management’s Morrisville office over the last month has probably done a double-take when they pulled into our parking lot. We’ve got the very first installation of an innovative new offering from NC-based Spotlight Solar: a 16-panel, mirror-backed solar system that looks like a sculpture. It certainly is eye catching! And that’s the point. To quote the company’s website, the intent is to make solar energy more visible and attractive: “Let’s put this beauty where people can see it.” (more…)
Tags: solar, spotlight, stion
Posted in Solar | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011
I’m in Virginia right now, where Southern Energy Management is exhibiting at the third annual Green in the Military conference. “GIM3” draws contractors and facility managers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard — so this is a perfect place and time to talk about sustainability efforts of the US Armed Forces.
Many conversations about this topic tend to focus on (more…)
Tags: military, solar, solar policy
Posted in Industry Insights, Solar | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
The future of energy has never been more exciting and uncertain. Traditionally, there’s been a divide between American consumers who want to see clean energy sources - like solar and wind – and the existing energy providers who have business models that work well by selling fossil fuels. That divide, however, is moving more toward solutions that include clean energy choices. It may not always seem to be closing as fast as we’d like — but there is movement!
On a recent trip to Mississippi, I had the pleasure to talk with Governor Haley Barbour and his wife, Marsha, about the changes on the horizon. (more…)
Tags: Governor Haley Barbour, solar, stion
Posted in Industry Insights, Solar | No Comments »
Friday, January 7th, 2011
Incentives are a critical part of the solar industry right now, and different programs are being started all over the country with various strategies for helping people go solar. Here in North Carolina, a new incentive program from Progress Energy has already gotten a lot of attention, and we’ve been getting a lot of questions — so we decided to explain what it means for people who might want to try to take advantage of it.
The new incentive is being called the SunSense Solar PV program, and it is only being offered to Progress Energy customers in North Carolina. Basically, it is unique because (more…)
Tags: nc greenpower, progress energy, solar, solar incentives, SunSense
Posted in Industry Insights, Solar | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
Every day at SEM we’re doing work that helps the planet — whether it’s installing solar panels that offset traditional coal-generated electricity or making buildings more efficient so they don’t have to use as much of that electricity in the first place. Every once in a while, though, we get a chance to do something that falls a little outside the normal routine. (more…)
Tags: solar, trees, triple bottom line
Posted in Triple Bottom Line | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
The race is officially on to bring more reliable, affordable and safe sources of energy to our troops in Afghanistan. The military is taking bold steps to reduce the cost and avoid lost lives by turning to renewable energy. Recently, they’ve adapted commercially available solar technologies like portable solar panels that fold up into boxes; energy-conserving lights; solar tent shields that provide shade and electricity; solar chargers for computers and communications equipment.
According to an article in the New York Times yesterday, fossil fuel accounts for 30 to 80 percent of the load in convoys into Afghanistan, bringing costs as well as risk. Six Marines in Afghanistan have been wounded guarding fuel convoys in the last three months alone — and for every 24 fuel convoys that set out in Iraq and Afghanistan, one soldier or civilian is killed. Regardless of your stance on the war, (more…)
Tags: army, fossil fuels, military, solar
Posted in Industry Insights, Solar | No Comments »
