Define Solar Energy

Last week I read Richard Cowan's article China wants importers to cover some emission costs (Reuters) and it stated:

Countries that buy Chinese goods should be held responsible for the carbon dioxide emitted by the factories that make them in any global plan to reduce greenhouse gases, a Chinese official said on Monday.

"About 15 percent to 25 percent of China's emissions come from the products which we make for the world, which should not be taken by us," said Gao Li, director of China's Department of Climate Change.


Here's my response letter him:

Dear Mr. Gao Li,

Instead of telling other countries around the world that you want the people who purchase products that are made in China to pay for your greenhouse gas emissions, and pollution issues, I have a solution for you.

The US and other countries around the world will be happy to manufacture and sell to China solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal systems, alternative fuels and other green solutions and provide you with the finished product. Since most countries around the world buy products made in China, other countries can sell to China these green solutions and help China's factories run off of renewable and clean energy. This way, other countries can still buy products made in China, and China can reduce its greenhouse gas emission by using alternative energy solutions.

I am sure the US, Spain, Germany, India and many other countries have some Wind Turbine & Solar Energy companies who would be happy to sell you their products and also install them for you in China to help make your factories run clean and efficiently. The world can continue to buy products made in China and know that the factories they were made in run off of renewable energy solutions which came from their largest customers.

Feel free to call me if you would like to discuss this.

Stay Green!

Craig Zamary
Founder
www.GreenEnergyTV.com


Future discussions we will cover are green jobs, Obama alternative energy, best green companies, chemical toxins, hybrid cars, energy innovation, define solar energy, companies going green, alternative fuel ideas and more.

• First Place: Technische Universität Darmstadt

• Second Place: University of Maryland

• Third Place: Santa Clara University

Many cities and small towns are being hit by the current economy, so what can you do? There are two options, either sink or re-invent your area and swim like hell. If you choose to re-invent your area, then I have some good "green" suggestions for you, and there is only one way to go, UP!

As Dr. Seuss would say: “And will you succeed? Yes! You will indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)”. 
Now, here is my Green formula for Success:

• Get Creative - Hold a town meeting to discuss ways to save energy. If a lot of people or most of the town is without work, then you are going to need to save money. NPR recently featured Wilmington, Ohio where thousands of workers in this small town lost their jobs when DHL Express shut down their operations there. Two young guys in the town, Mark Rembert and Taylor Stuckert developed a more specific plan: to get funding to weatherize thousands of county homes. They say it will create more than a thousand jobs and save homeowners $3 million a year in energy costs. Link to their Positive story by Pam Fessler: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101362474
• Get Sustainable: I just read an article written by Morgan Taggart in Earth Watch Ohio, that in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland, Ohio area)  approximately $43.2 million is spent on eggs and $7.6 million spent on honey annually by Cuyahoga County residents. Cleveland is part of a growing national effort by several cities across the country that is working to permit chickens and bees in urban neighborhoods. Detroit, Toledo, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Madison and Youngstown currently allow residents to keep chickens in their backyards. Just this city alone can keep a total of $50 million in their local economy and their see where their fresh food is coming from! So, maybe some other local entrepreneurs in that area will start manufacturing "homes/cages" for these chickens & bees too which in turn will create more jobs. Link to article: http://www.earthwatchohio.org/pubs/mar09/clevelandabuzz.htm
• Google Earth & Start Growing your own Food - Everyone has to eat, right? Check out Google Earth and do an aerial search for your town/city. Look for land to farm. One of America's greatest resources has always been our rich soil and land for growing crops and raising livestock. The Organic Industry surpassed $25 Billion last year and many of the organic foods are coming from 1,500 miles or more before they get to your stomach! Why not start growing them in your own area, employing local people and consuming them locally and shipping them out to others? Get a piece of the $25 Billion Pie!
• Get Certified - You can get certified in Green Building, Energy Rater, Wind Energy Installer, Solar Energy Installer, Geothermal installer and more! President Obama signed the Stimulus Package and there are huge tax incentives and money allocated to Renewable and Alternative energy. Cities and towns that become energy independent will not only build green jobs, but save local homeowners and businesses money on their utility bills and allow these companies to compete in this global economy. In the process, green jobs will be created and cities will become "off grid" and self sufficient.
• Manufacture - Did I say Manufacture, like MADE in the USA? I know, everyone I meet says nothing is made in the US anymore, it all comes from China, India, Mexico, Pakistan, etc. Well, did you know that wind turbines are being made in cities like Philadelphia? Did you know the US is now #1 in the world for Wind Power and the largest Wind Turbine in the US was made by Clipper Wind power in Carpineria, CA? We used to do it, and we just need to change our mind set and get creative again. If you have a town or city that is jobless, is it possible for the people there who want to start manufacturing solar, wind turbines, or the parts being used for these devices would come together, work a deal with the city and use an abandoned building and everyone start making things. Would the recipe for success be that in order to work there you need to invest your money or part of your pay back into the company and make it an employee owned business and the profits of the business will be split accordingly? Surely if everyone had a vested interest in the company, then they would all want to see it succeed? The “employee entrepreneurs” could also manufacture the solar panels or wind turbines for their own town, and make their town energy independent first and then sell to others. Maybe the towns and cities would make them “tax exempt” in exchange for powering the town’s energy needs? Get creative, it can be done.
   
• Get off Gas - Get off Gas – You hear T. Boone Pickens and other say $700 million leaves the US every year to pay for oil. If we stopped that, we would keep $3.5 Trillion here in the US after 5 years. Wow…Is there someone in your town who builds an electric car or is running their truck off wasted vegetable oil from the local restaurants or is there a local inventor who has a great solution? Can you start riding your bike or walking places instead of driving a car? We need to work towards keeping that $700 million a year in our country, and all the gas used in small towns to large cities = $700 million. Here is a site that tells you how to convert your car to run off vegetable oil, natural gas, hydrogen and more http://www.ehow.com/how_2175756_convert-vehicle-natural-gas.html
• Export to fellow Americans (your neighbors) – This may be a weird concept or title for many, because we are so used to hearing that everything we buy comes from other countries. Maybe we need to focus as Americans to export our products, goods and services to fellow Americans in neighboring towns. For example: Your town makes it’s own Maple Syrup and you export that to the towns all throughout your region as opposed to them buying from the big name syrup companies. This will reduce the average 1,500 mile trek that product made to get to your home, keep money in your local economy by supporting a local/regional company and saved the gas/transportation cost for the country. ($700 million a year for US to buy oil from foreign countries). Reinvent your town, the way people think and start exporting your products and goods to your neighbors and towns in your area. Label your goods with a similar message pasted on it and people will start to get the message (Marketing 101). There is a big push for “Buy Local” and this can be applied for many things besides produce.

You know the doom and gloom you see and hear reported 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by the depressed media? Well, things are looking outstanding for green jobs. So, how is this possible? I believe it’s about keeping positive and keeping your eyes open to opportunities. The only way out of a bad situation is to have hope, stay positive and steer clear of all the negativity. In other words, turn off the news.

I mentioned in a previous post that last week, President Barack Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The tax section of the act provides greater tax credits for clean energy projects at homes and businesses and for the manufacturers of clean energy technologies.

As an entrepreneur, it’s about seeing an opportunity ahead of time and here are the areas I would be looking at in regards to getting a job, since the Tax Credits will be a big player in the following areas:

• Energy Efficiency –I would look at getting a job with a company that provides solutions to installing new insulation, energy-efficient windows or an energy-efficient furnace, boiler or air conditioner.  Also, the US Government is the largest landlord in the US and energy efficiency in their buildings is a top priority, so look there and at companies such as Johnson Controls who offer a lot of energy efficient solutions and who are on their preferred vendor list.

• Smart Grid – If Thomas Edison were alive today he would see many of his original inventions are still being used in our current Grid System. President Obama has called for the installation of 40 million smart meters and 3,000 miles of transmission lines. This could be the greatest wealth builder in recent US History. As smart grid analyst Jesse Berst said recently, the smart grid will “spawn new Googles and Microsofts,” and is “akin to the transcontinental railroad, the phone system, the interstate highway system and the Internet.”

• Geothermal, Solar, Wind Turbines or Fuel Cells – There is a 30% tax rebate on qualified solar energy systems, geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, and fuel cell systems. Look for a lot of businesses and home owners to take advantages of the state and federal incentives.

• Green IT  – According to IBM, with data centers using 10-30 times more energy per square foot than office space, data center energy use doubling every 5 years, and delayed capital investments in new power plants—energy efficiency is becoming a key metric of IT operational effectiveness. Look to companies such as IBM and others to come up with ways to run computers and data centers more efficiently and with these improvements, you will see more ewaste (Electronic Waste) which will need to be properly recycled and disposed of as well since they will be replaced soon. The collection and recycling of these products is also another key area that you will see increased growth and a great area to get involved in.

• Fuel Cells or Microturbines - The tax incentive that had covered 30% of the cost of fuel cell or microturbine systems in homes, has been restored for 2009 and through 2016. There will be many companies emerging in this area since they have incentives helping them grow for the next 7 years or more!

• Plug-in Electric Motorcycles or Low-Speed or Three-Wheeled Vehicles - The economic stimulus bill established a 10% tax credit through 2011. There's also a 10% tax rebate and a $4,000 cap for converting an existing vehicle to a plug-in.  Electric vehicles continue to pick up speed every year, so this is a good place if you have an interest in this area.

• Clean Fuel Refueling System – Companies who offer a clean fuel refueling system, like a natural gas refueler or a recharging system for a plug-in electric vehicle. I would also look at companies who offer a hydrogen refueling station since there are huge tax incentives ($200,000), and this is until 2014 which gives companies over 5 years to take advantage of it.

• Wind Energy – The United States is #1 in the world for Wind Energy (2008) and looks to hold the lead. According to AWEA (American Wind Energy Association) The U.S. wind energy industry in 2008 installed about 42% of all the new electric generating capacity added that year and created 35,000 jobs, primarily in construction and manufacturing.  The renewable energy measures in the stimulus bill will help sustain that momentum and will encourage additional clean energy investment and job creation.

• Solar Energy – The United States will for the first time, move into the #1 position in the world for Solar Energy in 2009. The current tax incentives and green economy is moving at a fast pace and the sun is shining on them.

• Green Building - The green building industry will continue to grow more than 60% in 2009, on a cumulative basis. “We've seen cumulative growth in new LEED projects over 60% per year since 2006, in fact 80% in 2008, and there's no sign that the green wave has crested,” (Source: Jerry Yudelson).

• Organic Industry - Total U.S. organic sales, including food and non-food products, were $17.7 billion in 2006, up 21 percent from 2005. They are estimated to have reached $21.2 billion in 2007, and are projected to surpass $25 billion in 2008. (Source: 2007 OTA Manufacturer Survey)

My final thoughts are that the only thing that is holding us back is ourselves. I am a firm believer that negativity feeds negativity, so steer clear of the negative and stay positive, optimistic and get out there and shake things up. The Green Revolution is here, so keep your head up and good luck! - Stay Green!

How do you define solar energy? According to Wikipedia, there are two (2)ways:

1.)  Solar energy is the radiant light and heat from the Sun that has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation along with secondary solar resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass account for most of the available renewable energy on Earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used.

2.) Solar power technologies provide electrical generation by means of heat engines or photovoltaics. Once converted its uses are only limited by human ingenuity. A partial list of solar applications includes space heating and cooling through solar architecture, potable water via distillation and disinfection, day lighting, hot water, thermal energy for cooking, and high temperature process heat for industrial purposes.

There are many ways we harness the energy from the sun and we are seeing various energy innovations ranging from passive solar to active solar. An example of passive solar is to position your home to capture the heat from sunlight via windows during the winter months and to have your home positioned (windows) to not absorb heat from sunlight during summer months, to keep your home cool.

We continue to define solar energy every day via new ideas and inventions ranging from state of the art solar panels, to solar cookers as seen in the photo below:

One thing is certain, technology is changing and progressing every day. The ways people are looking to define solar energy is changing too. It was not too long ago that we had record players and 8 track players. Now we have tiny mp3 players and other small devices as ways to listen to music. Some day, we will be able to have a mini solar panel which will be able to absorb the energy from the sun to power our homes, cars, and other devices.

If you are using solar energy, or have a solar invention, feel free to upload your video to us and we will air it on GreenEnergyTV.com  Here's the link: http://www.greenenergytv.com/Upload.aspx  - Stay Green!

Want to surprise that special someone with a very unique gift for Valentine's Day? Well, this suggestion might not get your lover enticed, but I am sure it will make for a memorable gift idea and be very original. My wife and kid's get me a goat, sheep, cow, pig, flock of chicks, etc. for my birthdays, holidays, etc. as opposed to getting me things I probably do not really need.


Well, there's an organization called Heifer International and their approach is about building sustainable communities.  Their mission is about ending world hunger and poverty and caring for the earth. 

Here's how it works: You go to their site, http://www.heifer.org/ and you can choose a meaningful gift to give a loved one and help children and families around the world receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant.

You can click any of the gift animals and find out how your gift will provide families with resources they need.

After your donation, you can send a printable gift card or e-card to tell your friends and family that you’ve honored them with a Heifer gift.

Talk about companies going green, well these guys are really cool and they are helping people around the world who are starving. My advice, FORGET the Chocolate, and get him/her a goat!

If you or anyone in your community is doing anything to be green, capture it on video and upload it to us at http://www.greenenergytv.com/Upload.aspx  Show your Green Self - Stay Green!

Future Post Topics: Best green companies, companies going green, eco friendly living, define solar energy, eco friendly living, eco friendly products, energy innovation, green jobs, organic natural foods.