Does your eco mojo need a lift? Suffering from climate change fatigue? Need a burst of energy, a way to channel your creativity and get energized?

Bill McKibben’s new doc, Do the Math kicks off Friday April 21 at 7pm ET/PT. The film features footage of 350.org’s wildly successful tour across the country last fall. A fast-paced highlights reel, get inspired by top environmentalists-turned-activists and today’s leading thinkers – and feel the power of the growing climate movement.

Sneak a quick peek at the trailer at 350.org. If you’re not already convinced that Keystone XL should be stopped, or why we need to develop alternatives to fossil fuels – these 42 minutes may add up to your tipping point.

Spearheaded by environmentalist turned activist, Bill McKibben and his 350.org, tune in to screenings and house parties on “Earth Night”.  The only way to make change happen is if we make it happen. Throw a screening party and kick around some fresh ideas.

In early 2013, a new solar energy-related company launched a brand new initiative which ties together solar energy with the business marketing – Adopt-a-Solar-Panel™ program with its Solar Powered SEO™ component. While this combination may seem unusual, it actually makes a lot of sense once the details are explained.

The premise behind Adopt-a-Solar-Panel™ is straightforward – businesses can sponsor part of a solar panel installation on a chosen non-profit organization for $995, and in return the news of their sponsorship is spread to over one hundred quality news websites and social media portals via distribution of Solar Powered SEO™ online press releases. These featured news stories contain targeted keyword phrases directed at each sponsor’s website or blog, and create a plethora of highly regarded links which can improve the online visibility of almost any well-crafted website.
Here are some of SolarCure’s main milestones for the year so far:

• Alabama’s Victory Sweepers, the first out-of-state Adopt-a-Solar-Panel™ sponsor, improved their rankings into Google’s top results for the keyword phrase “street sweepers” after distribution of their SEO-friendly press release.
• The O’Donnell Agency, a reputable New Jersey insurance provider based in Cranford, showed top ten Google rankings for the targeted term “personal insurance” after the release of their sponsorship news.
• Peluso Landscaping, a commercial landscape design firm based in Warren, also went from “zero” online visibility to a vastly improved online reach within just a few days of their Solar Powered SEO™ press release distribution.
• Pleased with these first case studies, New Jersey trucking and warehousing company Bulk Express Logistics has committed to be a twelve-time sponsor of the Adopt-a-Solar-Panel™ program, and therefore is willing to commit 100% of their marketing budget to the cause and benefits of Solar Powered SEO™.
• SolarCure-oriented press releases targeting marketing for the jewelry industry and car dealerships placed in Google’s top ten results for their perspective categories. Both releases were visible for in the top ten for weeks, and remain in the top twenty without any additional linking or search marketing efforts.
• SolarCure has earned the Seven Seals Award from the New Jersey chapter of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, which recognizes the company for pledging its support of veteran employees serving in all branches of the military reserves. The prestigious Seven Seals Award represents the seven military reserve components: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Coast Guard reserves, along with the Army and Air National Guard.
• SolarCure has also agreed to coordinate an Adopt-a-Solar-Panel™ installation for Rutgers University Veterans House. As part of the initiative, military veterans will be selling sponsorships while being taught a successful sales approach by SolarCure with the assistance from one of corporate America’s leading business executives. The Adopt-a-Solar-Panel™ program is quickly heading into a new frontier.

For more information about how any business can extend its overall awareness with SolarCure’s Adopt-a-Solar-Panel™ program with its Solar Powered SEO™ component, you can visit www.solarcure.us or email your questions to raysaluccio@solarcure.us.

The beauty of solar power is once the system is installed, it delivers completely free power. It emits no carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases. Better yet, it’s cheaper today than ever before. Unfortunately, many homeowners rush into a decision without getting all the facts. If you’re thinking about a new photovoltaic system, ask your potential solar provider these 10 questions:

1. How many years has your company been around?
Lower manufacturing costs have increased solar panel popularity. However, most installers are relatively new companies with only a few years of experience, and they probably lack the financial stability of older businesses. If they go bankrupt, who will provide service for your system?

2. How reputable is the solar panel manufacturer?
Equally important is the solar panel manufacturer’s reputation. Some manufacturers produce inexpensive but unreliable panels, and the absolute cheapest system is not always the best choice. Many solar companies are also going out of business because of the sluggish economy.

3. Does your provider offer a free consultation and estimate?
Ask for a free quote with no obligation. Legitimate companies will be more than happy to provide this service.

4. What is the power tolerance of the solar panels you recommend?
Solar panels don’t produce 100 percent of their rated electricity all of the time. A 100 watt module with 50 percent efficiency will only generate 50 watts of power. Power tolerance is slightly different from overall efficiency. A 100 watt module with a 5 percent positive tolerance will generate 100 to 105 watts of power. A negative 5 percent tolerance means the panel will only generate 95 to 100 watts.

5. Should I use a micro-inverter?
There are still questions about whether micro-inverters are up to scratch for hot climates like Australia. Most micro-inverters are only rated to 65 degrees Celsius, roofs in many parts of Australia get much hotter than this. This means the inverter won’t perform at optimum efficiency and there’s a good chance it won’t see out its estimated life span of 15 years.

6. Does the installer contact the power company to connect to the grid?
Most installers will contact the power company to let them know that you have a new solar system feeding power back into the grid.

7. How will the solar panels be mounted?
Mounting determines not only how well the system will perform but how it will look on top of your roof.

8. What kind of maintenance will my system require?
Solar panels shouldn’t require significant maintenance. Most are rated to last at least 20 years. At most, you’ll have to climb up onto your roof to wash any debris off of the panels. The installer will be able to provide any special instructions to keep your system operating at peak efficiency.

9. How can I see how much energy I’m producing?
Make sure your system has a meter that records how much power you’ve produced. Newer meters hook up to your home’s wireless network, and you can view the results on your home computer. Meters are important to ensure that your system isn’t malfunctioning.

10. When will this solar system pay for itself?
This is the big question that most homeowners are dying to ask. Although solar power systems are much cheaper than they used to be, they are still significant investments that will require several years to pay off. Even modest systems can cost $10,000 or more. Fortunately, most systems will pay for themselves within a decade, but your installer can provide a more accurate estimate.

This article was written by the team at Infinite Energy, a Perth based solar power company.

solar panel installation photo via shutterstock.com

Over its lifetime a wireless keyboard can gobble-up dozens of expensive, potentially toxic batteries. One solution – use rechargeable batteries, an endeavor that can require both effort and dedication. A simpler sustainable solution is a wireless, solar-powered keyboard. This Logitech solar-powered keyboard (above and below) charges from any light source and will hold a charge for up to three months in total darkness.

Only 1/3-inch thick – the ultra-thin keyboard has a familiar Mac layout, plus a Launchpad hot key and a concave key cap design. A tiny unifying receiver stays in your laptop and connects additional compatible wireless devices. Comes in black or silver. You can buy the Mac or PC versions of the keyboard for around $59 @ amazon.com

By Elliot DeLaney

Many residences are greatly benefiting both the environment and themselves with solar heat exchangers. They benefit both residential settings and commercial buildings economically and as an energy efficient source. This environmentally friendly heating source, which is controlled by the sun, is far less expensive than traditional heating and easier to install. Most solar heat exchangers are used to generate electricity that has a multitude of uses throughout any building.

Solar Heat Exchangers are usually placed on a roof or nearby room, in a reflective box that is turned towards the sun. Liquid transmits through the boxes solar panel where it is thoroughly heated. The sun’s energy is completely utilized to heat a “collector” in this box. The heat generated is then transmitted from the collector into the home or residence. Some solar water heat exchangers will automatically pump and circulate water throughout the collectors which will give the building long lasting heat for extended periods of time. The water that is transferred from the heat exchanger will end up in in a hot water tank and then circulate back to the panels to be reheated again by the sun.

Some may wonder how these solar heat exchanger would function if there is very little sun or none at all. This can be solved with a backup heater that will automatically heat the hot water tank, thus beginning the circulation of heat once more. The transfer of heat ultimately depends on the heat exchange’s power and the amount of surface area the exchanger covers. Since the sun may not always be available the flow must be increased on the heat exchanger in order to dispense quality heat throughout a building.

When the fluids flows throughout a solar heat exchanger there is a transfer of both warm and frigid water that will flow in opposite directions of each other, a process designed to create a steady temperature throughout the rooms in a house or building. This is incredibly effective, compared to the amount of heat that would be transferred if the fluids were going in the same direction. The liquid used to heat, in a heat exchanger situation, is mixed with glycol and water which is stored in the heat exchanger and collectors. This storage is called a closed loop and is responsible for the circulation of fluids when the sun shines. The sun will shine on the each of the collectors which will activate a pump within the loop and thus continue the constant circulation inside that loop. Solar heat exchangers are a great investment for a home or a business that plans to save on the cost of heating while simultaneously experiencing high quality heat that will fill a large space capacity.

About the author:
Elliot Delaney writes for Brazetek.com and for a number of other green and heating related online resources.

The UK isn’t the only country to take advantage of solar power as a way to heat our homes and hot water. The US is also keen on making the most of this method. While the solar panels are pretty much the same between countries, the way the sun is used to heat water is different, as you are about to see.

In the UK, we use a type of collector to heat the water when there is enough sun to do so. In both countries a boiler will still be required to make sure there is hot water all year round. The winter months traditionally don’t produce enough sunshine to heat the water sufficiently.

In the US though, a solar power water heater will come in one of two types – both active and passive systems are used. The active systems come in both direct and indirect options. The indirect one is better suited to areas where the temperatures are likely to drop near to or below freezing during the winter months, as they have the addition of a heat exchanger. The direct one simply takes water from the home, pumps it through the collectors and back again, without the need of a heat exchanger. This is perfect in warmer parts of the US.

As for the passive systems, there is a collector storage version and a thermosyphon version. These are more complex and more expensive, and it is generally the active systems that are better suited for individual homes.

As you can see, solar power heating is far simpler in the UK than it is in the US. For the most part, the UK will have colder winters and less reliable weather than parts of the US will. Even though America does not have wonderful weather across all its states, some parts – namely the southeastern corner – will have a far higher potential for solar energy than others. In contrast, the UK will typically have less in the way of solar energy potential.

This is why there are differences between the types of solar power water heater you will find in both the UK and the US respectively. However they all have the same target – to provide more hot water that is heated by the sun, so we can make the most of this amazing resource.

This article was written by guest contributor Lenka of SolarPanels.co.uk