The Solar Power House Blog

Solarmer Energy Inc. has recently announced that the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has certified its plastic solar panel efficiency at 7.9%.  Breakthroughs like and other mounting solar energy facts make it obvious that cost-effective solar power electricity may soon be a widespread possibility.  The PV solar pannel and battery storage are the major cost components of solar electric power systems.  This breakthrough obviously deals with the solar  panel, but  for more information on battery advances for the solar power house click here.

“Breaking the 7% efficiency barrier for organic photovoltaics is a huge accomplishment for Solarmer and the organic photovoltaic (OPV) industry.” said Dr. Gang Li, VP of technology development at Solarmer. “We are thankful for the contributions of our two primary collaborators, Prof. Luping Yu at the University of Chicago and Prof. Yang at UCLA. We believe that our world class team will ensure that we continue along the path to the commercial success of OPVs.”

The company uses low-cost plastic as the active materials to convert solar energy into electricity. The active plastics layer is extremely thin, less than 1/1000 of silicon cell. The company also uses low cost printing techniques to manufacture plastic solar cells.  This higher efficiency coupled with the company’s use of low cost printing techniques to manufacture the plastic solar cells has significant ramifications for the cost of solar power electricity.

The combination gives much lower cost of equivalent energy, 10-20% that of silicon technology, and the fabrication process is both low temperature and environmentally friendly, significantly reduces the amount of energy consumption in the manufacturing process, the company said.

Nearing completion of their pilot manufacturing line, this efficiency milestone increases anticipation for their plastic solar panels, which will be available in 2010.

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The December 7, 2009 issue of WSJ.com Business reports that homeowners are discovering that for a modest additional premium, they could repair damage to their homes in a green fashion, which typically is more expensive, says Mr. Logan of Ceres. And “if you currently have a solar power house you ought to be able to get a discount under a green insurance policy because of the risk-reduction benefits associated with green buildings,” he says. Such benefits are said to include better health for building residents, due to improved air quality, for example, stronger windows and insulation, and reduced interruptions of business because of on-site renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

Construction: Insurers offer discounted policies to encourage new structures that use eco-friendly materials, designs and technology—the results of which are often healthier for inhabitants and more resilient in disasters. One such company, Zurich Financial Services AG, offers a policy in 29 states for homes that obtain green certifications such as those offered by the U.S. government’s Energy Star program, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, an industry effort managed by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, based in Washington, D.C.

Upgrades:One of the most popular benefits available from many companies is a homeowner’s policy that offers extra reimbursement for purchases of energy-efficient plumbing, nontoxic paints and carpets, and energy-friendly appliances. These policies usually cost 1% to 1.5% more than a typical homeowner’s policy, but when damaged property has to be repaired or replaced, they will pay for expensive items like Energy Star-certified appliances. For a 2% surcharge on its homeowner’s premium, Farmers Insurance, a unit of Zurich, offers Eco-Rebuild, a policy that provides an additional $25,000 to cover the extra cost of using green materials or processes when rebuilding or replacing. The policy also reimburses for recycling debris rather than disposing it, and for extra costs incurred when other power has to be used in the event of loss of alternative-power generating equipment.

Solar and Geothermal: Several companies offer consumers discounts on homeowner’s policies if they install rooftop solar panels or other energy-saving devices, like a geothermal heat pump. For example, one Pennsylvania Insurance company offers PA homeowners a 5% discount for using solar energy to generate electricity. It also provides a 5% discount for homes with geothermal heat pumps that meet the Energy Star program requirements at the time of purchase.

Technorati Tags: solar energy facts, solar energy homes, Solar Power House, solar power house insurance

In the Herefordshire countryside a couple use solar panels at their solar power house to heat water and generate solar power electricity and help them to lead the good life.

Duration : 0:5:57

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Technorati Tags: solar energy homes, solar hot water, solar panels, Solar Power Electricity, Solar Power House