Dr. Peter Xie, President of Solarfun, commented, “We are pleased to have expanded our business in many major solar markets and have become one of the leading module suppliers in the industry.  Our products are known for their high quality and reliability, and our customer service is first-class. In 2010, we have further diversified our customer base by successfully penetrating into Italy, France and the United States markets through winning projects.”

“Italy is the third largest solar power generation market in Europe and we’re excited to have already begun a number of installations in the country,” said Andreas Liebheit, VP and Managing Director Europe, Middle East and Africa, Solarfun. “We continue winning new customers outside of Germany, entering into new markets through satisfied customer service, innovative technology and reliable quality.”

takes place on Sunday, August 15 from 3:00pm – 7:00pm at

Margo Studios
1354 Margo St
Los Angeles 90015

$10 pre-register and $15 day at the door

Power Mix  is  a cutting edge alternative energy expo with a gathering of alternative energy industry leaders, movers and shakers, decision makers, investors, artists, designers, economists, environmentalists and friends of the earth! The  event will strengthen the Alternative Energy Community in the Los Angeles Area, introduce alternative power solutions, and offer strategic business networking opportunities.

Exhibitors:

Pasadena Art Center, Center for Student Experience
www.artcenter.edu

California High Speed Rail (Rail LA)
www.railla.com

G2 Gallery Artists
www.theg2gallery.com

PowerForce Lithium Batteries
www.powerforceusa.com

EF9 Energy Systems, “Power from the Sky”
www.ef9energysystems.com

Skeuter, “Lithium Powered Motorcycles”
www.skeuter.com

Stay tuned for more exhibitors…

Register online and pay $10 at the door or pay $15 the day of. Ticket price includes a plus one, light refreshments and entrance to the event. Registering online is encouraged due to limited space. Please feel free to bring informational materials and business cards for networking opportunities.

Parking is available but please carpool or take public transport when possible. Check out Ride Amigos for carpool options, www.rideamigos.com and www.metro.net for bus and train schedules.
For more information and RSVP please contact Elisa Brown at elisa@powerforceusa.com or call 310.463.7930.

Brought to you by: LA ECO SALON and MARGO STUDIOS

www.facebook.com/laecosalon

Fore more information, please visit Power Mix.

Students from Harvey Mudd College, California and students from BIT Mesra, have taken up a collaborative project for developing a solar energy storage system.

The website for Harvey Mudd College is hmc.edu.

iPod and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc.

Consider it matchmaking for the solar-inhibited — with a chance to save some money.  But you’ll have to hurry. There’s an element of speed-dating involved.  The solar-inclined have three months to sign up for a 15% discount on a system and free educational advice through the latest phase of a program being rolled out across the country by One Block Off the Grid, a for-profit San Francisco broker.  The company, more commonly known as 1BOG, launched a similar initiative in South Jersey last month.

The discount is before other cost breaks are factored in, such as state grants and the 30% federal tax credit available on purchases of solar systems.  In each of the 16 markets where 1BOG is offering its educational-brokering program, it has secured a group rate from a solar company it has selected to do the installation work for program participants. For Pennsylvania, it has chosen Mercury Solar Systems L.L.C., which bought Eos Energy Solutions L.L.C., of Philadelphia, this year. For South Jersey, 1BOG has picked Freehold, N.J.-based Trinity Solar. Those companies must pay a referral fee of 25 cents per watt installed to 1BOG upon signing contracts with customers.

Before selecting Mercury and Trinity, 1BOG spent about six weeks vetting installers serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey, evaluating their installation practices, warranties, and financial stability, said Dave Llorens, 1BOG’s chief executive officer. Typically, requests for proposals are sent to the top 10 installers in a region based on volume, Llorens said.  Llorens, an electrical engineer, founded 1BOG in late 2008, motivated by the customer confusion and reluctance he often encountered while working in the solar industry.

“You’ve got this hugely complex purchase process, and hugely complex rebates, incentives, and technology,” Llorens said in an interview Wednesday.  Llorens said each 1BOG participant was assigned a “solar adviser,” who checks out their roof through satellite map technology and explains the benefits of the program, the expected return on investment, and the financial obligations.  The program does not require that participants relinquish ownership of their solar renewable-energy credits (or SRECs), which can be sold on the market. The typical Pennsylvania homeowner can expect to make close to $2,000 a year through SREC sales, Llorens said.  Participants also are eligible for zero down, interest-free financing for 18 months.

If the installers 1BOG has selected are not offering the specific brand of solar system a customer wants, those people are free to continue their solar shopping on their own.  Nationwide, 1BOG claims credit for inspiring the installation of 1,000 solar systems.  Medford resident Eric Hartman has signed up for a 10-kilowatt, $33,000 system through 1BOG.  ”What motivated me is what was going on in the gulf,” said Hartman, an eye doctor.  The arrival of 1BOG was welcomed by the state’s environmental secretary, John Hanger.

“One Block Off the Grid is consistent with what we’ve seen — the PA Sunshine Program and the stimulus money we’ve put into solar has made Pennsylvania an attractive solar market,” Hanger said. “We welcome them here.”  A more lukewarm reaction came from Ron Celentano, a Wyndmoor solar-industry consultant and president of the state division of the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association. His was more from not knowing enough about 1BOG, he said.  ”I’m always encouraged or want to encourage all different types of [solar-financing] models that come out,” he said. “This could very well be a good one, but it should come with skepticism at first.”

1BOG deal for Phila. Homeowners:

For those with currrent average monthly energy bills of $200 who install a 7.56-kilowatt solar system:

Average monthly savings: $119.52

Number of years to repay: 5 years

Increase to home value: $28,683.87

Net cost: $20,234.49

What programs are you seeing your area?  Please leave your comments here.

For more information, please visit: solarpowerinternational.com.

Green Home and Living Show is the only carbon-neutral, and zero-waste event, showcasing the latest earth-friendly products, services and strategies for consumers and businesses.

From practical solutions for reducing energy bills, to the hottest green gifts and the latest green energy and building technologies, you’ll find it all at a Green Home and Living Show! Visitors can meet with hundreds of earth-friendly exhibits, while gathering information and inspiration from workshops, speakers, interactive demos and more!

For information about attending, exhibiting or discounts, please visit greenhomeandlivingshows.com.

Morton Solar & Wind, LLC has been awarded a $2.16 million contract to install a 340KW photovoltaic system on the new Richardsville Elementary School currently under construction near Bowling Green, Kentucky.  The system will be the largest photovoltaic system in Kentucky to date and the school is projected to be the first net-zero energy elementary school in the United States.  A net-zero building produces as much energy as it uses.

“United Solar is very happy to be an integral part of an overall net-zero energy project that highlights our UNI-SOLAR rooftop industry-leading flexible, thin-film, low impact and low profile solar laminates,” said Mark Morelli, President and CEO of United Solar’s parent company, Energy Conversion Devices.  ”And doing so in a situation where today’s environmentally-conscious school children are impacted both inside and outside the classroom is the best part of being involved.”

The school will employ various energy efficiency technologies in addition to the photovoltaic system, including geothermal HVAC, active solar lighting, efficient kitchen strategies, ICF walls, and energy efficient windows.  The photovoltaic system will be a “grid-tied” system that will feed energy back into the power grid. The school will receive $0.22 per kilowatt/hour for the solar energy from the local utility company funded by the Green Power Partners program of Tennessee Valley Authority.

Morton Solar & Wind will be partnering with Advanced Electrical Systems of Louisville, Kentucky, on the $2.4 million project. Morton Solar & Wind, LLC is a NABCEP certified renewable energy systems designer & installer based in Evansville, Indiana.

Clearly the leader

#1 provider of solar power in North America

Third largest clean energy nuclear fleet

#1 industry ranking by Fortune Magazine

#2 utility in energy efficiency in the U.S.

# 1 provider of wind power in North America

Named one of the top 10 innovative companies by Fortune

Many accomplishments. All by just one company.  And you’ve probably never heard of us, until now.

Come meet us at www.NextEraEnergy.com

I almost pleased to pay my FPL, excuse me, my NEXTeraENERGY bill.