Lots of Rooftop Solar Comes To Tucson

Lots of Rooftop Solar Comes To Tucson
by Caleb Denison, April 4th, 2011

Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES), requires Arizona utilities to incrementally increase their use of renewable power each year until it reaches 15 percent of their energy by 2025. Under this policy, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) needs to source 3% of their power from renewable sources for 2011. Their plan? To install solar panels on “underutilized rooftops” throughout the city.

TEP has decided to procure solar gear from California based SunPower. The contract, according to SunPower, involves the purchase of 11 megawatts worth of solar technology that TEP intends to place on the roofs of schools and other public buildings throughout its region.

The program, which TEP calls the “Bright Roofs” project, will spread installations out over the course of three years and uses SunPower’s “T5 Solar Roof Tile” technology. The T5 bundles together a high-efficiency solar panel, frame and mounting system into one pre-fabricated unit. The solar tiles are oriented at a five degree angle which the manufacturer claims doubles the energy generated per square meter when compared to flat-mount systems.

TEP’s plans involve connecting each of the systems directly to neighborhood power circuits, feeding the energy into the grid. Once the three year project is complete, SunPower suggests that the total power generated should be enough to feed 1,800 Tucson homes.

Helpful Plumbing Tip...

DID YOU KNOW... by adding 4 cups of ice to your garbage disposal once a month - you can not only sharpen the blades of the disposal... but it also helps clear your drains!!!

Want to save $$ on your Cooling Bill this year???

As the mercury rises, so can the costs of keeping your home cool. And while news reports about high energy prices may have you in a sweat, Excel Mechanical’s HVAC department has some tips to help you save money while keeping your home cool this summer.

1. Set back your thermostat 2-3 degrees lower at night because your greatest heat loss occurs at night.

2. Invest in a programmable thermostat. By doing so, you can program the thermostat to turn down your air conditioning/heat for you when you leave for work when no one is home and after you go to bed when everyone is asleep. A programmable thermostat can run anywhere from $110 to $250 installed.

3. Replace your filters every 30 to 60 days. If you have a permanent filter, clean it with a mild detergent, per manufacturer's recommendations, every 30 to 60 days.

Stay tuned... More tips will be coming your way!!

Jimmy Z's Thought for the Day...

If you're proactive, you don't have to wait for circumstances or other people to create perspective expanding experiences. You can consciously create your own... Stephen Covey

On this day in History....

On This Day in History...
Congress ratifies peace with Great Britain, 1783
President Lincoln is pronounced dead, 1865
"Unsinkable" Titanic sinks, 1912
British evacuate Passchendaele Ridge, 1918
The Sacco-Vanzetti case draws national attention, 1920
Soviets capture Tarnopol in Poland, 1944
Jackie Robinson breaks Major League Baseball color barrier, 1947
Fidel Castro visits the United States, 1959
Antiwar protests held in New York and San Francisco, 1967
U.S. 1st Infantry Division withdraws from Vietnam, 1970
Greta Garbo dies, 1990

From: Green Projects Showcase
Emerald Cities "Cool Pavment" Installation
by sheri
Solar Reflective Cool Pavement
Emerald Cities USA Ltd.
Phoenix, Arizona
http://ping.fm/NNIel