22 posts tagged “energy”
General Electric plans to close its only U.S. solar panel factory because production costs have exceeded sale prices.
The Fairfield, Conn.-based company said that silicon panel manufacturing at its facility in Delaware, will stop in January. GE will shutter the factory all together by June. The factory can produce 34 megawatts of solar panels per year and employs 82 people. GE plans to layoff the workers with severance packages.
The move reflects the tough times experienced by solar energy equipment makers worldwide as supply far exceeded demand over the past year. Recession and a big reduction in solar subsidies in Spain - once a booming market - are key contributors. Some manufacturers have seen prices for their products fall by anywhere from 30 percent to 50 percent over the past year.
Earlier this week, Marlboro, Mass.-based Evergreen Solar said it would move panel production from its factory in Devens, Mass., to China next year in order to cut costs.
Earlier this year, BP Solar announced it would close its solar panel factory in Maryland and outsource that work to a contract manufacturer. Last month, BP said it had hired Jabil Circuit to assemble panels at a Jabil factory in Poland.
- Give yourself an energy audit
- See if solar power makes sense using this calculator
- Always buy energy star appliances
- Set your water heater to 125 degrees
- Buy low flow shower heads
- Try to shower in less time or shower with someone else :-))
- Fill a gallon milk jug with sand, put the top back on, and put it in your toilet tank (be sure it fits without covering the flap)
- Get yourself a twin draft guard for your drafty doors
- Unplug all appliances that are not being used, including cell phone chargers
- Set up a passive solar system to increase heat transfer in any room. Just paint about a dozen bricks black, then put them in a bay window or anywhere that gets direct sunlight. Use aluminum foil underneath the bricks to really heat them up!
- If you are building a new home, consider earth sheltering. For more info, go to this blog and get building plans here
- Buy a solar powered battery charger
When it comes to your utility bill, it is almost always better to pay as you go. Here is a recent analysis:
I save $125 a year just paying what I actually owe. Yes, you get the difference back, but you made an interest free loan to your utility company. Take a look at how much forgone interest costs in the long run!
Nearly three-quarters of all household water is flushed down the toilet or washed down the shower drain!
- Placing a brick in the toilet tank can save up to 13,000 gallons per year
- Installing a low-flow shower head saves nearly $100 per year since your hot water heater gets a break
- Use a bucket to capture water from your bath tub as you wait for the water to heat up
Two-thirds of the oil Americans consume is used for transportation
- Don't speed - drive 5 miles under the limit
- Avoid sudden acceleration when the light turns green
- Tune up your engine
- Make sure your tires are inflated properly
Home Energy use accounts for 21% of America's global warming pollution
- Buy energy star appliances
- Turn electronics off when not in use
- Swap the incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs
- Clean the filter and coils annually.A dusty coil can increase energy consumption by 20 percent or more
- Keep it full but not stuffed: If you're not at full capacity, place a few containers of water in the freezer.
- Think about what you want before you open the fridge. Every time you open the fridge to browse for a snack, you consume around of 9 to 13 watt/hours
- Let hot items cool before placing them in the refrigerator.
- Check the door gasket for a tight seal.
- Cover liquids and foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
- If your fridge is older than 1993, get a new one. You're spending so much on your electric bill, you'll actually save money. New models use less energy than a 75-watt light bulb. Be sure to look for the Energy Star label.
You can insulate windows using bubble wrap packing material by spraying a water mist on the window, and then applying bubble wrap. The bubble wrap will usually stay in place for the full season with one spray.
See my energy saving posts.
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