Adair Solar

Speaking at a summit for renewables earlier today, Jan Brewer noted that Arizona would be the leading provider of solar energy in the United States. “I believe Arizona is the destination in the nation for solar companies to locate and expand,” Brewer stated.

While no goal date has been expressed by Brewer as of yet, her intentions of making this goal happen are clear — she plans to make Arizona THE destination spot for solar energy companies.

This makes sense for a number of obvious reasons chief among these is that it would be very hard to over-saturate the Phoenix or Tucson markets with “too many” solar energy companies in Phoenix.

Brewer and various other representatives and solar energy companies in Arizona noted that creating more solar panels and harnessing more of the sun’s energy to create a power surplus all across the state will engender more of an interest in other types of renewable energy in Arizona.

We at Adair Solar energy company are 100% in support of this goal and will provide everything we can to help consumers and small businesses in the Phoenix Metro Area be a part of this powerful transition toward creating, harnessing, and using more renewable energy.

If you’re ready for your free solar installation consultation in Phoenix, please call Adair Solar today at (480) 827-1162.

While the use of solar energy has been steadily increasing over the past several years in private sectors, the same success has not been generally true for public sectors. The U.S. military’s new implementation of any renewable energy source is a major show of faith in these burgeoning energy industries. In addition, it gives American consumers and small business owners the confidence in renewables like solar energy.

The latest on the horizon of military use of solar energy is with the Marines. In the wake of President Obama’s January 2011 State of the Union address, the U.S. Federal Government has made it quite clear that the need for cutting costs on energy within the military sectors is a quite necessary part of cutting overall spending to reach goals of minimizing the budget deficit.

For opponents of solar energy who say that it won’t make enough of a difference to justify the costs, the Naval Research Office has a bone to pick with you. According to data gathered by Naval Research, the major spending would come from decreasing the amount of time it takes for military personnel to power up (and keep powered up) the technology they use out in the field and in combat. And far more importantly, keeping these technologies charged will undoubtedly save military lives. And not to belabor the point, but here’s a third major advantage: imagine the amount of energy, costs, and time saved from military personnel not having to lug around as much fuel for all manner of equipment from tanks and jeeps to marine equipment.

Cutting spending and saving the environment are great things to do — saving U.S. military lives is the duty that we as private citizens owe our troops. As a solar company in Phoenix, we support the use of solar energy by the Marines and — well, pretty much anyone else as well!

Wow. Of a new series of loans awarded by the Department of Energy late last week, $967 million will go toward the Agua Caliente Solar Project in Arizona. Given that Arizona is not yet the nation’s leader in solar energy creation (crazy, right!) this comes as great news to ever flourishing solar energy in Arizona.

According to Reuters, “These types of solar projects make sense for the DOE loan guarantee program, because these are the first projects from some of these solar firms in the U.S.” In addition, projects like these stimulate the economy in several ways: jobs in a few industries are created, thus bringing home new disposable income into niched, local markets, such as the Yuma community that will benefit from having the Aguas Calientes Solar Project in their neighborhood.

This isn’t just good news for Arizona and the local economy and job creation. A California based utilities company (PG&E) will purchase power that is generated by the Agua Caliente solar cells. And if that doesn’t make it sound attractive enough yet, here’s more: $800 million is expected to be invested from NRG, an environmentally conscious provider of wholesale energy.

And more good news is heading down the pike for Arizona solar companies and other alternative energy companies across the U.S. The Department of Energy has clarified that without a doubt, solar energy projects like the one in Yuma and other solar farms, etc. will be top priorities for loan guarantees in the future. This is good news for alternative energy companies in Arizona — and indeed, for the residents of the state as well.

According to a recent article post on GetSolar.com, “APS’s 2011 Residential Grid-Tied PV incentive budget has been equally divided into the four quarters of 2011. Once APS has reserved all funding for a given quarter, applications will be held (in the order in which they were received) and will be reserved in the next quarter in which funding is available.”

What does this mean for the thousands and thousands of Arizonans living in the 15 counties that APS serves? It means get solar energy into your home while the getting is good! Install solar panels in Arizona and install solar hot water heaters in Arizona too. Taking advantage of these rebates will save you hundreds and potentially thousands of dollars, and will make the worth of the equipment and solar installation in Arizona even higher in the long term.

At the current moment, APS now pays $1.75 for each each watt produced by solar hot waters heaters or solar panel installations in Arizona. So, by getting on board now with a free solar equipment consultation right in your home, you can ensure that you get the highest available tax rebate offered BEFORE all those highly valuable rebates are history — at least for the foreseeable future. Our advice? Get solar equipment installed on your Arizona home ASAP!

Call Adair Arizona Solar Company today to schedule your solar installation or free in-home solar consultation today by dialing (480) 827-1162.

In one of the latest in a long line of good things to happen to — and with — solar energy in the state of Arizona is an announcement from Yuma. The small area airport has been outfitted with solar panels, making it far more efficient.

The solar panel installation was completed in mid-January, and the affair was hosted by Raul Mendoza, Yuma’s mayor. According to what Mendoza said to the Yuma Sun newspaper, the solar panels are but one of three components that make solar energy an excellent choice in Yuma, Arizona. Mendoza noted that in addition to the solar panels, the structure collects a natural bounty of sunshine, and also offers an abundance of shade in the desert.

So what are the cold, hard facts about the solar panel installation on the Yuma International Airport? These solar panels — of the carport system variety — will be capable of producing four-fifths of ALL the energy needed to run the entire terminal of the airport. In addition, because of where and how the solar panels are located, two birds are killed with one stone: the solar panel installation doubles as a shady place to park… any Arizona resident can tell you that a car left unshaded in the summer even for just a few moments turns into a blazing inferno.

The contract for the solar install landed with Blue Renewable Energy (BRE.) BRE did all the construction and installation of the solar panel structure, and in addition, they will be managing and operating the energy structure over the course of the next two decades.

This great advance in solar energy in Arizona tells us that there’s plenty more just like it on the way in 2011. And the stock market agrees — so put your money in solar whether it’s your house or your portfolio!

An Arizona school district near the California/Arizona border has gone solar! The Agua Fria Union High School District in southwest Arizona already fitted two of its schools (Desert Edge High School and Verrado High School) with solar panels in the the early fourth quarter of 2010.

Agua Fria school fitted with panels

Now the school district hads plans to fit every school in the district with photovoltaic solar panels. The next schools to be fitted with solar panels in Arizona are slated to be are Desert Edge High School and Agua Fria High School. The scheduled date for the solar panel installations will be sometime in the spring months just before summer hits. What perfect timing to start taking advantage of the bright desert sun!

This is a huge step in Arizona’s growing understanding of the power of solar energy. The fact that entire school districts are pushing for this kind of renewable energy to be put into place also happens to be a great example to have set for local businesses and residents, including the parents of the children who attend these schools.

With solar tax credits and rebates more readily available than ever before and with the current administration’s commitment to renewable energy sources, things in the world of green and sustainable living are really starting to take shape — and that is the good word for today!

We at Adair Solar are happy to tell you all that the solar water heater and free installation went very well! The solar water heater winners, Tracy Darmody and John Kelly are pleased with the solar water heater installation on their home, which they just recently purchased.

Tracy told an Adair representative what she thought of the solar water heater and installation when it was complete: “After winning the Adair Plumbing and Solar giveaway, I was a bit skeptical about some sort of hidden ‘strings’ or fees attached. Happily, there were none whatsoever. Instead, I was fortunate to have professional, nice installers appear at my front door. Cary and Andy answered all of my questions without any hesitancy. After only a few short hours of installation, I look forward to long term savings. I’m sold — or should I say, I’m solar!”

We’re so glad to hear that Tracy and John will now have a great way to harness the powerful desert sunshine we enjoy here in the valley. We’re even more excited that Tracy and John will spread the good word about solar energy, it’s importance, and why they plan to recommend Adair Solar to friends and family.

We’d love to hear from anyone who has questions about Adair Solar energy company in Arizona. And of course, always keep in mind that we offer FREE solar equipment consultations right in your home with no stress, no obligations, and at no cost to you. Contact us anytime with questions or to set an appointment: (480) 827-1162.

Earlier today, Representative Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head during a public appearance right here in Arizona. Giffords is said to have survived the gun shot, which reporters are saying went all the way through her brain. Surgeons and doctors are hopeful for Gabrielle’s recovery, nonetheless, it shows us a shocking reality of extremist behavior on the part of those who challenge the positive changes of progress in the great state of Arizona.

Giffords is a known proponent for solar energy in Arizona, and won over the support of the Department of Energy and both the Democratic and Republican parties in her work to support solar power in Arizona.

Giffords was able to pass a Solar Technology Road Map Act less than two years ago. This progressive piece of legislation calls for a committee of environmental and renewable energy experts to help counsel the Department of Energy on all policies that relate to how solar energy is used, how it is subsidized, and much more.

The Solar Technology Road Map Act is no ordinary piece of legislation, nor is it some small baby step toward solar energy progress for Arizona. The foresight and innovative thinking behind the act will make it possible for the state of Arizona to fund up-and-coming forms of solar technology–after all, with this much sunshine, shouldn’t Arizona be on the cutting edge of solar equipment and installations?

We at Adair Solar are hopeful for Gabrielle Giffords‘ swift recovery. Arizona and the movement for more solar power need great thinkers and progressive-minded people like Giffords on our side. Our thoughts and prayers to the entire Giffords family.

As we discussed a couple of posts ago, solar energy is doing nothing if not growing and creating jobs while helping lower our carbon footprint as a nation. But to put a finer point on it, there are some trends forecasted for solar energy by Earth2Tech’s Ucilla Wang.

Wang discusses the leaps and bounds made in the solar energy industry abroad that were spurred by government involvement in the E.U. But Wang also outlines why and how the U.S. will become a solar powerhouse over time, and how 2011 may be a benchmark year to that end.

A main reason for this, Wang notes, is the recent extension of the solar grant program by the U.S. Congress — this grant, when applied to the cost of solar installations for American consumers, makes it possible to subsidize roughly a third of the cost. With this extension, more Americans can continue to choose solar at reasonable costs, and the numbers of Americans who will make the choice to go solar is expected to increase rather dramatically.

In addition to the extension of government grants, Wang also tells us about banks and big business getting on the solar bandwagon. While we have seen some of this in 2008-2010, more of it is slated to be coming down the pike in 2011 and beyond.

Some of the top solar and other alternative energy companies are now offering all kinds of incentives for residential and commercial properties — they know that giving consumers and business owners a leg up with the initial cost of solar equipment and installations will be an excellent long term investment for their portfolios.

If you’d like to hear about which solar tax rebates you qualify for or you’d like to schedule a free in-home consultation for a solar panel or solar water heater installation in Phoenix, give us a call. Adair representatives are happy to answer your questions and get you started on your solar journey.

The future is here, and as it often happens, truth is stranger than fiction — but in this instance, it’s for the betterment of the solar energy and efficiency.

chromophore

Developmental teams at both MIT and Purdue have Purdue University’s Jong Hyun Choi  discusses how “artificial photosystems” are able to gather solar energy which can then be transformed into what we know in day-to-day life as electricity.

So what is it exactly that makes these little photosystems living? Well, that’s all in what you consider fact or fiction, nonetheless, these little guys far more resemble organic life than any of their predecessors. Why? As researchers and developers working on the project explain, a type of dye coloring which is capable of transforming sunlight into energy that has existed for some time has issues. The main problem is that over time, the dye fades, leaving the cells of the panels far less effective than before.

The new photosystems being developed by MIT and Purdue have rendered a dye for the photosystems that keeps them from fading The newly developed dye, called chromophore, absorbs light and does not fade. What’s more — and here’s where the “stranger than fiction” comes into play — is that this new dye has the ability to replicate itself once it begins to fade. This new technology could potentially mean that photovoltaic solar panels in Arizona and elsewhere may almost never have to be replaced.

Imagine — we have entered an age when renewable energy sources can regenerate the properties they need to stay alive and well — imagine where we’ll be by 2020!