Town of Newmarket, Ontario Goes Solar!

Solar is catching on.  July 28th, the Town of Newmarket and SunEdison, a leading worldwide solar energy services provider, announced an agreement to deploy four municipal rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects.  For more, go to:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/town-of-newmarket-and-sunedison-announce-solar-panel-sustainability-program-2011-07-28-105100?reflink=MW_news_stmp

The Global Clean Energy Race: Ontario's Opportunity

Ontario's feed-in tariff “has put Ontario on the map not just as a leader in Canada but as a model for the world as well,” according to John Podesta, President and CEO, Center for American Progress and former Chief of Staff to US President Bill Clinton in a speech yesterday.  For more: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/07/podesta_canada_speech.html

Experts Agree, Solar Panels "Pay Off"

You could buy a new car for about the same price as installing a solar panel system.
But more homeowners are realizing, investing in the sun’s energy is a worthwhile gambit.  Read the whole article at:
http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1042793--solar-panels-pay-off-expert

Queen's University Developing Ontario Solar Panel Testing Facility

Sustainable energy experts from Queen’s University are leading a multi-partner project aimed at finding out how different weather conditions, including heavy snowfall, impact the effectiveness of solar panels.  For more:
http://www.queensu.ca/news/articles/queens-leads-development-cutting-edge-solar-panel-testing-facility

The Best Investment Under the Sun!

Isn’t it time the roof of your house started making you money? 

Isn’t it time you looked into Solar UP Energy?  

The way smart  Ontario roof-owners can earn UP to twelve thousand dollars a year…putting the sun to work for you with a garanteed microFIT contract from the Ontario Power Authority. 

Ribbon Cut On GTA’s Largest Rooftop Solar Project

July 6th marked the ribbon-cutting of the largest solar installation project in the Greater Toronto Area - and it’s community-owned! The SolarShare WaterView Project features a 438 kW system covering 2.5 acres of the rooftop of the Daimler Buses North America Ltd. manufacturing facility near Lake Ontario in Mississauga.  For more:
http://www.ontario-sea.org/Page.asp?PageID=122&ContentID=3166&SiteNodeID=208&BL_ExpandID=

Watch Out For Shading?

The more time your solar panels spend in the Sun, the more

power your property generates and the more you will earn from your microFIT contract.  Watch out for shading from trees, buildings and other objects.  Remember the sun is lower in the winter than in the summer so a tree that might not be an issue in July may cause a major shading event in December.  Solar UP Energy's site survey will help you make sense of it all.

Help doctors shut down Ontario's coal plants now!

Here is a recent letter to the public from Gideon Forman, Executive Director Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE):

"Dear Friend,

Ontario opposition leader, Tim Hudak, says if elected he will close coal plants by 2014. However, we don't need dirty coal to keep our lights on -- we can shut down coal right now and still meet our energy demands.

Please click here now to email Mr. Hudak and ask him to commit to closing the coal plants this year. Coal smoke doesn't stop at the Ontario border, so no matter where you live, Mr. Hudak needs to hear from you!

Thank you!"

Renewable Energy Races ahead of Nuclear!

A recent report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration reveals that America now receives more of its energy from renewable sources than it does from nuclear generation plants.  Read more: http://inhabitat.com/report-reveals-america-now-receives-more-power-from-renewable-sources-than-nuclear/

NEW: Siliken Solar Panels

Solar UP Energy is proud to announce the addition of Siliken Solar Panels to our line up.  Siliken was recently recognized as the highest performing solar panel by Photon magazine and they are made in Windsor, Ontario so they are microFIT compliant.  For more on Siliken's commitment to Ontario Energy go to:
http://www.silikenusa.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?articleID=30

Do Solar 'Trackers' Make Financial Sense?

Solar trackers create more power no question about it. At the same time they do increase installation and maintenance costs due to all the moving parts.  Different sources refer to added energy output in the range of 25% to 41% for a dual-axis tracker vs. a regular fixed 'roof' mounted system.  So, even when you net the additional install & maintenance costs against the extra power you can produce, your ROI should be stronger with a dual-axis tracker.  Contact Solar UP Energy for more details

http://solarupenergy.com/solarUPenergyAboutProducts.html

Ontario Green Energy Act and Electricity Prices

New study from Julia Kilpatrick of the Pembina Institue finds cancelling the Green Energy Act would have little effect on electricity prices in Ontario http://www.pembina.org/media-release/2237

Is Your Property Right for Solar microFIT?

"The Solar Window" represents how much of the sun's rays actual get to your roof.  In Hamilton & southern Ontario the sun travels lower in the winter causing trees on your property to cast longer shadows, in effect, closing your solar window.  Solar UP's trained solar technicians will conduct a detailed analysis of your property during step 2 of our easy 5 step process.  For more go to http://solarupenergy.com/solarUPenergy5stepprogram.html

Will Solar Work on Your Roof?

Three main factors that affect your property’s ability to generate solar power for a microFIT contract:

 

1) Roof Tilt – the slope of your roof determines the angle of the panels which in turn affects their harvest.  In Hamilton and Southern Ontario the optimal slope is 25-45 degrees.

 

2) Roof Orientation – in the northern hemisphere the optimal orientation is south facing as this maximizes the harvest.

 

3) Shading - are there obstacles shading your roof such as trees or other buildings?

 

Our easy 5-Step process will help you make sense of it all.  Visit our web site for more http://solarupenergy.com/solarUPenergy5stepprogram.html

 

Solar Energy and "Distributed Capitalism"

In his latest book, the Empathic Civilization, Jeremy Rifkin reveals how solar & other renewable energy sources will play a key role in the economy of the future.  Click the link for more:
http://www.techthefuture.com/energy/distributed-systems-how-ict-can-inspire-the-energy-revolution/