In an article from the New York Times website, it is stated that the prices have dropped significantly on the cost of solar panels. At this time, the costs are nearly 40 percent lower than this time last year. This is very significant for people who have found they could not afford to add on PV panels to their homes. With the drop in prices and the increase in incentives from federal and state governments, the return on investment times are shorter.
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The large, bulky, square solar panels being used today may be replaced in a few years with a spray-on application. A nanoparticle ink that can be sprayed onto any surface and channel solar power into a thin, semi transparent medium is being developed. It is still in the early stages of development but will prove to be less expensive than the standard solar panels used today. You should read this interesting article at inhabitat.com.
There are many incentives out there for chosing new energy saving products or replacing existing inefficient items. What a great deal! Saving money and supporting a healthy planet at the same time! ENERGY STAR makes it simple to see the special offers or rebates available in your area. Visit ENERGY STAR’S special offers page and type in your zip code to find the deals in your area..
If you are looking to obtain a LEED certification for your home or just want to add some “green”, why not use tile for your floors? Tile materials can easily help obtain credits for your LEED project. You will have a healthier indoor environment and longer lasting material for your home using tile. Read more in this article.
On the search for sustainable living choices and renewable enery sources, it can get quite overwhelming to choose which is the best energy source with all of the products and info available. We at Mindful Living are asked all the time about alternate energy sources and which are the most efficient. A new study by NYU Stern claims that geothermal and wind energy are improving quicker and increasing efficiency despite the inferior funding in relation to solar and fossil fuel research. Read more here.
