Fairmount Minerals Runs on Solar Energy

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 10:54:12 -0500

A renowned champion of the principles of sustainability, Fairmount Minerals, worked closely with Bold Alternatives to select the optimum system design and location to meet their specific needs. Fairmount Minerals installed a 11KW solar PV system that is expected to produce about 30% of the power required to run their corporate headquarters. With the full support of Munson Township and Geauga County, the application and permitting process went very smoothly. Fairmount Minerals embraces core principles of People, Planet, Prosperity... in the case of ‘Prosperity’ Fairmount Minerals expects to recoup their sizable investment within 3-4 years as this 11KW system increases in value as electricity rates go up. An added bonus is the prospect of selling solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) to accelerate the payback.

Solar PV in Shaker Heights

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 19:42:53 -0500

We have a little more solar power in NEO today. Bold Alternatives, headquartered in Shaker Heights went online with a new solar generation system. The system contains two separate arrays. A smaller west-facing Andalay system and a larger system that uses the super high efficiency Sanyo panels. Rob Martens tells us, “We don’t have a lot of shade free space on this house, so we needed to maximize every square foot that is available and use the more shade tolerant microinverter systems offered by Andalay.” You can see the Andalay system’s electrical output HERE.

9 Out of 10 Want Solar

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 09:00:49 -0400

National Poll Shows More Than Nine Out of 10 Americans Want Solar Now
OCTOBER 08, 2009

·         92% of Americans think it is important for the nation to develop and use solar energy. This was consistent across all political party affiliations.
·         77% of Americans feel the Federal government should make solar power development a national priority, including the financial support needed.
·         Almost half (49%) of all Americans are currently pondering solar power options for their home or business.
·         43% of Americans make solar their top energy source, followed far behind by other sources including their second choice, wind (17%).

October 8, 2009 (Washington, D.C.) – A vast majority of Americans, across all political parties, overwhelmingly support development and funding of solar energy, and their support for solar has remained consistent over the last year. These and other findings were reported today in the 2009 SCHOTT Solar BarometerTM, a nationally representative survey conducted by independent polling firm Kelton Research.

The survey found that 92 percent of Americans think it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar energy. This strong support for solar remains unchanged since Americans were asked the same questions in the June 2008 SCHOTT Solar Barometer (94%). (The difference is within the margin of error for both polls.)

This support for solar power is consistent across political party affiliation with 89 percent of Republicans, 94 percent of Democrats and 93 percent of Independents agreeing that it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar power.

Furthermore, close to eight in 10 (77%) Americans feel that the development of solar power, and other renewable energy sources, should be a major priority of the federal government, including the financial support needed. This sentiment also remains the same since June 2008 (77%).

“The SCHOTT Solar Barometer confirms our belief that Americans are ready for solar energy,” said Dr. Gerald Fine, President & CEO of SCHOTT North America. “We’ve invested over $100 million in Albuquerque, New Mexico and created hundreds of green jobs manufacturing innovative solar products.”

“With controversial debates happening all over America, this isn’t one of them,” said Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association. “Americans overwhelmingly want clean, reliable solar energy for their homes and businesses. It’s now time for Congress to listen to the American public and prioritize the use of solar in upcoming energy legislation. By expanding the U.S. market for solar, Congress will reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs in all 50 states.”

The poll also showed that if they had to choose one energy source to financially support if they were President, 43 percent of Americans would opt for solar over other sources such as wind (17%), natural gas (12%) and nuclear (10%).

Almost half of all Americans (49%) say they’re currently pondering solar power options for their home or business – and another three percent already have solar power. Among those who would like to take advantage of solar power at home or at work, seven in 10 (70%) envision they would make the change within the next five years.

But most feel they lack information – fewer than one in five (12%) can claim that they’re extremely informed about the subject of solar power in general. What’s more, almost three in four (74%) Americans admit they wish they knew more about solar power options for their home or business.

About the Survey’s Methodology
The SCHOTT Solar Barometer Survey was conducted by Kelton Research between August 31st and September 8th, 2009 using an email invitation and an online survey. SCHOTT Solar, one of the trend-setting manufacturers of solar energy technologies, and the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) commissioned the survey. Quotas are set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total U.S. population ages 18 and over. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. In this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About SEIA
Established in 1974, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of solar energy industry. As the voice of the industry, SEIA works to make solar a mainstream and significant energy source by expanding markets, removing market barriers, strengthening the industry and educating the public on the benefits of solar energy. Learn more at www.seia.org.

Key Data from the 2009 SCHOTT Solar BarometerTM

Question 1: “If you were President of the United States and could choose to provide financial support in ONE of the following energy sources during your term in office, which would you choose?”

·         Solar was picked by 43 percent of respondents followed by wind (17%), natural gas (12%), nuclear (10%) and coal (2%). These figures remain consistent with 2008 findings (solar, 41%; wind, 17%; natural gas, 15%; nuclear, 10%; and coal, 3%).

Question 2: “How important do you think it is for the U.S. to develop and use solar power?”

·         Ninety-two percent of Americans think it is important for the U.S. to develop and use solar power (59% thought it was extremely important). This was comparable to 2008 findings (94% thought it was important).
·         This finding was consistent along political party affiliations. American across all major political parties voiced similar support for solar: 93 percent of Independents, 94 percent of Democrats and 89 percent of Republicans said this was important. In 2008, more Independents (98%) than Republicans (91%) and Democrats (97%) said that developing and using solar power was important.

Question 3: “How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement: The development of solar power and other renewable energy sources, including the financial support needed, should be a major priority of the federal government?”

·         Nearly eight in 10 (77%) Americans say the development and funding of renewable energy should be a “major priority” for the federal government. This figure remains unchanged since 2008 (77%).
·         Only one out of 10 Americans felt development of solar power should not be a major priority of the federal government. This figure also remains unchanged since 2008.

Question 4: “If you are currently considering solar power options for your home or business, about how long do you think it will take for you to make the decision to adopt solar power? Please answer in years. Your best guess is fine.”

·         Nearly half of all Americans (49%) are currently considering solar power options for their home or business.
·         Seventy percent of those currently considering this option expect to adopt solar within the next five years.

Question 5: “Generally speaking, how informed would you say you are about the subject of solar power?”

·         Close to four in five (88%) Americans believe they are only somewhat informed, at best, about the general topic of solar power.

Question 6: “How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statement: I wish I knew more about solar power options for my home or business.”

·         Almost three quarters (74%) of Americans admit they wish they knew more about solar power options for their home or business.
·         Those ages 18 to 44 express a stronger desire to learn about this than those age 45 and older (82% vs. 67%).

NABCEP Certification Recognizes Excellence

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:25:20 -0400

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) recently certified Rob Martens, owner of Bold Alternatives, into their prestigious solar energy certification program. NABCEP is the only National professional certification organization for solar electric and solar thermal installers. Certificate holders must meet experience and educational prerequisites, pass a comprehensive written exam, maintain continuing education and installation requirements, and uphold a strict code of ethics. People looking for solar energy experts can be assured that a NABCEP member has the experience and knowledge to professionally complete the job.

University School Harnesses Solar Energy

Fri, 22 May 2009 09:36:09 -0400

On Friday, May 22nd, University School senior, Ben Bold ’09, flipped the switch on a 1.4 KW solar array that will power part of the science wing at the all boys school. Working closely with University School Science Teacher Mr. Ben Hobbs ’96 and Rob Martens ’83, President of Bold Alternatives, Ben completed the project as part of his Strnad Science Fellowship. Ben is headed to Georgetown next fall but will be remembered as the student that turned on the lights with clean renewable energy.

The 8-module array is connected to the school’s electrical system so that its energy is used throughout the building. The large campus uses a lot of energy but according to Mr. Martens, “If you turn off all the lights and electrical equipment throughout the school, you could watch the electrical meter spin backwards... except that they have a new digital meter here.”

Bold Blog

Fairmount Minerals Runs on Solar Energy

Solar PV in Shaker Heights

9 Out of 10 Want Solar

NABCEP Certification Recognizes Excellence

University School Harnesses Solar Energy