WONG: While most people in the world are considering more energy efficient means of living, Japan is one step ahead. One solar-powered city offers an energy self-sufficient community that produces its own power. Let's take a look. STORY: These dark rectangular solar panels could hold the key to a completely self-sufficient community. Ota City, located about 80 kilometers north of Tokyo, is one of Japan's sunniest spots and home to strawberry fields. Quite interestingly enough this nature hotspot is where 550 homes are given free solar panels from the government, as part of a study on how avoid blackouts by sharing solar power. Mika Hiroshima's family moved to the neighborhood three years ago to try out solar power. All of her electrical appliances are mostly powered by solar energy and when they have some unused electricity left, they can sell it to a local power company and make a profit of up to 5000 yen, or about 50 US dollars, a month. [Mika Hiroshima, House Wife]: "I had never thought I'd be receiving money instead of paying when I receive electricity bills. People had told me how good this is but I didn't believe it until I actually saw negative numbers on my electricity bills. Then I realized how wonderful this system is." Solar panel makers say that at high noon in sunny weather, a 4-kilowatt rooftop power generator can yield enough power to run four dryers at once. In cloudy weather, the power generated is less than half of that. Experts say if families buy them <b>...</b>
In the News:
NRG's David Crane: No new nukes but the solar business looks hot Forbes (blog) That, he acknowledged, is not going to happen anytime in the foreseeable future in the wake of the Japanese nuclear crisis and the existing financial and licensing challenges facing the United States industry. “The fact that nuclear at best is at best ... and more » |
Taiwan photonics shows to mark 20th anniversary Digitimes Corresponding to the nuclear crisis from the Japan earthquake, renewable energy once again has become a hot topic and a global focus. The 5th International Conference in Solar Taiwan 2011 will begin from the biggest markets of Europe and North America, ... and more » |
 Reuters | Special report: Does corporate America kowtow to China? Reuters Still, free trade proponents point to the example of "Japan Inc" in the 1980s -- when there were fears that Japan's rise as a manufacturer threatened future American prosperity -- as evidence that concerns over foreign competition can be overblown. ... and more » |
SUNRISE: Icy roads create treacherous commute Colorado Springs Gazette (AP) — The University of Colorado and the University of Alabama-Huntsville have been named the two finalist for the location of the headquarters of the National Solar Observatory. The headquarters will serve as the principal science and data analysis ... |
What Our Future Leaders Are Doing Now Patch.com During spring break last month, EarthWind&Solar Energy, LLC, installed an array of six solar panels with southern-facing exposure on Hillcrest's roof, making it the first school in Downers Grove to use the alternative energy source. ... |
Tweets:
YouTube - Japan's #Solar City of Future http://goo.gl/xsbh0
Hewitt Newton
HewittNewton
No comments:
Post a Comment