Solar energy technology is now more cost-effective

May 22, 2012 | There is solar thermal, which converts the sun's radiation into heat, and there is photovoltaic solar, which converts radiation into electricity. “Solar electric back in the '70s and historically has not been cost-effective,” said Tim Anderson, the director of the Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC) at the University of Florida. Right now, the cost of (solar) electricity is competitive with the residential (electricity) prices we pay. The FESC was established to promote collaboration between energy researchers at 11 universities and help develop energy systems and technology. Anderson said it is important to differentiate between the two types of solar systems. But some forty years later, experts say some of those early promises are actually bearing fruit because of improved technology and lower costs of the systems. The solar revolution, of course, fizzled after the crisis ended and oil became relatively cheap and plentiful. Since 1980, every time the installed capacity has doubled, prices decreased 22 percent. Read more »

Heating up winter chills

May 22, 2012 | Pascale Rose has a slow combustion wood heater and small electric bar heaters at her home in Clunes. "I would love to have gas connected but we decided to source wood and use the electric heaters only when needed," she explained.

Electrical aggregate rate confirmed for Godfrey

May 22, 2012 | The multi-municipal, bulk-buying electric aggregate also is a resident opt-out program, in which no one is forced to participate. The agreement will be for 24 months, and will apply to all-electric residences not getting the lower "space heater" rate,

Father of ORU pilot says his son made 'heroic effort' to land safely

May 22, 2012 | Craig Sheets said he believes the plane's heater malfunctioned and that his 23-year-old son made a "heroic effort" to land the plane safely in a Kansas field. Federal Aviation Administration records indicate the heater may be linked to similar problems