http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/24658

California’s Mount Diablo Unified School District now has 12.1 megawatts (MW) of solar on the rooftops of 51 schools, making it the biggest solar system installed for a school district in the world. Until now, Silicon Valley’s East Side Union High School District had the biggest in the country at 7.1 MW. SunPower’s solar systems are expected to save the district $3 million a year, which over 30 years will add up to $200 million freed up for education. Del Monte Electric installed the systems, including underground electrical distribution, solar installation and connecting to the utility. Over 28,000 PV panels and 150 miles of wire are installed on carports and rooftops throughout the campuses. The completion of this major project took only 15 months. Voter-approved Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBS) funded the $56 million project, along with general obligation bond, and in this case the Mount Diablo School District owns its solar systems. Other significant solar systems in schools across the country are in Boulder, Colorado with 1.4 MW, Oak Grove School District near San Jose, California, with 1.8 MW, and 10 catholic schools in New Jersey, with 1.5 MW.

Source: California’s Mount Diablo School District Leads the World on Solar

The Soiree included an informative question and answer session, where attendees learned valuable information about the benefits of solar power. Featured speakers included Laureen Peck, Vice President of Marketing for Solar Energy World and moderator for the event, Ann Elsen, founder of Elsen Energy, Susan Greene, President ofAmerican Solar Energy Society, Stelli Munnis of SunPower Corporation, as well as Summer Reed and Sara Callaghan, also of Solar Energy World. Topics included financial incentives, SRECs, and the factors that caused the women of the panel to become involved in solar energy.

Solar Stars Soiree Panel of Speakers

Homeowners listened to presentations about solar energy, the financial and environmental benefits, and the process of installing a solar power system in a home or business. In addition, Candice Stankus, a homeowner and Solar Energy World customer spoke about her experience with the company, and with solar power in general. Summer and Sara of Solar Energy World discussed SRECs, incentives, and net-metering, and attendees participated in a question and answer session with the members of the discussion panel.

POW! Awards

Several prominent and influential attendees received the Solar Energy World 2012 POW! Award (Power of Women)

About the POW! Award Winners

POW! Award winner, Kim Parson is President of Maryland-based Automotive Collision Technologies, one of Baltimore Business Journal’s 50 Largest Woman-Owned Businesses. She is devoted to running her business with integrity when it comes to customers, and the environment.

POW! Award winner, Ann Elsen was a contributing speaker at the Solar Stars Soiree and is the founder of Elsen Energy and the Executive Director of the Howard County Green Business Association, and, as a member of several other green organizations, is a consultant to the local government on energy issues.

POW! Award-winner, Stephanie L. Dunn-Hunt is President of Dunn & Associates Public Relations, another company listed in the BBJ 50 Largest Woman-Owned Businesses. She is the sole creator of the Baltimore African-American Home & Garden Show, and has been featured in Baltimore Smart CEO Magazine.

POW! Award-winner, Lisa  Ambrose is founder, President, and CEO of Tithe Corp., also a BBJ Largest Woman-Owned Business. Tithe Corp. is a green, internationally recognized, and 100% woman owned and operated business specializing in innovative HVAC solutions.

Thank you to all of our speakers and guests who attended this event that celebrated the influence of women in green technology and renewable energy! To view even more photos from the event, please visit our Solar Stars Soiree album.

Susan Preene, President of ASES, speaks at the Soiree

Thank you Solar Energy World for inviting ASES to the Soiree! This article was republished courtesy of Solar Energy World. 

Watch this amazing time lapse video, shot by SOLAR TODAY staff photographer Dan Bihn, to see the solar array at work.

If you’re interested in seeing solar panels in person, join us for the National Solar Tour this fall.

Photo Credit: zdnet.com

Visiting my family and friends in Chicago this past weekend I noticed a new addition to the sidewalks of densely populated Michigan Avenue. Solar powered trash cans. After looking into it further, I found there are more than 400 in Chicago along with several other cities across the U.S.

These very modern, earth-friendly  trash cansautomatically crush the garbage down using a 12-volt battery that is powered by a solar panel.  This technology makes more space in the can which in turn decreases the number of  times it needs to be emptied. This equals reduced fuel consumption, air pollution and better use of our sun’s energy. These solar-powered garbage receptacles also send a message when it’s time for collection. These new garbage cans can also add up to big savings for cities adopting them. The city of Philadelphia aims to save up to $13 million in the next 10 years by switching to solar powered waste cans.

Photo Credit: bigbelly.com

In addition to garbage cans, there are also receptacles for composting and recycling. These bins are great for helping to educate about how waste items are classified and why its important to compost and recycle. This solution gets two birds with one can: education and smart use of renewable energy.

There are many innovations happening in solar technology and renewable energy. WREF 2012 will feature innovations similar to solar powered trash cans. We hope you’ll join us!

Suntech photo.

(From SEIA news releases) The solar industry has initiated a voluntary Solar Industry Commitment to Environmental and Social Responsibility (Solar Commitment). The Solar Commitment is the work of SEIA’s Environment, Health and Safety Committee and is based on the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition’s Code of Conduct, with the addition of solar-specific provisions. It’s designed to evolve as the industry grows.

Founding Participants of the Solar Commitment include Dow Solar, SunEdison, SunPower, Suntech, Trina Solar, and Yingli Solar.

The groundwork for the Solar Commitment began in 2010, with the creation of the SEIA Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Committee, comprised of more than 40 industry representatives from almost every part of the global solar value chain, including both U.S. and foreign-based companies and organizations. The EHS Committee addresses a wide range of topics, including PV recycling, installer safety, fire safety, building codes, and product standards.

In a related development, a new report from As You Sow, a nonprofit promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility, finds that the global solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industry is setting best practices for sustainable growth.

The report, titled “Clean & Green: Best Practices in Photovoltaics,” is based on a survey of more than 100 solar PV manufacturers. It found that “many PV manufacturers beat standards set for emissions, are reducing water use and reusing water on their own initiatives, and are participating in voluntary international programs related to worker safety.” Additionally, several respondents indicated they are shifting production practices to use safer materials, reduce waste and use renewable energy for energy-intensive processes.

“This report confirms that solar PV manufacturers take their responsibility as members of our communities seriously,” said John Smirnow, Vice President of Trade and Competitiveness for SEIA. “SEIA will continue to work with companies throughout the solar supply-chain to establish standards that allow companies to compete in an environmentally and socially responsible way.”

The report is the first in As You Sow’s Cleantech Initiative, which operates to ensure sustainability within renewable energy technologies, and highlights companies who implement sustainable manufacturing, green chemistry, and transparency in sourcing, procurement, and governance. The Cleantech Initiative was built upon As You Sow’s prior work in electronics manufacturing and energy industries, and will be continued with additional research into other renewable energy technologies, such as wind energy.

“Solar is the cleanest, safest source of energy and the solar industry is committed to ensuring social and environmental responsibility for our supply chain,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA. “The release of SEIA’s Solar Commitment marks an important, proactive step toward a sustainable future for solar.”

300kW PV array on the Colorado Convention Center (Namaste photo)

The Colorado Convention Center (CCC), site of WREF 2012, has been generating solar power since 2008. The 300kW array on the south roof  uses 1,310 230-watt SunPower modules feeding three SatCon three-phase inverters. Installed with a nonpenetrating ballasted rack by Namasté Solar, it provides 14 percent of the building’s electricity year-round, and up to 23 percent during air-conditioning season (see the data log here. Another 25 percent of the building’s electric load is carried by wind power.

LEED: In May of 2010, the Colorado Convention Center received the LEED Existing Building Operations and Maintenance certification.

Waste and Water: CCC has an advanced waste-handling process that diverts 48 percent of its refuse from landfill to compost, recycling and donation programs. In Colorado’s high-prairie climate, water use is a critical issue, so the CCC landscaping used native drought-resistance palnts to reduce irrigation load by 75 percent. Water-saving measures are used throughout the complex.

Air Quality and Carbon Offsets: Drivers of delivery and passenger vehicles should note that Denver’s anti-idling ordinance is strictly enforced. Visitors are invited to use the two Bike Share stations (bcycle.com). The CCC sits astride Denver’s light rail line for low-carbon commuting. And attendees may purchase carbon credits on site to offset the carbon footprint of travel to WREF 2012.

Register now for best prices to WREF 2012.