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All over the country, cities and towns are looking for ways to increase their overall energy efficiency. One major way that many municipalities have found is to update their building codes to increase the standards for new constructs and renovations. In Vancouver, BC, some of these codes made it so difficult to renovate existing homes that some builders have been priced out of contracts. However, most American communities have been able to incorporate these updated

Solar electric panels have been built using a number of materials, but with recent technological developments, solar arrays could be made to become even more efficient. Researchers at MIT have found that new solar panels can be made from lead-acid car batteries. These types of batteries are often retired and replaced with more efficient lithium-ion batteries. According to the study conducted at MIT, the lead from these older batteries can be recycled into making more efficient solar panels. Additionally, reusing

With the widespread growth of the solar industry, many smaller niche markets have sprung up as major players within the renewable energy field. One such area is the expansion of solar carports, which has grown substantially over the past few years. According to GreenTech Media, the generating capacity of solar electric panels installed into these structures will exceed 100 megawatts for the fourth year in a row. In a report conducted by GTM Research entitled “The U.S. Solar

Colorado has long been a leader in the solar power industry, pioneering endeavors like rooftop and community solar programs. In recent news from the area, Adams County in Colorado announced this week that they have signed a deal that will create a governmental reliance on community-generated solar power. The deal allows all of the government buildings in Adams County to be powered by energy generated by the local Community Solar Garden program. This plan allows consumers

With the growth and development in the popularity of alternative power sources like wind and solar energy, many utilities have been looking for ways to expand their offerings to more of the consumer market. Colorado, which has long been an innovative state for the creation, implementation and use of solar energy, is also leading the charge in this venture as developers in the area have discovered a way that would make integration of solar technology