Did you know....

Germany is on the Green fast track.  Despite being one of the cloudiest countries in the world they are a leader in solar energy, proving clouds don't cancel out the sun's power, and potential.  The country also holds an annual contest for the "German Sustainability Award," which encourages companies to operate sustainably while raising awareness for the cause.   

The German Green Party is paying extra attention to their capital city, Berlin, whose Parliament building is now warmed by geothermal heat and generates its electricity using refined canola oil.  The city is also teeming with bike lanes, electric cars, and grass roofs.  The best part?  Berliners believe that “sustainability can be sexy, and that environmental consciousness and creativity go hand in hand.”  Way to go Berlin! 

A Victory for Solar, A Victory for the Environment and Job Creation

Our recently-completed 66 kilowatt installation at Victory Brewing Co. in Downingtown, PA means local investment and local jobs."That's energy money spent right here in Pennsylvania," said a spokesman for Sen. Andy Dinniman at the event."It's a wonderful example of smart energy investment in Pennsylvania." Victory brewers Ron Barchet and Bill Covaleski said government incentive money is money well spent.

Solar to take a back seat in next Congress

Even with the recent passage of the Treasury Grant Program, which continues for one year the 30% cash grant for businesses installing solar, this 111th Congress has been no big friend to renewables. A recent study predicts that Republicans in the upcoming Congress will push for more extraction of traditional fossil fuels, resist regulation of carbon emissions, and replace mandates with incentives.

Corbett appoints Walker of PA. Coal Assoc.

Governor-elect Tom Corbett this week nominated C. Alan Walker of Clearfield County to head the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Walker is the President of Bradford Energy Company, and past president of the Pennsylvania Coal Association. We will stay tuned to find out what this appointment means to the future of Pennsylvania's growing clean energy economy and the more than 100,000 jobs in the thriving clean energy sector.

Will PA lose solar jobs?

It is amazing to think that PA is Second only to California in solar jobs, with our conservative .05 percent solar share of our renewable energy portfolio (we have 6700 jobs, California has 36,000). Already, though, we are making more solar energy than utilities are required to purchase, and if the "solar share" is not increased, these green jobs will go away.

Copper Mountain open, largest solar farm in U.S.

Copper Mountain, the largest solar facility in the U.S., opened last week. The 48-megawatt plant in Boulder City, NV., can generate enough electricity to power about 14,000 homes. The solar farm incorporates 775,000 thin-film solar photovoltaic panels that are designed to change the harvested sun power into electricity directly.

SunPower's Annual 2-Day Open House! Oct. 2nd & 3rd

It's that time again! You are invited to our annual 2-day open house in Collegeville.

Come see our expanded facilities - Net-Zero Energy and 100% solar powered! Celebrate this exciting year for solar with SunPower staff and other solar enthusiasts.

When: Friday October 2, 12pm -2pm & Saturday October 3, 10am-4pm

Where: SunPower Solar HQ - 80 Pechins Mill Road - Collegeville, PA 19426

What: SunPower Solar's 2-day Annual Open House, part of the NESEA Green Buildings Open House and ASES National Solar Tour. Enjoy networking, refreshments and presentations about PA rebates and solar financing, solar electricity and solar hot water and SunPower Afrique (www.sunpowerafrique.org)

Please call 610.489.1105 or email kira@sunpowerbuilders.com for more information.

Read the full Press Release:

For Immediate Release
Contact: Kira Costanza, 610-489-1105, kira@sunpowerbuilders.com


PUBLIC INVITED TO SUNPOWER SOLAR’S OPEN HOUSE

Leading PA Solar Installer to open doors October 2 and 3


Collegeville, PA – September 16, 2009 – Always wanted to learn about solar and energy efficiency? SunPower Solar (a division of SunPower Builders) is a local company that has been installing solar energy systems since the 1970s, and invites the community to celebrate solar at their annual “Off-the-Grid Gala” from 12 pm – 2 pm on Friday, October 2 and during the National Solar Tour & Green Buildings Open House from 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday, October 3. Both events take place at SunPower Solar office at 80 Pechins Mill Road, Collegeville, PA.

Now in their 4th decade of solar installations and energy efficient design and construction, SunPower Solar has compiled a diverse portfolio of projects in Southeastern PA, bound by the common threads of fine design, high quality craftsmanship and energy efficiency. Jon Costanza, President of SunPower Solar, states, “With state rebates, Federal Tax Credits and other incentives, solar is now more affordable than ever.” More information about how you can afford to go solar can be found at www.sunpowerbuilders.com.

Friday’s “Off-the-Grid Gala” is an opportunity to see a large solar energy system at work, completely powering the SunPower Solar office! Enjoy networking, meet the staff, and learn about everything solar, from technology to financing. Saturday’s event, part of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s (www.nesea.org) Green Buildings Open House and American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour. SunPower Builders’ office, also the site of Founder and President Jon Costanza’s super energy efficient 1703 stone farmhouse, will be featured on the Tour for the 12th consecutive year. Costanza’s property is not only host to his home’s and business’s active photovoltaic (solar electricity generation) and solar hot water heating systems, but also exemplifies passive solar techniques, daylighting, superinsulation (soy-based), a geothermal heat pump and is built out of 80% salvaged and recycled materials.

At both events, information will also be available about SunPower Afrique, SunPower Solar’s nonprofit partner that is working to install solar energy systems through microfinance in Togo, West Africa. More on SunPower Afrique can be found at www.sunpowerafrique.org. Light refreshments will be served and casual dress is highly recommended.