Energy - Solar San Antonio – non-profit organization (case-study)

Sustainability Issues Course

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Energy - Solar San Antonio – non-profit organization (case-study)

Energy Consumption is one of the most important topics when it comes to Sustainability.  Our world as we know it wouldn’t survive without energy, and the demand for that energy grows every day.  Our world requires energy use among four economic sectors: residential, commercial, transportation, and industrial. 

“Heating and cooling our homes, lighting office buildings, driving cars and moving freight, and manufacturing the products we rely on in our daily lives are all functions that require energy. If projections are correct, we’re going to keep needing more. In the United States alone, energy consumption is expected to rise 13% over the next two decades. Global consumption is expected to increase by 44% over the same time period.” 1

As you can see, energy is not only a hot topic within our effort to be greener, but it a huge complication to deal with and can often be the source of much of our environments demise.  Therefore, finding better ways to produce energy is an extremely important piece to our Net Zero puzzle.  Net Zero means being able to function and live life as normal without producing any waste, wasting any energy, and leaving virtually no carbon footprint.  While there are a couple of ways to produce your own energy, one of the most common ways for individuals to produce their own energy is through solar power.  Solar panels first made an appearance in 1941 by Russell Ohl when he invented the solar cell.  A solar panel is defined as:

“A solar panel (photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel) is a packaged, interconnected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells. The solar panel can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications” 

--Wikipedia – Solar Panels - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel

Today, no more than 1% of our nation’s energy comes from solar energy, and the percentage of what we are harnessing from the sun, is only 0.01625% of what the sun is producing and delivering to the earth! That is a staggeringly low percentage, and an extremely underutilized resource for energy.   The graph below shows how much alternative energy we are using, compared to one another:

Another thing to consider is, different regions within the US have a higher percentage of solar gain than other portions.  As the image below shows, one thing to consider may be focusing on those high solar gain areas to harness more solar energy and utilize that natural solar distribution.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy

While technology may be making improvements daily to increase the percentage of solar power we are able to harvest, small improvements worldwide are being made to help harness that small percentage to be used as energy.  Various small solar plans are sprouting up across the nation to harvest solar energy.  Their systems as shown below is able to transfer that produced solar power in two different ways, then distribute that produced alternative energy into electricity.

WAPSEC Water & Power Security – Zulenet

These solar power plants not only harness the photovoltaic rays to help produce energy but they use the heat produced from the solar rays the help produce thermal energy. 

“The high temperatures produced by CSP systems can also be used to provide heat and steam for a variety of applications (cogeneration). CSP technologies require direct sunlight (insolation) to function and are of limited use in locations with significant cloud cover.” 3

As you can see, there are a couple of advantages from harnessing the sun’s rays to make energy.  Private sectors are taking steps to not only become more sustainable, but to lower energy costs for themselves, and in return, help lower the power demand throughout the city.  Many buildings and homes are installing simple solar energy systems.  Years ago, this process was rarely used in private homes due to the high expense and low output and return in energy savings.  However, as technology improves, more and more homeowners are utilizing solar power to assist in their energy needs.  This need for private businesses and homes has produced many solar panel companies to become more main stream. 

How to Wire a Solar Powered House
Launie Sorrels, eHow Contributor

As we progress further into a more sustainable world, organizations are forming, lending a helping hand and help work towards a greener world, by offering their knowledge and services to help provide education about solar energy to communities in San Antonio. One such company is Solar San Antonio:

As per their website, “Solar San Antonio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocacy and resource center for renewable and sustainable energy applications. Utilizing community education and outreach, we strive to decrease energy costs and improve the quality of life in San Antonio and South Texas." 2

Their mission is to “establishing lines of communications throughout South Texas to nurture advocates and consolidate support for renewable energy, educating citizens and local governments using Solar San Antonio as a venue and forum to advance renewable energy applications, creating a network of positive relationships to achieve productive changes throughout South Texas, and becoming a champion for South Texas to communicate positions, ideas and input on renewable energy issues facing our region”. 2 Solar San Antonio is becoming a leader is spreading the word about renewable energy and providing that much needed education about alternative energy sources.  They offer networking opportunities for the community and general public, officials, and local businesses to learn about solar energy and other renewable energy and offer a bridge between those who are familiar with alternative energy sources and who are just beginning to learn about those resources.  Solar San Antonio provides a connection from solar suppliers to consumers.  They “organize workshops for architects, engineers, and energy managers, and act with local, state, and federal organizations to support clean energy options.” 2 They are active members of organizations such as:

·         The Department of Energy Solar America Cities

·          American Solar Energy Society

·         Texas Solar Energy Society

·         Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association

·         Texas State Energy Conservation Office

·         USGBC Central Texas Balcones Heights Chapter 
·         Build San Antonio Green

Solar San Antonio has become a pioneer in offering that education of solar power to their local community in San Antonio.  Their efforts have been recognized and awarded since 2001.  Some of their awards and recognitions include:

• 2011 Executive Director, Lanny Sinkin, honored as one of San Antonio Magazine’s Men of the Year
• 2011 Best Nonprofit in San Antonio Current Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2011 Executive Director, Lanny Sinkin, wins San Antonio Current’s Best Activist/Watchdog in Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2011 Solar San Antonio wins ‘Best Green Award’ in the Downtown Alliance Awards
• 2011 Finalist in the Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards
• 2010 San Antonio Business Journal “40 Under 40” winner, Christine Chapa
• 2010 OneStar Foundation “Governor’s Lonestar Achievement Award” winner, William Sinkin
• 2010 San Antonio Business Journal “Going Green Awards” winner for Green Marketing Campaign
• 2010 Best nonprofit in San Antonio Current Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2010 Executive Director, Lanny Sinkin, wins San Antonio Current Best Activist/Watchdog in Reader’s Choice Awards
• 2010 Finalist in the Business Media Public Relations (#BMPR) Awards
• 2009 Top 100 for USA TODAY #AmericaWants advertisement
• 2009 Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter Special Service Award for Lanny Sinkin & Bill Sinkin
• 2009 American Solar Energy Society Solar Hero Award for Bill Sinkin
• 2009 Founder & Chairman, Bill Sinkin, wins San Antonio Business Journal “Going Green Award”
• 2008 U.S Department of Energy designates San Antonio as a Solar America City
• 2003 U.S. Department of Energy Million Solar Roofs True Champion Award
• 2002 City Public Service Shining Star Award
• 2001 Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association (TREIA) Member of the Year Award

Solar San Antonio - http://www.solarsanantonio.org/

Many companies are sprouting up all over the countries that are offering the guidance of using solar panels.  Alternative energy is quickly becoming a necessary path to meet our nation’s energy demands.  We can all do our part to make those changes and become part of the solution, instead of becoming part of the problem.

Resources for this Blog Entry

1. The National Academies - http://needtoknow.nas.edu/energy/energy-use/

2. Solar San Antonio - http://www.solarsanantonio.org/

Retail – Solar Homes - http://www.solarhome.org/

Bloomberg Report - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-05/darwin-effect-cuts-photovoltaic-panel-prices-abound-solar-says.html

Wikipedia – Solar Panels - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel

Energy Matters - http://www.energymatters.com.au/renewable-energy/solar-power/solar-panels.php

Ehow.com - http://www.ehow.com/how_4870036_calculate-panels-needed-whole-house.html

Ehow.com - http://www.ehow.com/how_4703480_wire-solar-powered-house.html - add reference

Wikipedia – Solar Power in the US - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power_in_the_United_States

Wikipedia – Energy Policy of the US - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_the_United_States

The Daily Chode - http://dailychode.blogspot.com/

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statics - http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/gpo10503/solar_power.pdf

Careers in solar power [electronic resource] / James Hamilton.

Other titles: At head of title: Green jobs: solar power Author: Hamilton, James. Other authors: United States. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available online: http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo10503 Publisher info: [Washington, D.C.] : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, [2011] Subjects: Solar energy -- United States.
Solar energy industries -- Employment -- United States -- Forecasting. Description: 1 online resource (19 p.) : ill., col. map. Includes: computer file Notes: Title from PDF title screen (bls.gov., viewed July 28, 2011).
"June 2011--Report 2."
Includes bibliographical references.
System requirements: WWW browser and pdf reader.

3. WAPSEC Water & Power Security – Zulenet - http://www.zulenet.com/electriceco/CSP-Concentrating-Solar-Power.html

Solar Panels for RV Solar Panels - http://solarpanelsforrv.com/solar-power-home-and-save-the-environment/