Solar Energy Installers & Locations

You need to know about the Solar Energy businesses that are near you. As a contractor, builder, architect, and designer there are solar businesses located near you which can help promote your business as a liable source for alternative energy information.

Here is a list of Solar Energy Installers and Locations in the Utah area: ( I need all states! Please, please send me your business name and info and I will post it here!)

ABUNDANT SUN SOLAR
ESCALANTE, UT 84726
Phone: (435) 826-4589

AFFORDABLE SOLR COM
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84101
Phone: (800) 810-9939

Alternative Power Systems, Inc.
1038 West Industrial Road
Cedar City, UT 84720-4141
435-586-9181
www.apssolar.com

IN HOT WATER HEAT & POWER
PO BOX 807, EDEN, UT 84310
Phone: (801) 745-2009

INTERMOUNTAIN SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES
10288 S JORDAN GATEWAY, SOUTH JORDAN, UT 84095
Phone: (801) 501-9353

NRG SOLAR PRODUCTS
1691 W STATE ST, HURRICANE, UT 84737
Phone: (435) 635-2042

OMEGA SOLAR SYSTEMS

37 W. CENTER STREET, PROVO, UT 84604
Phone: (801)427-4795

RE SOLAR
138 E MAIN STREET SUITE 102, TORREY, UT 84775
Phone: (435) 425-2110

SOLAR DESIGN TECH
1841 E 1950 S, OGDEN, UT 84401
Phone: (801) 393-2730

SOLAR POWER CO
2020 S Main St
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Phone:(801) 484-1818

SOLAR POWERED SOLUTIONS
OGDEN, UT 84401
Phone: (801) 475-1754

SOLAR UNLIMITED INC
660 N 800 W, CEDAR CITY, UT 84720
Phone: (435) 867-9876

UTAH SOLAR & INNOVATIONS
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84101
Phone: (801) 623-3040

UTAH SOLAR & WINDPOWER CO. INC.
65 N 1380 W
Orem, UT 84057
Phone:(801) 623-3040

Utah considered excellent candidate for Geothermal Energy?

The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat). So, geothermal energy is heat from within the earth. We can use the steam and hot water produced inside the earth to heat buildings or generate electricity. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source because the water is replenished by rainfall and the heat is continuously produced inside the earth.

Because of Utah's geological history there is much opportunity to take advantage of this incredible and very efficient alternative energy resource.

The United States generates more geothermal electricity than any other country but the amount of electricity it produces is less than one-half of a percent of electricity produced in United States. Only four states have geothermal power plants:

• California - has 33 geothermal power plants that produce almost 90 percent of the nation's geothermal electricity.

• Nevada - has 14 geothermal power plants.

• Hawaii and Utah - each have one geothermal plant

About 30% of our total energy consumption is used to heat water

No wonder why third world countries bath in cold water! Wow...how can we solve this problem. The solution wakes us up every morning and is the reason why we exist. THE SUN! Solar energy is the solution to our energy independence. I am so passionate about solar energy that you may get sick of reading my posts about solar. Solar..solar..solar! As the secretary of the Utah Solar Energy Association I can't tell you how important it is that you insist on using solar energy on all your homes.

In one hour more sunlight falls on the earth than what is used by the entire population in one year.

Solar Thermal is a term used to define using the sun to heat water that is used in the home (or wherever).

Solar thermal is the answer to solving the 30% of unnecessary energy consumption we waste! Solar panels are installed on the roof or southern facing on a pole mount system. This is then connected to your solar water heater and Bam! Solar heated water! The best shower you will ever take!

HOW IT ALL WORKS:

A solar hot water system is really quite simple. You're using the sun's energy to heat a solar collector full of solar fluid (or water, depending on which type of system you install), which then transfers that heat (or hot water) into your home's hot water tank.

(1) When there is sufficient heat to be drawn from the collectors, a controller automatically activates pumps. (2) Heated solar fluid is then circulated from the collector, (3) through a heat exchanger where its heat is transferred to (4) water in the storage tank. (5) The solar fluid is then pumped back to the collector to once again be reheated. This circulation loop will continue as long as there is heat to be drawn from the collector. During times when there is little or no sun, a backup heating system will be activated to provide adequate hot water.

SAVE THAT WOOD!

Contractors, Builders, Wood Shops, Cabinet Makers, Door Manufacturers! Stop throwing away scrap wood! I recently meet with a custom solid wood door shop owner who decided to save every extra wood scrap. After just one week, his shop was bursting at the seams with piles of odd sized wood pieces. Instead of just throwing them in the dumpster, he placed an add on KSL.com for free firewood. After just one hour all the wood was gone!

"Some of the families here need wood for their wood burning stoves. It is the only way they stay warm." - Shop owner

This is just another green building practice that should be required by all manufacturing shops. Usually the solid hardwoods burn very clean and can last for hours.

Green or Gag?

I was talking to a contractor about Kwikset's awesome new "green" program called the Smart Key program. Kwikset ( owned by Black & Decker) is manufacturer of entry level door hardware. The smart key has been recognized as a green, sustainable product because of the technology which allows you, the average( well...above average of course :) home builder or even the home owner to re-key your own locks! Yes, that is awesome!

Usually, the contractor has a key to the home that is being worked on. He may need to give copies of the key to the subcontractors so that they can get into the home and preform certain duties. At the completion of the project, the homeowner gets the key to the home but has to make sure that all the subcontractor keys are also returned..and who knows how many copies were made down the line? So, you have to pay a locksmith around $14.00 a door to re-key the locks to a new key, and then get new copies of the keys. What about when the contractor is building 300 apartments? WOW!!!!

This new smart key system allows you, the master key holder to re-key the lock as many times as you want to a new key and you'll never have to call a locksmith or change the locks!

I got 2 thumbs up from the contractor! Cost of course was the next question. It is just about $30.00 for the deadbolt! That is only a few dollars more than a standard deadbolt! Check out this website for purchase info:

To purchase, go to: http://rusticahardware.com

Click on the "MORE" button then "BUILDERS HARDWARE"

To learn more, go to http://www.kwikset.com/smartseries/smartkey.aspx

Concrete vs. Cancer Causing Granite

Did you know that it has now been proven that some granite counter tops are being replaced because they are causing cancer! YES! Radon gas ( the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers) is now linked to the granite counter tops you eat on and cook on!

Have your granite counter top tested for high levels of radioactivity. Or, replace them with a gorgeous, Earth safe Earth Crete Counter top or a NuCrete concrete counter top!

Get the facts about Radon Gas and Granite Counter tops at this link. Scroll down and watch an MSNBC report:
http://www.sonomastone.com/email/radon.html

Check out this website and be prepared to be blown away: http://www.sonomastone.com/

Breaking News! New Holiday Announced!

Well... sort of. For those of us involved in the Solar Energy Industry, we would like to see this new Solar Day become a holiday where we all go and enjoy the sun. Be it at the beach, the lake, the park or or just sitting out on the front porch. Thinking about the sun and what the possibilities are because of Solar Energy, we would only benefit from an extra few hours enjoying it's rays. Here is the official announcemnet from the website www.solarday.com:

SolarDay2009 Announced

First Annual SolarDay

to be held on Sunday, June 21

the First Day of Summer

in All U.S. States and Nationally

San Francisco, CA (February 11, 2009) – The first annual SolarDay (www.solarday.com) will be held statewide and nationwide on the first day of Summer – Sunday, June 21, 2009 – to educate the public about the benefits of solar energy and local solar installations in their area.

SOLAR ENERGY COSTS- A REAL LIFE INTERVIEW

I get questions every day about Solar Energy. I love Solar Energy! It is although...a little bit confusing on how it works and what it can and can't do. I did a short interview with a client of mine, Dallin, who wanted to put solar panels on his remodeled home. Here are the interview basics regarding costs:

Dallin: "How much does it cost to put a solar system on a house about 2900 sq ft?"

Kate: " If you want the entire home to run off of solar energy... because you can have just one floor run off solar if you want, it would cost around $25,000.oo retail for the entire home."

Dallin: " Are there any incentives or grants available to help off-set costs, that seems really expensive?"

Kate: " Yes! There are both state and federal grants which are incentives that you don't have to pay back. These incentives were just extended, they were going to expire at the end of 2008 but they will now be available for 8 more years. Taking advantage of these incentives can save you around $16,000.00."

Dallin: " Wow, that is more than I would have guessed. How long does it take to install a solar system?"

Kate: "About 3-5 days. Most companies don't warehouse hundreds of solar panels, but we can get the exact solar panels and products you will need from our local distributors."

Dallin: " I wonder what the pay-off will be for something like this. I mean, when will it pay itself off?"

Kate: " Good question. Lets consider the following: "

Example of 3.3 KW residential rooftop mounted grid tied net metered system
Produces 4861 Kilowatt Hours per year
Up front cost: $25,744
State tax incentive: -$2,000
Max. $2,000 $23,744
Federal Tax Incentive: -30% ($7,123)
$16,621

Benefits and SAVINGS
Increase in property value: $7,690 - $10,450
1st year utility savings: $388 - $523
Monthly utility savings: $32 - $45
20 year Return on Investment: 123%
Green house gas saved per year: 3.64 tons
(information provided by Mark Staker at www.sunlightsolar.pro)

Dallin: " I like it! How does Solar compare to other forms of energy like wind or geothermal?"

Kate: " Another great question for another great blog! Please allow me to share more about the pros and cons of Solar, Wind and Geothermal in the next entry...So stay tuned!!"

Aluminum worth more than Gold?

It is TRUE! At one point, aluminum was worth more than gold. When..well that doesn't matter.

FACT: Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.

DO SOMETHING :Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components, storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled.

STEPS FOR RECYCLING:
1- Call 1-800-CLEANUP for your states recycling locations. ( this is so easy...I did it myself and it only took a few minutes and I was able to get info on all the recycling locations in my area)

2-Go to www.earth911.com . Here you can learn what and where and how to start recycling immediately.

(these are more facts found at www.recycling-revolution.com)