Solar Links To Our Green Friends

Solar Links, Solar Energy Organizations, Energy Rebates, Renewable Energy, PV Installation 

Organizations

Find Solar

The Find Solar web site is a user-friendly way for homeowners and businesses to learn more about solar energy economics and available incentives that can help make it work for you. The site can also lead you to qualified professionals who can install and service such systems. Find Solar is a joint partnership among: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), American Solar Energy Society, Solar Electric Power Association, and Energy Matters LLC.

Solar Energy Technologies Program
A U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) web site.

Solar America Initiative
The President's Advanced Energy Initiative and the 2007 Budget proposes a new $148 million Solar America Initiative (SAI) - an increase of $65 million over the FY06 budget. The Solar America Initiative will accelerate the development of advanced solar electric technologies, including photovoltaics and concentrating solar power systems, with the goal of making them cost-competitive with other forms of renewable electricity by 2015.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
SEIA is the national trade association of solar energy manufacturers, dealers, distributors, contractors, installers, architects, consultants, and marketers. SEIA work to expand the use of solar technologies in the global marketplace.

Concentrating Solar Power Research
This is a DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) web site. NREL collaborates with industry to further the research and development of concentrating solar power (CSP) plant and solar thermal technologies and supports DOE in its concentrating solar power deployment efforts.

Concentrating Power & Sun Lab
This DOE web site gives detailed information on large-scale concentrating solar power installations. SunLab is a partnership developed by the U.S. Department of Energy to administer its concentrating solar power R&D and analysis activities.

Southwest Concentrating Solar Power 1000-MW Initiative
It is the U.S. Department of Energy's goal to install 1,000 megawatts (MW) of new concentrating solar power systems in the southwestern United States, including Texas, by 2010.

Florida Solar Energy Center
This web site researches and promotes energy efficiency and solar energy in Florida; yet the site appeals to a national audience for its excellent solar energy information, on-line research reports, software demos, news and events.

USDA Rural Development, Section 9006
This is the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) web site for the Section 9006: Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Program with information on grant and guaranteed loans for agricultural producers and rural small business to assist with purchasing renewable energy systems and making energy efficiency improvements. The information includes details on project and applicant eligibility, application procedures, required forms and other useful information to assist in the application process.

USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service
This USDA web site provides information to assist farm, ranch and small business in the area of renewable energy and efficiency. This program promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through banks and community-managed lending pools and offers technical assistance and information to help agricultural and other cooperatives get started and improve the effectiveness of their member services.

Photovoltaics (PV)

DOE Photovoltaics Program

National Center for Photovoltaics
A DOE web site.

Renewable Energy Vendors & Services
SECO does not link directly to vendors, but you can visit the Texas Renewable Energy Industry Association web site and select the Search Our Members tab. There you can search by the type of renewable energy that interests you. You can also find vendor contact information on the Texas Solar Energy Society web site and select the Find Vendors link for their database of vendors who provide products or services related to renewable energy. Of course, when talking with a vendor, always be sure to ask for references.

Find Solar
The Find Solar web site is a user-friendly way for homeowners and businesses to learn more about solar energy economics and available incentives that can help make it work for you. The site can also lead you to qualified professionals who can install and service such systems. Find Solar is a joint partnership among: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), American Solar Energy Society, Solar Electric Power Association, and Energy Matters LLC.

Connecting to the Grid Guide 2007
The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) has published a new edition of its Connecting to the Grid guide. Because the interconnection of small distributed generators remains largely in the domain of states, the guide targets state regulators, other government officials, and utility representatives.

Going off the Grid - Making Your Own Clean Electricity
This DOE web site discusses generating electricity using your own small renewable energy system fits the circumstances and values of some home and small-business owners.

Off-Grid PV Fact Sheet

NREL's Photovoltaic Research
DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Photovoltaic (PV) research is focused on decreasing the nation's reliance on fossil-fuel generated electricity by lowering the cost of delivered electricity and improving the efficiency of PV modules and systems.

Opportunity on the Horizon: Photovoltaics in Texas Solar
This is a June 2007 study produced by the University of Texas at Austin.

Costs and Payback of Solar Energy

Looking for PV photos?
Go to DOE's Photographic Information Exchange for an on-line collection of several thousand photos related to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. All photos are free and for public use.

PV Now
PV Now is a coalition of the world's leading photovoltaic companies joined to aggressively expand North American distributed, grid-connected PV market opportunities and eliminate market barriers.

SolTrex
This data-logging web site provides PV system owners, educators, students, and solar enthusiasts with the tools they need to learn about PV systems and to operate them efficiently while earning the highest possible return on investment.

Sandia National Laboratories Photovoltaic Program
Sandia's photovoltaic systems project seeks to ensure that photovoltaic systems perform to their potential through thorough research and systems development integrated with the needs of manufacturers and PV users.

NCPV Hotline
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory PV Research program maintains an international communications system called the NCPV Hotline to increase knowledge and awareness of PV industry and research happenings.

PV Solar Energy Video

Sustainable Building Sourcebook: Photovoltaic Systems
Published by Sustainable Sources.

PV Codes & Standards
A Southwest Technology Development Institute web site with up-to-date articles and reports.

Learning About PV: Adult Education Classes and Vocational Training
Whether you're considering a career in the installation or maintenance of solar electricity or want to add a solar electric system to your home, ranch, or farm, here are some resources for you.

A Guide to Photovoltaic System Design and Installation.
This online publication from the California Energy Commission covers elemental design and installation issues.

Photovoltaic Worksheet
This PV worksheet assists homeowners determine the size of a photovoltaic system that would best need their needs.

PV Systems-Should They Be Grounded?
An article by John Wiles of the Southwest Technology Development Institute.

Photovoltaic Fundamentals
A Florida Solar Energy Center web site.

Checklist for Designing and Installing a PV System
This is a DOE-funded article prepared by Southwest Technology Development Institute.

PV Fact Sheets

Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems
Estimating PV System Size and Cost
Kids fact sheet - Electricity from the Sun
Kids fact sheet - Solar and Electric Cars
The Borrower's Guide to Financing Solar Energy Systems
This U. S. Department of Energy document provides information that can assist assist both lenders and consumers in financing solar energy systems, which include both solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar thermal systems.

Looking for solar energy photos?
Go to DOE's Photographic Information Exchange for an on-line collection of several thousand photos related to renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. All photos are free and for public use.

The Solar Guide
This website makes solar energy accessible and understandable. The Solar Guide aims to give consumers the practical information they want, about buying solar and renewable energy systems.

Solar Glossary of Terms
A DOE site with definitions of terms having to do with electricity, power generation, concentrating solar power, solar heating, solar lighting, and solar electricity (PV).

Get Your Power From the Sun: A Consumer's Guide
This DOE booklet can guide you through the process of buying a solar electric system.

Types of Solar Electric Systems

Passive Heating & Cooling

Passive Solar Strategies
Passive solar design refers to the use of the sun's energy for the heating and cooling of living spaces. In this approach, the building itself or some element of it takes advantage of natural energy characteristics in materials and air created by exposure to the sun. Passive systems are simple, have few moving parts and require minimal maintenance.

Passive Solar Heating Project Model Software
This software can be used world-wide to easily evaluate the energy production (or savings), life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for passive solar designs and/or energy efficient window use in low-rise residential and small commercial building applications.

Passive Solar Heating for Farmers and Ranchers
This DOE web site offers resources to help you incorporate passive solar heating and daylighting into the buildings on your farm or ranch.

Passive Solar Cooling
This DOE web site discusses design strategies that minimize the need for mechanical cooling systems.

Passive Solar Architecture - Heating
An Arizona Solar Center web site.

Passive Cooling
An Arizona Solar Center web site.

Passive Solar Heating & Design
A Whole Building Design Guide web page.

Sun Control and Shading Devices
A Whole Building Design Guide web page.

Solar Secure Schools: Strategies and Guidelines
A DOE report on the unique safety and security benefits of schools that incorporate solar energy.

TroughNet Web Site
This DOE web site is a technical resource for the evaluation of parabolic trough solar power plant technologies. TroughNet features an overview and answers to frequently asked questions about parabolic trough technology, as well as data and resources and technical publications. Parabolic trough solar technology offers the lowest cost solar electric option for large power plant applications.

Making the Utility Connection for Larger Systems
This is a DOE-funded article prepared by the Southwest Technology Development Institute and published in STWI's Code Corner.

Solar Opportunity Assessment Report
This 67-page report, issued by the Solar Catalyst Group attempts to answer the question of how to transform solar energy from a niche resource into a mainstream energy technology.

House-Energy Savings Using Solar

Solar Domestic Hot Water Fact Sheet

Solar Heating
A DOE web site.

Solar Hydronic Radiant Floor Heating System Fact Sheet

Solar Cookers International (SCI)
SCI spreads solar cooking awareness and skills worldwide, particularly in areas with plentiful sunshine and diminishing sources of cooking fuel.

Solar Cooking Archive

Software

Photovoltaic Project Model Software
This software can be used world-wide to easily evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for three basic PV applications: on-grid; off-grid; and water pumping.

The Solar Estimator - Spinning Back Towards Savings!
A resource offered by DOE, the American Solar Energy Society and the Solar Electric Power Association to give you an idea of price, savings and system size.

Solar Air Heating Project Model Software
This software can be used to easily evaluate the energy production (or savings), life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for two basic applications: ventilation air heating and process air heating. The model is designed specifically for the analysis of transpired-plate solar collectors. This technology has been successfully applied in a range of applications from small residential to larger commercial/industrial scale ventilation systems, as well in the air drying processes for various crops.

Solar Water Heating Project Model Software
The software can be used world-wide to easily evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for three basic applications: domestic hot water, industrial process heat and swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), ranging in size from small residential systems to large scale commercial, institutional and industrial systems.

Energy Calculators & Software
An Infinite Power of Texas web page with energy calculators as well as links to energy calculators and software.

PV Economics Calculator
This worksheet does a simple calculation of PV system economics to help you understand the various tradeoffs that may be involved in using PV technology.

Solar Analysis Tools and Data
This Build It Solar web site includes calculators, analytical tools for solar work, climate and solar radiation data, properties for materials used in solar projects, wire and pipe tables, and reference books on solar engineering.

Student Solar Car Teams

Junior Solar Sprint/Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Competitions

The Winston School Solar Car Team

Solar Links, PV Solar Energy Organizations, Links for Energy Rebates, Renewable Energy, Installation