There are now several options to obtain a Solar Electric System for your home.

·         Purchase a system and use traditional rebate and tax credits to discount up to half the price.

·         Save thousands by making a one-time lease pre-payment.

·         $0 down lease with monthly lease payments.

·         A variable down payment lease with lower monthly lease payments.

This means more affordable solar power for our customers giving them numerous options to buy or lease a Solar Electric System. All of these options will save money over years against higher electrical costs and improving the Return on Investment.

Please see table below. Individual results may vary depending on credit rating. etc.

*Net purchase cost is the total cost minus tax credits and utility rebate.

These examples based on a basic system without any major cost additions; i.e. two story building, ground mounting, or replacing roof tiles.

Doing things like investing in solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and organic gardening products are all great ways to go green at home. There are also a number of ways for people to take things a step further and go green outside of the home. And, it is much easier than you think! Just take a look at these three simple ways to go green at work.

Transportation

Carpooling is one of the number one ways that you can go green outside of the home. Walking, talking the bus, and biking are also terrific options. You will not only save money with any one of these alternative transportation methods, you will also be reducing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere.

Lunchtime

Taking your lunch to work in reusable containers is also a small but very effective way to go green. It is also a great way to save money. You will not waste gas having to drive to pick up lunch. You will also avoid eating at non-organic fast bard restaurants whose ingredients are obtained from farms that use environmentally hazardous industrial agricultural techniques. In addition, if you do not use brown bags and plastic wrap you are reducing waste. Therefore, energy is being saved, carbon emissions are reduced, and less material is going to waste. Taking your own mug to work is also a great way to reduce waste because you will not use multiple plastic or paper cups throughout the day.

Stay Digital

Today, most people work on computers as the vast majority of offices have gone digital. Still, the use of paper is has not been entirely eliminated in most work spaces. While printing emails or spreadsheets is a must sometimes, it is definitely not in all cases. So, if it is not absolutely necessary, skip printing whenever possible.

Solar Electric Systems & Products, Inc. is a leading Arizona solar electric company. We work with homeowners all over Arizona to help them convert to solar with minimal hassle. SESP is among the top AZ solar companies, founded and led by an electrical engineer with years of experience in the industry. If you are looking for a company in the Phoenix solar market, or any of Phoenix’s surrounding cities, please feel free to contact one of the friendly and professional representatives here at SESP.

As always, with any large infrastructure project, there will be many economic and financial benefits for the Arizona solar electric industry and the state. Job creation is just one of the benefits. It will take approximately 450 construction workers to complete the project over a two-year period. In addition to this, about 5,000 more jobs will be created both directly and indirectly. For example, there will be a lot of need for off-site suppliers and other supporting roles.

Annually, the Crossroads Solar Energy Project will create 450,000 megawatt hours of green electricity. This is projected to be used to power up to 100,000 homes at peak times of the day when electricity is used most. And again, like the Solana project, it will help the state of Arizona reach its renewable energy goal of having 15% of the state’s power generated by renewable resources by 2025.

The project will use cutting edge power tower technology with utilizes molten salt. This technology has the ability to generate electricity even when the sun is down or blocked by clouds. All in all, the Crossroads project will be another great addition to the Arizona solar electric industry as it will provide a reliable, green energy generation source.

Thank you for visiting SESP online and checking out our blog. As your top choice among Arizona solar companies, we love to bring you the latest news about current solar happenings throughout Arizona. Being a leader in the Phoenix solar field, we are always here to answer any of your questions about converting to solar. Feel free to contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff for further information.

The project will greatly benefit the local economy. About 1,600 construction workers will be needed in the Arizona solar electric industry to create the 3-square-mile power plant over the next couple of years. And nearly all of the jobs will be American. In addition to this, about 75 percent of the actual equipment used during the project will be made in the U.S.

Arizona solar electric officials state that instead of using traditional solar panels that are composed of semiconducting materials which convert solar radiation into electrical energy, the Solana project will use a different means to generate energy. Instead of using traditional solar panels, Arizona solar companies will create mirrors that reflect heat. The heat will combine with gas to create steam, spin turbines, and in turn produce electricity.

AZ solar companies are excited about the Solana project because it will have a capacity of 280 megawatts. This is a whooping amount of energy. Arizona solar electric officials state that this is enough energy to power 70,000 homes. They also state that it will avoid about 475,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a pollutant which non-renewable energy plants produce in excess.

The plant is scheduled to begin operation and produce electricity by 2013. It will be built and operated by the Spanish company Abengoa Solar in Gila Bend, which is about 70 miles southwest of Phoenix. The plant will cover about 1,900 acres of land.

“If the U.S. is serious about maximizing the societal benefits of solar generation, then we need to look at the national level at how different states can serve not only their own needs, but also those of other states with less ability to create electricity using solar technologies,” said Croucher.

Croucher conducted a study that analyzed which states used the most fossil-fueled electricity, which states had the highest energy prices, and so on. He concluded that it would be highly beneficial for the Arizona solar electric industry, as well as for the Arizona economy as a whole, to sell and provide energy to states that still heavily rely on pollution enhancing forms of energy production. According to Croucher it would be a win win situation for both states. Arizona would benefit by selling a readily accessible commodity and other states would be able to make a positive impact on their environments without having to heavily invest in bolstering their own solar industries.

Croucher’s research also pinpointed states where it would be most financially sound to establish this relationship. The states included Maryland, Colorado, Delaware, Texas, Ohio, and more. “When you add solar generation there is the criticism that it is not cost competitive with standard technology, which can have potentially negative economic impacts . . . States with high electricity prices already, the structure of their economy is different, and they can potentially absorb any additional increases.”

Arizona solar companies may become like coal-fired power plants . . .  when it comes to exporting energy that is. Arizona utilities actually get most of their electricity from out-of-state coal-fired power plants. One day, the Arizona solar electric industry may act as a “utility” by providing green electricity to utility companies in other states.

“If Arizona is going to maximize the benefits from its competitive advantage in solar generation, it will need to figure out how to successfully export significant quantities to other states, which may require investing in infrastructure,” said Croucher.

Croucher’s study also specifically pinpointed states where there is not already a strong foundation of renewable energy use, so California was not on his list. While he believes that providing electricity to California is a good financial move, he also pointed out that as a nation we should focus on bringing more green resources into states that do not already have an abundance of green infrastructure–if our ultimate goal is to help the environment and not to solely put money in our wallets. California has already invested in many green initiatives. They are even mandating that utilities get 33 percent of their power from green and renewable sources by 2020. Just as a note, our state is also relying more on the Arizona solar electric industry and has a similar requirement with goals to have at least 15 percent renewable power in the utilities by 2025.

“Given that (Californians) have already spent many, many years making sure that their generation mix doesn’t have a very high carbon-dioxide content, from a pure societal perspective, it would be better to look elsewhere . . . but of course the price side of things is very important.”

Currently numerous solar plants are being built in Arizona that may be used to provide California with green energy. Croucher believes that we should take this a step further. Being able to provide green energy to other states would also hugely benefit the state of Arizona.

Thank you for visiting our website. As your premier choice in AZ solar companies we are dedicated to providing you with the best products, services, and latest information about your local solar industry. Please feel free to contact one of our friendly staff members with inquiries or to request a free quote!

Blood Pressure Measuring
SESP, as well as many other AZ solar companies, are always interested in learning about all of the great ways that solar power is being used. Solar power isn’t just great for powering homes and other building structures. The energy can be used to power vital devices like the solar-powered blood pressure measuring device that was created this year. The World Health Organization initiated the creation of the device when they went to numerous companies and proposed that each company try to create a low-cost, easy to use, solar-powered tool that could accurately measure people’s blood pressure.

The device is still being studied but it is promising. So far it is about 94 percent accurate, which simply means that it matches the measurements of traditional systolic blood pressure measuring tools 94 percent of the time. The device was developed specifically to be used in low-income countries, and has been tested in Uganda and Zambia, Africa. However, if the device becomes popular it could be a beneficial tool to use in any country, and the Arizona solar electric industry would love to see it and more beneficial technologies like it introduced. Unlike traditional blood pressure measuring tools, this device does not require the use of expensive rechargeable batteries. It therefore also does not require electricity. This is a perk because in some low-income countries it can be difficult to access electricity and supplies like rechargeable batteries.

Organic Solar Cells
Organic solar cells are not new to Arizona solar companies or the global solar industry. They have however been used on a limited basis and have been in development for years. Scientists are still working out the kinks–primarily trying to get organic solar cells to produce as much electrical energy as silicon solar cells (the type of cells used in most photovoltaic systems today). This year an important study was performed and it yielded some interesting findings about organic solar cells.

The study found that organic solar cells are actually greener than silicon cells. They are greener because they require much less energy to mass produce than silicon solar cells do. In addition to this, the materials used to create organic solar cells are readily available, easy to collect and manufacture on a mass scale, and less expensive than the materials used to create traditional silicon cells. One day they could be a viable alternative to silicon cells in the creation of photovoltaic systems, and will provide an even “greener” solution for creating renewable electrical energy.

Self-Cleaning Solar Panels
We’ve written about this one before but think it is one of the coolest developments this year. This particular solar development is literally out of this world. Technology used to clear dust off of solar panels on rovers in outer space may also be used here on Earth. The technology is relatively simple and inexpensive, and it requires very little energy to work.

Working in the Arizona solar electric industry we know the weather conditions of the desert. Depending on the location dust can be a huge issue. Dust build up on solar panels can block out the sun and cause solar systems to work less effectively. This is what happened to rovers on Mars. They were temporarily rendered immobile due to dust build up on their panels. To keep this from happening again in the future scientists developed a technology that uses an electromagnetic field to repel dust.

While dust isn’t as big of an issue in Arizona as it is in other deserts around the world, self-cleaning solar panels still sound good to us. And for large solar arrays in deserts like the Mojave this technology will be incredibly useful. Build up from powerful dust storms has been known to greatly reduce the efficiency of solar panels in areas like this.

For those of you who have not yet heard, our sunny state is investing a sum of approximately $2.7 million into the Arizona solar electric industry. The Arizona Energy Office is investing the money in a number of new, rapidly expanding Arizona solar companies and green-energy companies. This shows a serious commitment to enhance the state’s already well acknowledged place in the solar world.

Last year, Arizona received $55.4 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and now a portion of that money is going into the Arizona solar electric and green technology industries.

“These awards invest in the latest technologies to advance Arizona’s position as a global renewable-energy leader while creating new, good jobs,” said Gov. Jan Brewer in a prepared statement regarding this great economic move. “Investment in our state’s emerging renewable energy industry will have lasting benefits and lead to long-term market transformation which will build a more sustainable Arizona economy.”

After much consideration, the Arizona state government has started to disperse the money they received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into numerous green initiatives. While only a small percent of the money is going directly into new AZ solar companies and other renewable-energy companies, the majority of the money is also being invested wisely to implement solar infrastructure in schools and government buildings. In addition to this, the Arizona Energy Office is also investing portions of the money into programs for other cutting edge technology, biofuels, and more.

We appreciate the time you have taken to visit our website. For more great information about the Arizona solar electric world you can sign up for our newsletter and visit our blog regularly. If you would like to learn more about our products and services please feel free to contact one of our friendly and knowledgeable representatives. Thank you for choosing us as your top Arizona solar company.

When it comes to solar it’s all about efficiency, effectiveness …and of course, reaching a goal of complete sustainability. When it comes to efficiency and effectiveness, there are a number of new inventions that have been shown to enhance the performance of solar panels. And one day these inventions may begin to be generally incorporated into all solar systems.

One of the latest new “gadgets” is a simple sticker. Well, maybe not so simple. In research studies this “power sticker” has been shown to increase the power output of solar panels by about 10 percent. The sticker is a special polymer film that is imprinted with cutting edge micro-structures. These micro-structures are the key to the increase in efficiency that has been seen in tests. The stickers work in a few different ways.

1. As representatives at AZ solar companies across the state will tell you, solar panels work by absorbing light and converting it into usable, green energy. However, some light does not get absorbed by solar panels, instead it reflects off of them. This power sticker would help minimize the chances of this happening by keeping light from reflecting or bouncing off of the surface of solar panels.

2. The aforementioned imprinted micro-structures in the sticker can bend and redirect light. The micro-structures in this sticker can redirect light and get it to travel along the surface of the solar cell (or semiconducting materials). Having light travel along the cell–rather than directly through it–is a more effective way for light to be absorbed by solar panels.

3. Lastly, the sticker helps to trap light inside of the semiconducting materials on solar panels, and these semiconducting materials are what absorb sunlight and help convert it into energy.

If taken to market, these stickers could make a big splash in the Arizona solar electric industry, as well as across the nation. If the stickers can be produced and sold at an affordable price, they would benefit individuals who already own photovoltaics systems, as well as individuals buying new systems. This is because the stickers can easily be added to any solar electric system, whether it is new or already installed.

There are many Arizona solar companies to choose from, and SESP is proud to be one of the premier companies in its field. We thank you for taking the time to visit our website. For more information or for a free consultation please feel free to contact one of our friendly representatives.

Another thing that is common in the desert is dust. Some areas are more affected by it than others, but pesky dust build up can affect the performance of solar panels. In dusty areas, homeowners have to clean their solar panels more often.

Solar panels need virtually no maintenance, but they do need to be cleaned every once in a while. Although this is a relatively simple task, it would be amazingly convenient not to have to get on the roof to clean your solar panels, right? Well, now a newly developed technology may make self-cleaning solar panels a reality in the near future.

This particular research development is literally “out of this world.” The technology that may be used in the future to create self-cleaning solar panels was originally developed to be used in outer space. The technology was created to be used in future rover missions to Mars, but now we could possibly see this technology used right here on Earth and right here in the Phoenix solar industry.

Rovers on the moon and Mars have had issues with being rendered immobile because their solar panels were occasionally covered with dust. At the time, the only thing scientists could do was hope for wind to blow the dust away. To prevent this problem from happening in the future, scientists developed a technology that uses an electrostatic charge to repel dust–which has its own electric charge. The technology uses an electric field to force dust to the edges of solar panels. The great thing about this technology is that it is relatively simple and it requires very little energy to work.

While Phoenix solar products are not as highly affected by dust storms as in other deserts across the world, having solar panels that can clean themselves is still a great idea! Dust and debris do block out the sun and make solar panels less effective, and if you are in an area that is extremely dusty this new technology could one day be very beneficial to you. There are cleaning devices that you can buy and attach to your solar panels, but this new technology would be implemented in the solar panel itself.

There are a number of Arizona solar electric companies to choose from, but SESP is unsurpassed in its dedication to service. Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. For a free consultation or for more information please feel free to contact one of our friendly representatives.