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on December 5th, 2011% ![]()
KANSAS CITY, MO–(Marketwire – Nov 29, 2011) – Compared to this time last year, discussion about immediate changes for individual income taxes is pretty quiet. No uproar this year over the Bush tax cuts ending makes end-of-year tax planning a little easier. H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), just as it has for the past 55-plus years, is advising taxpayers how to lower their tax liability as the year comes to an end.
“Managing financial health is like so many other things; it’s not where you start, but where you finish,” said Kathy Pickering, executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block. “The end of the year is right around the corner, but there are ways for taxpayers to take actions now that will help reduce their taxable income and tax liability.”
As taxpayers are left to wonder if the 2-percent payroll tax holiday will expire Dec. 31 or whether Congress will make any tax law changes as part of a plan to reduce the federal deficit, taxpayers can make the following money-saving moves now to potentially decrease their 2011 tax bill.
Make charitable donations Charitable functions and gift giving take center stage this time of year. It’s important for taxpayers to remember for charitable donations to be tax-deductible, they must be made to qualified, tax-exempt organizations (IRS-approved nonprofit religious, educational or charitable groups), and claimed as itemized deductions on tax returns. The Salvation Army donation guide or H&R Block’s DeductionPro can be used to estimate the value of non-cash items.
Offset capital gains with capital losses After the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a 30-month high Jan. 1, it was a roller coaster ride with investments losing and gaining again and again throughout the rest of the year. even with those market fluctuations, there is some good news:
- Those with a large net capital gain in 2011 could reduce their tax liability by selling stock before Dec. 31 if it would generate a loss.
- Capital losses don’t just offset capital gains. If capital losses exceed capital gains, up to $3,000 of capital losses can be used to offset ordinary income, such as wages.
Look to the future and maximize retirement plan contributions Taxpayers who have not contributed the maximum to their 401(k) may consider increasing contributions for the remainder of the year; contributions are made pre-tax, which reduces taxable income and potentially the overall tax bill.
Also, taxpayers eligible to deduct IRA contributions can make traditional IRA contributions to decrease 2011 income until April 17, 2012, and thus reduce tax liability on 2011 tax returns.
Pay it forward Those who haven’t taken full advantage of the American Opportunity Credit should consider paying spring college tuition before Dec. 31 to benefit from the tax break on their 2011 returns. also, taxpayers could pre-pay their December mortgage payment due in early January or make an additional student loan payment to claim the highest possible interest deduction (up to $2,500) on the 2011 tax return.
Go green at home and on the road Home energy-efficiency improvements are eligible for a tax credit of 10 percent of the cost, with a $500 lifetime maximum. This includes windows and doors, insulation, roofing, HVAC and non-solar water heaters meeting specific energy guidelines. The maximum lifetime credit for external windows is $200.
Taxpayers can claim a credit for the purchase of a neighborhood vehicle (e.g., low-speed four-wheel vehicle), a conversion kit, or a plug-in electric drive vehicle, such as the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf.
Claim casualty losses from disaster Taxpayers in a federal disaster area who sustained disaster-related casualty losses (e.g., damaged or lost property) can claim their losses on a tax return for the year the disaster occurred or on the prior year’s return. H&R Block can help you determine which year would result in the greatest tax savings.
Get early access to W-2s Use H&R Block’s free W-2 Early Access service to get access to W-2s before the Feb. 1 distribution deadline. Approximately 90 million taxpayers whose employers are among the 200,000 companies participating can file their tax returns sooner and get refunds up to three weeks faster using this service. The new e-mail notification feature, available now, notifies the clients or tax professionals (if the client selects to have information sent directly to an H&R Block tax office) when W-2s are ready to download.
For more information about last-minute ways to improve tax outlook, contact a local H&R Block tax professional. To find the nearest year-round H&R Block office, visit hrblock.com or call 800-HRBLOCK.
H&R Block at HomeT, a suite of easy-to-use, do-it-yourself tax preparation tools, now has faster set-up and easier navigation, giving taxpayers step-by-step guidance in plain English. these tax solutions can be downloaded from H&R Block’s redesigned website or purchased at Staples, Office Max and Office Depot.
H&R Block provides guaranteed, income tax return preparation services through its company-owned and franchise offices, and the H&R Block at Home online and desktop solutions. For an online tutorial, join H&R Block’s Get It right Community tax forum, and visit its Twitter and Facebook pages.
About The Tax Institute at H&R Block The Tax Institute at H&R Block is the go-to source for objective insights on federal and state tax laws affecting the individual. It provides nonpartisan information and analysis on the real world implications of tax policies and proposals to policymakers, journalists, experts and tax preparers. The Institute’s experts include CPAs, Enrolled Agents, attorneys and former IRS agents who draw from years of experience and H&R Block’s extensive network of resources. For more information visit our press center at thetaxinstitute.com.
About H&R Block H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) has prepared more than 575 million tax returns worldwide since 1955, making it the country’s largest tax services provider. In fiscal 2011, H&R Block had annual revenues of $3.8 billion and prepared more than 24.5 million tax returns worldwide, including Canada and Australia. Tax return preparation services are provided in company-owned and franchise retail tax offices by approximately 100,000 professional tax preparers, and through H&R Block at HomeT digital products. The H&R Block Bank provides affordable banking products and services, and McGladrey is a top provider of tax, accounting and wealth management services to mid-sized businesses. For more information, visit the H&R Block Online Press Center.
on December 5th, 2011% ![]()
TORONTO, ONTARIO, Dec 02, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) –Just Energy Group Inc. /quotes/zigman/3465868 CA:JE -0.69% filed notice with the TorontoStock Exchange today announcing its December dividend. A dividend of$0.10333/common share ($1.24 annually) will be paid on December 31st,2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December15th, 2011. this dividend is designated as an “eligible dividend” forCanadian income tax purposes. The common shares trade on the TorontoStock Exchange under the symbol “JE.”
just Energy also reports that at November 30th, 2011 the conversionprice for each $1,000 of its outstanding 6% convertible unsecuredsubordinated debenture issued on October 2, 2007 hasbeen adjusted in accordance with the Trust Indenture dated October 2,2007, as supplemented from time to time, to $30.39 convertible into32.91 common shares of just Energy Group Inc.
just Energy Group Inc.
just Energy’s business primarily involves the sale of natural gasand/or electricity to residential and commercial customers underlong-term fixed-price, price-protected or variable-priced contractsand green energy products. By fixing the price of natural gas orelectricity under its fixed-price or price-protected programcontracts for a period of up to five years, just Energy’s customersoffset their exposure to changes in the price of these essentialcommodities. Variable rate products allow customers to maintaincompetitive rates while retaining the ability to lock into a fixedprice at their discretion. just Energy, which commenced business in1997, derives its margin or gross profit from the difference betweenthe price at which it is able to sell the commodities to itscustomers and the related price at which it purchases the associatedvolumes from its suppliers. just Energy also offers “green” productsthrough its JustGreen and JustClean programs. The electricityJustGreen product offers the customer the option of having all or aportion of his or her electricity sourced from renewable greensources such as wind, run of the river hydro or biomass. The gasJustGreen product offers carbon offset credits which will allow thecustomer to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint of their home orbusiness. JustClean products allow customers in certain jurisdictionsto offset their carbon footprint without purchasing commodity fromjust Energy. JustClean can be offered in all states and provinces andis not dependent on energy deregulation. Management believes that theJustGreen and JustClean products will not only add to profits, butalso increase sales receptivity and improve renewal rates.
In addition, through National Home Services, just Energy sells andrents high efficiency and tankless water heaters, air conditionersand furnaces to Ontario residents. Through its subsidiary Terra GrainFuels, just Energy produces and sells wheat-based ethanol. JustEnergy has also launched, Hudson Solar, a solar project developmentplatform in New Jersey.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
just Energy’s press releases may contain forward-looking statementsincluding statements pertaining to closing of the Offering and theanticipated timing thereof, customer revenues and margins, customeradditions and renewals, customer attrition, customer consumptionlevels, general and administrative expenses, distributable cash, andtreatment under governmental regulatory regimes. these statements arebased on current expectations that involve a number of risks anduncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from thoseanticipated. these risks include, but are not limited to, the failureto satisfy any of the conditions to the completion of the Offeringlevels of customer natural gas and electricity consumption, rates ofcustomer additions and renewals, rates of customer attrition,fluctuations in natural gas and electricity prices, changes inregulatory regimes and decisions by regulatory authorities,competition and dependence on certain suppliers. Additionalinformation on these and other factors that could affect JustEnergy’s operations, financial results or distribution levels areincluded in just Energy’s annual information form and other reportson file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities which can beaccessed through the SEDAR website at sedar.com or through JustEnergy’s website at justenergygroup.com .
The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved ofthe information contained herein.
Contacts: just Energy Group Inc. Ms. Rebecca MacDonald Executive Chair (416) 367-2872 just Energy Group Inc. Mr. Ken Hartwick, C.A. Chief Executive Officer & President (905) 795-3557 just Energy Group Inc. Ms. Beth Summers, C.A. Chief Financial Officer (905) 795-4206
SOURCE: just Energy Group Inc.
Copyright 2011 Marketwire, Inc., all rights reserved.
on November 27th, 2011% ![]()
BRUSSELS – Europe's ambitious project to capture solar and wind energy across Arab deserts to power homes in Europe, the Middle East and Africa inched forward Thursday despite technical and political hurdles.
Two international consortiums led by German and French industrial giants joined forces in highly complex drives to deploy solar panels and wind turbines in arid regions, and sink cables across the Mediterranean.
The two groups, Desertec Industry Initiative and Medgrid, signed a cooperation deal in Brussels on the sidelines of an EU energy ministers' meeting, linking projects aimed at meeting 15 percent of Europe's electricity demand by 2050.
"by joining efforts and coordinating their approaches, the two initiatives take a truly European dimension," said EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger.
"There is now a concrete perspective of solar and wind energy being produced for the joint benefit of European and northern African and Middle Eastern citizens, as well for the benefit of both markets," he said.
The Desertec Industry Initiative (DII), whose shareholders include German industry giant Siemens, major lender Deutsche Bank and power supplier EON, wants to use sun-drenched regions to provide power for Arab and European nations.
Medgrid, founded by French energy giants Areva and EDF, along with engineering group Alstom and others, plans to install underwater cables between Europe and Africa via the Strait of Gibraltar.
The European Union is sponsoring the projects as part of its efforts to combat global warming, which aim to make renewable energy 20 percent of the market and reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent compared to 1990 levels.
Germany is especially keen to develop alternative energy sources since it decided to phase out atomic energy by 2022, a decision hastened by Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster earlier this year.
On paper, the project is attractive — the Sahara desert provides twice as much sunlight as in Paris, is sparsely inhabited and contains silicium, a material key to making solar panels.
But the plans are politically sensitive in a region of former European colonies.
"some southern countries were turned off at the beginning because they felt Europe was launching a neo-colonialist enterprise to pillage their resources," said a source close to the negotiations.
The project will first cover the growing needs of countries in the region, and then at a later stage export energy to Europe.
A first solar field will soon get off the ground in Morocco at a cost of 1.9 billion euros. Near Ouarzazat, in central Morocco, the plant is expected to produce 500 Megawatts, half the energy created by a nuclear reactor.
A feasibility study is planned for Tunisia as well as talks with Egypt, according to Desertec.
At Medgrid, officials admit that a lot of work remains as the Arab Spring uprisings sweeping the region this year froze negotiations that had begun with former despotic regimes.
"There were disruptions in our relations (with some countries), notably Tunisia. In Syria, the situation is more complicated. We don't have any contact," said Medgrid chief executive Andre Merlin.
But Merlin is optimistic about the future.
"We will be able to exchange electricity in both directions. The north especially needs energy in the winter because of the cold, while the south needs it in summer for air conditioning," he said. — Agence France Presse
on November 26th, 2011% ![]()
In the past 7 days the coalition government, and more specifically the Department of Energy and Climate Change have stated that the available Feed in Tariff rates which reward, inter alia, generaters of solar electricity will be significantly reduced. Prior to this statement consumers and solar panel installers had been attracted into taking advantage of this progressive and also eco-friendly electricity source by the amazingly worthwhile rates available: the normal house could expect to receive 43p for every unit of solar electricity generated as well as 3p per unit exported to the national grid. This did mean that the average fiscal advantages of a property with a solar panel installation came to approximately £1700 annually. with the suggested adjustments, that are being brought in several months before originally planned, the rates are set to decrease, and many people that had predicted their installations to be finished prior to the new rates kicked in are right now facing intense discontent. Consumers and solar panel installers alike are thus in a state of frustration and shock, since the statement arrived out of nowhere. Countless deals for installations have already been entered into to be finished before the March deadline day, yet at this point, they will all be lost. Consumers will feel robbed and the solar panel sector will now have a considerably harder job on their hands. as the industry employs close to twenty-five,000 men and women according to many estimates, the probable repercussions of this decision are exceedingly significant.In response to these shocking governmental proposals a group of leading solar PV corporations plan to start court proceedings to acquire an interim injunction, whilst friends of the earth are set to request judicial review. both hope not necessarily to prevent a decrease in the Feed in Tariff rates, but to quash the decision that the brand new rates will apply from December of this year and not March of the coming year. This will permit them to carry on with agreements that had been legally entered into, avoid disappointing thousands of customers and steer clear of the risk this type of rash move could do to solar panel installation companies as well as their staff could be subject to.Reduced Feed in Tariffs for solar panel installations: it’s not all awful newsWhilst it would be difficult to argue that the way in which the government has gone about announcing as well as implementing these proposals has been by any means reasonable, the substance might not be as cataclysmically terrible as people first think. yes the feed in tariff rates have been lowered, and yes the boom time of solar panel installation may well see a small decline, but will it completely stop? The answer to this in my opinion is a resounding no. The rationale behind slashing the Feed in Tariff rates is that as the industry expands and demand improves, so will the supply of important elements to solar panel installations. as a result these components become cheaper. If the Feed in Tariff were to remain the exact same whilst the cost for the solar panel installation went down, this would not replicate market tendencies.Consequently, the return of investment available prior to the suggested changes come into effect could very well return in the near future as the cost associated with solar panel installations decreases proportionately. There might well be several months of lag, but the death of the solar panel industry is definitely not nigh, whilst the superb returns available to consumers will remain. Consequently although the legal challenges will be a pleasant blessing to the solar panel industry if they succeeded, they don’t really spell the end of the line.
on November 26th, 2011% ![]()
During the most dreadful cold season, heaters are man’s best friend. but like most home appliances, heaters can do much damage when it comes to electric bills. Henceforth, solar power enthusiasts have devised a way on how to build a solar air heater that is not only affordable but relatively easy to do. to make your own solar air heater, you will need to build a box made of plywood. This box, which is recommended to be insulated, will hold five rows of ten aluminum soda cans. These cans are to be painted black. to prevent hot air from escaping, the box must be sealed. from the bottom of your plywood-made box, cold air may be drawn while the hot air comes from the top. The same hot air shall pass through a pipe where it will be heated.
Like all other solar powered appliances, the solar air heater require a solar panel that will absorb the light energy and later convert it into a heat generating device. for the solar air heater, you can use a sheet of plexiglass. you must glue this to the plywood box but only to let the sun’s rays inside. once again, make sure that the heated air is sealed inside the box. one of the main thrusts of how to build a solar air heater is the heating process conducted within the aluminum cans. it is inside these cans that the air is heated, and this later rises up going towards the pipes that then release the hot air into the room which needs warming up.
The aluminum cans are responsible for holding the heated air, for it is in their column that the air passes through. because there is already a drinking hole on top of the aluminum can, there is only a need to drill one more hole at the bottom of the can to ensure the passage of air. because silicon plays a major role in light absorption and energy conversion, the cans are glued together with the use of a silicon adhesive. Painting them black also helps in light absorption. The final steps in how to build a solar air heater involves sealing the box with a tempered glass sheet. This will make sure that hot air does not escape. All in all, the steps in making your own solar air heater are simple if you have the necessary materials and the patience to wait until the all the components have been assembled together and brought to their functional capacity. At the end of the day, you have nothing to lose when you make your own solar air heater. Nothing to lose, but only so much to gain—heating, knowledge, and experience-wise.
on November 25th, 2011% ![]()
Thanks to TWP’s supporters on Causes.com, we far surpassed our $2,800 fundraising goal to provide solar air heaters to Native American families. To date, we have raised nearly $7,000 from 322 donors! With these funds we will provide three different Native American families with solar air heating systems, giving them free, clean heat for years and years to come.
Walter and Alison Yellow Hair watch the construction of their new house on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
The Yellow Hairs are one of these families. right now, our partner organization, Earth Tipi, in partnership with Texas Natural Builders, is constructing Walter and Alison Yellow Hair a new pallet home from reclaimed materials. This new, sustainable house will provide much better protection from, and insulation against, the harsh South Dakota winters than their current mobile home, which was originally headed for the dump when they inherited it. With huge holes in its walls, such a poor structure can be deadly in the extreme weather of the Great Plains. we believe that every family is deserving of dignified and comfortable housing that is properly heated and we are so lucky to have supporters who feel the same way.
Now, Walter and Alison will enjoy a new home and a new source of clean, free heat with a TWP solar air heater.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the fundraiser and helped make a significant improvement in Walter and Alison’s lives! Your contributions mean so much to the Native American families who are struggling each day to survive. Stay tuned to learn more about the other families who will receive solar heaters.
Interested in contributing to the building of Walter and Alison’s new home? please click here to learn more about how you can help!
Click here to join the Solar Energy for Lakota Families cause on Facebook and help us spread the word about solar energy for Native American families living on tribal lands.
on November 23rd, 2011% ![]() airforcetimes.com/news/2011/11/ap-afsoc-aims-to-improve-renewable-energy-uses-112111/ By Mona Moore – Northwest Florida Daily News via AP Posted : Monday Nov 21, 2011 11:55:55 EST
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — Through Project Renewable Energy Demonstration, researchers are working to find the most cost-effective technology to bring the base closer to the Air Force’s goal of eliminating energy costs by 2020.
Air Force Special Operations Command scientist Dave Robau said he and his team are looking at the cost per square foot for each form of green technology in the project.
“I think we’ve made good progress,” Robau said. “It’s phenomenal.”
The experiments, known as Project RED, include tanks of algae that could become the next tank of biodiesel fuel; a 100 percent electric car and truck that can travel up to 50 mph; and low-cost solar panels when combined with wind turbines can generate enough power to light up four homes.
“It is a surprising success,” George Omley, AFSOC’s environmental chief, said in an Air Force news release issued recently. “we are charging this electric vehicle with the sun to give us free mileage and running our algae lab (while) using only 10 percent of the power. the other 90 percent is running backwards on the grid.”
The $18,000 car and truck are DOT-certified. If the Air Force gets license plates for the vehicles, they can be driven off base.
The current goal is to replace transportation that is not mission-related. For instance, the truck now is used to pick up recyclables.
“I think, in addition to the military, there are a lot of applications for this,” Robau said.
Researchers also are devising a plan to set up charging stations on the base. Eventually, airmen will be able to scan their base identification at the charging stations and use the electric vehicles on the base.
“We’re collecting data, trying to gain user acceptance,” Robau said.
The vehicles can travel 150 miles on a six-hour charge. However, they do not have air conditioning.
Despite the tremendous potential for wind energy along the Emerald Coast, turbines were not originally considered an option. Air Force officials said the tall turbines could interfere with missions.
AFSOC researchers now are testing the latest generation of wind turbines. Ranging in height from 18 to 23 feet, the $7,000 turbines have proven to be effective energy alternatives that do not infringe on air space.
Robau said the average home can be powered by four of the turbines. together, the two turbines and five solar panel systems are generating enough power to run the wet lab for the algae and the electric vehicles with power to spare.
Scientists also are testing three types of solar panels. the first is a new generation of lightweight panels that are the only panels in the test that do not have to penetrate a building’s roof when installed.
They also are the only ones that must be installed on a white surface. they draw energy from the sun as well as reflected light waves. the company that produced the panels recently went out of business, but Robau said there most likely will be similar products hitting the market.
Robau said another solar panel system called the thin film is showing promise. In addition to generating comparable amounts of energy, each panel costs about $250, about half the cost of the average panel.
The panels are made with cheaper material and do not use expensive chemical elements such as titanium.
“the thin film uses nanotechnology,” Robau said.
Researchers also are experimenting with several indigenous forms of algae to find the most cost-effective form of biodiesel fuel. after tests are completed in the wet lab, the algae are tested in containers of water placed outdoors.
“In this case, the thinking was if we could find a company that was interested in producing biodiesel from our algae and nutrients, then we would get either a payment in kind or a fraction of the biodiesel,” Omley said in the news release. “the jury is still out.”
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on November 22nd, 2011% ![]() The $147-million new US Consulate General (NCC) on a six-acre site adjacent to the Dubai Creek, the sixth green building built outside the US was opened on Monday
DUBAI – the $147-million new US Consulate General (NCC) on a six-acre site adjacent to the Dubai Creek, the sixth green building built outside the US was opened on Monday to serve residents and visitors of Dubai and the Northern Emirates.
Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed tours the newly opened consulate with US officials. —KT photo by Shihab
US Ambassador Michael H Corbin in Abu Dhabi dedicated the new facility in the presence of Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai. they ceremonially cut the cake marking the celebration.
Leo Hession, managing director of the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations of the US Department of State, who flew to Dubai for the occasion, said the new facility was built using the US Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles and incorporates environment-friendly features in its water, environmental and lighting systems. This NCC joined five other US embassies and consulates in Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Sofia in Bulgaria, Panama City in Panama, Johannesburg in South Africa, and Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo as LEED-certified diplomatic missions. “LEED certificate is the recognised standard for measuring building sustainability. As a LEED-certified building, the NCC is designed to lower operating costs while increasing asset value, reducing waste sent to landfills, conserving energy and water, reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions, and being healthier and safer for occupants,” he said. Built as a green building on US and UAE building standards, the new facility’s green features, include daylight harvesting, LEDD temperature setbacks, solar hot water, and water conserving feature, among others.
A unique feature of the NCC is the US Consulate General’s Art in Embassies collection which focuses on bringing the US and the UAE together through an ongoing display of artworks from artistes in Iran, the US, Bangladesh, Japan, and other countries represented in the UAE.
Contemporary Emirati artistes in the likes of Ebtisam Abdul-Aziz, Maryam Al Qasimi, and Shaikha bint Dhaher are among those in the collection using experimental mediums such as graphite, acrylic on used skateboard desks, stacked paper, spray paint on powder-coated aluminium, and many others.
Historical events involving American officials and UAE rulers in numerous photographs have also been on display. the oldest among the pictures dated 1976 shows his Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah being presented with a key to the City of San Francisco during his visit to California.
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on November 21st, 2011% ![]()
Was Solyndra a company destined to fail, or did it hit a cash crunch at the wrong time?
Many believe that the company created a solar panel that could not compete economically with Chinese silicon panels. But in conversations with company officials and others I’ve come across a strain of evidence that indicates that the Fremont, Calif.-based manufacturer had finally honed in on a customer base–big box retailers and warehouses–that might have kept it alive under different circumstances.
“we had huge success with the Solyndra product with major Fortune 500 companies,” said Michael Silvestrini, president of Greenskies Renewable Energy, an commercial solar installer that completed a number of Solyndra projects. “they wanted Solyndra and more of it.”
Later this week, Solyndra will hold another, final auction for its intellectual property, real estate, and remaining manufacturing lines in advance of a November 22, 2011 bankruptcy hearing. Rumors swirl that Asian manufacturers have been in contact with the company. if outsiders bid, there’s a strong chance that this retail strategy plays a role.
The strategy essentially revolved around retailers with buildings with “value roofs” or inexpensive roofs with little inherent strength, said Ben Bierman, executive vice president of operations and production engineering at Solyndra in an interview. Conventional solar panels are large sheets of glass supported by aluminum frames. Solyndra’s solar panels are relatively light tubes supported by very light frames.
Less weight made them a better fit for these types of roofs. One customer in the Northeast of the U.S., for instance, had experienced roof cave-ins with conventional solar panels, said Bierman. Snow piled up in an uneven manner because of the panels and kerplop. Uneven snow drifts didn’t happen with Solyndra’s panels: the company even came up with a pattern for laying out the panels that made it relatively easy to sweep off the snow.
Solyndra kicked off the big box strategy in late 2010. By the time of the bankruptcy filing, it had signed deals with four of the top ten retailers in the U.S. and eight of the top twenty retailers, according to Bierman. Many had already completed pilot installations at three to ten stores and were planning more extensive rollouts.
Likewise, revenue growth began to accelerate. Cumulative revenue from 2008 through 2010 came to around $140 million. But when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2011, Solyndra said it has amassed over $250 million in revenue, according to court filings. that means it sold around $110 million of solar panels in the first eight months of this year.
Prior to the strategy, only10% of Solyndra’s sales came from the U.S. At the end, U.S. sales represented 60% of revenue. And, as the figures above show, sales were growing.
Bierman, Silvestrini nor other installers would not name customers. Sources that I met during the earlier auction for surplus assets at company headquarters, however, said that Walmart was one. Solyndra’s press releases show Delhaize, a chain in Europe, put up a massive system on a warehouse.
Other benefits existed too. under an IRS private letter ruling, building owners can get a 30% tax credit for a new roof with a Solyndra system. a white, reflective roof directs sunlight onto the panels. because it plays a role in generating power, the IRS says the roof qualifies for tax credits. Reflective roofs can also deflect heat from entering a building. Efficiency guru Art Rosenfeld has estimated that reflective cool roofs like this can cut air conditioning loads by 20% to 30%. Air conditioning accounts for 9% of the energy consumption in commercial buildings and 40% in some tropical nations like Singapore.
Solyndra could also install systems quickly because less drilling and hands-on construction work was involved. One store customer only allowed Solyndra’s installers to work from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. the installer managed to get 300 kilowatt systems placed on these roofs within three days.
on November 21st, 2011% ![]()
Why build a homemade DIY solar air heater if you could instantly go to a store and buy it? You have the choice of buying over making one for your home. If buying an air heater wouldn’t be a great loss to your account, go for it. but think twice, money does not account for everything in this world. do you know that buying an air heater contributes to the increasing loss of our environment? You may refuse what I’m saying but you can’t reject the obvious and harmful effects of global warming. Climate changes due to this effect are very visible throughout the globe.
Solar energy never fails to provide the world adequate amount of solar energy which could equate our energy needs. Electricity demands continuously add up to the global issues concerning energy needs. Human as we are needs electricity to live life in motion. Life is stagnant and insensible without electricity. for us to constantly enjoy its unlimited feature we should be concern with some energy saving measures necessary for its long term effect on humanity. we must not think of pure leisure but also of responsible tips and ways to save energy, one way is knowing on how to build a solar air heater.
The following are the benefits of solar air heater:
Water removal(surface) for veggies and fruits
Warmth providers for animals and plants
Research constantly proves that solar energy could solely supply us energy. If humanity allows the solar energy as the main sour of our electrical needs, we could live in a world of less worry. each one of us must work triple times to prevent the world from collapsing. do you think it is not possible? I’m telling you right now that it’s not impossible yet truly possible. If man continues to exploit every resource that he have, in no time you’ll get surprised you have nothing to use. all things have its limit.
Solar air heater is advantageous especially in the field of crops. in building a homemade diy solar air heater you must used available resources within the vicinity. Improvisation of things must not cost you too much. Savings is a plus since you could use it in several valuable things and materials. Materials does not call for new equipments rather you could make use of old or used supplies provided it is still functional.
For all we know, the world have different meridians and zones wherein we experience different climates in respect to our location. in some countries, the cold climate is intolerable. thus, warmth is a need for them. Balance of temperature within the human body is necessary for optimum function. Solar air heater is of importance to these people who have cold climates. aside from buying air heaters they could have do it on their own. There are several sites that provide a very simple procedural guide that will allow you to build a solar air heater that won’t demand you competent skills. many of which require minimal assembly. Knowing on how to build a homemade diy solar air heater is one way of saying that you’re pro life and environment friendly.
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