In central France lies Poitiers, a city rich in Roman architecture and medieval history. Modern building in Poitiers is constructing a new sort of history, however, an energy-efficient, IBM ThinkPad T61 Battery solar-powered and potentially profitable history. Sipea, a local non-profit builder of social housing in the city, is installing solar electricity at its headquarters to sell back to the power grid.

Sipea’s homes are built to Passive House (PassivHaus in Europe) standards, which means they are very well-insulated, use passive solar heat to its  IBM ThinkPad T60 Battery maximum potential and utilize a host of other green building features.

But what is most fascinating about Sipea’s Poitiers headquarters are the unique solar modules. Instead of typical ibm thinkpad x41 battery solar modules, the building uses transparent solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity while allowing a speckling of natural light indoors. The solar cells are not wholly transparent. They’re spaced a bit apart and sandwiched between two high-efficiency ThinkPad X41 Tablet Battery panes of glass, thus allowing natural light through while protecting against direct glare from the sun.

The building has extremely low heating and cooling costs – a hallmark of Passive House design – which help facilitate the profitability of its solar electric system. The combination of that VGP-BPS9/B VGP-BPS9/S solar electricity, passive solar design, tight insulation and other green building tactics make Sipéa’s headquarters net-negative, meaning it creates more energy than it consumes.

The building-integrated solar system produces roughly 9,000 kilowatt-hours of Sony VGP-BPS8 electricity per year, which garners the organization a small profit thanks to energy conservation and France’s national feed-in tariff for renewable power. You might justly figure that the building must be tiny and short on creature comforts  VGP-BPS2 Sony VGP-BPS2C, but in fact, the new headquarters is much larger than its predecessor and has lower yearly operating costs.

With escalating power bills and so much talk of renewable energy millions of people are thinking about solar power these days. Harnessing the sun’s energy makes sense because it is clean, green, and saves money in the long run as Latitude D520 Battery. But the reality is that the cost involved with installing panels and collectors is still out of reach for the vast majority of homeowners. Fortunately there are some cheap and easy ways to make the sun work for you.

Use Passive Solar
Passive solar means simply using or blocking the sun’s rays to heat or cool your home for A1008. This means that using your window coverings wisely can save you a ton on your power bills. Simply closing or angling your blinds to keep direct sunlight out can drop the interior temperature by 10 degrees. Try closing the window coverings on the south side of your house when you leave for the day during the summer months. Without the sun’s hot light shining in the windows, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard. And in the winter of course doing the opposite can help heat your house. There tons of great looking blinds A1079,, awnings, and window films to help you harness or block the sun’s powerful rays.

Use Solar Exterior Lighting
Lighting the exterior of your home used to be tricky because you had to find a way to get power to the lights. But with the advancement in renewable power technology, these has gotten a lot easier. Solar garden lights, security lights for HP 530 Battery, and area lights now come completely integrated with panel, battery, electronic eye, and lights. Installation is usually as easy as hanging a picture and the prices start at less than $50. So whether you are trying to put some accent lights in your garden, shed some light in your tool shed, or trying to brighten those dark steps, lights powered by the sun are a great alternative.

Get Portable Chargers
These days we carry so many electronic devices around with us it kind of feels like we are a walking Radio Shack of Latitude d430 battery. The hardest part is figuring out how to keep these things charged. Now there are cool-looking portable solar chargers that will keep your iPod or blackberry running in a pinch. They are lightweight, folding, and very durable to handle the rigors of travel and outdoors situations. And if you are indoors and in need of a quick charge most of them will work by simply them putting near a window.

Decorate Home and Garden
For your outdoor spaces, solar fountains lend a soothing touch to any setting. All they require is a little water and a sunny spot and they can surround you with pleasant sounds or keep your pond aerated in Toshiba PA3399U-2BRS. Solar lamp post lights lend a nice touch to any entry area and tell your arriving guests you have good taste and care about the planet.

Get a Plug and Play Kit
If you need a small power source for your cottage in PA3465U-1BRS,, RV, or to take with you into the wilderness, there are great options out there. There are solar power kits that include the panel, the electronics, instructions, and all the wiring you need to get started. For example, a kit could power a little stereo, light, and charging your phone down at the boathouse or out in the barn. Or they can keep your RV Dell inspiron 9400 battery charged as you travel around the country. You’ll need a screwdriver, the ability to follow instructions, and a sunny place for the panel. Many of the kits start at less than $100 and for $500 you can get a nice little system and expand it later.