Technology is not only electronics but about knowledge like bees, honey, and solar
Knowledge is gained over a lifetime and can be put into electronics, music, or any field which advances technology for all.
Community solar is advancing and requires ground mounted solar panels (which can be done cheaper than mounting on a building). The ground surrounding the solar panels is available but of limited value for agriculture due to proximity to the solar panels (narrow area between the panel rows). The height of any agriculture must be low otherwise it interferes with solar production. However, the area is perfect for growing sun loving plants such as those that produce high nectar and pollen. If you have flowers, you will have bees that use the pollen and nectar to produce honey.
Community solar produces sustainable and clean electricity, which can be surrounded by a garden area populated with wild flowers attracting bees which provide honey. A win, win, and win.
Realgy awards its Damn-Smart award to Travis and Chiara Bolton for advancing knowledge that supports technology in bee breeding, solar energy, and native plant re-population.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
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Global demand for coal falls in 2016 for second year in a row
Coal usage has been declining globally. In some areas, it has fallen to levels we haven’t seen in 200 years. We can see the steady increase of clean energy worldwide as more countries fight to improve air quality and use less pollutants. That desire along with the lesser expenses associated with wind, solar, and natural gas are huge factors in the decrease of coal. On top of it all, everyone wants to be the leader in renewables. From usage to manufacturing the necessary parts, there are perks to this expansion for those that know how to work the market.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
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Can U.S. clean energy still lead after Trump’s Paris gambit?
The U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has been a discussion all over the world. Clean energy will be affected in every aspect from various projects to international relationships. In the meantime, many people are wondering how it will change domestically. Research and development, technology, and manufacturing are just a few areas that are concerned about their efforts being hindered.
Will the U.S. still be on course to lead and compete with other powerhouses such as China and Europe?
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
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Renewables provide more than half UK electricity for first time
The cost of renewable electricity production has come down faster than anyone has anticipated. In particular, the production from off shore turbines.
The days of high output are uncertain, which puts a strain on management of the electricity supply. This is exacerbated by the lack of storage (~1% comes from storage).
Without storage and with the uncertainty of what days will provide electricity, we still need coal plants and other traditional sources of electricity. Storage is the next technology piece that is needed to put us on a path of renewable energy usage at all times.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Additional Information:
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40198567
U.S. Renewable Energy Jobs Employ 800,000+ People and Rising: in Charts
Employment will always be a discussion worldwide. With the rise of renewable energy, the US has seen incredible growth within the solar and wind job sector. The numbers don’t lie.
As solar and wind power prices have fallen (some utilities say prices have dropped 75% in 5 years), jobs have grown quickly. Over the past three years, jobs doubled in the U.S. wind industry. In solar, jobs are up by 117,000 in the same amount of time.
However, the US is still trailing behind China, the EU, and even Brazil when it comes to total jobs in the renewable energy market. The consistent progression of clean energy over the past few years will hopefully continue to increase jobs as well as participation. At this rate, we will all be affected in some way by renewable energy.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
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Changing minds on a changing climate
Climate denial or climate change believer… you don’t have to change your mind to support the environment.
Climate denial is a belief that current (and future) weather patterns have NOT been greatly influenced from human behavior.
Climate change is evidence based belief that current and projected weather patterns have been and will be greatly influenced with human behavior.
Wherever you are in your understanding of climate change, there appears to be several areas that offer an opportunity to discuss climate change. Here are the topics open to discussion:
- Science and irrefutable evidence based facts
- Stewardship and acknowledged benefits of clean energy
- Current weather patterns are significantly different than the current past
- Who’s facts do you agree with and do you want to associate with credible sources?
So whatever camp you fall into, please share the science that supports your position. Is your position sustainable, does it explain current weather patterns and do you have sources that are trust worthy?
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include GuaranteedSavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
Additional Information:
https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2017/04/changing-minds-on-a-changing-climate/
Local sustainability leader finds forecast sunny for solar
Sustainable solar energy.
Realgy has invested in 6 solar projects by purchasing and installing the solar power panels and interconnection at our customer’s facility. The solar installation and maintenance is paid for by Realgy. The energy produced replaces energy being transmitted through the utility, thereby decreasing the distribution costs for our customer. The energy costs the same as our delivered supply, which is historically less than the utility. Realgy is planning on 2 additional projects for 2017.
Many homeowners are finding out the same advantage applies to them. The article cites an installation producing 9,300 kWh with a savings $982 / year. That is $0.0947/kWh. Which will continue for the next 20 years!
ComEd and Ameren have extensive solar programs and a great place to start is at the Illinois solar energy association at: http://www.illinoissolar.org/
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
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Which created more jobs in the US in 2016? Natural gas, wind, coal, nuclear or solar?
According to the Department of Energy report published in January, in 2016, 1.9 million Americans were employed in power generation or mining of fuel.
More than 373,000 Americans worked in solar.
However, those solar jobs, like all power generation, is not distributed uniformly across the United States.
That is why Federal and State energy policy matters. States that support wind (Midwest and Great Plains) grew, states that supported solar (West and Northeast) saw employment grow and states that supported coal (Wyoming and West Virginia) saw more unemployment.
So what power generation do you support?
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
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School fights to keep solar incentive; it’s why they installed it!
The Indiana General Assembly (Senate Bill 309) has corrected a provision in an earlier bill that would have eliminated an incentive used by the school in deciding to install solar panels.
The incentive allows for “net” metering. That is; if the solar panels generate more energy in some months than you use, you get a credit for those kilowatts (kWh). If you use more in the next month than the solar panels generate, you can draw from the stored kilowatts and net out the bill.
Changing that provision would mean that when the solar panels generate more energy than you can use; you sell them to the utility at the wholesale cost ($.03 /kWh) and when you need more you buy it at the retail cost ($0.11 /kWh).
In the case of Lebanon Community School eliminating the net metering would have cost the school $300,000 to $900,000 in just a few years.
Utilities across the country are trying to have net metering removed from their service requirement. However, changing the rules should NOT take place to punish those who invested and relied on the rule to continue.
Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer in the states of Illinois, Michigan and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.
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Ridgeland Recreation Complex completes installation of its solar power project.
The Park District of Oak Park’s Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex will soon be powered by 100 kW of solar energy. Realgy, LLC announced the installation of a 100.8 kilowatt (kWDC) solar photovoltaic (PV) system for the Rec Center which houses an indoor ice rink and outdoor pool serving the Oak Park community.
The solar PV system is being installed on the roof of the ice rink. Jan Arnold, Executive Director of the PDOP stated: “The Solar system will reduce not only our operating expenses but our carbon foot print. The park district is always looking to expand solar opportunities to increase sustainability as well as improve our overall environmental conditions.” This project will help to make the building a LEED Certified Gold Building, the first of its kind in the Chicago area.
The solar PV system is being installed by Eco Solar Solutions of Morton Grove, Illinois. “Ridgeland has a relatively new metal roof with southern exposure making it an ideal candidate for solar,” said Terry Black, Director of Business Development for Eco Solar Solutions. “When the center is using the most electricity during the summer months, the system will be producing at its peak. This projects fits in perfectly with the sustainable efforts of everyone involved in the project.”
Realgy, LLC is an alternative energy service supplier in Illinois and is the owner of 6 solar PV systems, including our newest at Ridgeland. Realgy is paying for the installation so as to generate renewable energy locally as part of its sustainable commitment in Illinois.
The Ridgeland PV Solar system will produce over 125,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually and more than 3.1 million kWh over the next 25 years. That is enough energy to power over 12 average Illinois homes annually. Beyond the economic value are the environmental and health benefits associated with the PV system. Consider the following:
- Reduction of 337,500 lbs. of coal burned each year to produce an equal amount of electricity. That is the same as getting 337 pickup trucks of coal off the road.
- Substituting the use of coal means the removal of 87,500 lbs. of CO2 into the environment each year. That is the equivalent of planting 6,731 trees.
“We expect to complete the installation by Christmas,” said Michael Vrtis, President of Realgy, LLC. “The Ridgeland PV project builds on our commitment of reducing the cost and providing the environmental benefits of renewable energy to our customers in Illinois.”
Realgy entered into a long term agreement with the Park District under which the District pays nothing for the Solar PV system, its installation or maintenance. Ridgeland simply remains a customer of Realgy and pays only the market-based cost of power it uses (averaging 5% below COMED rates). In addition, the Park District will receive a discount of about 10% as a result of having the solar energy displace energy that would otherwise be delivered (and charged) by COMED.
Contacts:
Chris Lindgren
Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds
218 Madison St
Oak Park, Il 60302
708-725-2050
chris.lindgren@pdop.com
ECO SOLAR Solutions, LLC.
Paul Szczesny, President
847-220-8786
paul@eco-solar-solutions.com
www.eco-solar-solutions.com
Realgy Energy Services, LLC
Michael Vrtis, President
675 Oakwood Avenue
West Hartford, CT
860-233-2270
www.realgyenergyservices.com