Comments for UC San Diego Plants Solar Trees at http://www.ecogeek.org , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://www.ecogeek.org Sun, 19 May 2013 18:31:15 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/2100#comment-18610 [quote]how soon can we talk my local big boxes into these things??? [/quote] As soon as they can pay for it. With the recession and dropping retail sales it’s unlikely they will find the capital to start such project. CVS and Kohls are two good examples of companies trying just what you suggested, but both programs have stalled to some degree due to cost and more importantly due to the expiration of state incentive programs. For example, Kohls is only testing the market with 22 stores getting solar panels on their roofs with an eventual goal of 40. With the slow market don't be surprised if they don't even get close to 22. Also don’t forget sometimes the stores don’t own the parking lot or the property, so who precisely do you expect to foot the bill? The property owners will NEVER pay for this kind of stuff out of pocket, let alone the additional design issues of seismic resistance for those panels ending up in California parking lots. Essentially it would have to be designed for the site from day one. Only government facilities are going to try this type of stuff on a large scale. - boohoo Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:39:43 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/2100#comment-18600 My name is Solomon Richard, and I am interested in your product, please can you provide me with your price list and reconfirm me with your website so that I will inform you more about this, and in case if you want to call me, kindly call with the below number/email. Sincerely Yours, Solomon Richard 234 703 574 6198 Solomonrichard66@gmail.com solomonrichard@rocketmail.com - Solomon Richard Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:02:04 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/2100#comment-18594 so how cool would it be to roll into your local big box store parking lot that's a big as a football field, and park in the shade?? and then, after filling your hemp shopping bags, exiting to find it raining, but not getting wet walking to your prius?? the fact that the store is off the grid(during the day anyway) and possabilly feeding green power back into the grid is just gravey. how soon can we talk my local big boxes into these things??? - cannon Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:08:40 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/2100#comment-18587 I think it means 17'000 kWh, (so over the 8760 hours, an average of just under 2 kW per hour). This seems like an excellent and practical use of the technology, but as 'Boohoo' pointed out, the problem is the bureaucracy behind being able to implement this. - Clinch Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:12:13 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/2100#comment-18585 These trees must exist in a strange parallel relativistic universe if they produce energy 17,000 hours per year. There are only about 8,760 hours in a year and that includes the dark times too. - Dave Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:12:25 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/solar-power/2100#comment-18583 [quote]the trees were covered by three local companies, so the university is billed monthly for the electricity received, but didn’t have to provide any initial investment. [/quote] This is precisely why you don't see them everywhere at State universities. It’s not cheap and the project design has to be approved through DSA (FYI - Division of the State Architect). This is not the same as when a individual goes to the city and asks for a building permit. DSA rejects stuff all the time, so to get something like this rolling requires an architect, engineer and contractor who are familiar with the workings of DSA. In the end it’s very costly and few state colleges can afford it (especially with the expiration of many the rebates that were being offered). The most likely successful scenario would include a power-purchase agreement, but that involves more than one investing party, a bank and sometimes even the builder gets a slice of the pie. Maybe your expectations for this type of green building should be directed towards private colleges with big endowments? - boohoo Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:21:37 +0100