Jobs In Solar: Green Energy Sales Associate (Rockville MD)

Date: 2010-11-30, 1:02PM EST
Reply to: job-bj7vx-2087439448@craigslist.org


Clean Currents Sales Representative

Seeking energetic, articulate, smart communicator to broker clean energy deals for small to large businesses in Maryland and DC. You don’t need to know the energy industry, but you must be willing to learn. A passion for clean energy is a big plus. Get in on the ground floor of a fast growing company.

Position Description:

Research and compile lists of likely prospects in an assigned territory. Work with prospects to identify their electricity costs, determine the terms they want and their energy needs. Provide information on solar energy installation, or energy purchasing, or Renewable Energy Credit purchases. Participate in Clean Currents sales calls and training sessions. Supervise part time sales representatives. Coordinate all sales leads and sales transactions.

Compensation:

A base salary of $30,000 per year PLUS commissions on sales and bonus (expected range $50,000-$100,000). Possible stock option package

Requirements:

• Must have some sales experience with proven results or equivalent experience
• Articulate and a fabulous communicator
• Energetic with a great attitude
• Self-starter
• Excellent references (at least 2)
• Passion for the environment a plus!

What we offer:

• A fun, relaxed business atmosphere
• A start-up company ready to grow quickly (get in on the ground floor)
• A small business where your opinions count
• A business that is making a positive impact on the world

About Clean Currents:

Clean Currents, LLC is a clean energy broker, aggregator and consulting firm based in Rockville, Maryland. We are a sustainable energy business committed to promoting positive environmental solutions and operating our business in a way that helps the planet.

For more, visit: www.CleanCurrents.com

• Location: Rockville
• Compensation: $50,000+

Celebrities Who Have Solar Powered Homes

Some celebrities talk the talk and some walk the walk when it comes to living a green lifestyle. A lot of the better known celebs are quite busy and it does take effort to recycle, cut energy use and remodel parts of their homes to become lean and green. The celebs listed below are public about their use of solar power in their homes:

Celebrities who have gone Solar:

Ed Begley Jr. (well known greenie)
"Breaking Bad" TV star Bryan Cranston
Brad Pitt
Daryl Hannah
Pierce Brosnan (featured here at SPB)
Director James Cameron
Cate Blanchett
Julia Lewis-Dreyfuss
Johnny Depp
Will Ferrell
Alicia Silverstone
Jackson Browne
Ed Norton (well known solar advocate)
Don Cheadle
Salma Hayek
Leonardo Di Caprio
Robert Redford
Alanis Morisette
Owen Wilson

Here's a list of celebs that should go solar according to the folks at One Block Off The Grid.

Wealthy Conservationist VS Solar Powered Electricity Transmission

Interesting story about a well known wealthy conservationist trying to stop the installation of transmission lines that would carry solar powered electricity to residents of southern Colorado.

Louis Bacon is defending his property "Trinchera Ranch" from public utilities Xcel Energy and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. running transmission lines through it.

Louis Bacon, a 54 yr. billionaire hedge fund manager bought Trinchera Ranch from the Malcolm Forbes family in 2007 for $175 million. At the time it was the highest price paid for a single-family home in American history. The Forbes family permanently removed the development rights for the ranch in 2004.

Xcel Energy and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association want to run transmission lines across the 171,400 acre ranch and have planned the lines for quite a while. The companies maintain that these lines have been approved and meet the clean-energy requirements for the state.

Bacon said in a Denver Post interview "Having helped many others in their fights against outside, profit-oriented polluters, I couldn't shirk this battle when I know there is so much at stake for the San Luis Valley residents, the range, the environment, the animals and for all of Colorado."

The utilities fight back saying the people of Colorado have made it clear that they want solar powered electricity for their state. Three local county commissions have also backed the transmission lines citing they'll provide reliable electricity that will promote economic development for the area.

Bacon takes this fight seriously enough to use some of his $1.6 billion and his "team" which consists of his own P.R. Firm and a stable of lawyers to fight in the state legislature. He has been successful in stalling the utilities companies plans beyond 2013. 

Bacon continues to fund state politicians hoping to get their continued backing against the transmission lines. He's even hired utility attorneys to design an alternative route outside Trinchera Ranch, which by the way is home to one of Colorado's highest peaks called Mount Blanca or Blanca Peak.

More interesting details can be read at The Denver Post.

Jobs In Solar: PV SOLAR INSTALLER (OVER TEXAS)

Date: 2010-11-24, 11:35PM CST
Reply to: job-k8xym-2078716688@craigslist.org

JOURNEYMAN (Or master) ELECTRICIAN TO INSTALL PV SOLAR SYSTEMS.'

MUST BE JOURNEYMAN WITH TOOLS AND BE ABLE TO TRAVEL.

WE ARE A LOCAL HVAC, ELECT CONTRACTING COMPANY WITH OVER 100 CONTRACTS TO INSTALL PV SOLAR GENERATION SYSTEMS.

HVAC INSTALL EXPERIENCE ALSO HELPFUL BUT NOT REQUIRED. WE WILL TRAIN YOU ON PV SOLAR INSTALLATION.

THESE ARE "GREEN" JOBS WITH WAGE GOVERNED BY MANDATED SCALE. IF YOU CAN TRAVEL, HAVE THE TOOLS, NOT AFRAID OF WORKING LONG HOURS AND WANT TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, LETS TALK. JOB IS AVAILABLE NOW. ALSO PLENTY OF LOCAL WORK AFTER THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED. MUST NOT HAVE FELONY, BE DRUG FREE , HAVE VALID DRIVERS LICENSE, DO NOT ABUSE ALCOHOL AND WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE, LETS TALK!

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AFTER INITIAL CONTACT. ALL RESPONSES WILL BE ANSWERED. LETS GO TO WORK AND MAKE SOME MONEY NOW: THIS IS A "GREEN JOB" WITH DAVIS BACON WAGE SCALE AND BENEFITS.

• Location: OVER TEXAS
• Compensation: DAVIS BACON WITH FULL BENEFITS ( ABOVE AVERAGE) EOE

Jobs In Solar: Salesforce Developer/Administrator (Port Chester, NY)

Date: 2010-11-22, 4:39PM EST
Reply to: job-yb3bz-2074761825@craigslist.org

Our company is one of the leading solar integrators on the East Coast, and we are growing quickly. We are looking for a full-time SFDC developer / administrator to be responsible for optimizing and expanding our Salesforce environment and functionality to incorporate best practices and solutions to address immediate and future business needs.

Requirements:

B.S. in business, computer science, software engineering, MIS or equivalent work
2+ years hands-on experience with the configuration, customization, integration, and ongoing administration of Salesforce.com
Strong knowledge of page layouts, workflow rules, validation rules, triggers, reports, etc.
Experienced with other CRM and/or ERP systems (MS Dynamics GP preferred)
Strong experience with Integraions to other systems
Familiarity with Apex and Visual Force
Experience managing multiple SFDC orgs (Sandboxes)
Advanced experience with MS SQL, Excel
Experience with HTML, java, PHP, .net application languages
Experience with 3rd party tools to support business users or experience evaluating other add-on
Experience in business process analysis, workflow modeling and analytics

Ability to translate business requirements into Technical Requirements
Manage relationships with internal clients (Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Operations), aligning with business objectives and implementing new changes
Self-starter, with thechnical creativity, integrity, and interpersonal skills
Analytical and creative, with the ability to solve problems and develop solutions accordingly

We will also consider bringing someone in on a consultant basis. Please indicate whether you are interested in working as a consultant or full-time employee.

Location: Port Chester, NY

Compensation: $60,000 - $70,000 depending on experience

GE Ecomagination Innovation Award Winners

GE & Partners have an ongoing goal to find companies and technology that will make America's electrical grid much smarter and efficient. GE believes that open collaboration will bring about the next generation power grid. They're always looking for individuals, entrepreneurs and companies that are producing the next great idea when it comes to energy grid efficiency and innovation.

To foster new methods of improving the performance and efficiency of the grid GE has come up with a way to challenge and reward innovation. GE has committed $200 million dollars to foster innovation and challenge inventors to come up with ideas that can be used to improve how we use energy. The "Ecomagination Challenge" asked companies, entrepreneurs and even students to submit ideas that could contribute to creating a smarter cleaner grid. Launched July 13th 2010 the winners were announced recently and included American and international companies.

An independent panel of judges were selected including challenge advisor, Wired magazine editor Chris Anderson, GE executives, academics and technologists.

The Ecomagination Challenge picked five winners from the 4000 ideas that they were presented with during the challenge. A whopping 70,000 entrepreneurs in more than 150 countries over a 10-week period held robust conversations and presented their ideas to the judges.

GE partnered with four leading venture capital firms, Emerald Technology Ventures, Foundation Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer and RockPort Capital, to conceive and implement the Challenge, calling for innovation ideas in three categories: Renewables, Grid and Eco Homes/Eco Buildings.

The winners of the $200 million dollar Ecomagination Challenge are:

• Capstone Metering: Intelligent Water Meters – Carrollton, Texas: Capstone Metering applies remote communications technology to the century-old water meter. The company’s IntelliH₂O is self-powered and delivers real-time water system management, which helps conserve water and eliminates the need for manual meter-readings (www.capstonemetering.com).
• ElectricRoute: Secure Communications Network for the Electric Grid, Salem and Hollis, New Hampshire: Recognizing the substation's unique location in the electric grid, ElectricRoute created a communications gateway point for transmission and distribution systems. Its cyber-secure, communications network infrastructure eliminates duplicate sensors and thousands of copper lines running inside the substation.
• GridON: Controlling Power Quality in Electric Grids, Givatayim, Israel:- GridON created a fault-current-limiter to protect the electric grid from disruptions and power outages, increasing the grid’s reliability and enabling load growth and generation expansion from alternative energy sources. This technology was developed in collaboration with Bar-Ilan University and Ricor Ltd (www.gridonsystems.com).
• IceCode: Wind Turbine Blade Anti-Icing and De-Icing, West Lebanon, NH - Seeking to break one of nature’s strongest bonds, IceCode’s technology removes ice by using high-power pulses to apply heat from the inside out. Employing this technology for wind turbines substantially reduces the amount of energy used for de-icing and eliminates downtime for ice removal and inspection. Developed in collaboration with Dartmouth College (www.icecode.com).
• WinFlex: Inflatable Wind Turbines, Kiryat Yam, Israel: - WinFlex produces rotors for wind turbines from light, flexible and inexpensive cloth sheets made out of composite materials. This flexible rotor design reduces installation costs by at least fifty percent and shortens the return on investment to three-four years, without subsidies (http://winflex.co.il/). 

Each of these winners will receive $100,000 to develop their ideas.

Wired's Chris Anderson said "Our grids today are where the Internet was a generation ago, with their full interactive potential still largely untapped. Just as we did with the Internet, we can make them smarter and more efficient, using the power of collaboration, open access and a hugely expanded range of entrepreneurs. The Challenge was designed to accelerate this, and show that good ideas can come from anywhere. And the number and breadth of ideas we received was indeed inspiring."

GE said it's investing $10 billion dollars in research and development over the next 5 years as well as doubling operational efficiency including reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Visit the Ecomagination Challenge Innovation Award winners page at Ecomagination.

Ambulances Going Solar in Austin Texas

Paramedics need to keep patient medications at a certain temperature in their ambulance while transferring patients into the hospital. In Austin Texas this was typically done by keeping the engine going throughout the delivery process. Usually the transferring the patient takes around 30 minutes.

During that 30 minutes gas is being burned to not only preserve the medication temperature but to also power their equipment.

Motivated to look for ways to maintain the meds and equipment while saving money and fuel, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services discovered that they could use solar panels on the ambulances. They heard about EMS in North Port Florida who early in 2010 ordered two solar powered ambulances for their department.


Now that some of their ambulances have the panels installed, they can shut off the engine and maintain their equipment using solar power. The EMS are estimating that during that 30 minutes they're saving several hundred gallons of fuel per vehicle and up to $4K per year per ambulance.

They are monitoring the fuel savings and have ordered five additional solar powered ambulances with expectations to purchase more. At the Texas EMS Conference they will unveil one of the two solar powered units.

More at The Statesman.

Photo Credit: North Port Fire Rescue

Jobs In Solar: Solar Sales (New Mexico)

Date: 2010-11-19, 4:32PM MST
Reply to: job-hrppv-2069839075@craigslist.org

Solar Sales Professional needed. Construction/Solar industry experience preferred. Must have a BA/BS in business or related field.

• Location: New Mexico
• Compensation: Depending on Experience

Solar Generation USA Roadtrip

SEIA the Solar Energy Industries Association is producing a video each week following a reporter around as she interviews businesses and homeowners who have installed solar panels.

We find out the Crayola's solar panels create enough electricity to produce over 1 Billion crayons!

Not to be outdone, Pennsylvania's Pocono Raceway sports the largest solar panel installation among America's raceways with a 39,000 panel array. Pocono has been recognized for it's 25 acre 3 megawatt adjacent installation by several regional environmental groups.

Here's the first video of the "Solar Generation USA Road Trip":

Webisode 1

Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

How Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells Work
By Aaron Dicks

In the photovoltaic process solar cells are used to covert light into electricity. Solar cells are made up of semiconductor materials such as: silicon, gallium, cadmium telluride and copper indium diselenide. One of the most common materials used in solar cells is silicon.

In the case of crystalline silicon solar cells, substantially pure silicon with high crystal quality is needed to make strong usable solar cells. In the outer shell of a silicon atom it comprises of 4 bonding electrons. In order to form a stable electron configuration, in the crystal lattice two electrons of neighbouring atoms from an electron pair bond. By forming a stable bond with 4 neighbouring electrons silicon achieves its noble gas configuration with 8 out electrons. This electron bond can be broken by light or heat, which enables the electron to move freely and as a result it leaves a hole in the crystal lattice. This is known as intrinsic conductivity.

Intrinsic conductivity cannot be used to produce electricity. The silicon can only produce electricity when impurities (known as doping atoms) are introduced into the crystal lattice. These atoms have one electron more (phosphorous) or one electron less (boron) than silicon in their outer shell. The phosphorous doping method is known as negative doping (n-doping) and the boron doping method is known as positive doping (p-doping).

In the case of n-doping the electron can move about freely in the crystal and as a result can transport electrical charge. On the other hand p-doping has a missing bonding electron for every bonding born atom in the crystal lattice. This enables electrons from silicon atoms to fill the hole caused by the missing bonding electron, creating a new hole elsewhere. The conduction method based on these doping atoms is known impurity conduction.

If both the p and n-doped semiconductor layers are brought together a p-n junction is made. This junction allows surplus electrons from the n-semiconductor to diffuse into the p-semiconductor layer, thus creating an area known as the space charge region. Positively charged doping atoms remain in the n-region of the transition and negatively charged doping atoms remain in the p-region of the transition. An electrical field is then created that is opposed to the movement of the charge carriers, with the result that diffusion does not continue indefinitely. This p-n semiconductor is what is known as a solar cell. Once the solar cell is exposed to light photons are absorbed by the electrons. This contribution of energy breaks electron bonds. The released electrons are pulled through the electrical field into the n-region. The holes that are formed migrate in the opposite direction, into the p-region. This process is what is known as the photovoltaic effect - turning light into electricity.

Copyright (c) 2010 Aaron Dicks

EvoEnergy design and install Solar PV Solar systems can benefit investments of any size through the Government Clean Energy Cashback scheme, also called the Feed-In Tariffs.

Jobs In Solar: Renewable Energy Account Executive - Portland OR Area

Date: 2010-11-17, 2:52PM PST
Reply to: job-6xhcy-2066033819@craigslist.org

If you are an experienced commission based salesman that can leverage an existing book of business, call on new businesses, and develop strategic relationships with others that call on businesses, you are a great fit for this position. This is an independent contractor position that reports to the Vice President of business development. This sales position is in one of the fastest growing industries in the world--renewable energy.

A successful candidate will be expected to get a business owner to agree to a proposal showing them the cost savings of using solar panels. The existing incentives and rebates are so aggressive in Oregon right now that the proposal will speak for itself in energy savings as well as tax incentives, with no money out of pocket for installation.

You must be able to articulate these benefits to a business owner and be able to make a "technical" sale and have experience in closing using relationship closing methods. We pay aggressive commissions and one installation/month results in a six figure income.

This is a great opportunity for the right individual that already has an existing book of business from previous work history or for the highly motivated individual that is willing to go out and work hard. You will be expected to cold call and generate your own leads. What is atypical about the cold calling is that you initially aren't trying to sell anything, but simply have the goal of getting one year's worth of utility bills so we can put the proposal together.

Must have reliable transportation, cell phone and computer access. If interested, please submit your resume.

A successful candidate will be:

--Goal oriented
--Analytical
--Honest
--Organized
--Professional
--Self Starter
--Motivated
--Disciplined
--Hard Working
--Relationship sales closer
--Excellent communicator
--Superb customer service
--3 years plus previous sales experience Hiring Organization: SolRey Systems

• Location: Greater Portland Oregon Area
• Compensation: Commission based, expectation is $100k+

Analyst Sees "Glut of Solar Panels" in 2011

Interesting "Chart of The Day" at Bloomberg.com regarding the supply/demand for solar panels 

Axiom Capital Management's solar power stock analyst Gordon Johnson sees 2011 as a difficult year for solar panel manufacturers. His reading of the manufacturing data suggests that supply for photovoltaic panels in 2011 may triple the level of demand. Creating a glut of panels in the wake of governments cutting subsidies for rooftop installations because of financial troubles.

A record number of number of solar panels was sold this year as companies go after sales before rates are cut. This cutting back of support for the solar panel industry will be especially hard felt in Germany, a country that is the world's largest solar panel market.

This year manufacturers charged $1.80 per watt but with supply overriding demand the price they can charge may drop to as low as $1.10 per watt.

Solar panel supply and demand charted at Bloomberg.

Los Angeles Utility Threatens to Cut Solar Subsidies

The nations largest municipal water utility - The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) budgeted $30 Million for solar panel rebates this year. Which is a lot of money everyone can agree. But, Los Angeles area homeowners and businesses have applied for $70 Million in solar rebates. The DWP is considering cutting the subsidies by approximately a third which would raise the price of solar installations.

Solar Panel Installers, homeowners and businesses are unhappy about this proposed reduction in rebates. If passed, much larger down payments would be required for new rooftop panel installations. Cuts in rebates would take effect on Jan. 1st.

Then, to add to the debate, is an ongoing argument between city planners and environmentalists. Environmentalists believe rooftop panel installations are more efficient than large industrial solar plants. City planners have the opposite view saying it will be easier to manage electricity distribution using large-scale solar plants.

Arguments and opinions regarding these subsidies will be considered over the next three weeks by the Los Angles City Council.

Ten or fifteen years ago most people would never have thought that an argument like this would be taking place. Few if any would've even considered solar power industrial plants to be a topic to be discussed by the Los Angeles City Council. Rapid advances in technology have changed the way people view how they receive and or produce their electricity.

The sun's rays belong to everyone. A healthy ongoing debate will bring up questions, theories and answers that can lead to a better understanding and use of solar power.

More details at the L.A. Times.

Jobs In Solar: Solar Energy Marketing Manager (Island Park)

Date: 2010-11-09, 7:53PM EST
Reply to: opportunity@empowerces.com

Company: EmPower CES, LLC.
Location: Island Park, New York
Web site: www.empowerces.com

MARKETING MANAGER

THE OPPORTUNITY

EmPower is a leading solar electric power company that is accelerating the clean energy revolution in New York and beyond. Our mission is to EmPower people to use renewable energy to control energy costs, protect the environment and achieve energy security. It is our vision that renewable energy will lead to a more prosperous, healthy and civil world. EmPower has worked hard to achieve an outstanding reputation in the marketplace. The Marketing Manager will be a key member of the team that will build on EmPower’s success and work collaboratively to increase the company’s growth and impact.

POSITION SUMMARY

EmPower seeks a highly talented, capable and motivated Marketing Manager to help grow its photovoltaic contracting business. The Marketing Manager will develop and implement marketing programs in accordance with overall marketing strategies. The goal is to expand the number of qualified residential and commercial solar leads as well as promote the EmPower brand and clean energy mission.

The Marketing Manager will report to the CEO, manage outside agencies and vendors and work collaboratively with the management team and other departments. EmPower is seeking candidates with the appropriate skill set who are hard-working, passionate, dependable, creative, detail oriented and have a passion for excellence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
• Program Implementation: Manage marketing programs from start to finish. Develop timeline with critical path, staffing, resources, budget, etc.
• Brand: Develop and promote EmPower brand while staying true to the core brand equity.
• Creative: Responsible for all creative executions and representations of the company. Ensure consistency throughout all creative and marketing collateral:
Website, brochure, uniforms, vehicle wraps, business cards, advertisements, promotional items, presentations, etc. Note: it is anticipated that creative will
be generated in-house and by vendors.
• Analytics: Track, analyze and generate reports on efficacy of marketing programs.
• Website: Maintain overall responsibility for website; manage webmaster and third party vendors, updates, blog
• Social Media: Responsible for social media presence and strategy
• Events: Plan marketing events, including marketing collateral, presentations, staffing, vendors, promotional items.
• Representation: Represent EmPower at marketing events, key meetings and speaking engagements.
• Vendors: Manage and collaborate with outside marketing, advertising, web development, public relations and creative firms.
• Recruit & Manage: Hire and train street-teams capable of representing EmPower at marketing events.
• Organizations: Help maintain and build key marketing relationships with industry organizations.
• Reporting: Submit quarterly and annual reports on efficacy of marketing programs.
• Weekly: Set weekly goals and participate in weekly planning meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Work Experience: 3-5 years of related experience.
• Education: College degree in marketing or a related field.
• Marketing Track Record: Track record of successfully managing marketing programs and advertising campaigns from start to finish.
• Management Experience: A demonstrated ability to manage and empower subordinates, collaborate with co-workers and plan with and report to management. Identify staffing needs, and
hire/manage key employees who have contributed to organizational success.
• Creative: Experience producing creative and various forms of marketing collateral.
• Presentations: Experience producing presentations for clients and partners.
• Strategy Experience: Experience developing strategy. Familiarity assessing and targeting various demographics, depending on traits and desires of each.
• Advertising Experience: Understanding of advertising channels including internet, print, television, billboards, etc.
• Quality Control: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, monitors department’s work to ensure quality.
• Software: Command knowledge of Microsoft Office: Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint. Knowledge of Adobe Suite including Illustrator, Photoshop, and other desktop publishing programs.
• Website: Website building experience a plus
• Renewables: Renewable energy industry experience a plus
• References: 2 + References

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The ideal candidate has the following personal characteristics:

• Interpersonal Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills and a pleasure to collaborate with
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Can articulate clearly in positive or negative situations.
• Organizational Skills: Exceptional organizational and time management skills
• Planning: Self-directed, prioritizes and plans. Uses time efficiently.
• Creative: Creative thinker and artistic.
• Public Speaking: Strong public speaking skills.
• Problem Solving: Can identify and resolve problems.
• Work Ethic: Strong work ethic that is part of DNA. Ability to perform work dependably and reliably according to work schedules and assignments including occasional overtime, weekend.
• Adaptability: Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands and is able to deal with change, delays or unexpected events.
• Computer savvy
• Represents the EmPowering Way

COMPENSATION

Base salary + bonus. Salary range is $55,000 to $65,000 and will be evaluated based on background and experience. Excellent benefits are available including: Paid holidays, vacations and health insurance. Annual performance based bonuses based on individual performance, firm performance, etc.

HOURS

This is a full-time position. Willing to commit to extra hours when necessary for important events and to complete time-sensitive tasks.

WHY WORK FOR EMPOWER?

• EmPower is a leading regional solar energy company with an outstanding reputation in the marketplace
• EmPower is a fast growing company
• EmPower’s employees have a great camaraderie and are committed to clean energy
• Solar energy is one of the fastest growing industries in the country and throughout the world
• Support for training and professional development is available and encouraged
• A job at EmPower gives you an opportunity to be an energy and environmental leader.

APPLICATIONS

Please email the following to opportunity@empowerces.com:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Portfolio (if available)
a. Marketing strategy documents
b. Summaries of marketing campaigns, with analytics
c. Creative work
d. Business plans

EmPower is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace. Additional information about EmPower is available at www.empowerces.com

Location: Island Park NY

Compensation: $55 - $65,000 based on experience and capabilities. Benefits available.

Using Solar Energy to Melt Ice and Power Street Lights

Researchers at the University of Rhode Island (URI) are experimenting with several materials to find a way to use the energy generated by the sun to melt road ice and power road signs as well as street lights.

URI professor of civil engineering K Wayne Lee and fellow URI researchers have been studying the heat radiated by asphalt. Asphalt is a great conductor of heat sometimes raising road temperatures to 140 F. or higher. Lee and his research team are looking at four possible ways to harvest solar energy and use it to power streetlights, signs and get rid of dangerous road ice.

One technique they're studying is to put water pipes under roads and use the heat from the asphalt to warm the water which would melt the immediate ice on top of the roads and bridges. Eliminates dangerous sheets of ice as well as reduces the cost of road salt.

The researchers are testing different asphalt mixes and piping systems to see which combination produces the most heat. Their tests reveal that asphalt retains it's heat even after sundown. Sometimes the water in the pipes is warmer than the asphalt.

Their studying the use of flexible solar cells that could be wrapped around highway dividers. The harvest electricity could then be used to light streetlights as well as illuminate road signs and power up street-side lamps.

A third alternative uses a thermo-electric effect to generate a small but usable amount of electricity. When two types of semiconductors are connected to form a circuit linking a hot and a cold spot, there is a small amount of electricity generated in the circuit.

Thermo-electric materials can then be embedded in roadways at varying depths as well placing them in sunny and shady areas. The difference in temperature between the heated and cooler materials would generate an electrical current. These materials could then be installed side by side to produce heat to melt road ice or generate electricity for an immediate application. 

URI researcher and Chemistry Professor Sze Yang believes that instead of the traditional semiconductors, he proposes to use a family of organic polymeric semiconductors developed at his laboratory that can be fabricated inexpensively as plastic sheets or painted on a flexible plastic sheet. Although he believes this technique to be futuristic he says it has been demonstrated to work in a laboratory.

An additional futuristic type of method would be to remove the traditional asphalt surface and replace it with large electronic blocks that contain photovoltaic cells, sensors and LED lights. The blocks would illuminate lanes, warn of needed maintenance and generate electricity. This would be a very expensive way to go and cost tremendous amounts of money.

Professor Lee advises that since these methods are so new and different it will take quite a while before transportation related businesses and engineers would be willing to consider these ideas.

Lee said “But we’ve been using asphalt for our highways for more than 100 years, and pretty soon it will be time for a change.”

* Photo Credit:
URI student Andrew Correia and Professor K. Wayne Lee conduct a laboratory experiment to measure the solar energy generated by a patch of asphalt. URI Department of Communications & Marketing photo by Michael Salerno Photography.

Learn more at the University of Rhode Island Transportation Research Center.

Solar Powered Camcorder

For those who use camcorders and are interested in getting some free recording time, you might be interested to know that online retailers (including Amazon.com) are currently carrying a solar powered camcorder.

The camcorder features a 12 MP image sensor and a 8x digital zoom that captures HD video in 720 x 480 pixel resolution. Uses AVI files for storage on a memory card that holds up 32 GB. Takes still images in JPEG form at up to 3000-4000 resolution.

The flip up solar panel extends the battery life up to 12 minutes for every hour it's charged. It also functions as a sunshade. The rechargeable battery lasts up to 5 hours on a 3 hour charge. Includes an AC charger also.

It's a no-name brand so buyer beware. 

Prices vary from $159 to $250 around the net.

Solar Power News Briefs.....

Secretary of State Clinton Announces Joint Solar Power Tech Research with Australia

Former first lady and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced in a joint new conference with Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard that the U.S. and Australia will conduct joint research toward the goal of cutting the cost of producing solar panels.

Secretary Clinton made a comparison between solar power technology and mobile phones noting that mobile phones became more affordable when the technology to produce them became universal.

More at The Age.

United States and India Joining Together to launch Space Based Solar Power Initiative 

A U.S. space organization the National Space Society and the former president of India P.J Abdul Kalam have announced that India and the United States are going to be teaming together to promote space based solar power satellite transmission. The project is estimated to last 15 years and will investigate ways to reduce the cost of launching spacecraft as well as harvesting and transmitting solar power.

Isro Satellite Centre  an Indian space research organization will conduct a study to find out if the project will be economically feasible.  

Further details at The Times of India.

Solar Power Panel Maker Solyndra Cutting Staff to Cut Costs
Fremont California based Solyndra, a company that designs and produces cylindrical solar power modules has announced they'll be reducing their staff.

 The announcement comes at a time when the Chinese government has stepped up funding for it's solar power industry to the point where non-Chinese panel producers are having trouble competing with prices. 

Solyndra has already gathered $1 Billion in venture capital as well as a $535 Million dollar loan guarantee from the DOE (Department of Energy). It was forced to cancel it's IPO in June amid U.S. economic troubles. 

They are also moving equipment to their new facility in an attempt to streamline production. The company's communications director David Miller said "We are lowering the cost of the panel and making it easier to install to compete against the Chinese panels."

Analysis and more info at Silicon Valley-San Jose Business Journal.

Jobs In Solar: Solar Tech and Installer (Carpinteria CA)

Date: 2010-11-04, 1:51PM PDT
Reply to: job-4phbu-2042576030@craigslist.org

Solar Technician: “Opportunity of a Lifetime”. Established company with over 7,000 systems installed since 1976. We install solar systems for pools, spas, domestic hot water and solar electric systems for residential and commercial applications.

Check out our web site at: www.thesolarenergycompany.com we are looking for experienced plumbers and electricians. Previous solar experience not required but helpful, so is working on pool equipment, roofing and/or plumbing and electrical experience. We will provide training.

Starting pay is $11-22+ per hour depending on your experience.

We are located at 6440 Via Real #7 in Carpinteria ph. 566-2127. Fax 684-1535 please email your resume and references to our email address. Welcome to the cutting edge of human history!

Location: Carpinteria CA

Compensation: $11-22+ DOE
 

Jobs In Solar: Fast-Growing Solar Company looking for Jr. Systems Design Engineer (Chicago)

Date: 2010-11-01, 3:45PM CDT
Reply to: job-fzx3d-2037072765@craigslist.org

SoCore Energy, one of fastest growing solar energy developers in the country, is looking for a Jr. Systems Design Engineer. SoCore is a progressive company who seeks fast thinkers and individuals who possess an entrepreneurial mindset. SoCore Energy is also a Winner of the 2010 Chicago Innovations Award. If you want to get your foot in the door in the solar industry, this is a great place to start. (www.SoCoreEnergy.com)

Key Responsibilities

-Create layouts and detailed electrical designs of PV systems
-Generate drawings required for bid documents, permit packages and construction plans
-Work with the sales team to generate preliminary designs for proposals
-Ensure that all designs are code-compliant

Required Skills:

-Bachelor degree in Engineering: Electrical or Mechanical
-Significant Experience with AutoCAD
-Experience with MS Excel
-Working knowledge of the NEC and electrical systems design of AC and DC systems
-Excellent communications and problem-solving skills
-Disciplined and self-motivated

Compensation:
Base salary of $32,000/year plus bonus and benefits.

Please respond to this ad by submitting your resume as well 3 bulletpoints in the accompanying e-mail explaining why you will be the best darn hire this company makes in 2010. NO Cover Letters or phone calls please.

• Location: Chicago IL
• Compensation: $32,000 base + bonus and benefits

Billy Eichner-Miners.....

So is it safe to not care about miners again? - Billy Eichner

Solar Powered Keyboard by Logitech

Logitech has come out with a PC keyboard that incorporates little solar panels. Placing the keyboard near a light source fires up the solar cells and Logitech claims that charge will last at least 3 months in "total darkness." Seems like a feature that may come in handy if you lose your job and can't pay the electricity bill.

It's been designed for indoor/outdoor use and easy to carry at just a third of an inch thick. For use with Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7. We have Windows 7 and highly recommend it by the way!

Wireless at 2.4Ghz you'll be able to take the keyboard and still use it while roaming around-hopefully not in "total darkness." There's also a power level indicator that let's you know if it needs a charge and an on/off switch.

The 2.4 wireless also includes 128-bit AES encryption with the keyboard — one of the highest levels of security available.

Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is pre-ordering at $79.00 and will be available in the U.S. and Europe sometime this month November 2010.

Check it out at Logitech.