Solar

Solar radiation provides 170 million GW of power. According to Photovoltaic Systems, (by John Dunlop, PE) this generation of energy is millions of times greater than the maximum power demand of all mankind. The two forms of solar energy – passive and active – offer the opportunity to access this tremendous energy source.

Passive solar energy is harnessed with the use of building orientation as well as selecting materials with effective thermal properties that collect and distribute energy.

Active solar energy is created through the use of solar photovoltaic panels and directly converts solar radiation into electricity or can produce thermal energy for radiant heating or household hot water.

The fluctuation in the amount of sunlight that arrives at the earth's surface, the time of day, time of year, and weather conditions affect production and must be considered for proper application.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is typically associated with where tectonic plates converge (called hot pots), but also includes technology that utilizes regions within the earth’s crust ranging in the 140-200 degree range, and low temperature geothermal systems. These low temperature geothermal systems, also termed GeoExchange, utilize solar energy that has been stored in the earth.

Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP)

The low temperature geothermal/GeoExchange systems (Ground Source Heat Pump-GSHP) make use of the near constant earth temperature found just below the surface and are a highly efficient heating and cooling system. A conventional heating and cooling system amounts to over 70% of your home energy costs. Using a GSHP system, these energy costs would be reduced considerably. GHSP’s utilize one unit of energy from the grid and 4 units of earth energy, to provide heating and cooling that is 500% efficient.

GSHP Accessibility

Geothermal/GeoExchange systems are effective over a broad range of climatic regions, and are not limited by weather or time of day and provide a constant supply of earth energy.

GHSP and LEED Certification

GHSP’s can provide 73% of the required points to achieve LEED Certification.

Using a single heat pump is the equivalent of planting an acre of trees or taking two cars off the road. Read more about GHSP Incentives.

Wind

Large Scale Wind Power

Wind power currently produces 1.5% of worldwide energy. However, in certain parts of the world, this form of renewable energy contributes a much larger percentage. (In Denmark, for instance, wind produces 19% of their energy needs.) These large scale systems are successful when utilized in specific regions when local weather patterns permit. In 2008, the United States generated 1.26% of the nation’s electricity with wind power and over 8,500 MW of new wind power capacity was brought online in 2008, which increased the nation’s cumulative wind power total by 50%. These new installations are a step towards providing 20% of the nation’s electricity.

Small Scale Wind Power

Smaller wind generators can be used to power a home or business.  They can be used as a stand alone generator or in system that combines other renewable sources like solar.  These turbines produce power when the wind blows and store the energy in batteries that can be used when needed.   If you have an electrical  grid connection, the turbine does not require batteries to store the energy.  Instead, when the turbine is spinning, it feeds power into the electrical grid and runs your meter backwards. Thus, reducing or eliminating your electric bill.

Wind Power in Utah

In 2005, Utah had 1 MW of installed wind power. By 2008 the capacity grew to 19.79 MW. Currently in Utah there are 203.5 MW of wind power under construction and there is the potential of generating 2770 MW of power.

Blue Sky Program

The Blue Sky program from our local electricity provider offers customers a way to purchase renewable wind energy in 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) increments, called blocks, for just $1.95 per block per month. Each 100 kWh block represents about 10 percent of the average customer’s monthly electricity usage.

Read about wind power incentives.

Biomass

Biomass, like geothermal, provides a constant renewable energy supply, provided there is a consistent source of biofuel. In the United States, biomass supplies almost fifteen times as much energy as wind and solar power combined. Biomass systems operate from solar energy stored in tree and plant crops through photosynthesis, and through burning or digesting various agricultural and urban wastes. Biofuels are not cost effective if transported more than 50 miles, limiting their scale of production, but providing a niche for smaller scale energy production. Biomass electrical generation systems operate in the 2-10 MW range or can be used to substitute up to 20 percent of the coal used in a boiler mixed with coal in power plants—a process known as "co-firing.”

You can support biomass projects by purchasing Carbon Offsets.