Environmental Benefits

Natural disaster costs soar to another world record.

Violent weather cost the world a record $130 Billion in the first eleven months of 1998- more money than was lost from weather related disasters from 1980 to 1990 ($82 Billion). Researchers from the Worldwatch Institute and Munich Re blame deforestation and climate change from Earth warming for much of the loss. The previous one year record was $90 Billion in 1996. Source - Associated Press, November 28,1998.

Carbon wins? Think again!

Rising carbon emissions were once favorably looked upon as a measure of economic growth and development. Estimated at 93 million tons in 1860, emissions jumped to 525 million tons by 1900, and to 1.62 billion tons by 1950. At the end of 1994, the atmosphere contained 4 billion more tons of carbon than just 12 months earlier.

Are Californians the first to figure it out?

People are willing to pay a premium for renewable energy. Several market research studies have confirmed this, and early market experience has confirmed this. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), which has more PVs installed than any other utility, charges customers $4.00 more per month for their electricity if the customer allows SMUD to install PV's on their roofs.

The trouble with these times is that the future isn't what it used to be.

With electrical restructuring occurring in the US, and likely evolving in Canada in the next five years, the electrical utilities are looking for new revenue streams, a better, nature-friendly image with consumers, and a more stable cost structure. Renewable energy provides all three.

How do we help renewables grow even faster?

Arthur D. Little predicts that the US PV marketplace will grow from $310M in 1995 to $2.5 billion in 2005.

Governments are right some of the time, politically speaking.

Major government programs have been announced this year. The Million-Roof program in the US has generated a lot of interest. President Clinton announced this program in June 1997, with the goal to apply solar energy to 1 million roofs by 2010.

Are North Americans too slow in adopting Solar as their first choice for residential building energy in North America?

The world-wide demand for Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy is greater than supply, with lead times now 3 - 6 months from suppliers. With one new program, the Japanese will install 30 MW of solar photovoltaics this year. The total world output of all PV manufacturers in 1997 was 90 MW.

Being popular isn't the same thing as being successful. But it's a good first step.

In recent opinion polls, solar energy scored higher than all other forms of energy when participants were asked what type of energy is best for future generations.

And we think we are trend setters?

Nuclear energy is no longer considered economically or politically viable in the US.

Is this a form of Shell shock?

Shell Oil predicts that 50% of the world's energy will come from renewable sources by 2040. In 1995, the US imported more than 50% of its oil for the first time ever.