| Tokyo-based PanaHome Corp. will reinforce | | | | There are companies, such as GreenFire |
| advertising of developer-built homes featuring | | | | ForceFive (with headquarters in Punta Gorda, |
| solar power generating systems. The corporation | | | | Florida) that manufacture and sell solar powered |
| started a sales drive in August 2004 offering | | | | homes. Every GreenFire home comes completely |
| preferential mortgage rates to clients who | | | | outfitted with a 100% self-contained hybrid |
| purchase energy-saving homes fitted with solar | | | | electric power system installed. This system uses |
| power systems. | | | | photovoltaic panels to power 85% to 100% of |
| Closer to home, the Public Utilities Commission in | | | | the daily home electric needs, backed up by a |
| California approved a plan in January 2006 to | | | | 25,000W whole house diesel generator running on |
| stimulate the fitting of 3000 megawatts of solar | | | | bio-diesel fuel. |
| power generation capacity on about a million | | | | Companies are now coming up with improved |
| California rooftops. It did this with the introduction | | | | models, such as dye-sensitized solar cells, |
| of a decade-long plan of property holder rebates | | | | developed by Aisin Seiki and Toyota Central R&D |
| for fitting and using solar electric panels. Rebates | | | | Labs Inc. Since these cells are made of |
| are at a maximum in the early years of the plan | | | | inexpensive material and do not involve |
| – in other words, now, since it’s | | | | complicated equipment for manufacture, they are |
| structured to wean the solar industry off | | | | roughly 60% cheaper to create than conventional |
| subsidies. | | | | silicon-based products. Besides being less |
| Superior efficiency, lower prices for solar gear, | | | | expensive, DSC’s can produce electricity |
| and tax and rebate incentives from government | | | | even in feeble sunlight. |
| and utility companies have also caused Long | | | | Convenient, beautiful, environmentally conscious |
| Islanders to look to lower their energy costs with | | | | – do you want a solar home at a fair price? |
| solar power. Over the last two years, demand | | | | You can guarantee your family’s comfort by |
| has skyrocketed for these systems. Another | | | | making your house less reliant on conventional |
| indication that the prices are going down and | | | | energy sources. A new or modular home using |
| demand is rising is the lower rebate offered by | | | | passive solar design can save more than 90% on |
| the power authority. | | | | your heating and cooling bills. |
| Also called photovoltaic cells, solar cells were | | | | Some forecasters identify solar power as a cost |
| hastily developed to provide electrical energy for | | | | cutting solution, as energy costs keep on rising. |
| space missions. There are three types of solar | | | | Check out the Database of State Incentives for |
| cell: polycrystalline, monocrystaline and thin film. | | | | Renewable Energy, a complete online supply of |
| Less than a volt of electricity is produced from | | | | information on state, local, utility and special |
| each cell, so a single cell is not of much practical | | | | national incentives that promote renewable |
| use. Several cells have to be connected to | | | | energy. Click on the underlined to read more |
| produce a useable voltage. | | | | about solar powered homes. |