ETM Goes to Anaheim California: Solar Power International '09 Conference

Yes, thats right! This week, October 27-29, 2009, ETM is one of thousands of solar panel companies and affiliated organizations participating in the nation's largest solar event. Solar Power International is being held at the Anaheim Convention Center in southern California and features lectures by prominent members of the media and solar industry. The Convention has taken place every year since 2004, when the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) and the Solar Energy Industries Asssocation (SEIA) decided that with the economic and environmental benefits of solar growing drastically, it was time for investors, policy makers, business leaders, manufacturers and installers to come together.

We are very excited for this event and will keep you updated as the week goes on!

American Homes Eating up Energy

In 2008, 21.64 Quadrillion BTUs (British Thermal Units) of energy were used by houses in the United States. Residential use makes up nearly a quarter of all energy used in this country, making the case for solar and insulation retrofits ever more striking.

The Energy Information Administration published a complicated looking diagram illustrating how energy is used in the United States. It is supposed to represent an arrow; the segments on the left hand side show the type, and the four segments on the right side represent how its ultimately used.
For example, out of all the fuel for electricity, transportation, etc., only 7. 3 Quadrillion BTUs are from RENEWABLE SOURCES. This includes hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, solar/photovoltaic, and wind.

For a more detailed view of the crazy-looking yet comprehensive diagram, you can download it here.

What needs to happen: a larger slice of the pie from renewable energy on the left side, and a smaller slice of the residential pie on the right side.