In case you missed it, our monthly newsletter was recently sent out. Catch up on the latest SmartPower news, here!

​Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States today. Michael Barbaro of “The Daily” spoke with a range of Biden supporters — including SmartPower’s own Brian F. Keane. Listen to Keane explain how Biden’s sense of dignity will restore America. 

Check it out on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts!

In case you missed it, our monthly newsletter was recently sent out. Catch up on the latest SmartPower news, here!

To receive future issues of the newsletter, sign up here!

​As a new Administration makes sustainability and climate change top
priorities in Washington and around the world, the consumer research and community outreach of SmartPower and WeeGreen is proving to be particularly important.  Forbes contributor Dr. Geraint Evans, does a deep dive into SmartPower’s unique approach to advancing clean energy and energy efficiency.

​Marketers and sustainability advocates alike should give it a read!

Read the article, here.

​As the holiday season nears and lights go up, heating and power bills tend to rise. Households tend to use a lot more energy in the colder months and a substantial part of that energy usage comes from lighting. 

Did you know that the US expends over six billion kilowatt hours on holiday lights annually? To put that in context, that’s more energy than the entire country of El Salvador uses in an entire year! So, what can you do to lower your monthly bills and reduce your carbon footprint while still keeping the holiday spirit? 

Here are couple tips to be energy smart this Holiday Season:

1. Unplug during the day

Putting your lights on a timer is a great first step. But unplugging them when the sun is still out is even better. Why? Because appliances still use energy when they are plugged in but not running, so you can save on your last energy bill of the year by unplugging your lights altogether! 

1. Switch to LEDs!

One of the easiest ways to save energy is by replacing your old holiday incandescent bulbs with LEDs. 

​LED bulbs are considerably more energy-efficient than incandescent bulbs and are the better choice for holiday displays. You really do save money when you compare them string by string. A 100-light string of LEDs costs significantly less to run over the holiday season than a 25-light string of C9 incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs emit a large amount of energy as heat instead of light so more energy is required to light the bulbs and to keep them lit for longer periods of time. And not to get too alarmist, but this heat can even present a danger inside the house, especially with real Christmas trees. By contrast, the LED lights are cool to the touch!

Since LED lights require less energy, their lifetime can be up to three times that of incandescent bulbs. By switching to LEDs, you’ll have to buy new lights less frequently. Saving energy and saving money! That may be one of the best presents this holiday season.

As the holidays rapidly approach and 2020 comes to a close, all of us here at SmartPower would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you the peace, relaxation and joy that this season offers.

It’s been quite a year for our nation and our world. We know that this holiday season will not be like in years past. That is why it is so important that we take the time to reach out to those we cherish.

Our clean energy and energy efficiency campaigns are built around the power of one thing – community. It is a testament to this power that even in these challenging times our sense of community to one another persists.

Pursuing our mission would not be possible without all of the wonderful supporters that help us achieve our goals. Although being together looked a bit different this year, we thank you for staying connected with us and being part of our SmartPower Community as we continue to push our clean energy mission.  And in 2021 — let’s make more!  

Renew, re-energize, be safe and be healthy. 

​Brian F. Keane

President

SmartPower

You’ve seen them on the news and on the road (whether you realized it or not). Electric cars are gradually gaining a stronger foothold in the American market for new light-duty vehicles and they’re not going away anytime soon. You’ve probably heard about the benefits to the environment from driving an electric vehicle (EV), but you might be skeptical as to how much you’re really helping fight climate change. Since much of our electricity is produced by fossil fuels like coal, are you really producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions by driving electric?

The answer is a little complicated and changes depending on where you live in the country. However, the short answer is yes, you produce less greenhouse gas emissions when you drive an electric car in just about everywhere you could live in the United States. Just how much are you reducing your ecological footprint? That’s where we have to split hairs. The Alternative Fuel Data Center, run by the Department of Energy, created a useful tool to determine how many pounds of CO2 equivalent you produce in a year driving a typical gas-powered light-duty vehicle versus a fully electric vehicle in your state, based on a few assumptions. One of those assumptions is that the car you’re driving currently gets about 25 miles to the gallon. If your car is way more efficient than that and you live in a state that produces the overwhelming majority of its electricity from coal, such as West Virginia and Wyoming, then driving electric won’t do much to reduce the amount of emissions associated with your driving, although it could help local air quality as electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. Nevertheless, in nearly every state, driving an electric car produces far fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a standard gas-powered vehicle.

Want to see for yourself? Take a look. You’ll probably be surprised to see which states are doing the best at incorporating clean energy into their electricity production energy mix (oh my gosh, Idaho). That being said, if you’re interested in doing your part to prevent climate change, it’s worth it to at least go take a look at what electric vehicles are out there. You don’t have to give up driving, just go electric!

​SmartPower’s successful and award-winning Solarize model for residential solar installations is now going global!

After months of discussions, pre-Covid-19 face-to-face visits, and Zoom meetings throughout the pandemic, SmartPower and WeeGreen recently reached agreement with two Indian utility companies: Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) and Yamuna Power Limited (BYPL).  Through these joint partnerships, SmartPower and WeeGreen – and our on-the-ground partners in India – will use the Solarize model to expand the adoption of residential solar in New Delhi.

India is a global leader in renewable energy production. In recent years, investment in renewable energy sources has increased dramatically, and India now has one of the fastest growing solar industries in the world. However, India also has the second largest population in the world, and electricity demand is expected to triple by 2040. If the renewable energy industry does not expand at a commensurate rate, fossil fuel usage will rise dramatically.

In order to address the anticipated surge in energy demand, the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been setting ambitious renewable energy goals for the coming years. Prime Minister Modi established a preliminary target of generating over 40% of the nation’s total energy capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and that target is now expected to be far surpassed as the renewable energy industry skyrockets. The government of India also set forward a solar-specific target of installing 100 GW of solar energy by 2022. Of this 100 GW target, India hopes to generate 40 GW from rooftop solar units alone. In tandem with the nationwide push towards solar, the Delhi government has set its own target of generating 2000 MW in solar energy by 2025.

Of course, setting goals can be the easy part. Actually meeting them can prove more challenging. None of the solar energy objectives will be achieved without the rapid expansion of rooftop solar installation—and that’s where SmartPower and WeeGreen come in.

Working with a unique coalition brought together by the US Department of State, the Government of India through the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the City of New Delhi, the local utilities; and a local non-profit partner, the Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW),  “Solarize New Delhi” will offer residents the opportunity to install rooftop solar on their homes using the same peer-to-peer, community-wide approach that has been so effective here in the US. Unique to New Delhi, the Solarize campaign will target owner-occupied homes to expand the types of residential installations beyond the typical large multifamily building. Indeed, the New Delhi campaigns have the same potential to provide the economic benefits for households, workers, the utilities, and the city at large that we’ve seen work so well in states as varied as Connecticut, Rhode Island, California, and South Carolina. Individual families save money on their utility bills and at the same time, the increased demand for solar installations will result in widespread job growth and economic development and reduced costs for solar. It’s a win-win-win for the residents of New Delhi. And, long-term – for our planet.

We’re thrilled to embark upon such an exciting new project that will be able to benefit the New Delhi community and help India reach its renewable energy goals. Keep an eye out for regular updates on our New Delhi campaigns!

Written by Tom Masters from https://www.sheltonroofing.com/

​When most people think about solar energy, they think about solar panels sitting on a roof of a home that work to gather the sun’s rays to make power to use inside the home. Today however, portable solar power can be taken on the road to use while camping, traveling or any other situation where you need power but don’t have access to electricity. Portable solar power is even great to have available at home to use during blackouts from storms or other natural disasters. Here are some advantages of portable solar power:

​Eco-Friendly

​Solar power is an eco-friendly way to power a home, business or even camping trip. Generators are not always welcome at campgrounds or in public spaces, but portable solar power is quiet, has no dangerous fumes and can be used virtually anywhere that you need power.

​Great for Entertainment and Comfort

If you have ever been camping or taken a long road trip with children or teens, you know that entertainment during overnight stops or extended stays is mandatory. With portable solar power, you can power up and have the family listening to music or even watching television in no time at all. It’s also ideal for powering up a fan to stay cool and comfortable during any outdoor adventure.

​Cost Efficient

​Since portable solar is powered purely through the sun’s rays, it is completely free to use. While other portable charging devices may rely on batteries or fuel, portable solar power relies solely on the sun. There is no additional charge for using portable solar, so as long as you have access to direct sunlight, you can have peace of mind that electricity will be generated with no other input necessary.

​A Solid Investment

​Portable solar power is a solid investment that you can utilize for many years. As the cost of electricity continuously rises year after year, the sun remains the same. During a power outage, using portable solar power may be a great way to not only power the essentials, but a way to save money.

​Lightweight

​When you invest in a solar powered generator, be sure to choose one that is lightweight so you will have no trouble hauling it from place to place. This is an investment that should last for many years, so choose one that offers high wattage and is sturdy.

​Reliable

​Portable solar power is a reliable source of energy because it is powered through the sun rather than fuel, so there is no concern of running out of power. When the electricity goes out during a storm or you are camping out in the wilderness, portable solar power is great to have on hand so you can stay in touch with those you need to communicate with. Portable photovoltaic can be used to charge your communication devices including cell phones, walkie-talkies, laptops, iPads and more. It comes in handy to be able to communicate if you decide to head into the woods for a long hike and want to be able to stay in contact in case an emergency should happen to arise.

​As you can see, there are many advantages to using portable solar power at home or on the road. This incredible source of power is easy to take along, lightweight and ideal for emergencies, travel and more. With the great advances that technology has made, and continues to make, portable solar power is the perfect way to power your devices when you want to decrease your carbon footprint.