Comments on: RSi Unveils Power-Generating Transparent Photovoltaic-Glass Window http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/ Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Uncle B http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-3822 Uncle B Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:14:57 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-3822 and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn't work when his toast turns out pale! and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn’t work when his toast turns out pale!

]]> By: Uncle B http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-21368 Uncle B Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-21368 and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn't work when his toast turns out pale! and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn’t work when his toast turns out pale!

]]> By: Uncle B http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-21369 Uncle B Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:14:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-21369 and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn't work when his toast turns out pale! and we all know, some wild eyed Yankee Doodle is going to plug a toaster into a panel and cry bitterly that soalr doesn’t work when his toast turns out pale!

]]> By: Tim http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-3821 Tim Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:18:16 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-3821 An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer's prespective...more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building "Off the Grid," as it would be capable of generating it's own power. An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer’s prespective…more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building “Off the Grid,” as it would be capable of generating it’s own power.

]]> By: Tim http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-21366 Tim Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:18:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-21366 An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer's prespective...more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building "Off the Grid," as it would be capable of generating it's own power. An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer’s prespective…more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building “Off the Grid,” as it would be capable of generating it’s own power.

]]> By: Tim http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-21367 Tim Fri, 02 Jan 2009 11:18:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-21367 An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer's prespective...more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building "Off the Grid," as it would be capable of generating it's own power. An insightful article was done on this product in December Eco-Tips Magazine. The story was written after examining the panels and having several hours of discussions with the manufacturers, on two different occassions. This remarkable new product turns glass windows soloar energy collectors. from the designer’s prespective…more windows now becomes preferrable to less. This product offerts the possibility of taking the building “Off the Grid,” as it would be capable of generating it’s own power.

]]> By: Carter http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-3820 Carter Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:03:05 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-3820 I believe you'd need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits "in the skin" of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer. I believe you’d need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits “in the skin” of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer.

]]> By: Carter http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-21364 Carter Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:03:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-21364 I believe you'd need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits "in the skin" of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer. I believe you’d need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits “in the skin” of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer.

]]> By: Carter http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-21365 Carter Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:03:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-21365 I believe you'd need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits "in the skin" of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer. I believe you’d need a subscription to access the full article, but Science magazine had an amazing story this summer about greening urban communities. This idea was mentioned, but one of the more unusual & innovative ideas was having the outer layer of skyscrapers/office buildings actually function as greenhouses, growing vegetables/fruits “in the skin” of the building. No power would be generated (outside of the calories of the food), but you would be getting cooling advantages in the summer.

]]> By: Shane http://cleantechnica.com/2008/12/15/rsi-unveils-power-generating-transparent-photovoltaic-glass-window/#comment-3819 Shane Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:00:49 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=1711#comment-3819 Brad, while you may be right, realize that it is 1. a first generation product. An efficiency improvement of between 30 and 100% in the near term is not unreasonable. 2. Glass is a common, and widely used architectural feature. It allows power generation from what was once a purely aesthetic surface, and since it is a low e glass anyway, the power generated can be used to further reduce energy costs associated with HVAC. 3. The most efficient and logical way to move to a more sustainable energy module is with distributed generation. A decentralized grid with many small producers is a more secure and resilient grid, and allows regional generation by the most efficient means available. Solar in the South, wind in the midwest, hydro, low speed hydro, low temp geothermal elsewhere. Granted, if all those microsources are dirty, then you run into the car conundrum, but most of the emerging micro sources are attempting to be green, and most of those can reasonably get there once manufacturing processes are improved. In short, its one step of many. The more options we have to produce energy with minimal impact, the more independent we are, the more choices we have, and the easier and cheaper it becomes to choose to be responsible. The market will ultimately drive a green revolution - when it costs the same or nearly as the dirty way, we'll choose the clean one. Right now our task is to create that market. To mature these technologies and learn to use them effectively. Brad, while you may be right, realize that it is

1. a first generation product. An efficiency improvement of between 30 and 100% in the near term is not unreasonable.

2. Glass is a common, and widely used architectural feature. It allows power generation from what was once a purely aesthetic surface, and since it is a low e glass anyway, the power generated can be used to further reduce energy costs associated with HVAC.

3. The most efficient and logical way to move to a more sustainable energy module is with distributed generation. A decentralized grid with many small producers is a more secure and resilient grid, and allows regional generation by the most efficient means available. Solar in the South, wind in the midwest, hydro, low speed hydro, low temp geothermal elsewhere. Granted, if all those microsources are dirty, then you run into the car conundrum, but most of the emerging micro sources are attempting to be green, and most of those can reasonably get there once manufacturing processes are improved.

In short, its one step of many. The more options we have to produce energy with minimal impact, the more independent we are, the more choices we have, and the easier and cheaper it becomes to choose to be responsible.

The market will ultimately drive a green revolution – when it costs the same or nearly as the dirty way, we’ll choose the clean one. Right now our task is to create that market. To mature these technologies and learn to use them effectively.

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