Solar
Solar energy is cost-effective today in many applications in Kentucky. The sun's heat and light provide an abundant source of energy that can be harnessed by solar power technologies to provide clean, renewable energy to help meet our growing energy needs.
The Kentucky Solar Partnership  has been involved with a number of successful solar projects in the Commonwealth and publishes the Kentucky Solar Energy Guide, a local resource for learning more about solar applications, financial incentives and renewable energy professionals in Kentucky.
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Solar Applications |
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Passive solar design of buildings is one of the most cost-effective uses of solar energy. Passive solar design integrates a combination of building features to reduce or even eliminate the need for mechanical cooling and heating and daytime artificial lighting. Publications on passive solar design are available from
North Carolina Solar Center
(See Solar Homes for North Carolina II for home plans)
University of Kentucky
Kentucky Energy Saving Home
Solar water heaters are also economical in Kentucky's climate. Residential solar water-heating system reduces the need for conventional water heating by about two-thirds and solar pool heaters can extend the swimming season by several months.
Building America Best Practice Series,
Chapter 3: Solar-Thermal Water Heating (1.1MB PDF)
DOE Consumer's Guide, Heat Your Water with the Sun (603kB PDF)
Solar energy can also be used to generate electricity. Solar cells or photovoltaic (PV) systems convert sunlight directly to electricity. PV systems can perform a wide variety of functions and have little effect on the environment.
Building America Best Practice Series,
Chapter 4: Photovoltaic Power Generation (951kB PDF)
DOE Consumer's Guide, Get Your Power from the Sun (763kB PDF)
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Financing Solar Projects |
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The Customer's Guide to Solar Power Purchase Agreements
A guide for organizations interested in purchasing solar electricity without buying the solar equipment (Rahus Institute, October 2008)
Solar Photovoltaic Financing: Residential Sector Deployment (PDF 2.6Mb)
This report presents the information that homeowners and policy makers need to facilitate PV financing at the residential level (NREL, March 2009)
Financing Non-Residential Photovoltaic Projects (PDF 387 Kb)
Financial innovation for non-residential entities interested in PV (LBNL, January 2009)
Solar Photovoltaic Financing: Deployment on Public Property by State and Local Governments (PDF 1.2 Mb)
Revenue streams, incentives, and financial structures for state and municipal governments who want to support solar projects (NREL, May 2008)
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Resources |
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