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Metro Lighting and Crafts Store with solar, Berkeley, CA


Hey solarDwellers,

Welcome to my first installment of interviews I plan to do, talking to local people and businesses in the neighborhood that have taken that awesome, liberating and green step of going solar.

One thing I believe is that solar on roofs can be contagious as more people get curious when they see neighbors making that solar choice. The whole "tipping" point meme. I wanted a way to go further than seeing and posting photos of a new solar PV system, or a large roof with a bigger-than-average PV system in the S.F. Bay Area. So, I decided to talk to and get the first-hand experience of people living beneath those solar roofs, and let them talk about how they feel about solar, and if it has been positive both environmentally and economically for them.

So, for my first "solar-spotlight interview", I would like to highlight a
company called Metro Lighting, in Berkeley, CA that makes artisan lamp and lighting fixtures. When I first drove by their large grid of solar panels perched on their retail store roof, I thought, "Now there's a nice-sized PV system." It really made their "green building" stand out among the other industrial buildings on that block. And when I got closer and saw all those display fixtures inside, most of which the owners have diligently switched over to the energy-efficient, compact fluorescent kind, I immediately understood how that large electricity bill was probably crying out to the owners for some sleek solar panels up on the roof.

From their website, a little bit about the owners and their hand-crafted lamp designs: "Metro Lighting & Crafts was founded in 1993 by Lawrence Grown, and began as a restoration company for antique lighting fixtures. In time, Lawrence and his wife, Christa Rybczynski, who both hold degrees in Architecture, began using their
knowledge of lighting and architectural history to create new designs,
inspired and informed by Art Nouveau and Craftsman aesthetics."

Here's a side view of the roof with 100+ panels:

I spoke with Lawrence and Christa at their store and by e-mail about their year-old, commercial solar PV system as recorded in the following Q&A with them:

solarDweller: How long have you had your system?

Metro Lighting: It was one year last October/November 2005.

solarDweller: What size is your system and what percentage of your
electricity use was it designed to cover?

Metro Lighting: 19 kW. It was designed to cover 60% of our
store's electricity use.

solarDweller: How does its output compare to what your installer
predicted?

Metro Lighting: We are covering at least 60%, maybe even up to 70% of our electricity use.

solarDweller: How does your bill compare to what it was before?

Metro Lighting: It had been $800 to $900/month before solar. For
last year it averaged only $300/month.

solarDweller: How long did your installer estimate it will take
for the system to pay for itself?

Metro Lighting: About 5-6 years

solarDweller: How did you get the idea to put solar on?

Metro Lighting: The monthly bill was a constant reminder of how
much energy we were using. We tell our kids to turn off the
lights when not in use at home, but we need to have our display
fixtures lit all day. I guess it was just a matter of time
until we felt we could afford the investment.

solarDweller: What was your principal motivation? Ratio of
economics/environmental benefit. (50/50? 30/70? 70/30?)


Metro Lighting: About half for economics and half for the environment.

solarDweller: What was the biggest barrier/worry to making the
decision to purchase your solar PV system?


Metro Lighting: The initial outlay of cash, and the fact that we
don't own the building.

solarDweller: If you don't own your building, what did you have to
do to convince the owners? (Gordon Commercial Real Estate)

Metro Lighting: It was much simpler than I had thought. The
owners were also interested right away, we just needed to work
out the details. We wrote an addendum to our lease saying that
we owned the system and could choose to take it with us if we
leave. The installer is liable for any roofing issues.

solarDweller: How do you feel now that you have it?

Metro Lighting: Pleased and proud.

solarDweller: Have you thought of marketing yourself as a green
business to differentiate yourself from competition?

Metro Lighting: We have applied to the Alameda County Green Business Certification program, but they have a big backlog. I'm not sure when we'll be able to officially call Metro Lighting an Alameda County Certified Green Business, but that will be an exciting day. We also have a new line of compact fluorescent lighting fixtures for further energy conservation. We've swapped out many of our display bulbs from 25 watt incandescent to 5 watt screw-in compact fluorescents as well. I'm hoping when it gets sunny that our meter will spend more time running backwards.

solarDweller: Do many people notice or ask you about your solar PV
system?

Metro Lighting: Not that many people have mentioned the system, actually. At first there were a lot of comments, but not many anymore. That's fine, really. We want to do the right thing, but we are not in the solar business, and we don't mind sticking to the work at hand of designing, building and selling quality lighting.

That pretty much said it all, and I was glad to get such positive feedback and feelings about solar from a true solar PV owner. I liked the short payback period, and the fact they FEEL so good about having that solar there helping them make green energy for their business. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear that what could be seen as the big hurdle of convincing Gordon Commercial to let them do solar, that it was just a matter of adding language to the lease and getting the guarantee from the solar installer.

It's great to see a small business doing "the right thing" in the neighborhood, carrying out their artistic endeavors while keeping our air that much greener and cleaner! And, don't worry: their neighbors will get that solar envy, and hopefully follow the great example being set by Metro Lighting of Berkeley. Check out their website www.metrolighting.com the next time you need some nice lighting solutions. You'll feel good about your green purchase!

--the solarDweller

And now, for the really solar curious . . .
Some pictures of the inverter AC output and DC-AC calculations:

Their system runs off 5 Sharp 3500 watt Sunvista inverters, which means their theoretical maximum AC output is 17,500 watts or 17.5kW. Remember, these are fed by 19,000 watts or 19kW of DC power from the panels before the electricity gets converted to AC by those inverters. Electricity gets "lost" as it passes through the conversion process in the inverter. Lawrence and Christa can check out the system's AC production at any time by looking at the following displays, one for each inverter:

And a close-up of one of the displays:

The amount of DC going into that inverter from the DC panels started at 3.8 kW (19kW total panels/5 inverters), but the monitor in the photo, which we checked at high noon(solar time) on a sunny day, reads only 2.88 kW AC, not the "theoretical" max AC output from the Sunvista 3500 inverter of 3.5 kW. Why? Well, the old reality that you "lose" some of the electricity as it travels from the panels to the inverter, and then again when it passes through the inverter. The important number when you're buying a system is to try to figure the "real world" efficiency, or what percentage of the total DC rating of your panels gets converted into the AC output as it comes out of the inverter.

2.88 kW AC output / 3.8 kW of DC panels = 76%

You buy 3.8 kW worth of DC panels, and you get 2.88 kW of usable AC out of them. This is just the reality of efficiency loss when converting DC to AC. Many people OVERESTIMATE how much AC electricity their DC panels will produce. It's an easy mistake. If you buy 3.8 kW of panels and just multiply by an inverter which is 92% efficient, you'll overestimate your AC: 3.8 * .92 = 3.5 kW. To account for the total efficiency loss in the wiring, dust on the panels, etc, it's safer to count on an efficiency of 75-80% from the panels' total DC rating. I usually go with 77%, assuming direct sun, panels tilted at latitude and no significant shading. So, in the case above, just take your 3.8 kW of panels going into one inverter and multiply:

3.8 kW * .77 = 2.92 kW AC output, which is very close to the 2.88 kW "real-world" reading we saw in the photo of the single monitor above.

Use the lucky "77" efficiency number when you try to estimate the output of your solar panels and you'll come pretty darn close to reality. It's better to be pleasantly surprised that your system produces a little more than your conservative estimate than to be disappointed about what was an overly-optimistic efficiency estimate.

Hasta la próxima, solar people, and hope this post was useful!

Categories: solar, solar+power, solar+energy, renewable, alternative+energy, sustainable, tips, calculations, solarsightings, psychologymarketing

Hey solarDwellers:

My posting frequency has dropped off recently with solar writing ideas accumulating, but lack of time recently to get them posted! It's amazing what happens to "blogging time" when stuff gets super busy. I've been exploring/working on different solar job/career opportunities, mixed in with some substitute teaching, mixed in with some work on marketing for a summer reading program for those little guys and girls fresh out of pre-school and kindergarten, getting ready for the big-time 1st grade reading experience.

So, back to solar. You'll have to scroll down a bit to see a post that was in draft form days ago, and which I just posted. It's all about makin' chocolate with solar power. Or instead of scrolling, just click HERE.

I'll be catching up with some more posting tomorrow(April 27), with my first "solar spotlight" local interview and news and info about a cool, waterproof solar product integrated into the roof membrane, among whatever else I can squeeze in to some sought-after "free" time tomorrow! Keep checkin' in with solarDweller for the solar scene and solar thoughts . . .

Until then,
--the solarDweller
Categories: solar, solar+power, solar+energy, sustainable, green, renewable, sustainable,

Actimine provides the nutrients needed by your body to regulate the occurrence of acne, eliminating the potential scarring and embarrassment which often result from chronic breakouts.

Acne (acne vulgaris) is among the most common of all skin disorders, affecting nearly 85% of all people living in the United States alone. Unfortunately, myths concerning this condition are just as popular as the condition itself. For example; have you ever been advised to avoid certain foods to prevent a breakout, or repetitively washed your face, hoping a cleaner face would stop the development of pimples? How about increasing water intake and exercise? If you said yes to one, or even all of these questions, its likely that using various techniques to prevent the onset of acne is of primary importance in your "daily grind."

Although acne is not considered a serious detriment to one's health, the psychological trauma and general feelings of inferiority caused by the condition can prove devastating. What's more, there is currently no cure for acne. Both of these facts emphasize the importance of developing an understanding as to what actually causes the condition, and applying the proper treatment options when acne "breakouts" do occur. Dermatologists the world over suggest that with today's nutritional and medicinal advancements, virtually every case of acne can and should be resolved.

Actimine's synergistic formula has been designed to support your existing treatment program. The ingredients included in Actimine fuel your body with key nutrients that allow the skin to normalize, while promoting a decrease of sebum (oil) production and inflammation.

Actimine Can Assist YOUR Existing
Acne Treatment Regiment!

The most common form of treatment for mild inflammatory acne is a topical application of one or more popular over-the-counter medications. These include benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and sulfur-based skin creams or masks. Although these products are dermatologist recommended for mild signs of acne, side effects like skin irritation, burning, and/or redness are common complaints. Moderate to severe forms of inflammatory acne are most typically treated with a combination of both oral and topical medicines, usually vitamin A derivative creams and antibiotics. Inflammatory acne that does not respond to any of these treatments often warrants the use of even stronger medicines (e.g. Accutane), which can cause severe side effects such as changes in liver function.

However, the majority of acne sufferers overlook a critical influence for acne development - adequate nutrient intake. Research is currently being conducted and is studying the mechanisms responsible for regulating natural sebum production to help identify ways to effectively reduce its production. Other studies are aimed at developing immunological interventions to prevent the onset of acne-related symptoms. Actimine's proprietary blend of ingredients has been designed with this latest research in mind, helping to manage the primary causes of acne from the inside while promoting allure on the skin's surface.

Like many treatments using vitamin A derivatives, Actimine too employs vitamin A to provide a reduction in sebum production and buildup of keratin within the follicles. Actimine also addresses inflammatory concerns by providing your body with the important antioxidant-rich nutrient selenium. Selenium has been shown to be of influence in the regulation of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme is not only our body's most potent, naturally-occurring antioxidant and detoxicant, it also plays a critical role in the body's natural inflammatory processes.

• Zinc is an important nutrient of total skin health and is also included in Progressive Health's synergistic acne formula. Zinc gluconate, one of the most effective forms of zinc, aids in hormonal management; furthering a reduction in both sebum and keratin - two primary causes of acne formation.
  
  
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The benefits of the active ingredients included in Actimine will compliment your current treatment program for the management of acne without the fear of debilitating or discomforting side effects.

Read more about Actimine Acne Treatment

Hello solarDwellers:

Feeling motivated this morning as I head out to take my place behind a solar table at Berkeley, CA's Earth Day celebration with a solar acquaintance of mine, answering people's questions and hopefully making it easier for them to make what I'm calling "The Solar Decision."

It's one of the BEST decisions one can make as a way to reduce your contribution of greenhouse gases to our atmosphere at the local level. Putting a modest 2 kW solar PV system on your house and just letting it quietly do its work over its 20 year life is equivalent to NOT DRIVING for 10 YEARS, without making sacrifices in the comfort of your home. That's about 85,000 lbs of CO2. And as an info-mercial might exclaim: "All for the amazing price of around $12,000! (Based on the following statistics: electricity from natural gas emits 0.52 kg CO2/kWh and from coal emits 0.92 kg CO2/kWh; and according to Terra Pass, an average four-cylinder car emits roughly 7,000 lbs of CO2/year.

I didn't even mention that it's also like a CONSERVATIVE fixed investment, at least guaranteed to pay for itself over the life of the system. And if you spend $75-100 per month on electricity, it pays for itself in half that time AND you get a nice return on investment.

So, on this Earth DAY, I urge those who are able to make "THE SOLAR DECISION" to do so now when rebates/tax credits are favorable. You'll be making a good financial decision and taking action to reduce your annual greenhouse gas emissions.

Go solar!

--the solarDweller
Categories: solar, solar+energy, solar+power, earth+day, sustainable, renewable, alternative, whatsnews, psychologymarketing

Hey solarDwellers:

Man, haven't posted in a while. Ever since I got on the solar blogging train, it's hard to get off with so much exciting stuff going on in the world of solar. Having not posted for 5 days seems like an eternity in the fast-moving, complicated world of solar these days. The not cool: too much to write about, too little time. The very cool: it's not getting tiring and the ideas for writing seem never-ending. But, occasionally, the solar blogging needs a little pause action to reflect and let ideas incubate for a bit. What I'm loving . . . the trend is in tact: electricity prices increasing + more attention on global warming + good subsidy environment for solar + more competition in the solar market = long-term growth for solar and alternative energy. Yea!

Working on some ideas for posting here, such as

My new "Sun-Spotlight" feature, an original article/interview re a local business that has enjoyed the econ/enviro benefits of going solar recently

A post which will be an invitation for any of yous out there to e-mail me how much electricity you use or what your annual electricity cost is, and I'll send you a free rough estimate of what size pv system you would need and how much it might cost. (Solar) information is power, right? (the puns are flying off the shelf tonight-apologies). (Please comment, gentle reader, if you like/don't like this idea as a feature of this blog.)

Oh, maybe I should make reference to the title of this current post. NY Times Business section today featured the solar industry, and specifically SunPower, which is majority owned by Cypress Semi. Mostly a profile on the owner of CY, but worth the read which gives a picture of the momentum gathering in the solar area. This article, plus the jump over $70 barrel for oil explains the very positive day today in the market for renewable energy companies. A few of the 'graphs I found interesting from the article, re: solar growth and the HUGE amounts of silicon required . . . .

After years of promise, the market for solar power is finally taking off, with annual demand expected to increase to as much as 2,500 megawatts by the end of 2008, from about 1,000 megawatts now (which is the size of a large nuclear power plant).

For Mr. Rodgers, that is the beauty of the six-inch squares of silicon that are colored black to absorb the sun's radiation. SunPower is on track to gain the ability to make about 35 million wafers a year by the end of 2006, enough to produce 100 million watts of solar power annually.

Mr. Rodgers argues that his SunPower subsidiary has a crucial advantage over both larger and smaller competitors. While most of the industry has a conversion efficiency of around 14 percent, the SunPower photovoltaic cell will reach 21 percent, a 50 percent advantage that translates into both cost and performance leads for the company.

There are other hurdles to overcome as well. Producing 35 million silicon wafers requires more than 700 tons of silicon. "We have contracts signed for 2006, but yes, we're worried," he said. "We expect the general market will loosen up in 2008, so we've got a couple of years when we've got to wheel and deal to make sure we get it."

So glad it's sunny in California again.

--your future solarDweller

p.s Keep an eye on this company: Worldwater Corp--solar installer and mobile solar water pumping and purification
Categories: solar, solar+power, solar+energy, alternative, sustainable, green, renewable, whatsnews,

Sun Tracker, as the name says, is a device that helps a Solar Device { it can be a cell, panel, or dish...etc.} keep track of the Sun from morning to evening.

But there is lot more to know than just this!
Sun Trackers are generally not used for simple solar panels but they're absolutely essential for a solar power plant.
But, if you believe me, Sun Tracker can help increase overall efficiency of a solar installation by over 40%
And I proved it and made a simple device to show the effect. It helped me bag Intel Science Talent Award 2004.
So, lets start with the basics;

How it increases efficiency?



How does it work?

I made an Intelligent Electronic 2-Axis Tracker. 2-axis means in addition to normal morning to evening movement, it also takes into account seasonal movement of the Sun i.e. north-south movement.
I'll explain the basic circuit here;
To sense the position of Sun in the sky, two light sensors {called LDR} are used, in the following configuration; left side of the picture shows two orange colored sensors mounted on sensor-board. Right side describes the case when Sun's position shifts.

Clearly, you can see that when the position of Sun shifts, one sensor comes in the shadow of the opaque object. When there is less light on the sensor, its electrical resistance increases. Now here, left side sensor's resistance increases and the right one remains the same. This change is detected by an Electronic Circuit which then moves the sensor board {here clockwise} so that once again both the sensors are equally exposed. This way, it corrects itself continuously. And the output from the circuit is used to control a Solar panel, using DC Motors.
As I made it... (click for larger view in a new window)



How much does it cost?

You'll be surprised to know that actually you save quite a lot of money by using this. As I've told earlier, there is 40% gain in efficiency, that means you'll get 40% more power by paying the same price.
Let's suppose that I want 1000W power from Solar installation,

Case I: Cost(I) = Rs.200/W($4.50) [multiply] 1000 = Rs. 200000 ($4500)

Case II: I buy a Sun Tracker worth around Rs.5000 ($ 112) , and get 40% more power. To get the same energy output as earlier, I need a solar panel with 40% less power output, i.e. 600 Watt power panel.

So, Cost(II) = Rs 200/W [multiply] 600 = Rs. 120000 ($ 2700) [plus] Rs. 5000 ($112) = Rs. 125000 ($2812)

Comparing,
Following Case II, I save Rs. 75000 ($1688) , These savings include the cost of tracker!
Isn't that lots of money??

But why it isn't widely used then?

Because, it is difficult to install on roof tops, rotating space is required! But, it can be used on Street Lights. I proved in the science fair that it has potential and moreover, for small applications like street lights, tracker needn't be too much accurate, cost of tracker can be kept down.
See, even if we take worst case scenario, the cost of tracker can never come anywhere near the huge savings we get by reducing power of Solar panels.
For home systems, there is a new idea see here


Why these are essential in Solar Power Plants?

Solar Power Plants generally use concentrating mechanisms to get intense sunlight used for producing power. Concentrators focus sunlight on a point. To maintain focus, a concentrator needs to be accurately aligned with Sun, all the time. Without sun trackers, they cannot focus sunlight and are rendered useless.

Didn't understand something? Need more data? Do you know more? You like it?
Tell me! Click on 'comments' below, provide your feedback, Now!

UPDATE: This is a list of the top ten green energy programs in the United States with the latest December 2005 figures and links to these electric utilities. One of the biggest differences we can make is to switch to "green energy" - energy generated from 100% renewable sources. Florida Power & Light is a new entry into the top ten at number four. The company recently announced the construction of the largest solar array in Florida on the site of a closed landfill in Sarasota. The 1,200 photovoltaic solar panels are each about 31 inches wide and 63 inches long. The facility is to be more than 28,000 square feet, or about half the size of a football field. "We sought a location that had a ground site large enough for 250 kilowatts of photovoltaic panels," said Jeff Bartel, FP&L VP of external affairs.

If you live in a part of the United States that is not served by an electric utility on this list please see this Map of Green Energy Providers by State.

As our energy challenges are global I appreciate every assistance in compiling a similar list of renewable energy providers in other countries. Feel free to email or leave a comment.

Returning to the United States, Austin Energy has shown its commitment to renewable energy by topping the list. The U.S. Department of Energy said Austin Energy's Green Choice program sold more than 334 million hours of renewable energy last year.

More than 350 businesses in Austin get their power from renewable sources as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Austin Energy uses electricity from 61 West Texas wind turbines.

Here's the top ten green energy programs in the United States (as of December 2005).

1. Austin Energy -
areas served include Austin, Texas
green energy from Wind Power, Land Fill Gas, Small Hydro -
435 MWh/year

2. Portland General Electric (PGE) -
areas served include Portland, Oregon
green power from existing Geothermal, Wind Power, Small Hydro - 340 MWh/year

3. PacifiCorp - includes Pacific Power and Utah Power
areas served include:
Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, California, Utah, Idaho
green energy from Wind Power, Biomass, Solar Energy -
234 MWh/year

4. Florida Power & Light - green power from Biomass, Wind Power, Solar Energy - 225 MWh/year

5. Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) -
green power from Landfill Gas, Wind Power, Small Hydro, Solar Energy - 195 MWh/year

6. Xcel Energy -
areas served include: Denver,Colorado; Elkhart, Kansas; Wakefield, Michigan; Saint Paul, Minnesota; Roswell, New Mexico; Fargo, North Dakota; Boise City, Idaho; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Amarillo, Texas; Eau Claire, Wisconsin
green electricity from Wind Power - 148 MWh/year

7. National Grid -
areas served include:
New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Nantucket
green power from Biomass, Wind Power, Small Hydro, Solar Energy - 128 MWh/year

8. Basin Electric Power Cooperative (SMUD) -
green power from Wind Power - 114 MWh/year

9. Puget Sound Energy (PSE)-
area served Washington state
green energy from Wind Power, Solar Energy, Biogas -
71 MWh/year

10. OG&E Electric Services -
area served Oklahoma
green electricity from Wind Power - 64 MWh/year

(source: NREL)

MWh/year = million kWh/year rounded down

List of Green Energy Providers by State

One of the single biggest ways we as individuals can encourage the use of alternative energy and help aid the transition to a post fossil fuel age is to buy electricity partly, or preferably completely, generated using alternative energy.

Switching your electricity utility provider may be as simple as requesting a form or filling one in online. That's exactly how I switched to 100% renewable energy (generated mainly from wind power with some solar power and small scale hydro thrown into the mix). Renewable energy options are available throughout the U.K. and in many other countries.

To find out if you can switch to renewable energy in your area look on your search engine of choice for "green energy", "green power" or "green electricity". You may also need to add your location to the search. If your local utility doesn't provide a renewable energy option yet, email or call them and ask why.

Original News 8 Austin Article

Green-e Certified Electricity Products

Hey solarDwellers:

RPS is an acronym I've been seeing a lot lately. "Renewable Portfolio Standard" is just state energy bureaucracy talk for, "Dude, what percentage of our electricity production should be from renewable sources, like, you know, green energy dude?"

State departments of energy are a HUGE driver of how much wind, solar, hydro and biomass-based electricity will ultimately get pushed out onto the grid. Progressive state green energy targets can help deal with our global warming problem, given that about 70% of our greenhouse emission prob comes simply from producing electricity, despite the fact that all the press writes out is SUV's and peak oil(see my post re: peak oil is NOT the problem).

So, now we have New Jersey's proposal from this article:

"THE ISSUE: On Wednesday, the Board of Public Utilities will vote on a proposal that would mandate that 20 percent of energy available in the state come from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar by 2020."

And then some examples from other states, which should each receive a prize from the treasure chest or a happy face sticker:

"OTHER STATES: California requires that 20 percent of its energy come from renewable sources by 2017 but may meet that goal by 2010. Nevada is aiming for 20 percent by 2015, and Hawaii wants to hit 20 percent by 2020."

We gotta get that green electricity flowin!!!

--the solarDweller
Categories: solar, solar+power, solar+electricity, pv, green+energy, alternative, whatsnews

Hey solarDwellers:

In case you missed the comment by Kevin from Unplugged Living, just when I thought it couldn't get any better than solar-powered beer to go with solar-powered pizza, Kevin has served me up a nice choice for dessert: solar chocolate! Ok, my life is complete now. I retire.

And yes, read this reprinted article from Homepower Magazine about the people who built a small, solar-powered chocolate factory on the Caribbean island of Grenada, when the author's interests of chocolate and renewable energy mixed so nicely together. "Hey, you got your solar panel in my chocolate!" "No, you got your chocolate on my solar panels!" (Wasn't that how the old Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercials went?)

Oh, I'm making a comeback, coming out of my retirement. Because when looking for chocolate images to post with this article, which I found at(you know it had to exist): chocolate.com, those chocolate marketers found a way to get beer into their promotion. Just totally validates and elevates to the level of "acceptable" the pizza, beer, chocolate for dessert combination.

To wit, the chocolate/beer recommendation from the connoisseurs craze marketers at chocolate.com:

Ah, winter.

A perfect time to hibernate and enjoy some of life's finer things. What better to do on cold February nights than snuggle up to your sweetie? And what better way to seduce the object of your affection than with a dynamic duo... such as chocolate and beer.

Crazy as it sounds at first, beer may serve as a better culinary compliment to chocolate than you think. Ray Daniels, Director of Craft Beer Marketing for the Brewers Association, certainly thinks so.

"Simply stated, wine generally gets overwhelmed by chocolate. You can't taste the wine due to the richness of the chocolate," Daniels said. "Beer has the chops to stand up to the rich flavors involved. It is also about complementary flavors: earthy, roasted, even chocolaty and bitter flavors in beer that are echoed in the chocolate."

Beer and chocolate have huge fan bases in America. That's nothing new. But, if people like Daniels and "Cocoa Pete" Slosberg -- the creator of Pete's Wicked Ale -- have their way, the two can be merged to ignite a kind of synergy that is rarely equaled.

"It's not just one plus one equals two. It's one plus one equals three," said Slosberg, who has been sweet on European chocolate ever since traveling there to promote his beer.

After selling the brewery that made him famous, Slosberg is now pairing his two passions by creating his own specialty chocolates.

Daniels' recommended pairings identify three general categories of beers that play well with a range of chocolates:


Dark beers, such as porters and stouts, are made from malted barley that has been roasted to a dark, deep color. The darkened barley boosts the flavors that go well with most chocolates. Some beer aficionados even enjoy a dark, rich stout or porter as an after-dinner, desert-type treat.

Weizens (German-style wheat beers), and Belgian-style white ales (Höegaarden, Blue Moon). These are beers of lighter flavor and paler color than most all-barley ales, and often include fruity and spicy flavors such as clove, apple, nutmeg, cinnamon and apricot, among others. With these classic dessert flavors supplementing sumptuous chocolate, you and your sweetie will not be let down.

Malty golden beers and golden ales (such as Kölsch) are sweeter and lighter colored options that are clear and crisp with lower bitterness and aroma levels. These beers tend to go well with deserts in which chocolate is prevalent, but not quite as highly concentrated, such as cookies.

Have I just gotten way too eccentric and off on the solar food tangent or what? No, hey, this is for fun. Invite me to your next beer/chocolate pairing. Then I'll retire again.

--the solarDweller
Categories: solar, solar+power, green, alternative, sustainable, whatsnews

(From Anderson Valley Brewery website)











Hey future solarDwellers:

Thanks over there to UnpluggedLiving.com for appreciating my post on the deliciousness of solar pizza in Mill Valley. So, right back at you with some love for finding that Anderson Valley solar beer to go with that pizza. Last time I said that I didn't know pizza could be any better, but this is just getting downright sinful now.

Does anyone know where I can find solar brownies for dessert? Hey, business-people out there: make it solar powered, and the customers shall partake. That's a fairly win-win-win-win etc scenario, no?!

--the solarDweller
Categories: solar, solar+power, solar+energy, sustainable, green, renewable, alternative+energy, WhatsNews, PsychologyMarketing