As advancements in solar technology continue, solar companies continue to announce new solar panel models, using terminology that can leave the average homeowner feeling dazed and confused. You may be tempted to leave the choice of the solar panels completely up to your solar installer.

If you’ve chosen a reputable solar contractor with a proven history of excellence, like one you can find here through CalFinder, you can feel secure that you’ll get a quality product, but arming yourself with a bit of comparison shopping isn’t a bad idea.

If you’re shopping for the least expensive panel on the market, you need only concern yourself with two factors: the efficiency of the panel and the cost. A solar panel’s efficiency is measured by the amount of sunlight it can convert to electricity under optimum conditions, usually at the time of day when the panel is directly facing full sunlight.

The more efficient the panel, the more power it will produce each year. The efficiency of solar panels available today range from 13 percent to 18 percent. When price is the primary consideration, the PV system with the best yearly output at the best price is the system to choose.

To get pricing on a system in your area, click here.

The least expensive system won’t count for much if it breaks down quickly, however, so the third criteria to consider is the system’s life expectancy, which can only be assured by a quality warranty. The power output of the panels themselves should be covered for at least 20 years. These warranties typically cover a percentage of the power output, from 80 to 90 percent. The system’s components should be covered for 2 to 5 years.

There are about a dozen major solar brands on the market, using either monocrystalline or polycrystalline photovoltaic (PV) cells. Monocrystalline cells are cut from a single silicon crystal, making them more fragile then polycrystalline cells, which are made by cutting plates from silicon poured into molds.

Polycrystalline cells are cheaper to produce, but since they require connecting numerous silicon cells, are less efficient in converting sunlight to electricity than a single crystalline cell. Visually, it’s usually easy to tell them apart. With the exception of Sharp, SolarWorld and Trina brands, monocrystalline panels are black, while polycrystalline panels are blue.

When researching a solar panel’s efficiency, look for PTC ratings, rather than STC, or Standard Testing Conditions. STC watt ratings are done by the manufacturer. Often required by states before a solar panel can enter the market, PV USA Test Conditions are conducted independently.

Comparing “cost per PTC” figures is the best way to determine which panel offers the most efficiency at the best price. Individual solar panels range from about $400 each to $700 each. The cost-per-PTC prices range from about $2.50 to $4.50. How many solar panels to buy is another important issue as well.

While some solar companies offer comparison reviews, consumer reviews are scarce. A conversation with a reputable solar contractor is a good place to start your investigation. Be wary of contractors who only seem to know about one product. Your solar installer should be knowledgeable about a variety of options. Check out our contractor database to find one in your area.

In Midland, Michigan, construction crews are preparing to deliver what may very well be the future of clean energy: solar shingles.

Dow Chemical Co., perhaps the biggest leader in solar shingles manufacturing, is building a new facility for production of the Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles, with which they hope to capture a $5 billion market share by 2015.

I’ve had a love affair with solar shingles since they first hit the market in 2005. They’re able to solve many of the problems that plague solar as an industry, like the common (albeit misguided) complaint that solar panels are an eyesore.

The shingles, which have about 12 by 86 inches of surface area, can be integrated seamlessly into your rooftop.

What’s more, they shield the home. They offer the protective properties of normal shingles while generating clean energy at the same time. Similar in hue to traditional asphalt shingles, solar shingles blend in surprisingly well with deep, dark-colored roofing materials.

Installation costs are usually cheaper as well, since solar shingles can be stapled directly to your roofing cloth and installed by a regular roofer in 10 hours (versus 22-30 hours for a solar panel array). For more on solar costs in your area, click here.

Until now, the solar shingle trend has been in its infancy. But Dow hopes to change all that.

Powerhouse Solar Shingles are already being featured on two Great Lakes Bay homes in Michigan. Mark Wahl, co-owner of Cobblestone Homes and builder of one of the show-houses above, foresees an explosion in solar shingle popularity.

“[The solar shingles] have been hooked up by our builders and electricians on two homes now, and for Dow to take that to a mass market is really big,” Wahl told MLive.com.

“Our company deals with solar panels, but we have to bring in an installation firm. Because builders can install these shingles, Dow will be able to easily sell them across America,” he said.

The plant will begin production in 2012 and employ 1,275 people. Aside from boosting production and putting the locals to work, Dow seeks to make Michigan a “green-tech hub of the new U.S. economy,” said Earl Shipp, VP of Dow’s Michigan operations.

In addition, Dow has a soft launch of their solar shingles scheduled for the first quarter of this year, which should bring the products substantial exposure.

If this trend picks up, not only would more homeowners be able to afford solar, but solar contractors and roofers alike could expand their offerings.

What do you think? Would you install solar shingles on your roof?

Let us know in the comments!

Photo via MLive.com

Portable solar chargers have become relatively cheap and readily available, and can be a lifesaver if you need to charge your phone or tablet on the go. For Marines in the field, the devices can be literal lifesavers: troops rely on a whole host of electronic devices to do their job, and, normally, have carried spare batteries with them (3-4 days worth). That creates a lot of weight on individual Marines; it also creates greater demand for supply convoys that can come under attack by insurgents, as, traditionally, fuel-powered generators have served as the only recharging option.

But can a lightweight, flexible solar panel withstand the demands of battle? The Corps decided to find out, and started testing such devices in training settings in the Summer of 2010. This year, India Company (Company I, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment) took them into real battle situations in Afghanistan’s Sangin valley. The results were positive: Marines were able to keep their devices running and significantly cut the amount of replacement batteries they had to carry.

The portable chargers are just one element of a larger drive for renewable power within the Marine Corps: the same company also experimented with larger solar panels at their base of operations, and the Corps hopes the success they saw with both large and small solar technologies moves them towards their long-term goal of only needing to deploy mobility fuels by 2025.

Oorah! Check out the video above for more details about India Company’s experience with solar, and let us know if you have other ideas about how the Marines (or other branches of the military) might operate more effectively with renewable energy technologies.

Jeff McIntire-Strasburg is the founder and editor of sustainablog, where he generally writes about less martial matters, such as green building and bicycle culture.

As if you needed any more incentive to go solar, Oregon-based Grape Solar is now selling full-sized residential PV solar panel systems online at Amazon.

Solar prices and sizes vary, but all kits are grid-tied and ship with a racking system, inverter and set numbers of high-power panels.

There are nine options on Amazon altogether, with the right amount of clean power for everyone.

Homeowners looking to offset a portion of their energy use, for example, could purchase a single 180-watt monocrystalline solar panel for $549.99 to cover that.

Those interested in a rooftop solar array, however, should check out the 5.06 kw system ($3.95 per watt) for $19,999.99.

There are mid-size systems as well, like the 2.3 kw system for $9,999.99, and the 4.14 kw system for $16,699.99.

Grape systems are sold individually, but shouldn’t necessarily be installed as a DIY project.

We recommend getting a quote from a licensed installer, as proper installation guarantees maximum power output from your panels.

Via Jetson Green

But one French company by the name of Wysips has officially one-upped the competition with a product that transforms any cell phone into a clean power-producing machine. Yes, even yours.

Designed similarly to a screen protector, the product is a transparent photovoltaic film that is placed directly on the screen. Worried your touch screen won’t work? The film is extremely thin (only 100 microns deep), which means a phone’s touch-screen abilities will remain the same, as will the screen view.

Once the phone is placed in sunlight, the film will go to work charging the phone’s battery. It takes longer than plugging the phone into a traditional charger (6 hours in direct sunlight), but anytime it’s exposed to sunlight it will work to top your battery off—meaning fewer charges on a regular basis. In addition, a newer model could provide as much as 30-60 minutes of talk time after just an hour of charge.

Another upside to such a universal product is the fact that it could eventually lead to phone companies making smaller batteries, and thus, slimmer, more eco-friendly phones. Other devices can the technology as well, such as iPads and e-readers.

Since most consumers aren’t ready to ditch their current phones in favor of a strictly solar model, this seems an excellent solution.

What do you think? Would you pick up one of these solar screens?

But while many people have questioned how this massive event will play out in 110-degree heat, scientists and engineers in Qatar are prepared to create a solution before it becomes a problem.

This solution comes in the form of clouds—solar-powered, gas-filled clouds, that is. The clouds, controlled by remotes, will be maneuvered to cover the playing field, shielding both players and spectators from direct and indirect rays.

In addition, the clouds will follow the sun as it moves from east to west, ensuring that the field will remain covered throughout the day.

According to Saud Abdul Ghani, head of the stadium’s mechanical and industrial engineering department, the clouds will be similar to a blimp filled with helium, surrounded by a lightweight carbon structure.

The devices will be able to fly very high in order to block out as much sunlight as possible, and are to be powered by four solar-powered engines.

So how much will this technology cost? It’s expected to ring in around $500,000, making some people question if installing a solar shade over the stadium might be a better bet.

But with 11 years still to go before the streets are crowded with soccer fanatics, there is certainly time to tweak the plan.

Photos via Flickr CC: Larry Johnson & Peter

For instance, scientists have spent years trying to replicate photosynthesis, a process so intricate and complicated it took a multitude of trials to figure out. But they have made a breakthrough—and the impact it could have on off-grid living is huge.

The announcement of the breakthrough was made by the American Chemical Society, an organization of researchers that were able to create an “artificial leaf” capable of turning sunlight directly into energy for later use.

So what makes it different from any other solar cell currently on the market? Just like a regular leaf, it uses water.

In fact, the “artificial leaf” is submerged in water under direct sunlight, allowing it to break down the liquid into hydrogen and oxygen. These gases are then stored in the fuel cell.

While the process is impressive, the amount of energy it can produce is even more amazing—one single leaf could power an entire household in a developing area. They’ve already seen one prototype work for 45 hours straight without dipping in efficiency.

While the technology itself has been around for nearly a decade now, this particular model could actually make it onto the market because of its low cost. It’s created from nickel and cobalt, making large-scale manufacture feasible.

Daniel Nocera, Ph.D. and head researcher on the team said it best:

“A practical artificial leaf has been one of the Holy Grails of science for decades. We believe we have done it. The artificial leaf shows particular promise as an inexpensive source of electricity for homes of the poor in developing countries. Our goal is to make each home its own power station. One can envision villages in India and Africa not long from now purchasing an affordable basic power system based on this technology.”

Photo Credit: Yoko Nekonomania via Flickr CC

Soon potential car buyers will no longer have to decide between having the spectacular sports car of their dreams, or the fuel-saving hybrid that doesn’t look quite as fetching. Porsche is now jumping on the hybrid bandwagon with the plug-in 918 Spyder.

With a design mirroring that of the Carrera GT, the 917, and the RS Spyder race cars, the 918 Spyder features a 500-plus horsepower V8 engine alongside two electric motors with an additional 218 horsepower. In terms of fuel economy, it’s estimated that the vehicle will consume 3.0L/100 km with a capacity of more than 4.0 liters.

The electrical energy for the vehicle will be contained in a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery that can be recharged by plugging it into any standard outlet. Charge times will vary, but in the United States it is expected to take around seven hours. If the car is driven strictly using its electrical capabilities it has an estimated distance of over 16 miles.

Currently, the model contains two seats and a manual roof system that allows the panels to be removed and stored in the front luggage compartment.

Planning on grabbing one for yourself? You might want to think twice. In order to jack up the asking price, Porsche will only be making a total of 918 cars. The asking price in the U.S. will be undeniably high ($845,000 to be exact), although this doesn’t even include the destination and handling charges.

Production for this killer sports car turned hybrid will begin in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen in September, 2013—plenty of time to save until then, right?

You already know that solar panels can lower your energy usage and support the environment, but GreenRay Solar wants to help you visualize those savings.

Along with web design agency Bartlett Interactive, GreenRay created an online dashboard application that allows consumers to see exactly how much energy their system is currently producing and, in turn, environmental benefits such as number of trees planted and cars taken off the road.

Using a variety of means—statistics, charts, graphs, and icons—the site shows a breakdown of energy creation by the day, week, month, and entire lifetime of your solar panel installation. The information is specific to each array, taking into account different variables like amount of sunlight available on any given day.

It’s an added product feature that consumers love, but GreenRay Solar is certainly reaping the benefits as well. Harry Bartlett from Bartlett Interactive explains, “There’s a great demand by consumers to see how much energy they are producing, as well as any information that quantifies an environmental impact or benefit. The GreenRay dashboard is a rich source of data that consumers can easily understand and appreciate.”

Installers are able to use the tool as well by periodically checking on the panels they’ve installed and ensuring that they perform optimally. Engineers at GreenRay can also use the data collected from the program to improve their products and placement of solar arrays.

Other solar companies may be a bit behind on the curve, but it seems undeniable that they will soon be following suit with programs like GreenRay’s SunTrak. In turn, homeowners might just be more invested in getting a solar panel installation of their own.

You want to collect rainwater, but you need the process to be easy and affordable. While collecting the rain is the easy part (bring it on, dark clouds), getting the rainwater out and useful can be tricky. In which case, the RainPerfect solar-powered pump system might be for you.

RainPerfect is powered by a MiMH battery that, charged by a 3.5-watt solar panel, can soak up sun from anywhere nearby, eliminating the need to be installed right next to the rain barrel. Which means that you don’t need any complicated electrical hook-up in order to power the rain barrel pump.

The control box mounts atop most rain barrel styles, allowing for the intake hose to drop into the barrel. And the thing is powerful. On a single full charge, you should be able to draw up to 100 gallons. Check out Rainperfect online through select retailers such as Amazon for a price of around $150. Happy collecting.