Solar panels in southern Germany
Posted by Joe Bauer on March 23rd, 2009 filed in UncategorizedI was recently in southern Germany when I noticed that there were a lot more solar panels on buildings than in my recent visits. Or maybe I wasn’t paying as much attention previously. On my ride from Frankfurt to Freiburg I don’t think I passed a city that didn’t have at least one building with solar panels. Even barns and factories had them. When talking to my friends about it they said I should check out the stuff Rolf Disch was doing in Freiburg. I did, and it was amazing. They built energy plus houses where many of the houses produce 3 times more energy than they use.
Pictures from my train ride:




The Sonnenschiff by architect Rolf Disch in Freiburg, Germany:

Video Interview with architect Rolf Disch (German with English subtitles)
Video: Sonnenschiff report from Deutsche Welle (English)
Popularity: 18% [?]







March 27th, 2009 at 12:38 am
WoW, it seems that Germany has did their part very well, Caleb. I think that our country should do it even better than Germany did!
wilsons last blog post..You Should Eat More Fruits and Vegetables After The Postpartum!
March 27th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
Cool shots Joe!
March 29th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I visited a sight called LayZgreenPeople.com It is like the MySpace or facebook of the green movement. It is great. You can keep up to date on all sorts of things. Learn what steps you can take to help the environment.
March 30th, 2009 at 11:16 am
Solar energy is great! It saves money and not that expensive! btw, you’re write-ups are great too. Keep it up. muahhugs
Cacai M.s last blog post..MY NAME GOT CHANGED
March 31st, 2009 at 11:12 pm
I love the idea of solar but I live in an area where hurricanes come through. Do you know anything about the flexible solar? Thanks for the great writing.
Aftercancers last blog post..To meat or not to meat
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I have also noticed the abundance of solar power panels while traveling Europe. Someday perhaps we will start to see more of that in the U.S.
Jazzspins last blog post..Denver Nuggets 114, Utah Jazz 104
April 6th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Hi -
Here in sunny Sth Australia we’re big on solar panels, with good govt subsidies to promote them as well.
Off topic, but:
Have you seen the ‘review’ of your site on Tuscson SEO Solutions? (day 73)
Cheers – Rhys
Rhyss last blog post..The 109 Day Link Building Explosion Review
April 6th, 2009 at 8:30 am
@Rhys:
I had not seen the “review”… thanks for pointing it out.
On that topic, though, the dark background/light text thing on environmentastic! has always bothered me a little. I actually DID change the text so that it was “whiter” and would stand out from the dark better, but I think that I will change the background to a lighter brown/tan or something – maybe a short fade from dark “dirt” to nearly white/light tan, then dark brown text.
It’s certainly not the first time I’ve heard that dark BG and light text is not the best solution, from a readership or SEO perspective. It’s never bothered me, though, so I haven’t taken the time to figure out how to fix it.
Anybody know wordpress and theme design well enough and is willing to volunteer to change the BG to something like what I described above?
Seriously, though – let me know if you’re interested, anybody…
Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley
April 6th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Europe is much further ahead than the US when it comes to solar. My hope is that pictures like these will us rolling!
Lindas last blog post..Rocks to Roofs
April 6th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Solar is just one of those things that makes such perfect sense. Is it really so cost prohibitive to retro fit homes? How about mandatory solar panels in new home construction?
Trout Fliess last blog post..The Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear Fly
April 10th, 2009 at 11:18 am
It’s great to see so many buildings and home putting up solar panels. Many Americans aren’t really familiar with how you can even buy solar panels and tax credit information. It would be nice if more American buildings began using solar panels or small wind turbines.
pays to live greens last blog post..Eco Mist Solutions Green Cleaners
April 11th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
That’s awesome! Germany has been on the leading edge of renewable energy for awhile now! We just moved in to a new place with solar panels and many other “green” features and we’re loving it!
April 13th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
This is great! IF ONLY it were more readily available in the US. What is preventing this? And how can we change it? What solar resources are there for us here? There may be some answers here: http://www.greatnonprofits.org/green
May 1st, 2009 at 8:16 am
They get some type of rebate or help from goverment to do this. I have seen solar panels line the road in germany. I also saw program with farmers making more money from solar panels than from farm. I always tell people you can make money if the electric companies have to buy the power and it does not matter where you live germany does not have alot of sun compared to most places.
Best etf funds lists last blog post..Bond etf.
June 11th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I am sure you will find a lot more solar panels in Europe. It seems that Europe if far more head of the U.S. in terms of usage.
Just an obervations though….
July 26th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
Hello from Germany,
well, we Germans are extremely eco conscious, up to being obsessed…
the red-green (socialdemocrats-greens) government from 1998-2005 installed some laws like the ability to get paid for energy you create at home and the utility companies have to buy it from you at a fixed price…some build their finances for old age on such a business model…
and though in my opinion we often overdue it (salad leafs have to have a seperate trash etc.) in some ways I hear that our models are teached at universities abroad as being exemplary
Daniel
Daniel´s last blog ..Jul 25- Solar Panel 12V – think RV Solar Panels or Portable Flexible Solar Panel