Aaron Mandelkorn

The Real Price of Fossil Fuels

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by  Aaron Mandelkorn

The time has come for a change in the way we think about energy.

This is a statement many of us have heard. For me, this is a statement that is thrown around quite carelessly, especially from the people and industries that do the most environmental damage. With the recent BP oilrig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and mine collapse in West Virginia, more people are uttering those words. In both instances these disasters occurred and will continue to occur because we as a society have not yet assumed the true cost of energy.

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Micro-hydro: Why Small is Beautiful

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by  Aaron Mandelkorn

Damming water to channel through a turbine for energy generation is almost primitive in its simplicity. Yet from a modern electrical generation standpoint, it can be quite efficient at producing clean, renewable electricity on-site. You don’t have to have the Colorado River running through your yard to get electricity from flowing water. In fact, micro-hydroelectricity is a stable, cost effective and efficient form of on-site energy production.

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Centralized vs. Distributed Solar Energy

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by  Aaron Mandelkorn

The solar electricity industry is currently embracing two distinctive approaches best described as centralized and distributed energy models. In recent years the shift from distributed, utility-owned solar electric systems to large private utility scale, and utility/ owner systems has become more prevalent. Each approach has its pros and cons and the truth is, we need renewable energy in any and every capacity we can get it. Education and understanding of renewable energy alternatives is necessary to make the best choices for our future energy needs.

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Financial Incentives for Renewable Energy

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by Aaron Mandelkorn

One barrier that remains ever present in the renewable energy (RE) industry is consistent financial incentives. As the industry continues to evolve, we can hope that the price of this technology comes down to a point where tax credits and utility rebates are not needed to make an investment affordable; but that day is not yet here. Currently these incentives are one of the key forces driving this industry.

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Solar Energy: An Introduction to Photovoltaics

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This is the first article in a six-part series dedicated to renewable energies.

by  Aaron Mandelkorn

Solar energy is not a new concept. For years, civilizations utilized the power of the sun’s rays to warm their homes and dry their food and clothes. Today, we know so much more about what the sun can do. No better example of this is found than in Photovoltaic electricity, or PV for short. This term refers to the electrical current that is generated when light reacts with a solar cell, which is generally made from silicate.

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