Virginia reports on South Australian solar households to be paid more for the surplus electricity they generate, a solar powered flood monitoring system that helped kept Queenslanders safe during recent flooding, a proposed 200MW solar updraft tower for Western Australia and REC solar panels trump an extensive field test. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

Virginia reports on the final round of solar schools grant applications opening soon, solar reaching parity with fossil fuels in MENA nations, solar panel recycling to be a multi-billion dollar industry and two new solar farms that will continue producing electricity after dark. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

Virginia reports on South Australians being slugged hard on utility bills, construction of the Mildura Solar Farm, Victoria’s solar feed in tariff review announced and air conditioning’s impact on peak power loads. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

In this episode, Virginia covers the SolarKindle, the power of buying solar in groups, electricity prices in Victoria jump again and what commercial enterprises can do to combat electricity cost increases resulting from Australia’s carbon tax and other price hikes. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

Students at Ellicott City’s Worthington Elementary School sing the gospel of solar energy during a public ceremony celebrating the launch of the first solar powered public school in the state.

Virginia covers the release of the Australian Government’s Draft Energy White Paper, the cost of solar power often overestimated, major electricity price increases loom for Australian households and how a solar panel system can knock four years off a mortgage. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

Virginia covers Linkin Park’s solar initiative, Qatar’s massive carbon footprint, solar power systems prices in Australia drop 70% and South Africa’s first concentrated PV plant power Durban climate talks. For further details of these stories and more, visit www.energymatters.com.au

An urgent message from the UK solar industry. Tens of thousands of jobs are at risk within the next few weeks. Act Now: www.oursolarfuture.org.uk In 2007 David Cameron pledged his support for feed-in tariffs for renewable energy. On the 31st October 2011 his government slashed feed-in tariffs by 50%. This move threatens 4000 businesses and tens of thousands of solar jobs in the UK. Greenest government ever? We ask David Cameron to ‘Cut, don’t kill solar’, support our solar future at www.oursolarfuture.org.uk

www.DrEnergySaver.com Tom and Larry speak about the cost effectiveness of solar panels and weight in the pros and cons of investing in Solar PV and Solar Thermal systems. They also remind us that it , before investing in any system to generate renewable energy, it is a good idea to make sure your home is able to conserve it. Are you an HVAC contractor? Take a look at Dr. Energy Saver’s franchise opportunity: www.discoverdrenergysaver.com.

Eden Full wins Staples/Ashoka Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition at Techonomy 2011.