You’re ready for the eclipse on Aug. 21, with your non-counterfeit viewing glasses and travel plans set. Yet here’s something that you may not have thought of: How will a total or even a partial solar eclipse affect homes and workplaces that use solar power? [More]
electric grid
Despite Gadget Infestation, Residential Power Use Is Expected To Decline
You’d think the bombardment of HDTVs, cell phones, computers and video game consoles would make residential power usage skyrocket, but all-around power efficiency should cause it to plateau. Government-subsidized home energy savings programs and power-savvy consumers are among the reasons power usage is expect to decline over the next decade. [More]
Power Trip: Interactive Map Shows the U.S. Electric Grid
This is the weirdest weather map you’ve ever seen. Sort of. It shows the solar power capacity of different regions of the U.S. It’s the coolest-looking slide from an interactive map compiled by NPR to illustrate this week’s series about America’s power grid. It shows power sources and where they’re located, and also the larger infrastructure that carries our electricity from those sources to our homes.