The Precursor of Organic Architecture
The 20th century was moving into its third decade when Frank Lloyd Wright celebrated his 63th birthday. It seemed that his career for the world was over.  Wright practiced what is known as organic architecture, an architecture that evolves naturally out of the context.
After the World War I, the world admired the new architecture style that was planning to serve the rising working class. Wright criticized this new style.  If people live in an age of machines, it does not mean that their homes need to look like machines. Too many windows, too much metal, too thin columns – he counted with irony. Then one more time he showed his talent. One of Wright’s most famous residence was built from 1935 to 1939 – Fallingwater. The residence, build for Mr. E. J. Kaufmann, is melted into the natural surroundings with a stream and waterfall running under the building. The construction is a series of cantilevered balconies and terraces, using limestone for all verticals, and concrete for all the horizontals.  Wright took some of the new style ideas and came up with a brilliant construction that exemplified the organic architecture he promoted.


Unpleasant Awakening in 21th Century
Mankind in 21st century faces new challenges. Limitation of traditional fossil fuel resources and a phantom of climate crisis emerged. Both problems caught an interest of documentaries in contrast of previous science fiction movies. The well know “An Inconvenient Truth” is a 2006 documentary in which Al Gore, an activist for awareness of global warming, announced that a climate change is a fact. Well, the last 50 years of 20th century was a period of aggressive exploitation of natural resources in order to satisfy a growing demand for energy. There is an inseparable relationship between economic growth and energy consumption. The present society cannot exist without electricity, heating, television, computers or laundry machines. The problem is that 91% of the energy production comes from non-renewable energy sources. How can we deliver enough energy if oil will last only for about 30-40 years, natural gas for 35-45 years, and coal probably for 100 years? In addition, by using fossil resources the environment has been polluted. Even if this is the most pessimistic scenario, we urgently need to look for new renewable resources. Mankind of 21st century understood there is no way out.

Renewable Energy
The situation of crisis forced us to turn our attention to renewable energy sources. The world in the state of emergency combined the efforts to bring back an energy balance and stop the global warming effect on Earth. Renewable energy is safe, unlimited for anyone and does not produce any pollutions seems to be a perfect solution. But, a devil is in details. The energy from the sun is free, but equipment to capture the photons is expensive. Although the scientists and technologists have been working hard to find new, more efficient and cost effective solutions, the renewable energy sector depends on financial support from governments and worldwide alliances.  Fortunately, this has been happening.  Governments have been supporting individual and commercial producers of green energy, science labs, and other companies with activities related to renewable energy sectors. The financial support emanates in forms of rebates and tax deductions.


Success Key - FundsThe Precursor of Organic Architecture
The 20th century was moving into its third decade when Frank Lloyd Wright celebrated his 63th birthday. It seemed that his career for the world was over.  Wright practiced what is known as organic architecture, an architecture that evolves naturally out of the context.
After the World War I, the world admired the new architecture style that was planning to serve the rising working class. Wright criticized this new style.  If people live in an age of machines, it does not mean that their homes need to look like machines. Too many windows, too much metal, too thin columns – he counted with irony. Then one more time he showed his talent. One of Wright’s most famous residence was built from 1935 to 1939 – Fallingwater. The residence, build for Mr. E. J. Kaufmann, is melted into the natural surroundings with a stream and waterfall running under the building. The construction is a series of cantilevered balconies and terraces, using limestone for all verticals, and concrete for all the horizontals.  Wright took some of the new style ideas and came up with a brilliant construction that exemplified the organic architecture he promoted.

Unpleasant Awakening in 21th Century
Mankind in 21st century faces new challenges. Limitation of traditional fossil fuel resources and a phantom of climate crisis emerged. Both problems caught an interest of documentaries in contrast of previous science fiction movies. The well know “An Inconvenient Truth” is a 2006 documentary in which Al Gore, an activist for awareness of global warming, announced that a climate change is a fact. Well, the last 50 years of 20th century was a period of aggressive exploitation of natural resources in order to satisfy a growing demand for energy. There is an inseparable relationship between economic growth and energy consumption. The present society cannot exist without electricity, heating, television, computers or laundry machines. The problem is that 91% of the energy production comes from non-renewable energy sources. How can we deliver enough energy if oil will last only for about 30-40 years, natural gas for 35-45 years, and coal probably for 100 years? In addition, by using fossil resources the environment has been polluted. Even if this is the most pessimistic scenario, we urgently need to look for new renewable resources. Mankind of 21st century understood there is no way out.

Renewable Energy
The situation of crisis forced us to turn our attention to renewable energy sources. The world in the state of emergency combined the efforts to bring back an energy balance and stop the global warming effect on Earth. Renewable energy is safe, unlimited for anyone and does not produce any pollutions seems to be a perfect solution. But, a devil is in details. The energy from the sun is free, but equipment to capture the photons is expensive. Although the scientists and technologists have been working hard to find new, more efficient and cost effective solutions, the renewable energy sector depends on financial support from governments and worldwide alliances.  Fortunately, this has been happening.  Governments have been supporting individual and commercial producers of green energy, science labs, and other companies with activities related to renewable energy sectors. The financial support emanates in forms of rebates and tax deductions.

Success Key - Funds
On April 17, 2009 President Barack Obama, signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act aka Stimulus Package that relocated 80 billions for renewable energy sector, including 25 billions for solar industry. The European Union countries also support the producers of renewable energy. The UE report states that 18 of 27 EU countries feed the energy sector in tariffs, and 2 countries also used taxes deductions. The most effective and generous is government of Germany that updates the tariffs every few years. How high those tariffs are depends on the source of energy, type of technology and size of installation.
As a result Germany is today a renewable giant in Europe. Poland, an UE member, signed the legislative package on climate and energy that obligates it to reach 15% of entire energy production from renewable sources till 2020. Although time is moving fast not much happened in this field, and Poland does not show any spectacular activities. Meanwhile as an effect of renewable revolution and a great deal of funds relocated into clean energy, the entire world is changing along with the real estate market.

Lidia Paulińska -Thompson Journalist and member of the International Federation of Journalists. She has resided in California since 2002 and holds a position as CFO of Ra Tech Solar Company. As an enthusiast of alternative technologies, Lidia attends national conferences and meetings dedicated Solar Energy Power. She enjoys golf and traveling.

Why solar energy
Is it a hit on the United States market? According to the market research:
• Existing houses and new housing developments powered by solar energy will sell faster and for higher price.  According to US DOE’s (Department
of Energy) office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, a home with solar will sell twice as fast as a home without solar – even in depressed market
• 75% of Americans choose the developers that build energy efficient houses. Even if they expect that price would be higher
• If solar power systems reduce energy costs by $1,000 per year, this increases the home’s value by about $20,000 – according to real estate appraisers. This means that houses powered by solar energy increase their market value
• Solar energy price does not go up.  Solar protects homeowners from inflation of energy costs. This is why 9 of 10 Americans would like to have a solar power home. “If I have 2 identical houses – said one of internaut with humor – but one has an ability to produce free hot water or electricity for you, I think I’d choose that one”.
Houses powered by solar attract bigger clientele, because their marketing value is higher. Can developers that build luxury homes still compete with developers offering energy efficient houses powered by solar systems? Probably not, because present clientele prefer efficiency of the building that means the costs of house maintenance will be lower. Hot water and electricity without monthly payment will always be a warm welcome. An investment in an energy efficient house will be cost effective especially when the current market is uncertain.
In addition the builder offering solar powered homes will use the generous rebates from state and federal tax deduction.  There is only one choice.

From the Labs to the Roofs
Now when American’s new houses powered by solar systems are growing like mushrooms, it is worth a revisit to solar cell history, from the labs to the roofs.  It is a story of unfulfilled promises and hopes, ambitious personalities, and unlikely alliances. In 1950’s America, like today, some science centers were sponsored by companies searching for new innovation and new products. One was Western Bell Electric (WBE). In the 1950s this company was looking to develop a device that can power telephone stations. Three scientists of WBE – Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson – were the ones that develop the first silicon solar cell.  It was a summer day in 1953 when Pearson noticed that sunlight streaming in through the lab window cause an electric impulse while hit an a silicon piece lying on his desk. There is well known that everything on a scientist desk is hook up to measurement devices – just because something unexpected can happen any time. Pearson did not believe it and repeated the experiment accompanied by Chapin and Fuller. Soon three scientists started working together. Despite their efforts they were unable to boost the efficiency of their silicon cell more that 4%. WBT lost interest in this invention and forced the scientists to move to more promising projects. Soon, WBT came back to the invention when its competitor, Radio Corporation of America took it seriously and worked on developing solar cell. Finally WBT improved it and presented at the press conference in New Jersey and then at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. Solar cell became news for press. The New York Times saw it worth to publish on first page with a commentary that eventually mankind’s big dream to harness the sun comes true. But, the victory came too early. Chapin calculated that with a 1 Watt cell costing $286 it would cost a homeowner 1.4 millions dollars to power the home with the sun. This number tempered the enthusiasm of scientists, as well as WBT. That might have been the end of solar cell, but as we know now it was not. Another customer became interested in new invention, the one that not necessarily follows in the economic books. It was a US government.

On April 17, 2009 President Barack Obama, signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act aka Stimulus Package that relocated 80 billions for renewable energy sector, including 25 billions for solar industry. The European Union countries also support the producers of renewable energy. The UE report states that 18 of 27 EU countries feed the energy sector in tariffs, and 2 countries also used taxes deductions. The most effective and generous is government of Germany that updates the tariffs every few years. How high those tariffs are depends on the source of energy, type of technology and size of installation.
As a result Germany is today a renewable giant in Europe. Poland, an UE member, signed the legislative package on climate and energy that obligates it to reach 15% of entire energy production from renewable sources till 2020. Although time is moving fast not much happened in this field, and Poland does not show any spectacular activities. Meanwhile as an effect of renewable revolution and a great deal of funds relocated into clean energy, the entire world is changing along with the real estate market.

Why solar energy
Is it a hit on the United States market? According to the market research:
• Existing houses and new housing developments powered by solar energy will sell faster and for higher price.  According to US DOE’s (Department
of Energy) office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, a home with solar will sell twice as fast as a home without solar – even in depressed market
• 75% of Americans choose the developers that build energy efficient houses. Even if they expect that price would be higher
• If solar power systems reduce energy costs by $1,000 per year, this increases the home’s value by about $20,000
– according to real estate appraisers. This means that houses powered by solar energy increase their market value
• Solar energy price does not go up.  Solar protects homeowners from inflation of energy costs. This is why 9 of 10 Americans would like to have a solar power home. “If I have 2 identical houses – said one of internaut with humor – but one has an ability to produce free hot water or electricity for you, I think I’d choose that one”.
Houses powered by solar attract bigger clientele, because their marketing value is higher. Can developers that build luxury homes still compete with developers offering energy efficient houses powered by solar systems? Probably not, because present clientele prefer efficiency of the building that means the costs of house maintenance will be lower. Hot water and electricity without monthly payment will always be a warm welcome. An investment in an energy efficient house will be cost effective especially when the current market is uncertain.
In addition the builder offering solar powered homes will use the generous rebates from state and federal tax deduction.  There is only one choice.

From the Labs to the Roofs
Now when American’s new houses powered by solar systems are growing like mushrooms, it is worth a revisit to solar cell history, from the labs to the roofs.  It is a story of unfulfilled promises and hopes, ambitious personalities, and unlikely alliances. In 1950’s America, like today, some science centers were sponsored by companies searching for new innovation and new products. One was Western Bell Electric (WBE). In the 1950s this company was looking to develop a device that can power telephone stations. Three scientists of WBE – Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller and Gerald Pearson – were the ones that develop the first silicon solar cell.  It was a summer day in 1953 when Pearson noticed that sunlight streaming in through the lab window cause an electric impulse while hit an a silicon piece lying on his desk. There is well known that everything on a scientist desk is hook up to measurement devices – just because something unexpected can happen any time. Pearson did not believe it and repeated the experiment accompanied by Chapin and Fuller. Soon three scientists started working together. Despite their efforts they were unable to boost the efficiency of their silicon cell more that 4%. WBT lost interest in this invention and forced the scientists to move to more promising projects. Soon, WBT came back to the invention when its competitor, Radio Corporation of America took it seriously and worked on developing solar cell. Finally WBT improved it and presented at the press conference in New Jersey and then at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington. Solar cell became news for press. The New York Times saw it worth to publish on first page with a commentary that eventually mankind’s big dream to harness the sun comes true. But, the victory came too early. Chapin calculated that with a 1 Watt cell costing $286 it would cost a homeowner 1.4 millions dollars to power the home with the sun. This number tempered the enthusiasm of scientists, as well as WBT. That might have been the end of solar cell, but as we know now it was not. Another customer became interested in new invention, the one that not necessarily follows in the economic books. It was a US government.