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NOVA: Solar Energy - Saved by the Sun

NOVA: Solar Energy - Saved by the Sun

enlarge enlarge 		Director: Steven Latham
Studio: WGBH Boston
Category: DVD

List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $17.99
You Save: $1.96 (10%)



Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars 5 reviews

Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 56 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6

MPN: WG41709
UPC: 783421417090
EAN: 0783421417090
ASIN: B000PWQPAW

Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: July 31, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 2 days
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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
In Saved by the Sun NOVA poses the burning question: Can solar power help save the Earth from the ravages of global warming? In the face of steeply rising oil prices and political turmoil in the Middle East there s new urgency and enthusiasm for finding ways to make solar power more efficient and affordable. From individuals installing solar panels on their roofs to industrial-scale projects in the Mojave desert featuring massive arrays of mirrors solar power is gaining ground in the US. And in Germany the world s leading developer of solar power is on track to produce 30 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Breakthroughs in nanotechnology could make solar s future even brighter. NOVA presents a provocative mix of scientist economists and ordinary citizens who are all pushing the envelope of solar power s untapped potential.Special DVD features include: materials and activities for educators; a link to the NOVA Web site; scene selections; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: Letterboxed.System Requirements:Running Time: 56 minFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 783421417090 Manufacturer No: WG41709

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Solar Energy - Saved By The Sun   April 20, 2008
W. E. Westerbeck (Elgin, Il.)
Excellent video reviewing and bringing right up to date all forms of
renewable energy including solar thermal, photovoltaics, wind, geothermal,
etc. Takes you inside other countries, most notably Germany, to show how
far they have progressed with solar energy to reduce their dependance on
carbon based fuels. The U. S. must get with this approach, big time, to
help solve global warmning, provide jobs, and provide better national
security.


5 out of 5 stars Very informative and well put together   March 31, 2008
Disa Holly
Awesome! After several months of hard research, this was by far the most informative thing I found. And easy to watch.


5 out of 5 stars Solar Power - learn what's here now and what's coming...   November 9, 2007
Sandy Winnick (Chicago, IL United States)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is a very timely film... energy is one of the biggest issues of our time. This film opened my eyes to what is happening in the world of solar... the technology, the costs, the obstacles, what's coming in the future. This really should be seen by a lot of people, including our elected officials and in schools. The info about solar in the Mojave desert and in Germany is amazing.


4 out of 5 stars Hopefully, We Will Be Saved By the Sun!   November 8, 2007
Loyd E. Eskildson (Phoenix, AZ.)
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

The sun has been identified as the energy source for tomorrow - since at least the 1950s. So far, however, it has failed to go beyond minor use in the U.S. Experts in the film state that the sun's unreliable nature is its biggest drawback - not only rainy day problems, but evening shutdowns as well.

The good news is that homes generating solar electricity while staying wired to the electrical grid don't need batteries to store power for evenings and cloudy days. More good news is the fact that solar power is most effective during the hours when power requirements are greatest - afternoons.

The bad news is that solar generation of electricity is still expensive - costing $15-28,000 for a home, up to $45,000 if solar water heating is also included. All the solar power generated in the U.S. at this point only allows the elimination of two coal plants; it's less than 1% of total electricity generated.

Germany, on the other hand, offers a vision of what could happen - they are on a path to generate about one-third of their electricity from renewable sources (wind + solar) by 2020. This is because government provides a substantial subsidy to solar power generation, on top of power in Germany costing about twice that of the U.S. (The DVD did not explain why this is.)

Improved technology hopefully will also bring major benefit. Current solar technology only converts red-spectrum rays into electricity; newer (much-more expensive) models can convert two or even three colors. More promising is the use of nanotechnology, though this wasn't well explained.

Finally, we can also reduce our carbon footprint through improved efficiency - eg. newer air conditioners.

Bottom Line: Waiting to see what happens with global warming and rising energy costs is not an option. We need to develop renewable (from the sun) sources now. Unfortunately, the U.S. has instead been reducing funds for solar research.


5 out of 5 stars A captivating, enlightening, and ultimately hopeful viewing experience   July 8, 2007
Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

Solar Energy: Saved by the Sun is a DVD episode of the acclaimed public television documentary series that seeks to answer the question: can solar power help save the Earth from the depredations of global warming? Caught amid rising oil prices and turbulence in the Middle East, the possibilities for making solar power more efficient and affordable range from individuals adding solar panels to their roofs to industrial-scale projects in the Mojave desert using massive arrays of mirrors. Germany is the world's leading developer of solar power, seeking to provide 30 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2020. Nanotechnology advances could further enhance solar power's potential in the future. A captivating, enlightening, and ultimately hopeful viewing experience, highly recommended. 56 minutes, color.


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