Some believe that solar panels require direct sunlight to work. Those same people may believe that the UK is the world’s most unsuitable place to harness the sun’s energy. Well, they are wrong. More than 880,000 people in the UK use solar panels and Nissan has taken note.   In mid-March, the car manufacturer joined the ranks of Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Tesla and launched their take on a complete home energy management system, which they named Nissan Energy Solar. For now, only UK residents can try it in their households.   This idea of utilizing the most valuable part of its electric vehicles—the batteries—after they’ve lived their first life in one of the vehicles (or have been declared terminated post some accident) is new and golden. Nissan is making a bullish push into the energy storage industry, and it does it on three fronts at once: using homes as powerhouses; off-grid power storage; electricity generator park.   The storage system Nissan proposes, the xStorage, is the result of a collaboration with Eaton Industries. The xStorage can have three power options: 3.6 kilowatts, 4.6 kW or 6kW. There are two battery options, 4.2 kW or 6kW. The average unit weighs nearly 300 pounds (135 kg).   Benefits of the system include:  Increased independence from the national grid and electricity providers  Cost reduction on your electricity bill of up to 66 percent  The ability to generate, store and manage energy for use overnight (despite cloudy weather) and charge Nissan electric vehicles.  A six-panel system costs about $5,383 including installation. Full solar and storage systems start at roughly $10,589. This solar plus electric vehicles is clearly a match made in heaven. According to CleanTechnica, about 32 percent of the electric driving respondents have also installed rooftop solar power. In addition, this type...

Modern renters gravitate towards housing that allows them to protect natural resources without sacrificing convenience. Increasing demand has paved the way for sustainable features to shift from ecoluxury to affordable communities. Luxury is not a term for opulence. Rather, the phrase reflects the Latin luxus, which denotes something that is precious and of optimal caliber. The ecoluxury lifestyle and products signify the value of our environment and the high quality of the products used to protect it. Joyce Mihalik, Vice President, Integrative Design, Forest City Realty Trust, defines ecoluxury as “seamless elegance embedded with sustainable design that gives the tenant a luxurious experience.” Sustainable features must blend with convenience, functionality, and style. Ecoluxury appeals across demographic boundaries. “If you can afford it, you will want it,” Mihalik casually says. The trending products below reappear in ecoluxury communities throughout the United States. As demand rises and pricing becomes more competitive, these features will appear more frequently in market rate and affordable communities. Home Automation Devices GID Investment Advisers, and its property management company Windsor Communities, is a national leader in green multifamily properties. With 11 green certified buildings and nine additional properties in the certification process, the Boston-based company takes pride in its ecoluxury residences. Matthew Bernstein, Asset Manager, GID Investment Advisers, notes the growing popularity of smart home devices, “Home automation will continue to grow, offering new opportunities for residents to enjoy smart homes.” Home automation devices allow renters to remotely control thermostats, fixtures, appliances, and even outlets through the use of a mobile device. GID’s  Los Angeles property, Hanover Olympic, offers 20 Eco-green units. Each unit is equipped with a Google Nest Thermostat. After one week of use, Nest learns the preferences of inhabitants. The device then automatically adjusts interior temperatures to account...