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THE REFERENCE SHELF

Sources & photo credits

Continue your reading with primary public resources, and meet the photographers behind the images.

Solar

Wind

Efficient Homes

Storage

Clean Transport

The Grid

Earth & Water

Materials & Reuse

Everyday Energy

The Big Picture

Photography

Photographs from Unsplash and Wikimedia Commons, including Creative Commons and public-domain works. Each image links to its source and applicable license. Images have been resized and converted to WebP; display thumbnails may be cropped. Each photograph remains subject to its listed license. Images illustrate subjects; they are not evidence of a BrightLeaf product test or site visit.

Solar panels cover the sloping roof of a suburban home.
Gray Watson User:E090 / Wikimedia Commons ↗Solar panels cover the sloping roof of a suburban home.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Rows of solar panels stand in a snow-covered community solar field.
Photo by William Byers. – U.S. Department of Energy from United States / Wikimedia Commons ↗Rows of solar panels stand in a snow-covered community solar field.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
Photovoltaic panels on a flat roof with shadows across the nearest row.
Asurnipal / Wikimedia Commons ↗Photovoltaic panels on a flat roof with shadows across the nearest row.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A solar thermal collector mounted on a tiled roof.
Norbert Nagel / Wikimedia Commons ↗A solar thermal collector mounted on a tiled roof.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Rooftop solar panels in the warm light of sunset.
Nuno Marques / Unsplash ↗Rooftop solar panels in the warm light of sunset.Unsplash License · Resized and converted to WebP
A wall-mounted photovoltaic inverter and its connections.
Zátonyi Sándor, (ifj.) Fizped / Wikimedia Commons ↗A wall-mounted photovoltaic inverter and its connections.CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A technician cleans solar panels with a long-handled tool.
Deo photographer / Wikimedia Commons ↗A technician cleans solar panels with a long-handled tool.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An outdoor solar inverter cabinet beside a photovoltaic installation.
SayCheeeeeese / Wikimedia Commons ↗An outdoor solar inverter cabinet beside a photovoltaic installation.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A community solar array stands among yellow wildflowers.
ItaliaCalcio2008 / Wikimedia Commons ↗A community solar array stands among yellow wildflowers.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Blue photovoltaic panels arranged in a field beneath a clear sky.
Zbynek Burival / Unsplash ↗Blue photovoltaic panels arranged in a field beneath a clear sky.Unsplash License · Resized and converted to WebP
Looking up a wind turbine tower toward its rotor blades.
Daniel Arnold / Wikimedia Commons ↗Looking up a wind turbine tower toward its rotor blades.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A tall wind turbine rises over an open field.
Photo by and ©2009 Dustin M. Ramsey (Kralizec!) / Wikimedia Commons ↗A tall wind turbine rises over an open field.CC BY-SA 2.5 · Resized and converted to WebP
An offshore wind turbine installation vessel with tall jack-up legs.
Vincent van Zeijst / Wikimedia Commons ↗An offshore wind turbine installation vessel with tall jack-up legs.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A small curved-blade wind turbine against the sky.
Dennis G. Jarvis / Wikimedia Commons ↗A small curved-blade wind turbine against the sky.CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An aerial view of wind turbines spread across open farmland.
ENERGY.GOV / Wikimedia Commons ↗An aerial view of wind turbines spread across open farmland.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
A wind turbine emerges above mist in soft evening light.
Sander Weeteling / Unsplash ↗A wind turbine emerges above mist in soft evening light.Unsplash License · Resized and converted to WebP
Maintenance work near the rotor of a wind turbine.
U.S. Department of Energy from United States / Wikimedia Commons ↗Maintenance work near the rotor of a wind turbine.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
A wind turbine in an open agricultural landscape beneath scattered clouds.
James St. John / Wikimedia Commons ↗A wind turbine in an open agricultural landscape beneath scattered clouds.CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A crane and construction equipment at a wind turbine installation site.
Cjp24 / Wikimedia Commons ↗A crane and construction equipment at a wind turbine installation site.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Wind turbines above green fields and woodland.
Thomas Réaubourg / Unsplash ↗Wind turbines above green fields and woodland.Unsplash License · Resized and converted to WebP
A passive house with a steep solar-clad roof viewed from above.
Wikideas1 / Wikimedia Commons ↗A passive house with a steep solar-clad roof viewed from above.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An outdoor heat-pump unit beside a brick house and garden.
alpha innotec / Unsplash ↗An outdoor heat-pump unit beside a brick house and garden.Unsplash License · Resized and converted to WebP
Large windows bring daylight into a comfortable living room.
Francesca Tosolini / Unsplash ↗Large windows bring daylight into a comfortable living room.Unsplash License · Resized and converted to WebP
Mineral-wool insulation materials in rolls and batts.
FMI Fachverband Mineralwolleindustrie / Wikimedia Commons ↗Mineral-wool insulation materials in rolls and batts.CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Resized and converted to WebP
A cutaway sample shows the frame, seals and insulated glazing in a wooden window.
Kozuch / Wikimedia Commons ↗A cutaway sample shows the frame, seals and insulated glazing in a wooden window.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A technician works on the components of a heat-pump water heater.
ENERGY.GOV / Wikimedia Commons ↗A technician works on the components of a heat-pump water heater.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
A round digital thermostat mounted on an interior wall.
Dan LeFebvre / Unsplash ↗A round digital thermostat mounted on an interior wall.Unsplash License · Resized and converted to WebP
Washing machines in a bright, compact laundry room.
HSOMWEI mATIWM Uatnm LUNGA / Wikimedia Commons ↗Washing machines in a bright, compact laundry room.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An induction cooking station with cookware and food preparation equipment.
Diego F. Parra / Wikimedia Commons ↗An induction cooking station with cookware and food preparation equipment.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A household electricity meter with a digital display.
Achimsh / Wikimedia Commons ↗A household electricity meter with a digital display.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Two Tesla Powerwall home batteries installed on an interior wall.
Rsparks3 / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) ↗Two Tesla Powerwall home batteries installed on an interior wall.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A bank of large lithium iron phosphate battery cells connected together.
Yo-Co-Man / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A bank of large lithium iron phosphate battery cells connected together.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Household electrical distribution panels with circuit breakers and labeled circuits.
Gvolk / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) ↗Household electrical distribution panels with circuit breakers and labeled circuits.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A residential solar battery installed beside a main electrical switchboard in Australia.
DezzignProtect / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A residential solar battery installed beside a main electrical switchboard in Australia.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A Tesla Powerwall battery beside a technician in an energy equipment room in Kenya.
Herbie Pearthree / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) ↗A Tesla Powerwall battery beside a technician in an energy equipment room in Kenya.CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
The Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant beside its reservoir.
Saulelis at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) ↗The Kruonis Pumped Storage Plant beside its reservoir.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Insulated pipework, valves and pumps at the Qvidja combined heat and power plant.
Antti Leppänen / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) ↗Insulated pipework, valves and pumps at the Qvidja combined heat and power plant.CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A Tesvolt battery energy storage system installed at Rheineck.
Kecko from Eastern Switzerland / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) ↗A Tesvolt battery energy storage system installed at Rheineck.CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A compact lithium iron phosphate battery with positive and negative terminals.
Cjp24 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A compact lithium iron phosphate battery with positive and negative terminals.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Battery storage equipment at the Turner Energy Storage Project in Pullman, Washington.
UniEnergy Technologies / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗Battery storage equipment at the Turner Energy Storage Project in Pullman, Washington.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A BMW i3 connected to a home charging cable.
Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A BMW i3 connected to a home charging cable.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A Fastned electric vehicle charging station at De Walden.
Donald Trung Quoc Don (Chữ Hán: 徵國單) - Wikimedia Commons.(Want to use this image?) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A Fastned electric vehicle charging station at De Walden.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Shared electric vehicle charging spaces inside an underground parking garage in Bergen.
Wolfmann / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) ↗Shared electric vehicle charging spaces inside an underground parking garage in Bergen.CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A white Tesla electric car parked on a snowy street.
Kirill Borisenko / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A white Tesla electric car parked on a snowy street.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An electric car display showing driving and energy information.
AkiliDaniels / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗An electric car display showing driving and energy information.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A person riding an electric bicycle outdoors.
Freshman404 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A person riding an electric bicycle outdoors.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A small Renault Twizy electric vehicle on display at an indoor event.
Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A small Renault Twizy electric vehicle on display at an indoor event.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Electric car charging equipment in a shared parking area.
Fortunate4now / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) ↗Electric car charging equipment in a shared parking area.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A Solaris electric bus at Lenzburg railway station.
JoachimKohler-HB / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A Solaris electric bus at Lenzburg railway station.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
The charging ports of a Nissan Leaf electric car.
Musashi1600 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0 us) ↗The charging ports of a Nissan Leaf electric car.CC BY 3.0 us · Resized and converted to WebP
The APG substation building and electrical infrastructure at Leoben-Donawitz.
Aciarium / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗The APG substation building and electrical infrastructure at Leoben-Donawitz.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Washing machines in a shared apartment building laundry room.
Eden Aviv / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) ↗Washing machines in a shared apartment building laundry room.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Electricity transmission towers silhouetted against a sunset sky.
Kkiefuik  This photo was taken with Canon EOS 90D / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) ↗Electricity transmission towers silhouetted against a sunset sky.CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An operating control room with panels and instrumentation at Kozloduy power station.
Yovko Lambrev / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0) ↗An operating control room with panels and instrumentation at Kozloduy power station.CC BY 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Field equipment at a tactical microgrid installation at Fort Dix.
Spc. Robert Porter / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) ↗Field equipment at a tactical microgrid installation at Fort Dix.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
A digital Economy 7 electricity meter with a tariff display.
NoahLovesNesquick / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A digital Economy 7 electricity meter with a tariff display.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A Logarex household smart electricity meter.
RobbieIanMorrison / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) ↗A Logarex household smart electricity meter.CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An aerial view of Foster hydroelectric dam and reservoir.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain) ↗An aerial view of Foster hydroelectric dam and reservoir.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
Installation of high-voltage feeder cables at a power substation in Queens.
MTA Capital Construction Mega Projects / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) ↗Installation of high-voltage feeder cables at a power substation in Queens.CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Maintenance work on National Grid electricity infrastructure.
Stephen Burton / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) ↗Maintenance work on National Grid electricity infrastructure.CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A hydroelectric dam and powerhouse beside a wooded river.
Lockley / Wikimedia Commons ↗A hydroelectric dam and powerhouse beside a wooded river.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A run-of-river power station beside a green riverbank.
Richard Bartz / Wikimedia Commons ↗A run-of-river power station beside a green riverbank.CC BY-SA 2.5 · Resized and converted to WebP
Steam rises from a geothermal power station in Iceland.
Gretar Ívarsson – Edited by Fir0002 / Wikimedia Commons ↗Steam rises from a geothermal power station in Iceland.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
The open cabinet of a ground-source heat pump shows internal pipework.
Dr Tzeferis Petros / Wikimedia Commons ↗The open cabinet of a ground-source heat pump shows internal pipework.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A geothermal drilling rig at a New Zealand construction site.
Rjglewis / Wikimedia Commons ↗A geothermal drilling rig at a New Zealand construction site.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Large district heating pipes exposed during street repairs.
Wistula / Wikimedia Commons ↗Large district heating pipes exposed during street repairs.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A biogas installation with a large green digester tank.
Florian Gerlach (Nawaro) / Wikimedia Commons ↗A biogas installation with a large green digester tank.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A pile of compressed wood pellets used as biomass fuel.
D-Kuru / Wikimedia Commons ↗A pile of compressed wood pellets used as biomass fuel.CC BY-SA 3.0 at · Resized and converted to WebP
The Rance tidal power station spans an estuary.
Sw271149 / Wikimedia Commons ↗The Rance tidal power station spans an estuary.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A red Pelamis wave energy converter floats at sea.
P123 / Wikimedia Commons ↗A red Pelamis wave energy converter floats at sea.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
Installers work beneath tilted photovoltaic panels on a sloped house roof.
Wikimedia Commons contributor / Wikimedia Commons ↗Installers work beneath tilted photovoltaic panels on a sloped house roof.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Separated electronic waste and recovered components at a recycling facility.
Syced / Wikimedia Commons ↗Separated electronic waste and recovered components at a recycling facility.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP
The exposed battery pack of a BMW i3 electric vehicle.
RudolfSimon / Wikimedia Commons ↗The exposed battery pack of a BMW i3 electric vehicle.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A hand places a used battery into a household collection box.
Bebat / Wikimedia Commons ↗A hand places a used battery into a household collection box.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Wind turbine blades lie beyond a grassy field.
KenWalker / Wikimedia Commons ↗Wind turbine blades lie beyond a grassy field.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A person works on an appliance at a repair cafe.
Ilvy Njiokiktjien / Wikimedia Commons ↗A person works on an appliance at a repair cafe.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Industrial equipment inside a metalworking factory.
AMIR MARINE / Wikimedia Commons ↗Industrial equipment inside a metalworking factory.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Heavy machinery works in an open-pit copper mine.
Jet6581 / Wikimedia Commons ↗Heavy machinery works in an open-pit copper mine.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Used household refrigerators await repair or further processing.
Khanali89 / Wikimedia Commons ↗Used household refrigerators await repair or further processing.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Compressed bales of plastic bottles at a recycling facility.
Greenville, NC / Wikimedia Commons ↗Compressed bales of plastic bottles at a recycling facility.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
An electrical power strip with several sockets and a switch.
Ivy Main / Wikimedia Commons ↗An electrical power strip with several sockets and a switch.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A desk lamp provides focused task lighting.
AirbusA330772673 / Wikimedia Commons ↗A desk lamp provides focused task lighting.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Blue shutters surround a window on a house in Brittany.
Titus Tscharntke / Wikimedia Commons ↗Blue shutters surround a window on a house in Brittany.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
Water streams from a shower head.
JovanCormac / Wikimedia Commons ↗Water streams from a shower head.CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A home office desk holds computer screens and everyday work equipment.
Danny Choo / Wikimedia Commons ↗A home office desk holds computer screens and everyday work equipment.CC BY-SA 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Water boils in a saucepan on an induction cooktop.
Wtshymanski / Wikimedia Commons ↗Water boils in a saucepan on an induction cooktop.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A furnished apartment living room with comfortable seating.
Corey Taratuta / Wikimedia Commons ↗A furnished apartment living room with comfortable seating.CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Participants gather for a group photograph at an energy planning workshop.
USAID Pakistan / Wikimedia Commons ↗Participants gather for a group photograph at an energy planning workshop.Public domain · Resized and converted to WebP
A plug-in electricity meter measures an appliance load.
Porkrind / Wikimedia Commons ↗A plug-in electricity meter measures an appliance load.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Autumn foliage in a suburban backyard in New Jersey.
Jonathansammy / Wikimedia Commons ↗Autumn foliage in a suburban backyard in New Jersey.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A hybrid wind turbine and solar panel installation on the Croatian island of Zirje.
Nenad Kajić / Veneko.hr / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A hybrid wind turbine and solar panel installation on the Croatian island of Zirje.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
The green hydrogen production installation at Kubel power plant in Sankt Gallen.
Asurnipal / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗The green hydrogen production installation at Kubel power plant in Sankt Gallen.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Thermal insulation fitted to the exterior walls of a building under construction.
Tiia Monto / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) ↗Thermal insulation fitted to the exterior walls of a building under construction.CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A STEINERT UniSort optical sorting machine used to separate recyclable materials.
STEINERT / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0) ↗A STEINERT UniSort optical sorting machine used to separate recyclable materials.CC BY 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Illuminated Manhattan buildings seen across the water from Jersey City at night.
King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗Illuminated Manhattan buildings seen across the water from Jersey City at night.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
Climeworks carbon capture equipment displayed at an outdoor event.
TRx340 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗Climeworks carbon capture equipment displayed at an outdoor event.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
An appliance energy rating label showing energy performance information.
Gnangarra / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5 au) ↗An appliance energy rating label showing energy performance information.CC BY 2.5 au · Resized and converted to WebP
A solar-powered shed in a community garden at the Museum of Nature in Jerusalem.
Korenn / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A solar-powered shed in a community garden at the Museum of Nature in Jerusalem.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A compact weather station with instruments mounted on a pole.
Pierre cb / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗A compact weather station with instruments mounted on a pole.CC BY-SA 4.0 · Resized and converted to WebP
A laptop, notepad, pen and colorful sticky notes arranged on a wooden desk.
www.Pixel.la Free Stock Photos / Wikimedia Commons (CC0) ↗A laptop, notepad, pen and colorful sticky notes arranged on a wooden desk.CC0 · Resized and converted to WebP