A local solar panel provider is making efforts to reach out to the community to answer questions and respond to concerns about alternative energy.
Third Sun Solar Company, who has provided solar paneling for the Athens County Public Library and the Village Bakery, held an informational session Thursday night featuring prominent solar panel users in the community and Third Sun who shared some of their experiences with solar energy and tried to dispel some false impressions regarding the alternative energy source.
“For so many people their idea of solar is what they read in Popular Science magazine when they were 12 years old,” said the company’s founder Geoff Greenfield in a question and answer session. “A lot of people have myths and misconceptions.”
The event featured two guest speakers, author Jeff Wilson and Ohio University professor Don Flournoy.
Wilson, who has done television and voiceover work for HGTV, spoke about his book “The Greened House Effect,” which described how he renovated his Athens home to incorporate alternative energy sources such as solar energy.
Flournoy described his experience of installing solar panels on the roof of his local farmhouse.
John Goettge, the Lab Coordinator at Ohio University’s Center for Electrochemical Engineering Research, is also looking into solar energy as a potential source of power.
“I own a piece of land in the country that I’m thinking of turning into a campsite, and I think it will be cheaper than putting in a power pole,” he said.
Kelley, who worked for Apple early in his career, said that the marketing curve to solar energy is very similar to the marketing curve of personal computers in the late seventies. He said that in the early days of the computer, people did not have a perceived need for the product. As public awareness of the device increased, more people began to adopt its usage. That, he said, is what Third Sun is trying to do with solar panels.
Kelley said that in the future he sees Third Sun organizing more of these types of events, including Solar House Parties where people can visit one of the area homes that use solar energy. Another informational session is planned for Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.
“It’s great to actually be able to get in front of people and talking with people physically so we’re actually spending some time with them,” Kelley said. “We want to learn from them.”
wp198712@ohio.edu
@wtperkins
