SECTION
Wednesday, March
28, 2012
1!' W
!
business news.
Employ-
Moo-re
preven-
not of
After working for decades to bring solar infrastructure to the developing world, Engineers Without Borders is beginning a program locally to educate area homeowners on
the benefits of solar power.
Ext. 2405.
kit, a text-
Center
con-
Huliat chull@blu-
or 304.260.4380,
Engineers Without Borders spreads
expertise from Uganda to East Coast
BRYAN CLARK Spirit Staff convert solar energy into electricity.
Classes will help homeowners with
GORE, Va. - Engineers With- design and pricing of solar systems,
out Borders International is bring- and show the procurement process
ing its expertise in solar technology for solar equipment. The classes will
to the United States, after spending also give homeowners an under-
decades honing its skills working to standing of the basic science and op-
improve the lives of impoverished erations of solar photovoltaics.
populations in developing countries. "This is a simple .technology, and
The Shepherdstown-based organi- it's cost-effective," Ethier said. "If
zation is beginning an effort to edu- you can afford the initial capital in-
cate students and homeowners about vestment the payback, in my view, is
the nature and benefits of solar tech- well worth it. In six to 10 years the
nology at the Land Celebration Cen- electricity you will be getting back is
ter in Gore, Va. gravy, is free. You buy the thing to-
EWBI recently taught a seminar to day, you'll be able to send your kids
a group of local eighth-grade science to school years later because of the
students, savings."
"We had eighth-grade studentsThe most substantial barrier to en-
come out. The science teachers just try, Ethier points out, is the initial
loved it. They went nuts over it." cost of procuring and installing a so-
The classes allow students and ho- lar system.
meowners to get hands-on experi- "It costs between $15,000 and
ence with solar panels, using them to $40,000, but you can decrease that
drive water pumps and other electri- cost 20 percent by doing it your-
cal equipment, self," Ethier said. "We want to teach
"The whole idea is for homeown- the homeowners how to do the work
ers to get used to solar - not to be themselves."
afraid of it," said Roger Ethier, the Ethier explained that there are
executive director of EWBI. many ways for homeowners to get
Ethier said the classes, beginning the initial capital to invest in solar
soon, will help homeowners with systems, including home equity
three important aspects of moving
to solar photovoltaic panels, which See SOLAR Page D6
HARPERS FERRY Social me-
dia brings us into relationship with
a vast universe of contacts that the
walk-a-day life can never offer. We
spend hours at our keyboards making
"friends" and building connections. In
today's marketplace it is essential to
develop a consistent online presence'
that builds and reinforces your brand.
But there is nothing like personal con-
nections to solidify a contact's impres-
sion of you as a leader in your profes-
sion - one who offers quality products
and services that they need.
In-person events require a great deal
of resources, not the least of which is
time. For the solo entrepreneur there
is no way to organize a quality event
in a manner that truly compensates
the time and efforts required to orga-
nize it. That
being said,
it is impor-
tant to ac-
knowledge
the benefits
face-to-face
events offer
your market-
ing plan:
You may
think that
people are
interested in your product or service,
but it is really you that they are in-
vesting in. Believe it or not, there is
I
BRYAN CLARK
Roger Ethier of Engineers Without Borders International is beginning a series of
classes for homeowners interested in converting their homes to solar power at the
Land Celebration Center in Gore, Va.
I
ROGER ETHIER
Engineers Without Borders International recently replaced an aging electric water
pump in Kyabirakawa, Uganda with a solar-powered pump which is much more
reliable and provides more than four times as much water as the old pump.
time via
"al media
something in the way you present brand developmentin real time.
yourself that attracts clients to you. The value of friends, not the Fa-
When people buy your product or cebook kind, but real people who
service what they are really saying have shared space and perhaps a
is, "I see something in your presence hug with you are much more likely
that I am interesting in cultivating to interact with you on the various
in myself " There is nothing like social media platforms. Each time
sharing time together, in person, to I organize an event I gain new fol-
heighten this relationship and con- lowers, and 1 see a marked increase
vert someone's curiosity into their in the amount of comments I receive
becoming a solid prospect, and con- on various posts from those who at-
verting prospects into clients, tended the event.
, Events make you strengthen your
skills and ability to present them with Lorrie Schoettler's Swallowtail Con-
confidence. The time between an- suiting specializes in the needs of
nouncing your event and executing it is small businesses and solo entrepre-
one long exercise in refining your rues- neurs. Reach her at lorrie@swallow-
sage and practicing its delivery. This is tailconsulting.com or 304-876-8153.
