1BOG’S Solar Advocates
1BOG’s diverse team of Solar Advocates has been hard at work spreading renewable energy throughout the Bay Area. 1BOG’s successes would not be possible without our Solar Advocates’ commitment to rapidly expanding the adoption of solar power. Below are the all-stars who are helping launch a movement and their stories.
Nancy J. Cole-
“In the end, it comes down to changing people’s long-term views on energy.”
Nancy is 25, a city and regional planning graduate from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and masters candidate in renewable energy management at the University of Freiburg, Germany. Her interests in renewable energy include community-based energy, microgrids, municipalization and localization. Her career plans are to facilitate community-owned and local government-operated clean energy infrastructure.
There are three categories of responses that I hear from people concerning solar energy: ‘it is too expensive,’ ‘it is too new of a technology,’ or ‘it is not my concern.’ The first two are easy to answer: “Yes, it is rather expensive—that’s how 1BOG helps—by organizing the collective purchase to significantly reduce the cost of installation.” When I hear, ‘it is too new of a technology,’ I reply that a breakthrough in power conversion technology will only improve solar photovoltaic efficiencies, but home energy production appliances are available NOW with known performance standards. The last concern is a bit more challenging for me: ‘it is not my concern,’ which reflects an indifference to climate and energy issues. I’m diametrically opposed to this group of folks and therefore have to step back from my own eco-bias and focus on the benefits of cost stabilization and energy independence. In the end, it comes down to changing people’s long-term views on energy. Whether affordability, availability, or clean options are their focus, the bottom line remains that there will be a significant shift in the way that energy is supplied, and 1BOG is making it easy to transition away from fossil fuel.
Jeff Billings-
“I’m also playing a role in helping local communities reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.”
I moved to the Bay Area from San Diego almost a year ago, and am really enjoying the cultural diversity, political progressiveness, and the awesome natural beauty of this region. I am an avid yoga practitioner, and have found the Bay Area to be a true yoga mecca, with some of the finest teachers in the country. When I’m not on the mat, I love to get out and hike the spectacular trails I’ve been discovering in Marin, the East Bay and even in SF! A friend turned me on to 1BOG a couple of months ago. I had just started looking for a job, so the timing was perfect. It feels good knowing that while I’m making some money to pay the bills, I’m also playing a role in helping local communities reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
During a cavassing session the other day, I experienced a stark contrast in how homeowners respond to me (and probably other 1BOG Solar Advocates, too) when I encounter them at home. The first homeowner was apparently on an important phone call when I rang his doorbell. He threw open the door and howled at me to “Get the !@?& off” his property or he would call the police. I immediately and gladly complied, probably with record speed! A bit stunned, I realized how dearly some people hold their privacy at home, and how important it is for me to have the utmost care and respect when approaching them.
The second homeowner was apparently sitting at home bored, and was grateful to see me and to have someone to talk to. He invited me to sit on his front porch bench and proceeded to regale me with tales about his life and details of his political philosophy. When I would glance longingly toward his driveway or try to interject about solar power, he would only speed up his pace and intensity. Thankfully, he eventually got tired and I was able to tell him a little bit about solar and 1BOG. Ah, patience.
