Great infographic
here on why the US Government is changing the way it powers the military – lots of incentive (including saving lives) for moving toward use of mobile solar and other renewable sources.
(…And by extension from the mobile solar military – the EPA, National Parks, FEMA – - all provide excellent opportunities for using mobile solar generators instead of the diesel generators they’re currently using).
Check the entire infographic here
Interesting article here titled “Mobile Solar Power to Save Money and Save Lives”
…But note that Mobile Solar and Portable Solar are used almost interchangeably. In our world, there’s a BIG difference – Mobile Solar, such as provide by Pure Power and others, denotes commercial-grade or military-grade solar equipment that is capable of providing electricity for:
“Portable solar” generally refers to solar backpacks and small units that can be carried by one person and can power a laptop, cell phone or MP3 player.
Much like solar power can help people that live in developing countries that are miles away from the grid, solar panels are also vital to the success in the field of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. In fact, a recent report discusses how solar is literally saving lives in military operations.”
Read the article here
FORWARD OPERATING BASE JACKSON, Afghanistan — The Marines and sailors of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment have tapped into a vital renewable energy source – the sun – to help take the fight to the enemy in Sangin District.
Read the article here
All branches of the service are trying new ways to bring renewable energy to the field. Check out this article
Pure Power
was in San Diego recently, invited to an Executive Roundtable Discussion “Going Green” at the San Diego Daily Transcript. The topic of the day: “Local businesses, government say long-term foresight, not bottom line, key to sustainability” – - and an action shot here.
It’s good when a good story gets picked up by a good media source: READ this: http://solarfeeds.com/pure-power-distribution/16197-why-mobile-solar-matters
A recent trip by our VP of Marketing, Christopher Smith, to the San Diego Daily Transcript for its Green Business Executive Roundtable, provided an excellent opportunity to summarize why Mobile Solar Matters:
SAVE MONEY
A construction company that rents a portable diesel generator, for example, might might budget the rental rate as its cost. “The actual cost of a fossil fuel system is much higher. With solar, the contractor can eliminate fuel cost, fuel delivery, refueling time, engine tune-ups, even remediation costs when fuel is spilled. “That money can be used to preserve or create jobs, or make a project profitable” says Smith, “Solar generators can also produce valuable LEED points, and reduce the need for noise permits.”
SAVE LIVES
With the military, using renewables is quickly becoming a no-brainer. An Oct 4, 2010 article in the NY Times mentioned that 1 US soldier is killed for every 24 convoys delivering supplies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that diesel fuel accounted for between 30% to 80% of the loads. By reducing the amount of fuel delivered, lives are saved. And, at that time (before fuel prices spiked 30%), it is estimated that it actually cost about $400 per gallon to deliver fuel to the front.
SAVE THE PLANET, SAVE CHILDREN
Using mobile solar instead of diesel has positive impacts on communities. “When a feature film goes on location, each big diesel generator is creating about a ton of carbon dioxide each day,” Smith says, using figures from the EPA, “But that exhaust also contains 40 cancer causing compounds and soot particles to carry them – a very localized impact for families, neighborhoods, and schools.”
(SAVE MORE MONEY)
What’s the upside for a feature film to choose solar? “With diesel costing about $5.50 or more per gallon delivered to a film location – our biggest solar generator saves over $500 a day in fuel costs.”
SAVE AMERICAN JOBS
“Besides, our mobile solar generators are designed and built in California, developing new technology and jobs. Governor Schwarzenegger got it, Governor Brown gets it, and President Obama is profoundly aware of the local benefits of solar. It’s clearly time to make changes in the way we do things.”
Mar 11, 2011 – A bright red streetcar wends its way through downtown San Diego, and that’s not the only sign of environmental efficiency in this California city of just over 1 million. At a March 9th Executive Roundtable Discussion at the San Diego Daily Transcript, leaders at all levels of municipal, tribal, defense organizations and private companies discussed their intense focus on keeping the environment in the forefront all of decisions. What they’re finding is that these “green” decisions always yield financial, organizational and community results.
For Christopher Smith, of Pure Power Distribution (www.PurePowerD.com), the “Triple Bottom Line” is a foundation of the company, so these results are quite obvious.
Read the press release here.
Today’s tragic earthquake and subsequent tsunamis in Japan, and the recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, highlight the fundamental need for planning and preparedness in advance of natural disasters. Infrastructure breakdowns, telecommunications disruptions, emergency medical stations are just some of the results of an emergency, and all require electrical power to function properly.
Goes without saying that large scale power grids are often taken out immediately, and that emergency power must be portable, rugged, and if truly capable, must be completely self-sufficient. Now, a diesel generator may fit the bill on the first two requirements, but when the fuel runs out, and more can’t be procured, it becomes just another derelict vehicle.
When emergency first-responders or even military units are called out to assist with massive disasters, mobile solar generators can become a primary tool providing renewable electricity that is stored in onboard batteries and available well into the night.
A Mobile Solar Power System, on the other hand, will be replenished by the sun each day, and if used properly, can be utilized for days or weeks at a time. (Warning: sales pitch coming:) Pure Power has such Systems available, and inquiries for such emergency power should be directed to info@PurePowerD.com.
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