SUNRNR of Virginia Inc. Touts Benefits of Innovative Technology and
Education
During disasters and emergencies, whether natural or man-made, standard sources of electrical power (utility grid and fossil fuel supplies) are often lost or cut off, but critically needed for relief such as communications, power tools, water pumping and health clinic operations.
Technological innovations within the power supply field can
lessen the negative impacts of power outages or fuel shortages, but only if the
associated outreach is present for public awareness and understanding of the
products and their usefulness during times of distress.
Why Preparedness
Education is Important
SUNRNR (“Sun Runner”) of Virginia, Inc. manufactures a
product useful before (mitigation), during (response) and after (recovery) such
emergency-related lack of electrical power.
Our marketing and advertising inherently requires public education and
the promotion of preparedness. Then, after purchasing, SunRunR system owners,
both personal and commercial, are inherently better protected from the
after-effects of a disaster and can also participate in the response and
recovery.
How New Technology
Can Lessen Emergency Impacts
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| The three-person team behind SUNRNR of Virginia Inc., Alan Mattichak, Jenny French and Scott French. Photo courtesy Mark Rhodes and Virginia Business magazine. |
SunRunR units deliver high-output, high-capacity, stored
renewable and/or grid power for use any time or any place electricity is
required. System features include
plug-and-play simplicity; no noise, fossil fuels, or emissions; safe, rugged,
long-life design; high-quality components; easy expandability; and superior
company reputation in customer service and satisfaction. Water-pumps, small construction sites,
agribusiness, off-grid locations, disaster relief, alternative to gas generator
disadvantages (fuel storage, spark, heat, maintenance), and blackout backup are
examples of our proven market applications.
Renewable. Each
SunRunR patented portable solar generator storage system combines a main unit
for energy storage and output with a renewable energy source for energy
generation. The included solar panels are the most commonly used generation
source, but the unit may also be recharged by wind or water turbine, the grid,
a gas generator, or even a bicycle. The SunRunR main unit consists of a steel
chassis enclosing a rechargeable battery, a DC-to-AC inverter, a charge
controller with display, a master disconnect on/off switch, an auxiliary power
socket, accessible fuses, and quick-connect input/output and system expansion
portals. It is the inverter’s voltage output, or lack thereof, that defines the
SunRunR model – SUN110, SUN220, SUN240, SUNPWR.
Safe and clean. Emergency
applications directly apply to one of our four markets and indirectly to the
other three. The Emergency Preparedness
market can be small- or large-scale with small tending toward personal and
community preparedness such as the residential or business consumer that simply
wants electricity for short or intermittent power outages. With consumption awareness and budgeting,
units may be used sustainably and therefore, for longer-duration outages. It is here where our product is potentially
doing the most to reduce deaths from misuse of portable gas generators, whether
by carbon monoxide poisoning or associated combustible fuel dangers. Another aspect of our products’ benefits is
exemplified by Hurricane Sandy’s situation where many had portable gas
generators and fuel was available, but it was inaccessible since there was no
power to pump it out of tanks.
Portable and
flexible. Large-scale usage would be in terms of humanitarian aid – relief,
response and recovery. SunRunRs offer
the best balance of generation, storage, and output specifications in the solar
generator arena while maintaining portability.
Some of our videos and many of the testimonials of results and impacts
below demonstrate a unit’s capabilities with respect to powering high-load
equipment that might be needed for aid efforts.
Early on in the company’s life, we were invited to Ashbury International
to give a presentation to a large group of emergency responders, managers and
Red Cross, introducing SunRunRs as a sustainable option for in the field.
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| PA Dealer, Alternative Energy, Inc, has Contractors use SUNRNR for Deck Restoration |
Indirectly, the other three market sectors, Recreation,
Commercial and Eco-conscious, have the advantage of inadvertently having an
emergency power supply if needed when not being used for their
originally-intended purpose.
Making Preparedness a
Priority
SUNRNR of Virginia, Inc. has been a proud National
Preparedness Month Coalition member for many years and we promote NPM and
America’s PrepareAthon, using the toolkits provided, at least twice a year
through social media, our blog, newsletters, and press releases such as the
examples included in the supplemental attachments. We also exhibit where possible, including
various “prepper”, hurricane week and home shows, thereby reaching more of the
public with the message of preparedness and self-reliance.
Measuring the Results
of Better Preparedness—The Human Element
Besides advocating preparedness, the efforts above have also
increased SUNRNR’s visibility, leading to an invitation to an exportingroundtable at the White House and to being selected to participate in a trade
mission focused on solutions for West Africa’s energy and water problems as
described here.
With the very limited resources of our small, young company,
it has been a struggle to introduce a new product concept. Even so, now over 400 people are better
prepared in terms of backup emergency power and many more have been exposed to
the idea. With an increase in exposure
and video materials, sales could grow to several hundred this year alone.
The impacts of our outreach and sales are best seen by way
of the example testimonials below, including one from post-derecho
Virginia. System applications have
included powering a health clinic in post-hurricane Bahamas and end-user sales
in post-earthquake Japan.
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| Photo credit: Tribune242.com |
A local high school sixth grade science teacher worked
diligently to receive a grant for a SunRunR system. The students will monitor the solar generator
as part of their curriculum on renewable energy. “The SunRunR will be the alternative
energy system that the students come to understand, put their hands on, set up,
orient towards the sun, plug devices into, use to monitor and manage electrical
production and demand, et al, all the while learning what alternative energy
is, what it can do, and that it is the new normal,” says John Woods of North
Fork Middle School.
“It is so reassuring knowing that as long as the sun shines,
come hurricanes or grid outages, I will still be able to have power for the
most important things.” – Wanda, customer of Alternative Energy, Inc, PA
“The SunRunR ran my fridge while the power was out, after
the recent storms. Saved my bacon. I had recharged the scooter the afternoon of
the storm and that almost completely drains the SunRunR. It was a challenge
squeaking through until the power came back, but it worked. I certainly had
everyone else beat. A fan and a fridge was a LOT during those few days." –
Walter B, Roanoke, VA
“We CANNOT TELL YOU how pleased we are with solar rather
than the gas generator!!!” – John and Michelle Z, NV
“Just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy and am
impressed with my New SUN110 … it’s power—for both continuous and surge
demands, is most impressive. I’ve had it
running my computer, washing machine, and refrigerator all at the same
time. It did 4 loads of wash in one day
and ran the refrigerator continuously for almost 20 hours on the same charge
before shutting itself down.” – Gary B, FL
“We just got our power back on yesterday after nearly 5 days
without. The SunRunR I purchased from you last year worked like a charm,
keeping our freezer cold and running the well pump for water when we needed
it.” – Bill G, Charlottesville, VA
(7/2012)
SUNRNR of Virginia, Inc is very proud of our product,
mission and customer service reputation.
We will tell potential customers “no” before we will sell them a system
that may not meet their expectations. We
know their investment in a SunRunR is an investment in themselves – a definite
win-win situation. As an added bonus,
SUNRNR will create jobs and increase Virginia exports while customers are
implicitly learning about electrical consumption.
NOTE: The above
narrative was SUNRNR’s winning entry in the 2016 FEMA Individual &
Community Preparedness Awards.
