Daily News-Record: Valley Businesswoman Makes Return White House Visit

SUNRNR Owner In On Sustainable Energy Talk

Posted: April 30, 2016

By VIC BRADSHAW

HARRISONBURG — Jenny French is learning her way around the White House.

The president and co-owner of SUNRNR of Virginia has made three by-invitation trips to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in the last 13 months. On April 20, she was part of a group that attended a three-hour briefing on climate and sustainable energy in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House grounds.

“I’ve been so deep in the business that this reminded me that [climate change is] not just about renewable energy,” said French, whose company makes portable units that can generate and store renewable energy. “All businesses, all people will be impacted.

“This pulled me out of my job to see the bigger picture.”

French was invited to the event by Business Forward, an organization comprised of a wide range of companies from across America that advocates ways the federal government can make it easier for businesses to create jobs and advance the economy. The White House Business Council also was involved in the event.

She said Sen. Mark Warner’s office put her on Business Forward’s radar.

White House staff members and a U.S. Department of Energy official led the briefing. The clean and renewable energy economy, the impacts of climate change on human health and business, and Obama administration priorities on climate were the main discussion topics.

The importance of climate to national security, French said, also was discussed.

The overriding message, she said, was that climate affects large and small businesses. The briefing included more than 50 business leaders from across the country in fields ranging from renewable energy to food security to apparel to construction.

Among those who spoke for the businesses in attendance were someone from a ski resort that has suffered from unusual weather patterns to someone whose supply chain was disrupted by storms overseas.

French and Thar Energy CEO at Briefing

French, a Harrisonburg resident whose company is based in Shenandoah, said she came away thinking about climate change as a global economic issue that should be dealt with.

“We need to try to let people understand the urgency of this,” she said, “without getting into the political ramifications or sides.”

Thinking Green

Climate change wasn’t directly on the agenda on either of French’s trips to the White House last year. She attended a White House Small Business Exporters Roundtable to discuss foreign trade issues, sitting next to President Barack Obama during part of the event, and was invited back when the president signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

In November, she was part of a U.S. trade mission to the Canary Islands.

French said winter is the slow season for SUNRNR (pronounced like “sunrunner”), a portable and storable system that can capture and store power generated by the sun, wind or water.

So with the help of some students from James Madison University, efforts were focused on a “soft rebranding” that included refining the company’s message, its documents and a rethinking of its name.

Many people are confused by SUNRNR, she said, so they’re considering changing it to “SUNRUNR.” The full term “sunrunner” already is trademarked.

A new product also was developed to add more solar panels. French said existing customers were contacted and told about that development, which led to additional sales and helpful customer feedback.

Multiple signs are pointing to new business for the company, she said, mainly because of the assistance it’s received from local, state and federal sources. Two dealers are meeting tomorrow to discuss sales to Zambia in southern Africa, and contacts made on the Canary Islands trip could result in the hiring of a sales representative in Mauritania in western Africa.

Her latest White House visit, French said, has her thinking “green.” The color symbolizes money and the ecology, but it also represents naiveté when it comes to climate change.

“We’re not getting the urgency,” she said. “This is urgent, whether it’s the flooding in Houston or the sea level rising in Norfolk.” 

Contact Vic Bradshaw at 574-6279 or vbradshaw@dnronline.com

Two Great Resources for Choosing Green Travel Options for You & Your Business

For the Conservation-Conscious Traveler

So you’ve bought the hybrid car, completed an energy audit on your home, invested in some level of renewable energy to power your home, and researched energy-conscious companies to support. What are other choices can you make to live more sustainably?

Making sure you are choosing green and eco-conscious travel options is another way to ramp up your sustainability quotient.  Whether you are making domestic or international travel plans, the growth of a number of green and ecotourism associations can help you locate green lodging, restaurants, resorts and more.

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) is a non-profit association committed to promoting responsible tourism practices that benefit conservation and communities. With a global network that spans more than 190 countries, TIES is leading the way to make travel and tourism more sustainable. TIES offers a fully searchable database of environmentally-conscious businesses that can help travelers find destinations that fit their conservation and sustainability ideals.

Virginia’s Green Travel Alliance encourages green practices in the state’s tourism industry. ​ More than 1600 tourism businesses and organizations have self-certified their environmental commitments with the Virginia Green program, making it the #1 state-based green tourism program in the United States. 

For Businesses Looking for More Green Choices

Joining organizations like TIES and VGTA not only provide tourism-related businesses with increased visibility, but offer access to cutting-edge conservation and sustainability innovation and training for best practices.  

VGTA and TIES offer a number of business-enhancing opportunities. Some specific programs include:

Industry-Specific Best Practices Resources. Organizations like VGTA and TIES help your business incorporate best practices specific to the tourism industry via workshops, conferences and regular updates on projects, industry events, publications, speaking engagements and networking tools.

Access to data, reports and annual awards can also help businesses measure the benefits of incorporating more green practices and promote that aspect of their company to a wider audience. With hotels alone spending an estimated $7.5 billion on energy per year in 2012, having accurate data on what the introduction of wind turbines, solar panels and/or a myriad of other energy efficient technologies can do to reduce a company’s operating expenses, as well as knowing that such investments can be used as a highly-desirable marketing asset are invaluable resources for many tourism businesses.

Education & Engagement. Educating and engaging the general public towards making environmentally sound consumer choices is also a huge part of the VGTA and TIES missions. Showcasing green products and services at expos around the world like this recent event in Washington, DC is just one way that these type organizations are supporting and promoting green businesses.

The Virginia Green Travel Alliance adds an additional “lead by example” aspect to their educational efforts by recruiting, training and deploying “green team” volunteers at festivals and sporting events around the state to effectively bring recycling, waste reduction, and composting of food wastes to an increasing number of activities each year. This not only makes for greener events, but it emphasizes the importance of choosing green options for travel and entertainment activities.

Act as a Clearinghouse & Green Network. One of the main focuses of Virginia’s Green Travel Alliance is support and promotion of innovative practices and projects through unique partnerships. The Virginia Green Supplier Network is a great example of this business benefit, which provides Virginia Green participants access to a database of green products and services. TIES offers a similar member-only network that promotes information, products and services exchange between members.

Choosing green options for running your business or for vacation planning is easier than ever, thanks to the ongoing growth of organizations like the Virginia Green Travel Alliance and The International Ecotourism Society. Consumers and businesses alike can reap the benefits of better energy and conservation practices through education, promotion and networking via collaborative efforts like these, and know they are doing right by our communities and our planet!

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Are you a destination business looking for ways to decrease your energy impact but are not quite ready for a major installation? Contact Sunrunr today for some effective entry-level options for your tourism business. www.sunrnr.com jennyf@sunrnr.com

SUNRNR Participates in White House Briefing on Climate Change, Energy Policy

A recent Business Forward Briefing at the White House. Photo credit Business Forward.

 Severe weather impacts, stimulating investment in new energy products on agenda.

SUNRNR of Virginia, Inc., a Shenandoah Valley based solar generator manufacturer will be joining the White House Business Council and Business Forward for a briefing at the White House with senior Administration officials on Wednesday, April 20, 2016. Attendees will discuss the President's agenda to curb climate change, ways to prepare for and mitigate the effects of increasingly frequent severe weather, and how to make the United States the world leader in sustainable energy production.

Participating businesses will brief Administration officials on how severe weather impacts their businesses and discuss how the government can help spur investments that will bring new energy products and solutions to market. Past briefings have included U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy, Special Assistant to the President for Energy & Climate Change Dan Utech, Managing Director of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality Christy Goldfuss, and other senior Administration officials from the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, and Council on Environmental Quality. Participant experiences will be posted on social media at #BizAtTheWH.

SUNRNR has advocated for alternative energy solutions for severe weather and disaster preparedness for many years. They have been steadfast National Preparedness Month (NPM) Coalition members, promoting NPM and America’s PrepareAthon through social media, blogging, newsletters, and press releases. SUNRNR has also championed the easing of difficulties many companies face in bringing new energy products to market, and participated in a White House Small Business Exporters Roundtable and a U.S. Trade Mission to the Canary Islands in 2015.  Both of those events explored and encouraged the entry of new energy products into foreign markets.

About SUNRNR

The SUNRNR line of products facilitates collection and storage of several kiloWatts of solar, wind, or water energy that can be used for supplemental, remote, or off grid power in a wide-range of business and residential applications. The products’ durability, long life span, and low maintenance requirements make them particularly suitable for grid outages, disaster relief, rural electrification, and stand-alone power. Information about SUNRNR products can be found at www.sunrnr.com or by contacting Jenny French at jennyf@sunrnr.com or Scott French at scottf@sunrnr.com, 540.271.3403.

About Business Forward

With the help of more than 50 of the world's most respected companies, Business Forward is making it easier for tens of thousands of business leaders from across America to advise Washington on how to create jobs and accelerate the economy. Business Forward is active in over 100 cities and works with more than 450 senior Administration officials, Members of Congress, mayors, and governors.

Business leaders who have participated in their briefings have seen their suggestions implemented in the Affordable Care Act, the Jobs Act, three trade agreements, and every one of the President's budgets. Many have also shared their recommendations with their representatives in Congress and through op-eds and interviews with local media. Ninety-eight out of 100 business leaders who have participated in a Business Forward briefing would be interested in participating in another one.

Renewable Energy Education: The Best Energy Investment Yet

Renewable energy topics are trending in classrooms around the world, but especially in the U.S. given the current push to bring students real-world and hands-on training and experiences in rapidly expanding clean energy industries. As energy workforce needs are expected to blossom in coming years, how are schools encouraging and equipping students for the brave new world of energy?  By integrating STEM disciplines - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics - primary and secondary schools are providing their students the foundation needed to pursue careers in these growing and highly paid occupations, but many schools are also introducing project-based opportunities to pique and sustain student interest.

Often the best educational projects start with a real-world challenge and offer benefits that stretch beyond the classroom. This was exactly the case at North Fork Middle School in Quicksburg, VA earlier this year. When Superintendent Jeremy Raley issued the energy challenge, “What would it take to have a net-zero science lab at North Fork Middle School?,” sixth grade science teacher John Woods and his students stepped up to take on the task.

Once the initial research was done, the findings presented, and recommendations proposed for the design and construction of a classroom with zero reliance on the existing electric grid, the middle school team went to work putting their ideas into action. Solutions ranged from wind turbines to passive solar collectors to an energy efficiency plan—concepts all developed by the students themselves. With financial support from the Moore Educational Trust, the North Fork Middle School students have transitioned to real-life problem solving and are putting applications of alternative energy to work in their own school environment. 

Clean Energy Leaders of the Future

With middle and secondary schools laying a solid foundation, higher education takes the task of developing clean energy leaders of the future to another level by sponsoring challenges like Michigan State University’s 2015 Energy Innovation Awardand Student Solar Design Competition. Students from across the state of Michigan were invited to design cost-effective, energy-efficient and design-centric solar installations that could be integrated into a campus landscape. Top submissions combined art and science, and included a multi-colored solar street lamp, a solar gem biodome, a solar kiosk, and a window solar charger. The competition not only promoted interdisciplinary collaboration, but also connected students with industry experts, creating valuable experience and networking.  

Dr. Richard Lunt from MSU conducts a final judging round.

Photo credit: MSU Be Spartan Green Facebook page

The Untapped Potential of Solar Schools

In addition to the educational benefits of projects like those showcased here, school districts are increasingly recognizing the concrete and immediate value of their schools going solar as well. According to an article from the Clean Energy Collective, a nationwide study reports solar installations among U.S. schools have grown 110% year-over-year from 2008 to 2012, with thousands cutting their utility bills and using the savings to pay for teacher salaries and textbooks.

“Solar is enabling many Massachusetts schools to save money, enrich learning and keep teachers in the classroom – all while providing local jobs and generating emissions-free electricity,” said Andrea Luecke, President and Executive Director of The Solar Foundation.

At Drury High School in North Adams, Massachusetts for example, the school’s solar installation offset almost 140,000 of CO2 emissions in the first two years alone and saved the school enough money from reduced electricity costs to maintain all of its teachers and academic programs. The Solar Foundation has determined that there are 72,000 schools in the country that could go solar in a cost-efficient manner and therefore similarly benefit.

Challenges and competitions in the examples of North Fork Middle School and Michigan State University show that supporting projects within the educational system may be the most important investment in clean energy we can ever make. By putting the problems of building and integrating real-world energy solutions directly in the hands of students of all ages, we are not only stimulating valuable learning and shaping the career choices of the students involved, we are also contributing to the advancement of renewable energy innovation and facilitating clean energy transitions in the educational institutions themselves. What better way to bring a sustainable energy future into being that with our youth?

SunRunR Visits North Fork Middle School: Lessons in Sustainability

QUICKSBURG, VA  On January 15, 2016, 

representatives of SunRunR of Virginia, Inc. visited North Fork Middle School to demonstrate a solar generator to a 6^th grade science class.

This presentation, given by Scott and Jenny French (both owners of the company) was part of a renewable energy lesson the middle schoolers are currently studying.

6^th grade science teacher John Woods is passionate about teaching his students environmentally sustainable solutions. “We must think about how to live sustainably in our planetary ecosystem, find that equilibrium which sustains all life and nature, and live within that equilibrium,” says Woods.

Despite the cloudy day, students were able to use previously stored solar energy to power a microwave, speakers, and a microphone.

To showcase the true power of the generator, a microwave popped popcorn for the students. Upbeat music played as students exited the school, received a cup of popcorn, and prepared to listen to the solar generator presentation.

Mr. French answered questions the students had about the solar generator and panels, and shed more light on the technicalities and operations of it. Sunlight falls on the solar panel, which travels through the cells. From the cells, DC electricity flows to the battery before going to the inverter, which changes the DC electricity to appliance-friendly AC electricity. A typical SunRunR’s battery unit lasts anywhere from 5-10 years before requiring replacement to run another 5-10 years.  

In just 6 years, a gas generator making the same electricity daily would cost as much as one of these units, but 1500 gallons of gas would not have been burned and 60,000 lbs of CO2 would not have been emitted.  The time for return on investment (ROI) for the solar generator decreases when you incorporate renewable energy tax incentives and carbon credits.  Because grid power is relatively inexpensive in the US, the ROI comparison of solar generators to grid is unfortunately unfavorable at over 20 times the cost.

As a fun activity, a teacher plugged in speakers to the solar generator and played “Cupid Shuffle” and “Watch Me”. She encouraged students to join her, and soon a dance line appeared on the school’s lawn.

The students will monitor the loaned solar generator for the next month 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 Woods.

Mr. Woods’ Net-Zero Science 6 Classroom grant has been recently approved, so the class will soon receive their very own SunRunRs. 

Solar as Economic Stimulus: Building a Green Workforce

The clean energy industry became a focal point of economic development initiatives during 2015, and the trend towards investing resources in building a green workforce to support renewable energy product development, manufacturing, and system installation gathered steam as statistics and funding rolled out throughout the year. With renewable energy installations accounting for 70 percent of new electrical power in the first half of 2015, and the Energy Department announcing an allocation of $12 million in May 2015 to create a “diverse, well-trained solar support workforce, including professionals in the insurance, real estate and utility industries,” the push to enhance solar capacity in the US doesn’t look to slow down in 2016.

Photo Credit:  Dennis Schroeder/National Renewable Energy Laboratory

As the search for more electrical power options increases, so will the economic impact on regions that provide incentives for renewable energy companies to set up operations. For several communities confronted with the loss of large employers, the erosion of a manufacturing base, and high unemployment, the surge in demand for a green workforce has led to several initiatives that target specific workforce populations. Here are just a few examples of the innovative partnerships and programs happening all over the country:

Sacramento’s Green Capital Alliance: Diversifying Economy Through Workforce Collaboration

Following the steep decline of government and construction industry jobs in the Sacramento region, Los Rios Community College District and a broad group of leaders in education, business, community development, infrastructure, technology and labor created the Green Capital Alliance to improve the health and sustainability of the region’s economy. The colleges work closely with the Green Capital Alliance to ensure that the programs and the curricula offered meet the needs of the region and the needs of businesses.

Community College of Philadelphia: Creating a Job-Ready Workforce

In another example of academic-business partnership in action, the Community College of Philadelphia has created “pathways to rapid employment by recruiting, training and placing qualified veterans, unemployed workers, ex-offenders and local residents in entry-level jobs in the green manufacturing, and construction and weatherization industries.” Students become highly-trained, credentialed professionals who are then assisted with job placement by both industry partners and the college.

“Employers save a lot of time and money by not having to advertise and screen applicants, plus they know what they are getting,” says Project Director Wendy Ardagna. “Philadelphians get employed and companies avoid high turnover costs. We are fighting poverty and all its social and physical consequences to program participants, while doing rapid response training and placement, while also making everything as green as possible!”

Photo Credit Matt Paolelli

Solar Instructor Training Network: Nationwide Access to Professional Development

Created by The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative and comprised of nine training hubs and over 400 community colleges around the country, the Solar Instructor Training Network provides future solar workers access to high-quality, local training in solar system design, installation, sales, and inspection. At the NC Clean Energy Technology Center, one of the nine training hubs, participants can gain professional development through the Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series or Certificate in Renewable Energy Management.

Solar Ready Vets:  Training Military Personnel for Solar Careers

A joint effort between the Department of Energy and Department of Defense, the Solar Ready Vets program trains active military personnel who will be leaving military service and becoming a veteran, and it prepares them to be strong candidates for positions in the solar industry.

Photo Credit:  U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Matthew R. Cole/Released

When communities support partnerships and workforce training programs like those above, they gain access to a rapidly growing industry that offers an expanding source of employment and a stronger, more diversified economy.

Best of SunRunner Sphere 2015: More Uses, Better Access and Bigger Savings from Clean Energy Options

With the media and  industry experts touting 2015 as a historically pivotal year in the future of clean energy, we thought we’d take a look back at the most popular posts on the SunRunner Sphere this past year.

Finding new ways to incorporate small, but cumulatively significant renewable energy sources into recurring power requirements around business and home topped the most popular posts of 2015. Five Ways to Incorporate Portable Solar into Your Farm or Garden and 5 Considerations for Using Solar to Power a Water Pump offered lots of information and useful tips about what to consider when choosing alternative energy solutions for important equipment or machinery.

The business of making clean, off-grid, emergency-ready energy options more accessible in domestic and foreign markets also snagged lots of readers in 2015. SUNRNR’s participation in the Small Business Exporters Roundtable in the Spring of 2015.  Jenny French’s discussion of the key elements of legislation and business support required to ensure small businesses like SUNRNR can compete on the larger renewable energy playing field was well received, as was the in-depth look at bringing a new energy product to market in the SUNRNR Celebrates 10 Years series.

And it’s no surprise that articles featuring ways to save money with green products and practices were also big hits with readers. New Year’s Resolution: Save Energy (and Money!) offered suggestions for investing in solar, reducing gas use and tips for less waste at home and What Would a Random Power Outage Cost You? You Might Be Surprised helped readers rethink emergency planning, with an eye towards what an investment in alternative energy emergency options can save over time.

What will the energy picture look like in the coming year? Take a look at some of the predictions for 2016.  

5 Energy Trends to Watch in 2016

Solar and Renewable Energy Trends in 2016

Top Ten Clean Energy Trends Driving the Global Clean Energy Revolution