Occupy DC Protesters and Solar Energy
What do you do if you are protesting corporate greed in the Nation’s Capital and spending the night in McPherson Square? Do you fire up that old diesel generator that is going to contribute to global warming? Surely not, when there are solar energy alternatives. One of the protesters visited SolarTown’s offices in Columbia Heights, just a few metro stops away from the center of the protests.
What solar power products do you have for me, she asked. Like a lot of customers who call us, she wanted to find out what solar energy products you can use off the grid. If you are in a tent in a national park—or right across from the White House, there are some great solar products that will give you the juice you need to power up your solar electronics. Most of the solar electronics that we carry are relatively small and will generate enough electricity for a cell phone, and if you have a little more to spend, you can buy a solar portable charger for your lap top. We even have solar bags, like a solar backpack or solar carrying case, which will absorb enough of the sun’s rays to give you some electricity. Now if you need even more electricity needs, then you may get one of our backup or emergency solar kits.
That is all well and good if you want to be blogging about your experience in a tent across from the White House. But there are some even more basic needs that you may be concerned about, like how are you going to get fed. Here come the solar ovens where you can prepare a hot cooked meal. But please remember, no sun, no cooked food. The solar ovens do not store any energy. If the sun goes behind some clouds, or if it gets dark, you aren’t going to be eating anything very warm.
So what did our protester purchase from us? She purchased a portable solar shower—make that two, she said. It is sunny today in Washington, DC, but unseasonably cold. So if you want to see some protestors across from the White House bathing in warm water from a portable solar shower, you should get down to McPherson Square today. Dress warmly.