A supporter of Paul Ferguson, the Chair of the Arlington County Board and a candidate for Clerk of the Court, just sent this to me. Paul has been THE leader on local involvement on environmental policy... which is probably why this made me chuckle:
I cannot guarantee that this is the first solar-lighted political sign in Arlington County - but I think it is likely.The Ferguson sign at North Ivy Street in Arlington, Virginia, has three LED spotlights powered by a 7" square photovoltaic panel charging a small battery pack on the rear of the panel. The solar unit has a light activated switch, which turns on the lights at dusk and off at dawn.
Scott Sklar, a staunch Ferguson supporter, runs his own clean energy firm in Arlington, The Stella Group, Ltd., named after his 14 year old daughter (who now attends Washington-Lee High School). TSG Arlington office building has photovoltaic roofing shingles, small wind turbine, solar lighht tube, ductless heat pump, and hydrogen fuel cell; and his Arlington homes has solar photovoltaics and solar water heating.
Visiting his home, he makes the point that to make his home fully energy efficient, with solar HW, solar PV, and even a fuel cell system, totaled about $45k. For that $45k, he could have built a mud-room addition. Hmm, when Hurricane Isabelle knocked out power in the area, Scott still had cold beer ... which is the better investment?