Interview - Lisa Bell of Solarproducts.me

Lisa Bell of Solarproducts.me

I first met Lisa Bell on Ozoshare. Her profile fascinated me. She shared a lot of great content on everyday solar products.

As I got acquainted with Lisa, I learned that she owns Solarproducts.me where, in addition to selling solar items, she educates both adults and children on solar energy. I've found wonderful articles and resources on the site.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Lisa a few questions. Here's our interview:

SF:  Hi Lisa, thanks for joining us today. When did you first become interested in solar power?

Lisa:  I have been interested in solar energy since my grown children were little. I don’t like to be wasteful and if the sunlight is there I believe we are wasting it we aren’t using it. We started the site back in 2008. Even then it was hard to find a .com with solar in it. My mom had told me that she thought we had an ancestor that was in the Blackfoot tribe. I went to the Native American Language Site and looked up the Blackfoot word for sun. It was long and unpronounceable. When my husband was in the Navy we lived out west and when we came east we passed many reservations. The Dakota Tribe interested me so I looked it up and their word for sun was Anpa Wi. We became Anpa Wi.com. Then about 2 years ago we added the domain Solarproducts.me. It sounds familiar and personal and that is the way we want people to feel when they visit our site.

SF:  How has solar power changed your life?

Lisa:  I have more lights in my yard than ever! I use the lights for everything from decorations to lighting our paths in the yard. It used to bug me when we would go off for the day and get back at night that there was no light. When you leave at 9 am you shouldn’t have to leave a light on all day just so you don’t trip at night. The solar lights that I use have photo sensors and some have motions sensors. The light does not have to be left on all day to work and it doesn’t cost me anything to use it.

I have written about, researched and gotten to try (maybe I should say play with since I have so much fun) with solar products. I am gadget lover so I like using the flashlights and the solar chargers. When I charge the batteries with solar power and put the batteries in my purse or pocket I think of it as keeping some sunshine in my pocket.

The most fun I think I had was building the solar mini house that I use for science fairs and school demonstrations. I made the floors and walls see through so that the kids can see how the wires go from the roof to the house and into the light and fan the run when the house is in the sun. I picked up some doll house furniture to go with it. That house also showed me that my carpentry skills need some work!

SF:  What, in your opinion, is the biggest misconception about solar powered products?

Lisa:  That the products are cheap and they don’t last. Also that they don’t work when the weather is overcast or cloudy. I have had some products that didn’t last as long as I thought they should have. I decided that quality was the better choice so I have taken on a lot of products that are American made. The manufacturers have been very helpful. Our SolarGoose flashlights are made in America from recycled Aluminum. The Gomadic portable solar panels are also made here and I have found the quality on both be very high.

SF:  I notice that you sell solar products on your site. What are some of the more popular items?

Lisa:  Our flashlights are very popular and so are the outdoor lights. I think the most popular are the portable solar panels otherwise known as solar battery chargers. I take them to craft fairs to charge phones and other devices as a courtesy.

SF:  Solar energy is very "green". What other steps do you take to live an Eco-friendly life?

Lisa:  I didn’t think we did that much until I started looking around the house. I know there is a lot more that we could do but here is what I have so far.

• 
  I have painted up a silhouette of a Greyhound (I volunteer at the local shelter). The wood that it was cut out of was repurposed from a crate they got. The hound has one of my solar lights around its neck.
• In my craft business/ hobby, I use repurposed slates to paint on and I have gotten wood from a local children’s furniture company that they were going to throw out.
• I reuse plastic peanut butter jars for use in the kitchen and I use them to give food gifts at the holidays. I use old medicine bottles to save my small craft and other small items.
• I reuse the plastic takeout containers for use in my kitchen. They recycle a lot more than plastic zip bags, which I also reuse, and they are clear so it is a lot easier to organize.
• I donate old blankets to the local animal shelters and old clothing goes to people who need it.
• I shop at yard sales and thrift stores for some things as well.

SF:  Do you utilize solar and/or photovoltaic panels on your home?

Lisa:  No, we don’t have an array for the house. We are renting in anticipation of moving to our own home. We have plans already in place to use solar energy when we do move.

SF:  Any advice for folks interested in solar power?

Solar Fountain Pump

Lisa:  Yes. Remember solar energy is not something that you have to either go big or go home with. If you are not familiar with it start small. Use quality small products like battery chargers and flashlights. Keep them on hand for emergency or everyday use. They are so easy to use, just set them in the sun and go about your business. It doesn’t get much easier than that. When you have used the small products you will be more mentally prepared to go to your own solar electric and hot water systems. I find that when people get familiar with solar energy, or anything, it doesn’t seem nearly as mysterious and then they move forward with more projects.

SF:  Thanks, Lisa ... it's been a pleasure chatting with you!

Lisa:  Thank you for inviting me. I have enjoyed reading your blog and I am happy to be a part of it!

Lisa: Thank you for having me on a Small Footprints. I love getting to chat with others like this. I wanted to let you know that you and a few others inspired me to do a basics article about things to consider when you want to put in a solar energy system. Go to this link and follow the instructions to get the free download. Also stay tuned as we will be getting a little more technical with the next article.

Have a very Sunny Day!

If you would like to contact me you may do so at:
Lisa@Solarproducts.me
Our Website: http://www.solarproducts.me/
Our Phone number: 866.478.9080

Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW) - August is Tree Check Month

Welcome to Change The World Wednesday (#CTWW)!

Wondering how to live greener? You've come to the right place. Each week we challenge ourselves to try a new task ... or "amp up" something we're already doing. We raise our awareness, learn from each other and develop Eco-friendly skills which will improve our lives and protect our planet. Doing so together gives us power ... the power to Change The World!

If this is your first visit, please click HERE for information and a complete list of all the challenges we've taken on so far.

This post contains great information and I encourage you to read through it at your leisure ... however, if you are short on time, you might find the following quick links helpful:

• The #CTWW Gang
• The Honor Society
• My Final Thoughts on Our Last Challenge
• This Week's Challenge

Last week we mended ... clothing, furniture, etc. I typically set aside clothing items which need fixing and then do them all at once. This challenge prompted me to get out the needle and thread ... and repair. "Art" got in the act as well ... the soles on his favorite pair of work boots were pulling away from the boot. So, he grabbed some glue and repaired them. Fixing broken items is part of our life. If we've purchased things that we like, then it makes sense to fix them when they need it and continue liking them.

The Honor Society are those people who help us spread the "green" word by writing an article about our challenges and/or leaving pertinent comments.

Have you ever had one flip-flop fail? Seems a waste to toss them both. Argentum Vulgaris has a solution and, in Change the World Wednesday – 6th Aug, he explains how one can "extend the life of two pairs of flip flops by almost the life of a single pair". Intriguing, right?

Katie says that prevention is the key to extending the life of clothing. In 5 Ways to Extend Life of Clothing [#CTWW] she offers some great tips and ideas! A previous challenge on batteries came at a perfect time for Katie. She was updating her emergency kit and found some "dead" alkaline batteries. So she got busy and learned what to do with them. Read Proper Alkaline Battery Disposal [#CTWW] for more information.

How many dog toys does your pet go through? Have you ever considered mending them? Andrea has! In Rescuing Dog-Toy Plushies she shares a simple technique to repair torn toys. In Put a Shine on Your Shoes she gives an old pair of shoes a second life. And finally, Andrea recommends this post: Basic Hand Stitches ... it's a useful tutorial for any kind of hand sewing.

Alica regularly mends clothing so she offered us some advice for extending their life: "We do this on a regular basis! One great way to extend the life of your clothing is by hanging them up to dry instead of putting them in the dryer.Spring, Summer and a few weeks in the Fall you can hang your clothes outside and they dry quite quickly. In the Winter months we have a designated area that we hang our shirts, blouses and few other things but have to use the dryer for the others. Also your challenge a while back about not washing your clothes as often is another great way to extend their life. When you have worn something and really haven't gotten it dirty, hang it up and wear it again before washing. Both of these suggestions will also save money and energy! When buying clothes at the mall or at your favorite thrift shop look for all cotton and well made clothing because they will last so much longer than clothes made with cheaper fabrics. Using a homemade laundry detergent made from Borax and washing soda is much more gentle than using a harsh chemical based laundry detergent."

JC accepted the challenge and shares this: "This comes at the perfect time. We just started using our very first energy efficient washer and dryer and even though they can use up a lot of electricity, they can also help us live greener by allowing us to go paperless (tissues, paper towels, etc) and helping us to take better care of our clothes so they last longer. That being said, there's an awful lot of mending to do. We had a rather large amount of clothes because we only really go to the laundromat about once every three weeks. That allowed us to just keep going through them and not fix the things that needed repair. Now I've just gone through everything after I did about 150 pounds of laundry and made three piles: recycling, donation and repair. So to fulfill the challenge I will repair two items from the third pile this week and then we'll have some refurbished clothing to use once again or donate locally or to http://thechildrensfellowship.org/about-usacf/. Question, in terms of renewing, what is the best and eco friendliest way to dye a garment?"

This edition of Help Recycle Today Daily gave CTWW a nice mention. I found other interesting articles in that paper including one about DIY detergent. Check it out!

The Shopping Charity gave CTWW a headline spot. WhooHoo! Be sure to read the important article about bone marrow donation ... it could save a life!

Our Twitter friend, @GiveTreeGifts, joined the conversation and shared the following:

-Soap & softener residue can be damaging to clothing as well as your washer & dryer. I use white vinegar instead of commercial softener
-When I buy a new article of clothing, I reinforce buttons & hems immediately. This helps eliminate the loss of buttons or fallen hems
-I find that I can extend the life of my clothes & conserve energy by air drying or line drying.

The #CTWW Gang are those folks who tweet our challenges using the hashtag #CTWW. If you're a Twitter member, I recommend following them ... they share great things. Let's meet them:

@2kidsandacoupon	@a_kiasi
@allnaturalkatie	@andreaptak	@artbysandra
@bargainsfinder	@biggreenpen	@bstoneblog
@camillescharms	@chrisluce87	@collegegogreen
@crazykids6	@daft_crafts	@dieselelephants
@ecoexpert1	@foggybottomgal	@freshcleanersaz
@givetreegifts	@green_vibes	@greencwru
@greenqueenofmod	@groovygreenlivi	@helprecycle_com
@herbgir1972	@javamazon	@johnlundin
@kaitlingarder	@laalicia	@ladyjcmuses
@ladyreaderstuff	@lorcadamon	@marjoriemcatee
@plasticfreetues	@rainyofthedark	@rantravewrite
@realityarts	@shannongrissom	@shoppingcharity
@spafloating	@sunnybeads1	@survivalimpact
@terenceflyntz	@theearthnetwork	@theworld4realz
@treadmyownpath	@treesgroup	@violetsbuds
@wasteeguru	@wastejobs	@whopaysthepiper

My Final Thoughts:

Repairing, or mending, makes sense. It prolongs the usefulness of an item, saves us money, and reduces the amount of stuff in our landfills. It also reduces the requirement for newly manufactured products. That, in turn, reduces the need for raw materials. As with many green-living ideas, mending is a small act with far-reaching benefits. Who knew that darning a sock could change the world!

Thanks, everyone! If you wrote an article, I Stumbled, Tweeted, Facebooked and posted it on Google +. You can help spread the "green" word by using the share features located below this post.

This Week's Challenge:

This beetle has led to the loss
of more than 110,000 trees in the U.S.

Have you heard of the Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB)? It is an invasive bug which destroys trees. Feeding on 13 different genera of hardwood trees, and eventually killing them, the beetle threatens entire forests. According to the USDA, trees in all US states are at risk. Trees in Canada, Trinidad, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK are also at risk.

Once a tree is infected, it must be destroyed. Early detection is the only way to protect our trees. August has been designated as Tree Check Month.

Here's your challenge ...

This week take 10 minutes to inspect trees on your property, in the area, on a hike, etc. Here's how:

• Look up. Stand back and look at the top of the tree. Do you see any dead or dying branches?
• Look it over. Now get in close and focus on the tree trunk and branches. See the beetle? See any dime-sized exit holes or shallow scars in the bark?
• Look down. Do you see any sawdust-like shavings at the tree’s base or on the branches? That’s a sign the ALB has been busy eating.
• If you find evidence of the beetle, report it HERE or call your local forestry department.

OR ...

Here are two more activities to help prevent ALB infestation:

• If you are planning to build a fire (campfire, etc.), use only wood from local sources. Do not carry it with you from other areas (for example, from home to a campsite out of state).
• If you are landscaping, plant a wide variety of trees.

OR ...

If your area is not threatened by ALB, give your trees a health "check up". Click HERE for a list of things to consider.

Are you ready to protect our trees? I know that you are!

Until next time ...

WE'RE CHANGING THE WORLD ... ONE CHALLENGE AT A TIME!

Image courtesy of AsianLonghornedBeetle.com

Meet & Greet (#MtaGt) - August - Garry Rogers Nature Conservation

Welcome to Meet & Greet, a regular series designed to grow our green community.

Banner by Art Ist

Grab our banner for your site:<br /> <a href="http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="A monthly link-up party for green blogs on Reduce Footprints" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkes4Ye110zbirkxMV6FAevl_7ymkBSWTCsXC7Li1_Vqm5HuIZkn81pN-CFX8iYJkLxAnDNccMjfHmFEMX8Hy8kFjkepmewEnRhBII4indKyexo3L1n6QDC0YrS0jY5Jy94ZyCLUx-_sg/s220/meet--and-greet-003-1000.jpg"/></a></a>
The rules:

1. Use the link-up tool below to share your green-living blog or collection of environmental posts.
2. Visit at least one other blog and/or the featured site and leave a pertinent comment.
3. The link-up will remain open for a month.
4. Random.org determines the featured site each month.

This month, Random.org chose Garry Rogers Nature Conservation as our featured blog. I first "met" Garry via Tribber. His articles captured my attention because many of them spoke about animals. When we think about endangered species, we typically think about elephants, rhinos, polar bears, and whales. While Garry does speak to the plight of these beautiful creatures, he also draws attention to some of the lesser known species like the pangolin (sometimes called the "walking artichoke"), the spiny dogfish , and a very cute little cat called a kodkod. In addition to endangered species, readers will find posts on animal rights and welfare. I was particularly interested in a recent article about circus animals and why circuses should be banned immediately ... it'll make you see events under the "big top" differently. Conservation is not just about animals. Garry presents information on fracking, solar use, sunflowers, and what to do with the blackened woodland left behind after a wildfire. Garry Rogers Nature Conservation is a bit like a quality news network ... it gathers together pertinent, timely, conservation news and serves it to us in a straightforward manner. It is an excellent resource!

For previous features & blogs, check out the Meet & Greet Page: http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/p/meet-greet.html.

Our link-up is live. Please list your blog, visit and have fun!