July 28, 2006
Two seasons...Winter and "Construction"...
In Montreal, it is said that we go straight from winter to "construction" season, due to the fact that winters are so cold that you can't dig into the ground until it thaws in May and you cannot get construction workers to brave those sub-zero temperatures unless you pay an arm and leg in extra costs.
So what we end up with is a crunched up holiday season as well, since construction workers seem unable to take their holidays during the quiet time of the year, the last two weeks of July end up being when 25% of quebec labor takes its' time off.
Given the growth we are enduring at ICP Solar, even yours truly had to cut short holidays this year and end up just taking several "long" weekends. I put that in quotes since even as I am here on a supposed holiday, I am blogging!
Nevertheless, summer is a time to spend as much of it with my kids and wife. Starting September, the kids head back to school, the wife back to the gym and my travel picks up substantially again. Lucky those construction workers are....they get breaks when its cold, breaks when its hot, and breaks in between, not to mention the gleeful eyes of "yummy mummies" whose husbands are off to their desk jobs each day...
Solar Summer regards,
Sass
Posted by sass at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2006
California Power Rush spells...CPR through solar power!
California rolling blackouts again? Shades of a few years past when I was interviewed by CNN.
At that time, I invoked industry to take up the mantle and use solar power to help alleviate and support the standard grid. What has been learned since? Do we see some improvements that will prevent the general blackouts which occurred years ago?
While some blamed deregulation and the power companies, we can also see by this interview with Charles Feldman of CNN that it had much to do with the state's lack of support of new generating technologies, as well as politics or anything else involved in the equation.
So how far has California come from there? Well, for one, Californians elected a governor who is totally pro-solar in Arnold Schwarzenegger. Then, we know that Palo Alto has become the darling of the nanotech of solar with new companies like Nanosolar and Miasole establishing operations there that promise to turn the solar world with disruptive technologies. Plus, the fact is that with the utilities more aware of the potential for catastrophe and the public's lack of patience should this occur again, they have taken steps to permit greater import in times of crisis.
Finally, the California Energy Commission has created programs that will turn California into the next Germany in terms of government support, thanks in large part to the Governator's support.
In the end, we are still looking at potential planned rolling blackouts. Perhaps a little less helter skelter than last time, however still showing that we have a long way to go before we reach energy security, safety and independance in the largest state in the USA.
Sass
Posted by sass at 04:50 PM | Comments (0)
July 23, 2006
Coleman Cudos...
As many readers may (or may not know), ICP Solar is the licensee of the Coleman brand for solar energy panels.
Recently, I had the pleasure and honor of attending Coleman's annual marketing summit at which they presented the status quo to their entire sales team and then plans for next year including the licensees.
I must say that this is a different company from that which I met just a few years ago. At that time, it appeared that the licensees were the ones driving the brand and that the management's interest lay at simply banking off hundred years of name recognition and the advertising done by the licensees. Well boy have things changed! What I saw was just so energizing it made me think that the time had come to step up and invest ourselves in a fresh new offering for Coleman Solar, including a new website that will launch very soon.
I am very cognisant of the fact that with a fresh energy abuzz, its imperative that ICP Solar also steps up and invests in the branding. The strategic fit between "The Outdoor Company" and renewable energy is just too sensible to "coast" along on. It's interesting how this company, under new ownership (Jarden bought Coleman last year), feels like a NEW company. I am very excited at what they are doing and I believe so will consumers worldwide be (Japan, Europe, AsiaPac are growing markets for this brand) when they see what Coleman has in store for them across many categories of camping and outdoor living products.
Well done Gary K. You've made a lot happen in just one year and it looks like 2007 is going to be one whirlwind of a year. Congratulations. We are proud to be a part of your corporate family.
Sass
PS. One of the interesting points for readers, and one not lost on those who are involved in the "quality" discussions now abuzz, is that Coleman does not permit their name to be placed on just any item. Each product must be tested in lab and by regular users to ensure it delivers on the promise. So being picked to be their solar licensee has a lot more meaning than simply a name tag on a label. It means you must have as much confidence in the licensed product as in one made by Coleman themselves. That is their promise to their customers, and our promise to them.
Posted by sass at 05:30 PM | Comments (0)
July 21, 2006
A solar team comes together...,
Recently, one of our most cherished team members required a sabbatical for personal reasons. Given the strategic importance of this person's position, upper management was very concerned about how we'd react, particularly in this period of extensive vacation breaks and therefore skeletal staff. (With Montreal having two seasons, winter and "vacation", we tend to have block vacations taken together, which stretch customer service resources).
Well, I must say that after one week, it's been an incredible story of determination, loyalty, commitment and "can do" attitude. Tremendous credit goes out to team members like MikeO, LucG, RhodynaJ, IreneZ, MuminulC,GordT, BarbaraF, and SteveC who simply came together, took over the tasks that had been left stranded and proved once again the resilience of our ICP Solar team.
You see so many commercials touting that their company's difference is their "team". Well in this case, I can truly say that I had little to do with this success, and frankly, nothing can make me prouder than to pass the credit to the entire team who made it happen. You guys are showing just what true grit ICP is made of. Bravo.
Sass
PS. To that so-valued-team-member who is taking the break, you know how much I care and value what you have done for ICP Solar and hope that the future has something great in store for you, (with us or not). Take good care of yourself first, we'll be ready to welcome you with open arms if you ever are able to come back. And despite the fact that we've managed things, nobody can quite replace you and what you mean to us. Arlene, myself and the entire team wish you well...
Posted by sass at 06:09 PM | Comments (0)
July 19, 2006
Oh, how the truth makes some people crazy...
Latest information received by me is that representatives of Shenzhen Topray Solar, a company consistently found in different studies to be manufacturing products with false-labels, are pretending to be so upset with the results obtained by Humboldt University's Arne Jacobson that they implied legal action if the study was not retracted in an attempt to prevent it from being publicized any further. Their position (apparently) is that Dr. Jacobson could not paper trail the solar panels he bought from Brunton, Northern Tool, Sportsman's Guide and others, all the way back to Shenzhen Topray Solar factory.
It would be good to review some facts:
Fact- Shenzhen Topray Solar supplies those modules tested to the various retailers/distributors listed in the study and are the only maker in the world to feature them on their website.
Fact- Thousands of people have now seen the study and press coverage.
Fact- The results mimic what was found to be the outputs of Topray Solar panels in 2004/5 by Dr. Jacobson, as well as the initial power results obtained by Bodycote Materials in Canada , Loughborough University in the United Kingdom, and West Marine's testing at CalPoly in California.
So here's my suggestion to Dr. Jacobson and Humboldt U; replace the name "Topray Solar" with those of Sunforce, Brunton and whatever other brands are on the labels of the panels in the study, since there is no way to deny the paper trail conclusively leads back to them.
Comical at best...sad at worst. My message to Topray Solar and its middlemen is simple: "Stop marketing panels that are falsely-rated and join the rest of the manufacturers in our great solar industry in growing the business ethically, honestly and with integrity. Everybody is willing to forgive the past if you clean up your act and begin today! "
Sincere Solar Regards,
Sass
PS. The democratization of marketing springs to mind here. You can't stop the truth from getting out, no matter how hard you try. Just see how fast Google, Yahoo and MSN jumped on the news...However, I guess I must admit...I am enjoying this a bit too... :)
Posted by sass at 10:56 AM | Comments (0)
July 14, 2006
The Denver Solar Scandal...
Back in 2005, Humboldt University's Dr. Arne Jacobson had been mandated by the renewable energy association of Kenya to conduct testing on the amorphous silicon modules being sold there. The concern was that there were still modules which did not output the true power stated on their labels and that this could cause major issues. Think about it, people in that country depend on these panels for their LIVELYHOOD!
Comes 2006, and Humboldt University now decides to do its own testing on North American branded modules. The results were astounding to them and the attendees at Denver's recent Solar Power Conference last week, yet held no surprise to ICP Solar which has been basically saying the same thing for about three years now. Panels which carried labels of 15Watts (made by the Chinese maker) and models made by ICP Solar which are labelled 18W max and 14W min (min power = stable power at STC) were tested over a period of several months to ensure that the "light soaking" degradation effect was relatively complete.
Out of 10 modules tested, ICP Solar's average stable output was 14.2Watts, just slightly above the advertised level on our labels for minimum power. The other maker's modules...well let's just say that I'd rather write POSITIVES about ICP's modules than negatives about anyone else's. All 10 modules were purchased blindly by Humboldt, so as to avoid any "fix" by the makers.
ICP Solar stands tall and proud that our panels deliver on their promise...and more. You can hear a podcast, care of Ben Kenney about the particular study and what Dr. Jacobson feels should be done now. Oh yes, I get to slip in a few words in the interview as well :).
Well done team ICP. These results show we have much to be proud of.
Sass
PS> Since the report is not in final form, I was asked by the researcher not to post it for download. Remember that the "truth comes out in the end", and there are people who obviously can be very upset by these truths, therefore Dr. Jacobson is being extremely prudent about the format in which he will publicize the documents. The same "attack and deny" strategy occurred in 2004 in Kenya, when distributors of the fake-rated panels screamed at the top of their lungs. Once things settled down, the truth showed that the intiial reports were extremely accurate not only as to the source of the modules but also to their final outputs. In the end, the solar and retail industry now knows who is making these panels and who is selling them. Their brand, and what it represents, is determined by their actions, not by their words. Studies using solar panels distributed in Kenya in 2004/2005 showed that Shenzhen Topray is the company to avoid. Say no more...
Posted by sass at 07:11 AM | Comments (1)
July 02, 2006
Solar Security
I try not to wade too deeply into politics in my blog, yet a story today about how Israel is responding to the taking of its soldier last week has an interesting angle for the "power of power".
Amongst their many types of responses, the Israelis have taken to targeting the energy infrastructure of the Gaza strip. In this story you will read (near the bottom) that after taking out their main central power station, the Palestinians resorted to gas-powered generators for energy supply. So what did the Israelis do next? Cut off their gas supplies...
No matter where you stand on this situation, the interesting perspective from a solar industry veteran is that solar power provides independant, safe AND secure power. Can you take out a million roofs if each is providing the power that the building which they protect requires? It has often been said that the same would be true of a terrorist's targets (nuclear power plants or other centralized power generation facilities).
Solar power solves many issues. Just imagine if the Palestinians would invest in rooftop solar power plants instead of centralized power...the Israelis would develop a solar blanket that can be shot over a rooftop and drape it? I think I may just have discovered a new industry...solar powered counter-attack equipment supply!
I wonder if this means that expenditures in solar power can be considered military defense expenditures under US-GAAP accounting rules? (kidding!).
Sass
PS> To all my readers, please note that I do not make light of the plight of any of the people involved in the conflict example I used above. I am simply pointing out the strength of independance, safety and security of solar power.
Posted by sass at 07:01 AM | Comments (1)
Chinese Blog Blockage
Just to show you how important blogs are rapidly becoming as a means to transmit information, there are 111million Chinese internet users and over 60million weblogs. That's almost a 50% ratio!
So here comes news that China's government is now turning attention to the blocking of "unfavourable" blogs. It is no surprise that this "democratization" process continues to flourish and has only just begun. Imagine if just 10% of the weblog owners in China were to find this post and propagate it across the internet? That would mean 6million "mini marketers" pushing the pedal to the metal on one site's communication. Can you think of a more powerful communications movement at this time?
It really comes back to what I have said several blogs ago. The real power of the people is just being felt in marketing world. Marketing 101 is obsolete. Learn the new rules and do justice to your customer or they can unleash a power that no marketing budget can match...
Sass
Posted by sass at 06:06 AM | Comments (0)