For the last 10 years,
Green Energy Ohio has been promoting environmentally and economically sustainable energy policies in Ohio.
One of its hallmark programs � the annual Ohio Solar Tour � was held Oct. 2-3, with 242 green homes and businesses opening their doors to the public.
"The tour that we just completed was the eighth year that we participated," says Jack Clock, the non-profit's southwest Ohio coordinator. The national event, sponsored by GEO's parent organization, the American Solar Energy Society, gives the public an opportunity to see how others are making use of renewable and sustainable energy practices � not just solar, Clock says.
"I think we had more sites this year than any state in the country," Clock says. "It was all done in Google Maps, so you could go in, put in your address, the technologies you wanted to see and how far you were willing to travel, and it would spit out everything within that mile radius."
The organization is divided into five regions and is run by Executive Director Bill Spratley, Ohio's first Consumers Counsel. GEO's main offices are located in Columbus. The organization not only advances the use of advanced and alternative energy, but provides education and assistance to homeowners and businesses interested in clean energy. GEO also encourages volunteer clean energy projects and has helped train solar system installers.
GEO will have a hand in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers'
"Lean to Green" conference scheduled Oct. 26th-29th in Columbus. As part of that conference, GEO will hold its own
business-to-business workshop Oct. 26th to showcase Ohio companies using clean energy systems.
Source: Jack Clock, Green Energy OhioWriter: Gene Monteith