This past summer, I interned at a local start up company
that performs solar analyses of properties and develops solar related
products. Working with this company, my
eyes were opened to the world of solar and the opportunities it presents to
society. Employing larger scale solar
energy in a public setting not only helps the environment but also educates the
general public on the benefits of solar.
A majority of my work revolved around the development and
production of a solar-powered table that charges cell phones, iPads, laptops,
etc. Without much prior solar knowledge,
I delved into component research, competitive analyses, and marketing of the
tables. Initially when I took this
internship, I did not see my involvement with solar going much further than the
end of the summer. However, when I
returned to school, I learned about the Penn Green Fund and its efforts to make
Penn a greener university. The Green
Fund offers grants up to $50,000 for the execution of project proposals aiming
to improve Penn’s environmental performance that their committee deems
promising and valid.
After learning about this chance to make Penn greener while
simultaneously providing great exposure and ample opportunity for my former
internship company, I decided to submit my own proposal for four of the solar
tables to be installed on Penn’s campus.
After performing site evaluations around Penn, I hope to install the
tables in Penn Park to provide both seating and power to those involved in
activities on the east side of campus.
Only time will tell if my proposal will be approved, and I am excited to
see what the future holds. In the
meantime, I am happy to simply continue interacting with my former internship
company. I barely knew anything about
solar power before my internship, and it required a lot of me to step outside
of my comfort zone and take a job I was not familiar with in the least. Looking back, however, I am so glad I took
that chance because it opened up so many opportunities, like Penn’s Green Fund
proposal, for me to pursue.
Questions for Kristen? Email her at awe@seas.upenn.edu
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