Hagen spreading the word about money-saving solar systems

With the goal of luring islanders away from their dependence on burning fossil fuels, Bill Hagen's company, Pacific Solar & Photovoltaics, set up a show-and-tell-mobile on Guam that ended-up gaining a lot of attention. To prove the fact that solar energy is that of a clean and abundant energy resource that can be used to supplement many of our energy needs, this solar education on wheels made for the perfect venue.

A platform that allowed Bill Hagen to explain the kind of savings one can expect from the miracle of turning sunlight into energy. "The solar panels, 6 of them will produce almost a kilowatt of direct current power. Since direct current is not what you use in your home, you have a inverter that converts the direct current into an alternating current. The solar collector, which is for the water should produce enough hot water to offset $5 or $6 dollars a day in power," he said.

So if you do the math, by month's end, a single family dwelling can save upwards of $180 a month by switching to solar power. And while Guam is blessed with an abundance of sun ray power, we are unfortunately cursed with an abundance of typhoons, which is why bill's company has designed a typhoon-proof system. "Everything is stainless steel bolts into high strength epoxy into concrete. It's all structural aluminum, structural stainless steel that is designed to withstand up to 170 mile an hour winds," he said.

Hagen's renewed goal is to educate local schools about the huge return on their investment to solar technology. "We would be delighted to go to any school, any time, set up this display and talk to people about solar energy, solar power and how to stop burning fossil fuels, etc.," he said.

So in addition to showcasing his solar display that can literally run a small home, Bill hopes to pass on as much of his solar energy technology to anyone whose goal is to join Guam's green revolution.

By Sonya Artero