Solar Warnings Ignored

“It’s not easy pretending to work in the solar industry, you know,” Maphira said, chowing down on a sweet piece of Hawaiian pizza. She knew many people didn’t like pineapple on pizza, but she thought it was totally rad and definitely belonged on a pizza.

“Oh?” Rylee eyed Maphira curiously, eating her own pizza all the while. “Going door to door asking people if they want things like residential battery storage doesn’t seem that hard. I bet I could do it.”

“You could not!” Maphira said. After Rylee had brought the pizza into the room, Maphira had decided to keep the conversation light for a little bit. Best not to bombard her sister. Now it was time to get back to the serious stuff. “It’s just a bit odd, don’t you think? Cole is missing for years, and then all of a sudden just turns up when you’re about to take a stand against the Mechanists. Isn’t it possible that you’re being played?”

Rylee finished her pizza slice and wiped her hand on her jeans. “I can see why you’d think that, and I understand the reality of the situation. They reunited me and Cole so that I wouldn’t fight back against them. So what? Don’t I deserve to be happy? It’s not my responsibility to stop the Conclave. You should follow my example and just worry about pretending to sell residential solar systems in the Melbourne area.”

Maphira was treading on unstable ground here. She had to be careful, otherwise, Rylee would never see reason. “That’s fair enough. I can’t hold that against you. How did the conversation with Vai go? Did she want anything in return?”

Standing, Rylee headed out of the room but spoke as she did so. “She did want a couple of things from me, but they were more personal favours than anything.”

While her sister was gone, Maphira tucked into another slice. Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain through her neck, and she lost control of her body as it felt like lightning raced through her.

Rylee stood over her. “I’m sorry, sister. This was the only way.”

My retiring parents are putting clean energy first

“Mum, seriously, the smartest thing you can do if we are going to talk about energy bills is to get solar panels up there. As in, yesterday.”

Mum looks at me like I’ve caught mixo. For someone who used to be a bit of an environmental mover and shaker, ( ex-hydroponic strawberry farmer) , she sure is short of info about what can save her money. I kind of expect a bit more from her and Dad but then I remember it was a good thirty years ago they got into business, and now, looking at retirement, they need to learn about ways to really save. Not just here and there, but long term.

I told her about how commercial battery storage. “Melbourne is different, Kate. But out here, you  just can’t have it all…”

“Mum, you need to have someone come out and assess the property. Someone you can trust that knows how to talk to you about how solar works and why it is the best idea if you don’t want to throw your money at the big power companies. You know they’ll buy your excess energy back from you, right?”

I refuse to listen to the negative comments and tell Mum about just how much money I can save with solar power.

Mum looks at me with eyeballs of apprehension, the trademark brow raised, just like it used to do when we were kids.

“I swear Mum, you’re mad if you don’t look into this.. If you guys want to save on expenses, this is something to invest in. Plus, don’t’ you miss being a bit of a trailblazer? No one around here has solar panels. You’ve got to get things started!”

I’ve hit a bit of a nerve, a good one, I can see. Mum misses the days where they used to go to seminars and were really up to date on sustainable hydroponics.

Energy Storage is a Dynamic Field!

It is I, Georgina Glass, and I’m stressed out of my mind. Ever since I came to Melbourne I’ve been totally flat out, and it’s making me feel really guilty because my Australian boyfriend keeps wanting me to meet his family. I swear, I’m not trying to brush them off! I’m not even nervous. I’d love to meet them. But last time I tried, I got an emergency booking for a girl who needed her eyebrows done for a school social, and then I had to pull an all-nighter to get my project in sustainable commercial energy storage in on time. I tell you what: my second degree might be online, but they don’t pull any punches.

It’s good to know I’ll have a couple of career options available once I finish, though. Hard as it is I’m really lovin this degree in solar power and commercial energy usage. Just feels like I’m becoming part of a sustainable future, you know? My parents taught me to help people, and I finally found some way I can help everyone, even if I’m just a team player in some great energy breakthrough. Did you know that industrial solar energy could potentially provide up to 50% of a company’s energy needs by 2025, if they invest in panels today? I mean, barring some unnatural cloudy weather, solar power in Australia has a really bright future, no pun intended.

Ugh, see, this is what I mean. I get so wrapped up in what I’m doing, and my amazing boyfriend hardly ever gets to see me. And then we meet up and I have to zip my lip for talking about issues with Melbourne based commercial energy monitoring. I want to know about HIS needs, and HIS day, and HIS dreams. A relationship works two ways!

Okay, that’s it: I’m clearing my schedule for a family dinner. I want to show him that I really care about his life and want to be a part of it. You know, just good girlfriend stuff.

-Georgina