I’ve been thinking a lot lately about supply chains, manufacturing processes, and sustainable practices. Despite the “plastic straw pushback”, I have been working to make changes where I can for my family to eliminate plastic packaging. The less we use, the less is produced. We’re really looking at the full life cycle of products we use and doing what we can where we can. We’re still very American in our consumption – yes, we have paper towels in our kitchen – but all the little steps add up if we all participate.
It’s been an interesting journey into how products are made, how they are packaged, how they are shipped, and ultimately how they are disposed of. It got me thinking about solar and its place in a more sustainable world. We all think of solar as part of the solution, but how many of our companies also put full life cycle sustainability into practice?
Solar is a strong part of No. 7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but as an industry we need to go further and apply practices that meet goals. The Guardian recently ran an article about renewable companies and abuses in mines. This is simply the latest article to pop up.
I know as a solar industry that we’re all in this to create a better world. Let’s lead by example and apply positive practices through the whole supply chain.
Are you already applying SDGs in your business? Let me know. I want to feature you in a future article on solar and SDGs!
And if you’re headed to Solar Power International next week, please reach out. I’d love to connect over a cup of coffee. See you in Salt Lake!
-Aimee Tuck
SPI 2019
Solar Power International is next week! Are you ready? If you’re attending and would like to set up a time to meet, please reach out.
Know Before You Go
Be sure to listen to Suncast’s Know Before You Go podcast episode, coming this Thursday.
Connect with Aimee Tuck:
Women in Solar and Storage Luncheon
Wednesday, September 25, 2019 • 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Room 355
And be sure to make room in your schedule for stops at the following booths along with some interesting talks:
Stop by booth 3423 to take a look at the off-grid and battery backup solutions Sensata has to offer.
Be sure to swing by booth 2201 to see the new commercial power options CPS America is showing.
As the energy space and IoT meet, communication protocols and standards are increasingly important. Make sure to stop by these presentations to hear more:
Emerging Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Communication Protocols and their Impact on Grid Interconnection and Security
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
12:00pm – 12:15pm
Room 253A
Orange Button Data Exchange Standard: Implications on Solar Soft Cost Reductions
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
9:45am – 10:00am
Room 253A
And be sure to attend the Poster Reception and learn more about SunSpec’s research with the California Energy Commission, summarized in their poster:
Smart Inverters Can Safely Be Installed at
DER Penetration Levels of 100% or Higher
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Booth 4680
TACTICAL TIPS
No marketing campaign is one size fits all. Great tactical plans are designed to reach each targeted generation in a relevant way. Explore the differences among generations living today and learn how best to reach them.
One way to turn great marketing strategies into customer-centric tactical plans is by using customer journey maps. How could your company adopt this technique? Start with customer personas and use the free template included in this article.
RELATED RESOURCES
Solar Power International is only days away. Are you ready? Use this checklist to stay on top of your tradeshow preparations.
How can we as individual companies and the industry as a whole capture the “Why” of why we exist? How can we funnel the passion we all feel about our industry’s mission through a marketing lens to effectively communicate and build brand loyalty?