Don't get discouraged ...

Chris Kilfoyle, Berkshire PV Services

04/29/2009

Name: Chris Kilfoyle
Business: Berkshire PV ServicesPosition: President
NESEA member since: 1982
Website: http://www.bpvs.com/

Business description: Berkshire PV provides safe, efficient and durable PV systems for commercial and residential projects.


How do you define sustainability?
It's a tricky, maybe unfortunate word. I see our mission as not just "sustaining" our current use of energy, but using it more wisely and using less of it.

What project are you most proud of?
The projects that my staff have pulled together and completed without my help. I've been a NESEA member since 1982. We have a lot of young people here and their enthusiasm keeps me going.

What energy advice do you have for the new president?
Don't get discouraged. He has to deal with a mix of energy efficiency and renewables.

What promising technology would you like to know more about?
Nano-solar, where on a you can arrange atoms on a nano-particle basis to improve efficiency. That and the A/C module, which is a module with the inverter right on the back of it.

What's the public's biggest misunderstanding regarding sustainable energy systems?
That it's way too expensive, and that if they wait long enough, something better will come down the line.

What prompted you to join NESEA?
Here's the thing about NESEA, I never would have reached the professional competence, nor would my staff without the influence of NESEA. Both networking with other NESEA members, and the conference every year.

What's the most irritating example of 'greenwashing' you can think of?
In terms of greenwashing, I have to think about what Napoleon had to say looking back at the French Revolution. He said that vanity made the revolution, liberty was the pretext. So I'd say today it's about the "green" revolution, but greed is making this revolution, and environmentalism is the pretext.