Store filled with energy-saving devices
Longtime area home builder Richard Foley is steering a new course for himself and providing some new ideas for others who want to green-up their environment.
The Liberty Lake resident opened Go Green Energy Solutions in December and offers a variety of energy-saving options and alternatives such as solar panels, solar lighting, electricity storage devices, rechargeable batteries and even modes of electric transportation.
“I wanted to offer some high-end, quality products,” said Foley. “I’m trying to cater to a buyer who wants to protect the environment and save money by using products that are environmentally friendly.”
Foley says he remains a builder but had a desire to do something else and the current slump in the housing market gave him the opportunity to open his store.
“I try to stay up on all the gizmos,” he says – noting the $20 racecar model as a learning tool for parents to teach children about solar power.
Foley’s store is located along Country Vista Drive across from The Home Depot in a new shopping center. It’s filled with a variety of those gizmos and gadgets, including the $130 solar panel backpack — ideal for those on the go who might want to recharge cell phones, MP3 players or cameras. Customers likely won’t miss the display of electric-powered scooters and two-wheeled Segway personal transporters – one equipped for the golf course.
“I wanted a store that was fun,” says Foley, noting he’s scheduled March 27 as Segway Day for people to stop in and test ride a model in the parking lot.
Homeowners looking for energy alternatives might be interested in the solar shed light that sells for about $50. The light can be installed inside a shed, while the panel is affixed to the roof area. Also available are solar lighting options for larger exterior buildings, lamppost lighting, and walkway lights. Foley notes bulb life and brightness have come a long way from where solar lighting started.
A greater energy saving option at Go Green Energy Solutions is the Power-Save 1200, an energy storing contraption that can reduce power demand from the utility. The device is UL approved and can help reduce power usage by 8 to 10 percent and as much as 25 percent. It costs about $320.
Another interesting device is the rooftop solar-powered fan that helps eliminate hot air from attics. The concept of the Power-Save Solar Attic Fan is to cool the attic so less hot air infiltrates into the living space. It costs about $400.