Green Room - June
Maui surfers power life with solar
By Kevin Whitton
Matias Besasso moved to Maui to follow a dream. He wanted to live and surf in paradise. As an architectural student from Argentina, he assimilated quickly into the Valley Isle community by taking a job as an electrical contractor. He was making a good living for himself, surfing often, but a disconnect was growing between his line of work and his own environmentally conscious principals. “I was designing electrical for tract homes that were not designed for Hawai‘i,” Besasso says. “It was a complete waste, but luckily I have found an avenue to put to work what I believe in.”
That avenue is Maui’s Rising Sun Solar Electric, a locally owned and operated solar electric company dedicated to increasing the health of our environment by bringing clean, reliable, and affordable renewable energy technology to homes and businesses. The company was co-founded by Besasso and Brad Albert in 2003. Albert moved to Maui with a similar MO, relocating to the island for its tropical beauty, its surf and with the idea of starting up his own solar electric business. On a chance meeting at a job site, the two put their heads together and now offer Maui and the neighboring islands affordable solar alternatives to electric consumption.
“I’m a solar guy and I saw the future,” remarks Albert. “I knew Hawai‘i had potential. It only makes sense from an environmental and financial standpoint. Hawai‘i has the highest energy costs in the nation, but the sun is always shining.”
Rising Sun Solar is Maui’s number one solar installer with more installations than any other company in Maui. They specialize in grid tie solar power systems for homes and businesses as well as solar hot water systems. Grid tie means that the consumer is still connected to the power grid in addition to having a solar power system. During the day, the solar panels on the roof collect sunlight and convert it to electricity. An inverter changes the current from DC to AC for use in the home. As the system creates electricity, it powers the home and then feeds back any excess into the grid, crediting the consumer and spinning the meter backwards. At night, the solar system disconnects and the home pulls electricity from the grid. These systems are modular in nature, meaning that you can start with the basics and add to it, upgrading as your pocketbook allows.
In addition to sales and service, the two solar gurus spearheaded the PV Coalition, a non-profit designed to educate the community about the benefits of solar power. “The real question is not what the payback period is on a system, but what is the cost of doing nothing, the environmental cost of doing nothing,” explains Albert. One of the things the coalition promotes is a solar tour for the public. Residents of Maui with solar systems open their doors to interested parties, creating an opportunity for people to see how solar works, how it looks and to see the meter spin backwards. The next solar tour is the first Friday of October.
“The consequence of traditional power generation is dead reefs and polluted waters,” says Besasso. “We have a choice and we need to start making changes to ensure a healthy environment for the future. The power is in our hands and it’s never been so accessible before. I want to stay in the water.” With the continuing efforts of Rising Sun Solar and the publics increased utilization of solar power, you can count on seeing Brad, Matias and the entire Rising Sun Solar staff out in the water for a surf.
