Environmentally friendly products and services were on full display Saturday at the Community Building, 115 W. 11th St., at the 11th annual Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair.
Dozens of vendors displayed their eco-friendly services and products, while local community nonprofits promoted local efforts to increase recycling and lessen the Lawrence community’s environmental impact.
Visitors could learn about everything from geothermal home heating and cooling systems to innovative insulation practices and the newest developments in electric cars.
The Nissan Leaf electric car by shaunepec
Larry Kinder, president of LilyPad EV, showed off his electric charging station, which is already in use at 22 locations in Missouri. Drivers of electric cars, such as the Chevy Volt or the Nissan Leaf, plug into the stations to charge their batteries.
Currently, the stations are located at shopping centers and parking garages and act as a way for businesses to attract electric-car shoppers. In most cases, using the stations are free of charge for drivers.
Kinder explained the simplicity and ease of the stations, which look a little like parking meters. “You’ll charge your car. When you’re done, you unplug and drive away,” he said.
At the event, Kinder teamed up with Manhattan-based Konza, a company that makes portable solar panels, and the McCarthy Auto Group. In the parking lot, Kinder hooked a Nissan Leaf up to his charging station, which was connected to one of the solar panels to demonstrate the possibility of charging vehicles completely off the grid.
Kinder said he’s hoping the Lawrence area will soon see charging stations across town and such solar panel technology could follow. “The technology is here and available today,” he said.
Tagged: sustainability
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