HOOSIER ENERGY

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CAMPING WATT? Power the avid campers in your life with energy-efficient gifts this holiday season.

SOLAR PANEL AND BATTERY KIT: The falling autumn leaves will soon give way to falling snowflakes and carolers singing our way into the holiday season. While it may seem like an odd time to plan outdoor getaways, it’s the right time for gifts that will help avid campers get ahead! Technology has led to some unique possibilities offering comfort (and electricity) in far-flung locations for those on your gift list this year.

A great idea that offers versatility! A variety of portable batteries are available to enable campers to charge devices such as cell phones, laptops and other small electronics. Companies such as Jackery offer portable batteries and solar panels that can be combined so the battery can be charged when not in use. Batteries and solar panels with larger capacity carry a larger price tag. Yet if you’re shopping for an avid outdoor enthusiast, the larger storage capacity (which allows for use of more devices) may be a worthwhile investment.

SOLAR LANTERN OR RECHARGEABLE FLASHLIGHT: The evolution of solar power means that a variety of devices can be charged. Energy-efficient lanterns and flashlights incorporate LEDs, which are more energy efficient and emit brighter light than older generation flashlights. Solar lanterns are rechargeable when exposed to sunlight. Other kinds of rechargeable flashlights can be plugged into a wall outlet or portable battery and recharge to provide invaluable illumination on dark nights. INDUCTION COOKTOP: This device provides a unique alternative to campfire cooking. A portable induction stovetop can be taken to a campsite as an energyefficient way to heat food in a pan. It will need an electrical power source (maybe a larger battery such as a Jackery system), to ensure that the watt requirements of the induction cooktop can be met by the portable battery. Yet for someone who wants to pack different kinds of food to a campsite, an induction cooktop may be the way to go.

New portable electronic devices and appliances are regularly hitting the market, offering new possibilities for campers to enjoy. Learn more about new electronics that can leave your gift recipients beaming this holiday season.

Interaction KEY BENEFIT OF ELECTRIFICATION CONFERENCE

The Electrify Indiana 2022 conference was held Sept. 22 in Indianapolis. It was co-hosted by Hoosier Energy and Wabash Valley Power Alliance along with the Beneficial Electrification League. What got the over 270 attendees, 33 sponsors and 23 exhibitors buzzing was the interaction.

With utilities, businesses and industry leaders all gathered under the same roof, the opportunities for such interaction were almost endless. Most of all, the discussions were highly productive.

“Face to face is still good, not just a Zoom or Teams meeting,” said Norm Campbell, an Electrify Indiana panelist and federal team manager for Go Electric, headquartered in Anderson. “The information and the crosstalk were excellent. I made several good connections that I think are going to be very fruitful in the big picture, not just from a business perspective but helping move solutions in the right direction. “In my opinion, you need to have utilities engaged and involved because it’s their distribution system that gets impacted even if you work behind the meter,” Campbell continued. “There’s a lot of mutual benefit to having customers and utilities understand what each other can do.”

The vendors on hand, ranging from California-based Camus Energy and Enel X Way to familiar national brands like Milwaukee, Altec and Generac to the homegrown three-person staff of Hoosiers For Renewables, helped facilitate even more understanding.

“It’s been interesting to hear the perspective from the vendor side,” said Tom Castle of East Kentucky Power Cooperative. “For example, the guys from Rheem talked about how 70 percent of product recommendations come from the contractor. That actually makes sense and makes me wonder if we should work more with the contractors rather than pushing (products) ourselves.” Communication went both ways, as the vendors also benefited.

“There’s a different feel with those bigger shows, just standing at a booth all day,” said Bianca Jimenez of Enel X Way. “Here you get to know people and interact more.”

Added Steven Brisley of Camus Energy: “It feels more like a family reunion than a trade show.”

It was a reunion that sent everyone home with optimism for the future.

“The connectivity between utilities, end users, policy makers and people that are in the business space was great,” Campbell said. “… (Electrify Indiana) brought a connectivity to some of us in the industry we didn’t have before. I’m looking forward to reaching out and offering some of our ideas to make (improvements) even better and faster.”