Hello everyone! My name is Frank Reichart, although I do go my Michael. I cannot believe it, but I am actually a Junior majoring is ESP. I live and grew up in Cambridge Springs Pennsylvania. Cambridge Springs is a small town, about an hour South of Lake Erie and PSU Behrend. I actually attended Behrend for 3 semesters, and it was (still is) a fantastic campus. As far as a career that I am thinking of pursuing, I typically do not even know how to respond. I have grown up doing residential improvements, so a part of me wants help homeowners be sure that they have proper insulation, efficient lighting and up to date appliances. Then I actually see a wind turbine, and I feel that I should be involved with renewable energy. So I honestly do not know exactly what specific field I might join, and I am open to suggestions. The biggest thing I am thinking about and leaning towards is spending time with the Peace Corps upon graduation. I could learn so much, and right now I have nothing holding me back. My main interest in this course is Energy Auditing on a Residential and Commercial Scale. There are many homeowners who ask for my opinion of efficiency energy used in their homes, so it will nice to have proper training.
I personally have not legally started a business, but it is trend that runs in my family. Therefore I have learned that anyone who has started a business deserves massive credit. I have helped to start, resolve daily issues, and even close companies that my family owns, so I am very excited so learn more about entrepreneurship. I feel that the entertainment business will have a huge impact on renewable energy. Television and movies which show people using renewable energy successfully will make people more aware of the industry we have. Of course this might not be the case for the writers of this blog, but I feel that if Family Guy or (name a popular film) were to have some solid episodes focusing on renewable energy, that there might at least be a spike of potential sales. I am sure everyone will have a different answer to the last question though, and I am looking forward to reading them.
Mike Reichart
Hi Mike. I love all these posts from students that have grown up where I did — or, at least, near where I did. I know Cambridge Springs quite well. I grew up in Meadville. My sister lives in Jamestown and I have a brother in Linesville. My parents still live in Meadville. I met my husband in Barbados in 1980. He was a US Peace Corps volunteer and he still says it was the best time of his life. I endorse it wholeheartedly.
With regard to your work to promote energy efficiency, perhaps consider it a different type of renewable energy. By that, I mean that every kilowatt hour saved means we do not have to generate using fossil fuels and we do not have to build new generation facilities of any type. So, in essence, your work with residential consumers to reduce their use of any type of fuel source means a more sustainable future. I think you are already in the renewable energy industry. Just my opinion.
Mike,
I am also a Junior in the same major, and time has flown by. We are in the home stretch! I grew up in Wisconsin and have never been a part of any entrepreneurship. You are lucky to have some first-hand experience.
I enjoyed your comment about “Family Guy”, you make a good point. There are numerous ways in which the use of renewable energy resources could be promoted, but change is a difficult thing for people to overcome.
I look forward to working with you. The link to my blog is: http://sites.psu.edu/engr312/2014/08/27/introduction-amy-marrero/