Products: For
SALE in our shop : daylighting
systems and solar attic fans (some are in stock) , solar hot water
heaters, inverters, solar
ovens, books, wind turbines, electronic vehicles, composters and
composting toilets, large low wattage appliances, LED/CFL Lights,
portable solar power chargers,solar panels and many more. We
have
access to
over 7,000 products. If it is not in stock, ask us and we can
order it for you.
We offer support for our customers. We have a brick
and
mortar
retail showroom where you can get assistance if you need further help
on your purchase.
Skyecrafts is part of the USA Solar Store Buyers Group headquarters in
Vermont. However, we are over 20 stores strong all over the country.
For more information please visit http://www.usasolarstore.com
An article about Skyecrafts:
Green Expo draws the curious to Pasco County Fairgrounds
DADE CITY — Patrick and April Kolen had just moved to Florida
days before Hurricane Jeanne struck. It was 2004 and the Kolens had a
toddler and a 6-week-old baby — their belongings were still in
boxes and they had no power. The heat was sweltering and April couldn't
keep the children cool. The Kolens faced this new world by candlelight,
terrified. But they were staying.
"I'm stubborn," said Patrick, who is from the Netherlands. He and April
met in 1999, after chatting on a folklore Web site and wanting to meet
in person. They married and lived in New Hampshire for three years
before moving to Port Richey, where April had relatives.
Patrick and April became survivalists during those long, scary days
during Jeanne. They bought a gas generator, but it was noisy and
dangerous. It didn't give permanent safety.
They bought a solar-powered one and kept researching other alternative
energy products —things to protect themselves in case of
disaster, but also would be earth-friendly. The Netherlands are below
sea level and if the glaciers melt and the oceans rise, Patrick's
country would vanish.
"We are all more dependent on the environment than most people think,"
Patrick said Saturday at the Green Solutions Expo at the Pasco County
Fairgrounds in Dade City. He and his wife have put all of their own
research to work in a store they opened last spring, Skyecrafts Solar
Store in Hudson. Most of their products are made in the United States.
They were one of dozens of vendors and organizations at the expo,
trying to teach about living a life kinder to the earth.
One item at their display table kept stopping people — a
self-composting toilet, priced at $1,450. It doesn't need water and can
be placed anywhere, as it isn't attached to anything. The waste goes
down into a bottom tumbler, which can be turned and aerated by a handle
much like any composter. All moisture is evaporated and Patrick said it
doesn't smell.
"That toilet is keeping us going," April said, holding her youngest
child, Rose, on her hip. It's hard running a small business even in
good economic times. Things have been rough, but they keep plugging
away.
Patrick said people use the compost from the toilet on gardens, once
they get past the psychological issue of using compost made from their
poo.
April doesn't think anything of it. She has been changing her
children's diapers, several times every single day, since 2001.
"It can't be more gross than that," she said.
Patrick, a tall, gentle man, said he's surprised at how resistant many
people here are to change — even if it's something small, such as
energy-saving light bulbs. But he doesn't give up easily.
"If I can convince one person out of 200, then it's worth it," he said.
Seconds later, a woman and her children walked up to their display at
the expo and stared at the toilet.
"What is this?" she asked.
"A self-composting toilet," Patrick said.
"No! Really?" the woman said and Patrick leaned closer, to try to
change the world, one person at a time.
Our fellow Solar Store up in New Hampshire gave a talk for Bald Guy TV.
About the man who started the USA Solar Stores: Strumming guitar
Dave Bonta first entered into the solar energy arena in the Carter
years of 1979, studying Solar Water heating theory at Bridgeport
Engineering Institute under the guidance of Jerry Falbel and later in
New York at the tutelage of Mike Zinn, founder of Bio Energy Systems
(Besicorp) which later became the parent of SunWize technologies of New
York. After the Solar Energy boom of the early 80’s ended
with the demise of the Federal Incentive program, Dave worked for The
Nash Engineering Company in CT, in their marketing dept. for the next
20 years. Dave continued to follow the progress of the Solar energy
industry and created a few solar energy collectors for space and water
heating.
Dave lives with his wife in Weathersfield, Vermont and has been working
in the renewable energy industry in Vermont since 2001, has both a
business and a home completely powered by solar energy and drives
biodiesel powered vehicles. Currently Mr. Bonta is
owner/developer of the USA Solar Store licensing program, a program to
set up retail chain stores whose mission is to make conservation and
renewable energy products and systems more readily available to a
greater and growing market. Since 2001 he has helped launch 15
Successful entrepreneurial based solar stores. Mr. Bonta was one of the
founders of Vermont's first Biodiesel distribution company, Global E
Industries and has since launched another biofuels company,
BioQuantum. Mr. Bonta has also become a shareholder in another business
opportunity related to Solar/Human/Hybrid Transportation, Run About
Cycles, Inc. and has sponsored and supported other business start-ups
in sync with his business vision and values, .
Mr. Bonta serves on the board of the Vermont Biofuels
Association as Vice President and as President of the Sustainable
Valley Group based in Springfield, Vermont.
Strumming guitar