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Presenter urges portable solar as low-cost resilience option for renters and small businesses
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Summary
At a Franklin Township Environmental Commission meeting, Sterling Clapurn demonstrated portable solar panels and battery stations and argued they offer affordable, emergency-ready power for renters and small businesses; commissioners discussed efficiency, costs and outreach options.
Sterling Clapurn, introduced to the commission as a certified information‑systems auditor and retired instructor, demonstrated portable solar panels and battery power stations and urged the township to promote them to renters and small businesses as an affordable resilience option. "I could actually this is free energy," Clapurn told the commission as he described small window-mounted panels and foldable 400‑watt units that can charge phones, power lights and run small refrigerators in an outage.
Clapurn showed examples of plug‑and‑play systems and explained technical tradeoffs: portable panels and many small devices run on direct current (DC), while home grids use alternating current (AC). "If you stay with DC, you improve your efficiency," a committee member (S2) told the presenter, noting that converting between DC and AC reduces efficiency and increases cost. Clapurn recommended pairing low‑voltage USB appliances with DC systems to cut conversion losses and shared rough price points from his demonstration: small power stations starting at about $500 for a 500‑watt unit and inexpensive 5‑watt panels that can cost under $20.
Commissioners and residents pressed for practical details. One member asked whether panels lose power when placed behind glass; Clapurn responded that window installation can reduce output by roughly 30 percent. He emphasized the systems are intended for partial, emergency use — for example, to keep insulin refrigerated or to run medical chargers during outages — and not to power central heating or air conditioning.
The discussion covered environmental and end‑of‑life questions. Residents asked about materials and biodegradability; Clapurn said manufacturers treat panels and some components as proprietary and noted disposal and recycling remain concerns. Commissioners suggested the commission consider an information session or handout to educate residents about USB‑powered appliances, plug‑and‑play panels and how small investments could yield savings and resilience during prolonged power outages.
The commission did not vote on a policy at the meeting; members agreed the topic merits further outreach and suggested scheduling a public information session or including a write‑up in the commission newsletter or local paper.
