I NEVER IMAGINED I’D WRITE A BOOK, BUT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE compelled me to do so, and I am truly grateful to them and all the people I have represented in these pages. So, to start, I should thank my wonderfully talented collaborator and co-writer, Robert Ordona, and our ever-vigilant project manager, John Ordona, for making this book a reality. You both rock! I’m also grateful to Charles Purdy for his masterful editorial feedback and his generous collaboration, and to Elsa Dixon for helping launch this project.
The reason I had not been too keen on writing a book is that I am a big believer in deeds over words. And yet, as my publisher Neal Maillet and the great people at Berrett-Koehler have shown me, a good book can be a way to propel a movement. Just as the technology of the printing press propelled the rise of the steam age—thus spurring the Industrial Revolution—I’m hoping this book can spur a Rooftop Revolution brought by the rise of new information and energy technologies.
So, thank you, Neal and the Berrett-Koehler team, for your support and partnership.
Another reason I never wanted to write a book was that I’d have to sit down and think of all the people whose ideas I’ve stolen and then acknowledge them and their influence on me. I don’t mind having stolen from them—I just hope they don’t! And it makes me a little too nostalgic to think of all the great people who have helped me along the way and whom I have rarely followed up with to let them know how appreciative I am. I see now that we really are standing on others’ shoulders when we reach any height. So here’s my shot at shouting out a heartfelt thanks to those whose shoulders have been solid enough to hold me.
First up, let me say that my family and community are the biggest, best influence on me. Mum and Dad, Boo and Tinny—you were wonderful to grow up with (as much as I did). Now I love growing old with my own family and the “Orchardistas.” Thanks for keeping it real and fun while keeping us all focused on a better place.
I have to thank Harvey and all the Greenpeacers over the years who helped me see that King CONG is an emperor without clothes and who taught me to have some fun exposing his nudity. Nic, Iain, Val, Roz, Jeremy, Gary, Lena, Pene, Bunny, Hepburn, Passacantando, JP, Catherine, Sze Ping, Bruno, Sawyer, Sven, Sonia, and so many others—I salute you.
Ken Saro Wiwa and the wonderful people of Oilwatch International, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, and the Indigenous Environmental Network—like Ken Jr. and his brother Owens, plus Oronto, Esperanza, Steve, Randy, Red, Terry, Atossa, Gopal, Goat, Walt, Tom, Pratap, Charoen, and others who connected me to the work against extreme energy extraction—I honor you all. May you succeed in your struggles to create a better world.
Going back even farther into the mists of my mind, there are many student activists who gave me a sense of ire and satire that helps me stay sane when dealing with the insanely inefficient world of electricity in the United States today. The Student Environmental Action Coalition and the Young Turks of Action for Solidarity, Equality, Environment, and Development back in the 1980s and 1990s, who taught me most of what I know about making social change—especially Miya, my wife and wonderful guide in this thing called life.
Finally, for those who share my enterprise of selling sunshine, which is so much fun, I have to thank all the people who make up Sungevity and all the people who gave me courage to get the company going with Birchy and Alec—first among them, Birchy and Alec! But also Cate and Andrew, Tara and Warwick, the Guettel family, Claire, Doug, Dan, Dr. Shi, Gavin, Cathy and Kantau, and many others.
Alongside the SFUNsters, there are others working to achieve the vision of solar for universal need. I am grateful that even when we compete for business we have a bigger purpose as an industry and appreciate everyone, from Nick to David, Svea to Roeby, and all the good solar folk in between who are striving to make it mainstream and universal.
There’s much more to be said of all of these people, and there are twice as many folk whom I have failed to mention. For now may those of you who think you should have been mentioned, please know that I appreciate all that you have taught me. For everyone else reading this, I’m grateful to have an audience and hope to see you out there on the rooftops!