Since Gary doesn't like
to "toot his own horn", let somebody else do it
for him. Check out what others say about Gary on the e4sustainability.org
website.
2003 Energy Champion
- Entrepreneurs for Sustainability - WINNER: Gary Cole
Champion: Gary Cole and Erika Weliczko– eQuality Electrical
Services
(Nominated by: Jayme Lucas – City of Shaker Heights)
I would like to nominate Gary
Cole and Erika Weliczko, of E-Quality Electric, for the energy
industry "Sustainability Champion" award. Their
accomplishments as I see them:
They have worked to create an
alliance of "green contractors" to help set local
industry standards for green building, educate contractors
new to the green building technology, and to educate the public
on green building.
They have worked tirelessly to bring the movement "into
the mainstream", which was demonstrated throughout the
year at various events including your organization, the Cleveland
Green Building Coalition, and the City of Shaker Heights.
Their assistance has been critical to Shaker's efforts. They
have testified before our City Council in support of the passage
of the green building legislation, they have attended and/or
presented at least 3 City workshops on energy efficiency,
and they have been "sounding boards" for programs
such as the newly launched "Go Green" Rebate program.
All of this work was done on a voluntary basis.
I have come to see them as partners in my efforts at Shaker
Heights. They have never failed to come through, whether it
was attending a meeting, presenting to the public, or providing
me with feedback. They have talked to a total of at least
48 residents about the principles of green building and energy
efficiency at City sponsored workshops, as well as educating
me and other staff members. While much of what they did for
Shaker came under the auspices of their non-profit "Green
Contractors", they also represented an exciting small
business partnership. (which they just formed this year, as
well)
Champion: Gary Cole
- eQuality Electrical Services
(Nominated by: Dan Conway – Great Lakes Brewing)
I nominate Gary Cole, a true
inspiration for anyone... Anecdotally, I recall at one of
the early meetings at our place he asked where we could run
an extension chord for his electric car. I knew then he was
committed to something larger than himself.
Champion: Gary Cole
- eQuality Electrical Services
(Nominated by: Jim LaRue – The House Menders, Inc)
I would like to nominate Gary
Cole for one of your hero awards. Gary is fully dedicated
to sustainability in both his life and his work. His years
of work with GEO, his recent efforts to lead the creation
of the Green Contractors Association, and his continual effort
to help homeowners and businesses who use his electrical services
learn more about making their homes and work places more sustainable,
are prime examples of this commitment.
He is forever experimenting
on their own home in his relentless search for the living
space that does less harm to our environment and its residents!!
His gentle spirit makes him an effective "encourager".
His wonderful sense of humor (mostly about himself) is infectious
and helps teach all of us how to take this work seriously,
without taking ourselves too seriously.
Champion: Gary Cole
– eQuality Electrical Services
(Nominated by: Bill Doty – Doty & Miller Architects and
Planners)
Champion: Gary Cole
– eQuality Electrical Services
(Nominated by: Dolores Watson – Earthday Coalition)
I nominate Gary Cole, founder
of eQuality Electrical Services for this award. (below is
a version of the article I wrote about Gary for the EDC newsletter.
I think it says it all.)
Environmental Profile:
Gary Cole
by Dolores Watson – Earthday Coalition
So, when the lights went out on August 14th,
you had thoughts about how nice it would be if you had some
solar panels on your house. You probably thought having at
least enough self-generated energy to power your refrigerator
and a light bulb or two would be an excellent idea. But how
would you achieve this modest goal? Who could you call?
Here in NE Ohio you can call Gary Cole, founder
of eQuality Electrical Services. Gary is a State Licensed
Electrical Contactor and his company specializes in:
• Residential Electrical Work.
• Solar Photovoltaic Design & Installation
• Backup Power Systems
• Energy Efficiency Improvements
Electricity has fascinated Gary ever since
at age 12, he stuck a paperclip in a wall socket and got a
big surprise. Years later, while sailing, he was struck by
the concept of free and invisible energy, as supplied by wind.
But he didn’t actively follow up on this inspiration at the
time because information available on practical application
was not exactly enticing.
Luckily in 1997, Gary discovered that other
NE Ohioans shared his passion for renewable energy when he
heard about the work of SEED, Ohio (Sustainable Energy for
Economic Development). SEED, Ohio is now named GEO (Green
Energy Ohio).
Gary immediately jumped at the chance to assist
SEED in several wind monitoring tower installations around
the state, and began learning more about all forms of sustainable
energy by reading, networking with SEED members and staffing
tables at community outreach events, such as Earth Day Coalition’s
EarthFest celebrations every spring. Gary credits the development
of his communication skills and a redirecting of his life
goals to his association with sustainable planet advocates
he met in SEED / GEO since 1997.
In 2001 Gary installed a small photovoltaic
system (PV) on his home to provide energy for his own use
and to help educate the public about renewable energy by being
one of the homes featured on the GEO NE Ohio Solar Homes Tour
that year.
His home system has grown each year since
then, and he now boasts 2kW capacity in PV and a 500-watt
Windseeker turbine on his garage, and 240 watts of PV on his
home (where the solar panels serve double duty as an awning
over a south facing window).
After net metering became law in Ohio, Gary
negotiated the confusing new possibility to have his system
become the first in the City of Cleveland to be net metered
and intertied to the local utility grid. It’s truly a sight,
on a sunny day, to watch Gary’s electric meter spinning backwards,
as his system pumps electricity into the power grid!
After working as an industrial electrician
for a number of years, Gary struck out on his own to follow
his passion for renewable energy, starting his own company
in 2002. Offering basic residential electrical contracting
as a base service to grow from, Gary started putting together
a unique consulting/education program to share his enthusiasm
for sustainability and energy efficiency in the community.
Gary was so successful in spreading his enthusiasm
that he helped inspire Erika Weliczko, a trained chemical
engineer, to leave her corporate job to do, what for her,
would also be more meaningful work. After trekking off to
Solar Energy International in CO. for PhotoVoltaic (PV) Installation
training, Erika returned to Cleveland and professionally joined
Gary’s company.
Just about that time Gary changed the name
of his company from Wiring Services, Inc. to eQuality Electrical
Services, in large part because Gary is very supportive of
women being more actively invited into the green building
trades. Gary feels that women who want to learn a trade may
find working with sustainable minded coworkers more enjoyable
than being a minority trying to enter the sometimes hostile
world of traditional construction. Additionally, he feels
it may be easier to train anyone who is already “green minded”
in any of the construction trades than it would be to re-train
long standing traditional construction workers into “green
thinking”.
Together, Gary and Erika are evolving the
scope of eQuality Electrical Services to encompass the services
mentioned earlier plus include a focus on how the average
homeowner can cost effectively incorporate green building
principles into existing homes. Gary and Erika hope to educate
homeowners on the importance of:
• assessing the entire building envelope
• indoor air quality and air infiltration
• the strategic use of shade, including shade provided by
plants
• the use of wood from managed forests, and
• other green building principles.
Gary is also one of the founding members of
the Green Contractors of Greater Cleveland, a professional
association dedicated to meeting the growing demand for contractors
with expertise and interest in Green Building principles and
design. The Green Contractors seek to serve homeowners in
search of green building materials and methods used in home
upgrades and remodeling projects as well as to serve contractors
in networking, further educating themselves and finding green
jobs. Gary and Erika can make referrals to appropriate Green
Contractors for any expertise the homeowner would need that
is not a direct service that eQuality Electrical Services
provides.
eQuality Electrical Services has donated a
unique package of their services as an item to be auctioned
at Earth Day Coalition’s 6th annual “Instrumental Evening
for the Earth” Benefit on November 19, 2003. The package Gary
and Erika will provide includes an evaluation of your home
to suggest cost effective, energy efficient and green building
improvements. Be sure to look for this exciting offering at
the event.
What recommendations for a healthier local
environment do Gary and Erika have for NE Ohio? Gary believes
that we all must first consider ourselves as citizens of the
planet when making decisions on how we live, then pay attention
to our local affiliations. Additionally, Erika feels the easiest
way to save the planet is to become really cheap; curbing
rampant consumerism and practicing energy conservation at
every possibility. The Greater Cleveland community is fortunate
to have such dedicated citizens of the planet living and working
in our midst.
From an article posted on the Entrepreneurs
for Sustainability website:
Champions - Energy Champion Nominees - Gary Cole
