Westinghouse Trots into Solar

Akeena’s under performance compared to the new installers like Suncity ,Sunrun ,RSOL has been huge.Despite their path breaking technology ,partnership with Suntech,Lowe and now Westinghouse their business has remained a huge under performer.
http://greenworldinvestor.com/

Akeena has a superior product and at last they have the final puzzle piece in place to take sales to the next level.

This really solves a lot of problems for consumers. It’s not as if there has been an issue witht the reliability of solar equipemnt. But ther has been a gap in terms of brand credibility—how do you trust that a product is going to work for 20 or more years if you’ve never heard of the company that makes it? With the Westinghouse brand in the mix, and easy access via a national retail chain, solar power for the home is going to take off!

Gary nailed it.  This is simply a great move for Akeena, more brand awareness, more consumer confidence and more business avenues.  Abhishek’s comments confuse me, Akeena is partnered with SunRun

Are you sure that Westinghouse did not easily lend it’s brand to some cheap Chinese made TVs a few years back?  The Polaroid comparison is even more troubling in the same realm.

If nobody else will say it, congratulations to Akeena.  I’ve been watching this company over the past 4 years go from a new competitor to a thought leader and major player.  That’s where the rubber meets the road.  We need more great organizations as much as we need great new technologies to achieve the goals we’ve set for ourselves.  Nice work.

Thirty-five years ago, I wrote President Ford - concerning the need - for our Nation to get into the devlopment of alternative energy(s). 

(I don’t remember exactly what I wrote him. In moving, my copy of the leter was later lost - during Hurricane Charley.)

President Ford didn’t reply.  But letters of reply - from two elected government officials I sent copies to - are on my website: http://www.navalairestates1.com. Their letters hint - at what my leter must have contained.

Those gentlemen were U.S. Senator Philip Hart,and U.S. Congressman Dale Kildee - both of Michigan. That letter - and their replys - were written, over three decades ago.
[My inserted comments on the letters are a reflection - on the sad state of what has happened to those bold initial attempts - to delve into alternative energys  

And they show that I am not ‘A Johnny Come Lately’ entry - into the field of Alternative Energy(s). 

Right now, I’m looking for a $2,000,000.00 grant to build a restaurant and a Children’s Aviation Center on an airport, in SW Florida. With that funding - a second separate ‘Center] may be build on a second Airport.

The restaurant will have some unique profit sharing features.  And will also serve as a source of funding - to operate both Centers. Future such projects may be born out of these two Centers.

Both Centers will also serve as alternative energy Laboratories - for: solar, geo -thermal - and a unique ‘Wind Farm’. (That is also explained on my website.)

Governor Crist wrote a letter of encouragement - but, said the State of Florida does not have the money to finance the project. 

(Anyone know where I can find such a private or public grant?) 

Click on my other site: http://www.navalairestates.com. It details what the Centers will accomplish. Also read: ‘A Thousand Points of Light’ - and the two pages about the curriculum - and goals of ‘The Children’s Aviation Centers’.

I hope someone(s) can share this with Govenor Crist and U.S. Congressman Kildee. (Governor Crist; I’ll be supporting you.)

Dale, I can’t vote for you now.  But, I hope to build a third and fourth such complex, back in Mid - Michgigan. So, I hope you can find/suggest some ways to help this project.

Two projects are planned for Michigan (as a start)  One at Detroit City Airport.  The second at Flint’s bishop Airport.  The one at Detroit City Airport will be named after two Tuskegee Airmen friends:  Alexander Jefferson, and Richard Macon. (Dick and Jeff were both shot down in WWII and were POW’s.)  “Jeff’ has a unique collection of paintings.  Ones he drew, while serving as a POW.  (I hope someone gets him to turn them into a collection - before he too is gone.) An unbelieveable window into our past. Don’t let that be lost. (I hope we can display that exhibit - at Detroit City Airport (Now named after another Tuskegee Airmen/ Past Mayor of Detroit: Coleman Young.)

The one in Flnt, will be named after Janey Briggs Hart (Senator Hart’s wife) and Bea Steadman of Flint.  Both ladies were Mercury 13 finalist.

(This concludes History/economics aviation/alternative energy(s) - minority studies, lesson 101.) 

Thank you,
Bob McDonagh

Does Westinghouse have any real consumer brand cache anymore? I’m not sure I’d buy a Westinghouse television over a Sony, Sharp, Panasonic, or Samsung. From what I can tell, the Westinghouse name is licensed, so it begs the question: Who will actually manufacture the panels and where will they be made? I’d have to guess SunTech is the partner of choice since they manufacture Akeena’s Andalay modules. In the end, I have to believe that Westinghouse has more notoriety and brand recognition than Andalay, so it’s probably a net benefit to Akeena’s marketing efforts. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.

Akeena has been losing market share to competitors for some time, losing business even as the solar market grows.  Their products are too expensive relative to what they offer.  The company is not profitable, and seems to be moving further from profitability.  On this message thread, there seems to be either Akeena employees or people trying to pump the stock.  Andalay is a cool innovation, but I think it is far from clear that the company is really well-run.