'Home Grown' green to be on display April 20 near Perrysburg

Dan Kronfield with his solar power generating equipment at his home on Five Points Road.

Dan Kronfield has not paid a utility bill in more than a year - and he has no overdue charges or bills that need paid.

He has made his house green with solar panels, and a small wind turbine that "runs the meter backwards."

For the second consecutive year he is hosting an event called "Home Grown," a green energy event two days before Earth Day. The event, which will be held at his home at 14125 Five Point Rd. near the city of Perrysburg from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 20, will be a free for the public to learn more about green energy. 

"[Mr. Kronfield] had had success going green himself and he is trying to show people they can do it too," said Anthony Palumbo, chief of operations at the electric vehicle institute at Bowling Green State University. "He is making society a better place."

Mr. Palumbo will be bringing a few electric cars from BGSU to Mr. Kronfield's house to show off electric cars and show people how they work. 

Along with Mr. Palumbo and BGSU, Leff Electric, based in Cleveland, will have displays of American-made solar products, Home Depot is to have a children's "green" workshop, Penta Career Center will have seniors there with pro-green exhibits, and representatives from Owens Community College Green Energy Department will be on hand as well as plug-in cars. A tour of Mr. Kronfield's   solar panels and his wind turbine.

"I'm excited about this. It will be fun. I'd like to see other people have fun with it and get started in going green even if it is small just one kilowatt," said Mr. Kronfield, a retired Toledo band teacher. 

Four small solar panels can produce a kilowatt of power, he said.

While green is good for the environment, he said,  solar panels pay themselves through lowered electric bills.

Mr. Palumbo, who works at BGSU turning street cars into plug-in electric cars, said, "The important thing is what Dan is doing trying to show the public that going green is affordable."

Contact Matt Thompson at: mthompson@theblade.com or 419-356-8786 or on Twitter at @mthompson25.