Since eddy’s launch, UGE added three more products to its portfolio: eddyGT, a more powerful 1000 watt VAWT that can be tied to the grid or store energy for later use by battery; the UGE-4K, a 4 kilowatt VAWT which is powerful enough to supply the energy needs of a standard American home in good wind conditions; and the Sanya hybrid solar streetlight, an entirely off-grid outdoor street lighting solution powered by renewable energy with the combination of a 600W eddy VAWT and 150 watts of solar panels.
Wind energy is a universal resource that can be harnessed anywhere in the world by homes and businesses. UGE fully promotes small wind as a viable resource throughout the world with the help of its international workforce. The company has a global distribution network in 50 countries and its New York staff represents multiple nationalities.
A notable example of UGE’s diverse staff is Business Development Manager Takayuki Koizumi who was born in Japan, but grew up in Malaysia. He attended high school and college in the United States. When he visits home twice a year, he always makes a point of setting up meetings with trade groups, contracting companies and renewable energy businesses to make sure that he keeps abreast of the business environment in Asia. Koizumi says, "Knowing your clients’ culture is advantageous. In Asia, it’s all about proper business etiquette. When I meet with potential clients there and show them that I know their culture and respect it, it creates credibility and mutual respect." This has led Koizumi to many fruitful business relationships, including establishing UGE’s Malaysia distributor in Kuala Lumpur. Given Koizumi’s rich international background, he also manages relationships with UGE’s distributors in Latin American and Aruba. Koizumi studied in Argentina for 6 months as an undergraduate, where he developed the language skills that today help him communicate with UGE’s Latin American and Caribbean partners in Spanish.
David Droz, recently hired as a Business Development Associate, worked in Israel for two years as an aerospace engineer before joining UGE. During his first month on the job, he was sent to Mexico to help a client with a turbine installation. "Being able to relate to the resourceful, action-oriented work atmosphere is what made the installation successful," Droz says. Droz remarks, "The atmosphere and environment really reminded me of Israel. It was something familiar, something I could relate to, which definitely helped me positively during my client visit." Also, during Droz’s trip to Mexico, he had the opportunity to meet with a prospective distributor in Cuernavaca who took great efforts to make sure that Droz understood the client base in his town. He invited Droz to the town’s blessing of a water well, a traditional Mexican ceremony, where Droz even participated in the procession around the town, carrying flowers. This provided Droz with an excellent introduction to the town and community of his Mexican distributor, and resulted in a successful business relationship. Droz’s experience in Cuernavaca gave him a great cultural experience and also a new customer. At the end of his trip, the prospective distributor in Cuernavaca signed off on a distribution agreement to start his relationship with UGE.
Energy and the environment are hot topics in the minds of the public these days. Even the White House states, "The transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs—but only if we accelerate that transition." With this mindset and mission of establishing clean energy as the way of the future, UGE contributes to the White House’s vision and also shares it with the rest of the world.
Looking forward through the end of 2011, Urban Green Energy sees continuing rapid growth for the company and the industry. UGE will be exhibiting at WINDPOWER 2011 in Anaheim, CA from May 22 to 25 and will have on display two new yet-to-be-announced additions to its product line along with its best selling eddy wind turbine.
UGE’s wind turbines and hybrid solar lighting solutions are now sold through the company’s global distribution network in Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, East Timor, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Morocco, Netherland Antilles, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Korea, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad, United Kingdom and United States of America. Distributors from countries not listed who are interested in joining UGE’s global distributor network, should visit www.urbangreenenergy.com to inquire about the opportunity.
Urban Green Energy (UGE), is a global leader in small wind energy and renewable energy systems. With over 100 quality distributors and installations in 50 countries, UGE designs, manufactures, and markets cutting-edge vertical axis wind turbines and hybrid renewable solutions with a track record of high performance, safety, and reliability. UGE-trained representatives can answer questions, supply our products, and provide post-sales support locally, no matter where our customers are located.
