If you’re not familiar with Gwen Jorgensen, she’s a USA Olympic Triathlon Gold Medalist, mother of two and an advocate for the environment and sustainability. Freedom Solar had the pleasure of helping Gwen transition her Louisville, Colorado home to solar energy this past summer. We sat down with Gwen and asked about her life in the mountains, her experience going solar and what brings her purpose in life.
Gwen’s Q&A
Outside of your everyday routine and training, what do you like to do for fun while living in Colorado?
Gwen: I love getting outside with my family. We spend a lot of time commuting on our bikes to bike parks, the pool, restaurants and more. My five year old son loves to play by the creek and have picnics by the pond.
What made you choose to go more green and transition to solar energy?
Gwen: I am passionate about helping our planet. We have a compost pile and commute when we can, but we also use a lot of energy. I want to live a green lifestyle and know solar could help me offset the energy we use. As an athlete who loves the outdoors and nature, I want to do everything I can to keep Mother Earth beautiful. I’m not perfect, but I try where I can. Solar is a great option, and it was surprisingly easy to set up and not as expensive as I thought it would be. It’s been great to see the savings already after just a few months.
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What are other ways you’ve incorporated sustainability into your family’s lifestyle?
Gwen: We commute on our bikes a lot. My son rides his bike 9km to school. It’s fun to see his enjoyment. We are a one car family and choose to commute when we can. We have built a compost pile in our backyard and garden our own food when possible.
Some people are overwhelmed by the idea of starting the solar process. Can you speak to your experience having a busy schedule and making the time for a project like this?
Gwen: Freedom Solar handled everything from start to finish, making the process easy and smooth. They came when Xcel Energy did their inspection, allowing me to not have to be home. During the process I was never needed for more than 10 minutes. Freedom Solar and their team took care of everything.
Watch Gwen’s solar story
What was it like working with the Freedom Solar team though the process?
Gwen: They had the best customer service. When they came to check out our roof and had to come inside, they wore booties upon entry and brought a vacuum to clean a non-existent mess when leaving. They responded quickly to any questions I had and drew multiple options for our solar panels giving me information to choose what was best for our family.
Now that the project is complete, what was one thing you didn’t expect that you were most surprised about with your new system?
Gwen: It’s a surprise how much solar power we generate in the winter. Freedom Solar Power uses Sunpower panels which are the best in the business.
Freedom Solar panels are powered by the sun and fueled by purpose, what fuels you and gives you purpose in your life?
Gwen: I am fueled by my family. Spending time with my family outside generates my energy. My favorite moments are when Stanley and Patrick ride bikes to school while I run with them.
One of our core values as a company is getting out of our comfort zones. What advice would you give to someone wanting to get out of their comfort zone and push their limits?
Gwen: Create baby steps and know that you can always come back to your comfort zone. Slowly expand your limits. Everything that I have learned about sports can be transferred to everyday life.
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