From renewing friendships to working with renewable energy, two Sunderland school pals who lost touch more than 25 years ago after creating separate and distinct career paths, have reunited and are working together supplying green energy solutions.
Lee Steabler from Washington and Shaun Lavender from Durham were best friends at Farringdon School in Sunderland before launching successful careers that took Lee into the roofing business as a time served slater and tiler and Shaun into the Army and then Durham Constabulary before his present role as a Security Consultant in the Middle East. Lee has also recently been retrained as an electrician and has gained City and Guilds and Solar Logic qualifications which have helped him in his new career choice.
Now, the friends are working together supplying and fitting green, environmentally friendly renewable energy solutions such as solar panels, wind turbines and air / ground source heat pumps for domestic and commercial customers under the name of Roof Trust Renewables.
“We met up after all those years at a mutual friend’s night out and I explained to Lee that I’d been looking for a business opportunity to develop when I left my role in the Middle East,” said Shaun. “Lee recognised that my skills in planning, marketing and business development perfectly complimented his practical work and trade experience so we’ve both concentrated our efforts on getting the business up and running.”
One of Lee’s first tasks was to prove to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) that his skills were good enough to gain their accreditation and to do that, he had to subject one of his solar panel installations to a rigorous inspection.
“I was going to fit the solar panels to my home but a friend of mine who is involved with the charity, Age UK Sunderland based at Bradbury House in Sunderland mentioned that they had high fuel bills and were looking at renewable energy options,” said Lee.” I thought that it was much more sensible to have my assessment done there as it would benefit so many people.”
The £4,500 installation went down very well with the charity. Director, Alan Patchett was delighted with the donated solar panels and the workmanship of Lee and his team.
““Age UK Sunderland is very grateful to Roof Trust Renewables for donating and installing the solar panel for us. They completed the work with little disruption and the panel is working well. We look forward to benefitting from the energy saving and income it will generate”
Ends
Photo shows: Alan Patchett from Age UK sunderland with Lee Steabler and Shaun Lavender in background
Editors Notes
People with solar panel systems get paid for the electricity they generate for themselves and they even get paid for the watts they don’t use, because they go back into the National Grid. Anyone is entitled to generate their own electricity and get paid for it using the Government’s Feed-in-Tariff scheme or FITs. It pays out money for every kilowatt hour generated by an MCS-accredited unit such as a solar PV for up to 25 years.
Media Information from Keith Newman on 07814 397951
keith@highlights-public-relations.co.uk
