Monday, August 24, 2009

Victor interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel

Victor was interviewed in a Today’s Orlando Sentinel by Etan Horowitz:

Solar tech could be key

One key area ripe for partnership is in solar technologies. In Israel, 90 percent of the homes have solar panels, and some of the most innovative solar products in the world are produced there, Echeverri said. More Florida businesses are offering solar products as more people to look to install solar panels to harness energy or heat pools and water for their homes.

Much of that growth has been spurred by rebates the state started offering in 2006 for companies and residences that install solar systems. “You almost pay nothing for the systems,” said Victor Eyal, the chief operating officer and president of UMA Solar, an Altamonte Springs company that sells solar pool heating systems, water heaters and electricity producing solar panels.

Eyal, who grew up in Israel, is one of the local business leaders leading the push to link Central Florida with Israel. He moved to Central Florida in 1981 and began importing water collectors from Israel to use in the solar pool heating systems he sells. The collectors Eyal imports are produced on a kibbutz, and he estimates he brings in about $15 million worth of product from Israel a year.

"It’s my lifeline," Eyal said. "Without importing product from Israel I would be out of business."

You can read the whole article at Heliocol in the News.