Latinos are shaping the future of sustainable energy

The Latino community has a long history of innovation in sustainability that can be traced back to some of the earliest known civilizations in Latin America. From the Aztecs of Mexico, who created the first zero-waste society, to the early Andean people, who used wind-based water pumps to power their agriculture, this purpose and passion continues to be a driving force behind many of the sustainable solutions in our lives today.

Today at Panasonic, a number of our Latino leaders and innovators are dedicated to addressing the pressing global issue of climate change. Using their skills to advance the adoption of solar energy, developing and deploying environmentally preferable refrigeration technology, or helping usher in the era of electric vehicles, their passion is what moves them to make positive contributions to society.

David Lopez

Group Sales Manager, Solar & Storage (California)

What are you working on today?

I am currently working on increasing the awareness of energy storage to installers and homeowners. I believe energy storage is the key to creating a pathway toward grid independence. I have spent the last 12 years mostly focused on increasing awareness of the role solar energy can play in a greener future and I think energy storage systems take us a step further.

What excites you most about the future of sustainable energy?

It really excites me to be part of an industry that not only does good for the environment, that also saves people thousands of dollars a year in electricity bills. I love hearing stories from homeowners that decided to install solar panels in their house and they get very excited telling how much energy their solar system is producing and how much they are saving.

Mirtha Echeverria

Battery Engineer, Panasonic Energy (Nevada)

What are you working on today?

I work as a Battery Engineer for PENA at Tesla Gigafactory 1 where we manufacture the Lithium-Ion cells for Model 3 and Y. Within the Battery Engineering team, I work on the Electrode team as a Hardware design and systems development engineer. We are currently in the process of implementing a new and revolutionary battery design with higher density and lower cobalt content. We are also working towards a smart factory goal, with more automated processes and efficient equipment.

What excites you most about the future of sustainable energy?

Fifteen years ago, electric vehicles were concepts to speculate upon, and all major auto industries were hesitant about investing in the EV sector. It took one company to prove themselves successful in the field for others to follow in the integration of EV models. Today, many big-name auto companies are launching an electric model and investing in raw materials for lithium-Ion cells. I’m beyond excited to be a pioneer in the industry working for Panasonic, the world’s leading EV battery company, taking part on innovation and development of new technologies and as Tesla’s mission statement puts it, accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energies.

Angel Rivas

Chief Engineer, Hussmann (Missouri)

What are you working on today?

We are working on the new generation of micro distribution systems with natural refrigerants with lower environmental impact and Global Warming Potential (GWP), meaning less damage to the Ozone Layer. Also, we are continuously working on projects to reduce energy consumption, using technologies like LED lighting, variable speed compressors, electronic motors, etc.

Why are you passionate about working on sustainability projects?

I believe the fact that we need to be up-to-date on new technologies, regulations and how other industries different than ours are approaching these challenges is very interesting; especially, for a design engineering group like ours. Also, the fact that we are working on creating a better world for future generations through waste reduction, recycling and energy saving efforts and most important, reducing our carbon footprint and protect our environment.

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