Mark Englander ain’t no superhero, yet he’s trying to save the world—your world, to be exact. Don’t let his wiry hair puffing salt-and-pepper gray around his head, his chain smoking, or his slightly cranky persona fool you; he’s a do-gooder. Mark Englander is nutty—there’s no denying that. But he’s not crazy. Yeah, there’s a difference. We meet at Charlotte Energy Solutions, his store in the Cherry neighborhood, on a gorgeous spring day and set out to talk about alternative energy. I pull up in my 13.5 mile-per-gallon SUV and park it sheepishly down the street. Mark greets me and lights a cigarette. “You the reporter?” he asks, eyeing me (suspiciously, I think). “Yes, I’m from Uptown Magazine and I’m writing an article for our green issue,” I say, a little too enthusiastically. I tell myself to be cool, but it’s hard. I’m nervous because I’m in uncharted territory. “Yeah,” I babble on, “Normally I do stories in ‘The Life’ section of the magazine? And it’s usually about fashion and beauty and wellness…” My words drift on. “Oh, you know, mascara and jeans, I can handle those, but biofuel and biodiesel? Gosh, how did I get this assignment?” Englander’s eyes narrow and he takes a drag on his cigarette. He doesn’t laugh. I’m bombing with this guy. I give up. “Look, I don’t know anything about this biofuel stuff. You’re gonna have to teach me.” ‘Nuff said. Now the lesson begins.
As owner of Charlotte Energy Solutions, Englander has seen more interest in alternative fuels and energy-saving practices from Charlotte citizens. Most recently, the rising cost of gas has made customers aware of what he has to say and to sell. “You know, the gas prices right now aren’t good for anybody except the oil companies, but if you’re gonna look at the positives, in some ways it’s good people are paying these prices because it makes them wake up and seek alternatives.” It’s safe to say that for nearly 8 years, Englander has been frustrated by the energy policies of the current presidential administration. “I’m confident that January 21, 2009, when Barack Obama is sworn in as president, we will start to see changes for the better in the policies and perhaps more investment in alternative energy like wind and solar.” You might wonder what a guy like Englander thinks about the alternative fuels encouraged by the current administration, energy and automotive companies. “Hydrogen isn’t going to work because it costs billions of dollars up front to set up the infrastructure to be successful. The cost would make 1 gallon cost $8-$10 per gallon. It’s good for power plants, but not a useful alternative for fuel because it just costs so much for consumers. Flex fuel is a scam. Don’t be fooled by a marketing campaign. And when it comes to biofuel, corn isn’t a good idea because our country already depends on corn for a large part of our food supply and it takes a tremendous amount of energy to grow the crop.” And what about coal? Don’t get him started. “Right now Duke Power doesn’t have the incentive to do alternative energy like wind and solar.” So what will work? “Switchgrass is a better choice than corn because it is essentially a weed and is very fast growing; solar and wind energy are under explored and underfunded areas of alternative energy. Did you know Atlantic City is powered by wind energy? Atlantic City is casino land! For wind and solar energy to become mainstream, they have to be profitable for the consumers to sell back to the power companies. We need more tax credits and rebates to promote alternative energy.”
Not only does Charlotte Energy Solutions promote the use of alternative fuels for the home, they will also soon be a vendor for biodiesel. There will be a tanker truck at the store’s location with biodiesel available to customers. Biodiesel is an alternative to standard diesel fuel for engines. “Did you know the first diesel engine ran on peanut oil?” Umm, no. There is no conversion required for late-model vehicles and participation in the Metrolina BioFuels Cooperative ensures drivers will have consistent access to biofuel. If biodiesel isn’t your bag, Englander also converts engines over to run on vegetable oil. “You’d be impressed at the way it makes a car purr. The engine just runs better. The application is fairly easy for an older car; it could run about $600. For a newer car with computer systems and all the bells and whistles, about $6,000. The cost for fuel is free if you get it from a restaurant, or you could purchase large amounts of cooking oil from a place like Costco. The mileage per gallon will be the same as if you were using standard fuel, but your engine will run smoother.” What about the moms in the carpool line who insist they need their SUV? Englander says if you must purchase another large SUV or pickup truck, you might want to consider a diesel engine because it gives you better options when it comes to fuel alternatives. So where does Englander go to get the vegetable oil to run his cars? “I like The Penguin’s oil and from a fish camp near Charleston.” I knew I loved The Penguin. “I like to run around town and my car smells good—like French fries.”
Englander is a Segway dealer as well. “I used to think the Segway was just an SUV for the sidewalk, but then I started using one, and I’ve changed my tune. They’re really great people movers. Segways are great for law enforcement (Englander supplies them to the airport and the police) because it enables officers to get to a scene quickly and they aren’t stuck in traffic. Honestly, if you left my store right now in your car to go Uptown, and I left on my Segway, I would get there before you because I can go on the sidewalks.” And the cost? “A reconditioned Segway goes for $3400 and a new one is $5100, and it’s about 25 cents a mile for a charge. I take it all over the place. By law, Segways can go anywhere a wheelchair can go. So if you want to take it to work, you can get in the elevator and park it right next to your desk!”
In addition to their focus on transportation, Charlotte Energy Solutions has a plethora of offerings for the energy-conscious in the home and garden.
FOR THE HOME
They sell the hottest trends in green décor: cork, reclaimed pine, and bamboo flooring; corn stoves, compact fluorescent light bulbs, LED lighting and solar or tankless water heaters. “We are the exclusive provider of Poor Richard’s natural and biodegradable home products such as natural lighter fluids, tiki torch fuel, and interior and exterior wood protectants.” The products are all natural, made in North Carolina, and don’t use any petroleum or chemical toxins.
FOR THE GARDEN
“The organic seed packets are really hot right now, and with the drought we’ve seen more interest from our customers regarding the rain barrels we sell and composting equipment.” For those looking for a greener way to mow the lawn, there are battery-powered mowers, blowers and weed whackers. “A typical gas-powered lawn mower puts as many pollutants into the air as a car going 1300 miles. Gas-powered lawn equipment mixes oil and gas together to run, and that’s the worst kind of combination when it comes to pollution.” The charges on the batteries run about an hour (or until you need a beer break) and the price is about $399—steep when you’re pricing out mowers, but “When you consider the cost savings in gasoline and, in the long run, the environment, it isn’t too expensive.”
It’s obvious that Mark Englander isn’t interested in maintaining the status quo. He wants customers to ask questions, challenge him, and come away with a better understanding of how important individual actions are. “If people want to start somewhere, I suggest recycling. It’s free and it gets you to make some conscious, daily decisions regarding waste. Compact fluorescents are also a simple and, in the long run, cost-effective way to begin. And, of course, pay attention to your water consumption and be conscious about your usage.” Even with all the environmental challenges we face, Englander still has hope. “I believe the individual doesn’t realize the power he or she holds on the powers that be. What it takes is for each of us to create a demand in the marketplace for energy alternatives that really work and the corporations and government will have to listen. With the rising cost of fuel and the price we are all paying in our communities, I continue to ask the question, ‘How high do the prices have to go before people say ‘enough’?’”
Meet Mark Englander at his store or check out his wares this summer when Dave Matthews, John Mayer and Maroon 5 come to town on their eco-tour buses and set up their eco-village. Charlotte Energy Solutions is located at 337 Baldwin Avenue in the Cherry community and online at www.charlotteenergysolutions.com
~ Sheri Joseph
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