EcoTrekker Murphy Follow Sun Across Country   Los Gatos Weekly Times, June 4, 2003, by Linh Tat Thirty states in eight months. A cross-country trip like that in a 37-foot recreational vehicle would require a large amount of gas that would burn a hole in anyone's pocketbook and emit lots of carbon dioxide into the air. But for an eco-trekker like Shaun Murphy, the same trip is possible with a minimal amount of fuel. Murphy, host of the Australian show Eco-Trekker, and his electric dog, Sparky, are seeing the United States for the first time as they travel through 30 states in vehicles powered by renewable energy—wind power, solar energy, geothermal electricity, mini-hydro power and bio-fuels. Riding on electric motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles called Sparrows or a solar canoe, Murphy will set out to inform people about the future of renewable energy and to "showcase and highlight people in America who have renewable energy." Though the Eco-Trekker film crew launched the eight-month tour beginning in San Francisco, for Murphy, the journey really began in Los Gatos. It was in the town that the crew stored the RV and equipped it with eco-mobiles while crew members finalized details for the trip. It was also in Los Gatos that the crew found a sponsor in Akeena Solar, a company that specializes in solar panel installations. "Los Gatos is heavily involved in this trip," Murphy said by phone from Fairfax, where he was wrapping up filming after the first day. Barry Cinnamon, president of Akeena Solar, strongly supports Murphy's endeavors. "A lot of people just don't know about the benefits of solar energy until they see someone enthusiastically talking about it," he said. Akeena Solar donated and installed three Sharp 185-watt panels to the rooftop of the RV. The solar panels are connected to batteries so that any of the smaller electric vehicles used during the day can be recharged at night. Since an observation deck and antennas were also placed on the rooftop, little room was left for solar panels, Cinnamon said. "It was a little tricky getting it all set up," he said. It took an entire weekend to install the panels and other equipment. When all was done, Murphy said, the result was a "really killer setup." The trip was also made possible through other sponsorships. From now until March 2004, five crew members of Eco-Trekker will follow Murphy on his journey through the United States, including Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, New York, Massachusetts, Florida and Texas. His 15,000-mile trek will end back in San Francisco. Murphy had completed a similar trip from the land down under, but he only trekked about half the distance of this trip. So far, Murphy said, he does not know what the show will do with the vehicles once the trip is complete. One possibility would be to auction them off on the show's website, http://www.ecotrekker.com/. Interested individuals can also follow Murphy on his trip by visiting the site, where the trekker will post daily updates. Copyright © SVCN, LLC.