Solar Panel Installer Tells of Near Death Experience on San Francisco Rooftop

December 14th, 2008 by Clayton

Former solar installer David Llorens nearly plunged four-stories to his death after faulty instructions from the building owner.

“Ma’am, what’s the best way to get to your roof? We need to see where we’d put the solar panels and we don’t have a four story ladder.”

HER: “I think this door goes out on to the roof, but I’ve never been out there.”

ME: “OK… wait, it doesn’t seem to open… I think it’s just painted shut though, you mind if I…” *motions of shoulder nudging it*

HER: “Sure, go ahead.”

ME: *Nudge* Nothing. *Harder Nudge* Nothing. *Three more violent shoulder rammings*

HER: “Let’s go try the window.”

ME: *One last goodbye give-it-my-best ramming attempt.* (It gives a about a milimeter) “Hey! I think I can get it, it’s moving!” *Ultra violent running shoulder ramming* *It gives more, about 3 MM now.*

HER: “Hey, that door looks like it may fall off its hinges if you keep ramming it. Do you think you will be able to close it if you get it open?”

ME: “….. hmm… You’re right” *Disappointed look* “OK, let’s try the window.”

On another day, David might have had a one-way ticket to the sidewalk. He had this to say about the incident:

This story is real, it happened to me a few months ago on this house, right down the street from my apartment. I’m thankful for being alive. It’s a funny story, but seriously, man, I could have ended up in the darwin awards. Fortunately I’m laptopping it now instead of up on roofs being an idiot.

I order to leverage his skills at the internet, and avoid placing himself in near death experiences, David worked with two other San Franciscans to cofound the solar energy aggregator called One Block Off the Grid.









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