Solar Energy and Energy Conservation Workshops

02/05/2010

     Sustainable Energy Training Series 2010

Appalachia- Science in the Public Interest and the Kentucky Solar Partnership present the 2010 Sustainable Energy Training Series, offering 13 workshops on topics related to solar energy and residential energy conservation. The Sustainable Energy Training Series is oriented towards professionals seeking to expand their knowledge and the scope of services they offer, as well as others interested in learning more about these important fields.

 

Workshop Guide - Includes Schedule, Workshop Descriptions, and Registration Form. Click here to download. 

 

Registration Form -  Click here to downloard.

 

Workshop Listing and Descriptions for all 13 workshops are at our  WORKSHOPS page.

Financial Support is available to residents of the 54 counties of Eastern Kentucky, based on need. The financial support application includes a map and list of eligible counties. The amount of support ranges from 25% to 100% of the cost of attendance and is based on family income. Financial support includes a travel allowance, providing at least partial reimbursement of expenses for lodging, mileage and meals. Submit the application form to MACED to find out the level of financial support for which you qualify. Once approved, applicants may use this support towards any or all of the workshops in ASPI's Sustainable Energy Training Series. Our thanks to MACED for providing funding for this support. Click here to download the Financial Support Application Form.

Directions: Frankfort workshops are held at the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office at 101 Lakeview Court, Frankfort, KY 40601. To get directions, enter the address at www.mapquest.com.

 

NABCEP Training Hours Availability

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) provides a voluntary national certification program for solar installers. Achieving NABCEP certification as a PV or Solar Thermal installer requires a combination of training and experience plus a certain amount of training/education. Our solar energy workshops are presented in accordance with NABCEP standards and follow the NABCEP PV or Solar Thermal Task Analysis. The following table indicates the number of training hours each workshop will provide. Participants may use these training hours towards meeting the eligibility requirements to sit for the NABCEP PV or Solar Thermal exam.

For current NABCEP certified installers seeking Continuing Education Units, each of these workshops will also provide CEU hours, as indicated.

Workshop participants will receive a certificate indicating the number of hours of training completed upon completion of each workshop.

 To learn more about NABCEP and their certification requirements, visit www.nabcep.org.

NABCEP Training Hours

NABCEP Continuing Education Units

Introduction to Photovoltaics *

14

14

Solar Site Assessments & PV System Design*

7

7

PV and the National Electric Code *

7

7

Advanced Photovoltaics *

21

21

 

 

 

Introduction to Solar Water Heating Systems (Bill Guiney)

14

14

Introduction to Solar Water Heating Systems (Bob Ramlow) 

14

14

Advanced Solar Water Heating (Bob Ramlow)

14

14

 

 

 

Creating a Successful Solar or Energy Conservation Business

 

6.5

Residential Energy Assessments

 

14

*Continuing Education Units for Kentucky Licensed Master Electricians and  Electrical Electricians may be available for the PV workshops. Check back to this website or call the Kentucky Solar Partnership for updated information about CEUs.

Prerequisites – Workshops that require prerequisites indicate which workshops in this Series satisfy the prerequisite. Comparable trainings or experiences may satisfy our prerequisite requirements, in place of the workshops in this Series.

 

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS

Bill Guiney      Bill is the Program Manager for Renewable Energy Solutions at Johnson Controls, Inc. His areas of responsibility have included both Photovoltaics and Solar Thermal technologies. He is currently developing the Solar Thermal Program for Hot Water and HVAC applications and integrating solar water heating in to the Johnson Controls Energy Solutions and Performance Contracting business.  Bill has 28-years of experience in the solar industry as a contractor, educator, distributor and manufacturer.  

Bill has provided Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency training programs and currently is an instructor for solar thermal energy systems at the North Carolina and Florida Solar Energy Centers. Bill is on the solar thermal technical committee of the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) and is chair of the NABCEP Solar Thermal Entry Level Certification Committee. Bill is Chair of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association’s solar hot water committee.

Christopher LaForge     Christopher LaForge is the CEO of Great Northern Solar and is a NABCEP certified photovoltaic installer. He has been an instructor with the Midwest Renewable Energy Institute since 1993 Teaching advanced Photovoltaic (PV) design and installation and is an ISPQ certified PV instructor. Christopher has been the primary curriculum developer for the MREI Photovoltaic courses since the Institutes inception. 

For over two decades Christopher has been deploying renewable energy systems for both the grid-intertie and off-grid markets. A strong advocate for clean energy production Christopher volunteers with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (as a board of directors member) and with the Northern Futures Foundation. Christopher has a Masters degree in Philosophy from the UW Madison and is an organic gardener.

Bob Ramlow       Bob is co-owner of Artha Sustainable Living Center LLC and a lead consultant for the state of Wisconsin’s’ Focus on Energy program. He is the author of Solar Water Heating, A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Water and Space Heating Systems, the first book of it’s kind written in over 25 years.  Bob is an ISPQ Independent Master Trainer in Solar Thermal and an NABCEP Certified Solar Thermal Installer. Bob has more than 30 years experience designing and installing solar systems and has been a driving force in the growth of solar thermal use in the mid-west. Bob not only consults and educates on renewable energy, he leads by example living in a home that is powered by the sun and built with sustainable materials.

John Robbins     John is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM)  and a Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP) and the solar proprietor of Robbins Alternate Energies since 1983. He provides energy consulting and custom home design services from his home office in Morningview, Kentucky. He is an instructor for the Great Oaks Institute adult-education program and has presented numerous workshops over the years on topics related to residential energy conservation and passive solar design. He has been the Residential Chair of the Association of Energy Engineers of Southwest Ohio since 2002 and has received numerous awards for his work with energy conservation and home design. His writings have been published in Home Power Magazine and The Kentucky Solar Energy Guide.