Solar Power Ubiquity Through Training and Installing: GRID Alternatives GRID Alternatives is a national 501(c)(3) certified non-profit organization that facilitates solar power implementation and energy efficiency projects between community partners, volunteers and job trainees. Since it’s beginning in 2001, GRID Alternatives has installed over 24 megawatts of clean power, provided almost $200… Continue reading “Solar Power Ubiquity Through Training and Installing: GRID Alternatives”
Volta: A Start-Up Company Powering West Africa As the solar and clean energy industry grows, it’s no surprise that the target market for renewable energy technologies is now expanding to include developing communities and countries. In fact, a host of new start-ups and innovative business models are… Continue reading “Volta: A Start-Up Company Powering West Africa”
NABCEP Entry Level Program Becomes Associate Program in August The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) recently notified training providers that its Entry Level Program will be undergoing some changes next month. The program will now be called the Associate Program, and continuing education will be required… Continue reading “NABCEP Entry Level Program Becomes Associate Program in August”
Microgrids: Creation, Implementation and Finance/Policy Concerns HeatSpring is proud to announce our newest microgrid course: Microgrid Design & Implementation Microgrids are the future of energy production and distribution, but very few people understand how to create a successful microgrid. In this course, microgrid expert Dr. Andrew Skumanich… Continue reading “Microgrids: Creation, Implementation and Finance/Policy Concerns”
What’s Going On With Global Renewable Energy Investment? From a macro perspective, renewable energy technologies seem to be a relatively safe bet for investors… 2015 hit a world record for global renewables investment despite challenging conditions, solar and wind have been deemed “unstoppable,”1 jobs in this sector seem… Continue reading “What’s Going On With Global Renewable Energy Investment?”
Eradicating Energy Poverty: 80 Microgrids by 2020 The EarthSpark team spent 5 years developing their first microgrid in Haiti. Inaugurated in June 2015, it is currently serving 449 homes and businesses with affordable, reliable electricity 24/7. The grid contains 93 kW of PV panels, a 30 kVa… Continue reading “Eradicating Energy Poverty: 80 Microgrids by 2020”
How to Build a 75% Net Zero Community What does it take to build a 75% net zero community and the “largest Emerald-rated community” in the world? Tabitha Crawford explains how her team combined solar, HVAC, and sustainable building practices to build 250 net zero homes while keeping construction… Continue reading “How to Build a 75% Net Zero Community”
Explaining the Value of Solar to Customers With such a long list of benefits, you’d think solar panels would sell themselves. But many potential customers still need convincing before they can make the jump to green living. As beneficial as solar panels are for reducing a household’s… Continue reading “Explaining the Value of Solar to Customers”
When Cities Go Solar: 5 Ways to Make the Case Getting Your City’s Buy-In on Solar After years of dancing around the idea of sustainability, some select cities have begun to make it a reality with ground-breaking solar industry partnerships. Jackie Biskupski, mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, recently announced… Continue reading “When Cities Go Solar: 5 Ways to Make the Case”
Solar Partnership Flip: Alive and Well in 2016 Chris Lord discusses partnership flips under the IRC As Mark Twain once said, “News of the recent death of the partnership flip for solar transactions is greatly exaggerated.” Okay, he didn’t exactly refer to partnership flips; he was talking about… Continue reading “Solar Partnership Flip: Alive and Well in 2016”
Megawatt Design: 3 Obstacles You Might Face (…and 3 Solutions!) Megawatt Design expert Ryan Mayfield addresses 3 obstacles that professionals in the field might experience. STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS Student 1: The most common obstacle we run in to is the structural requirement during the initial budgeting phase. Typically the potential customer does… Continue reading “Megawatt Design: 3 Obstacles You Might Face (…and 3 Solutions!)”
Are you ready to teach with HeatSpring? Are you a renewables or sustainability expert? Want to grow your network, make money and share your expertise? Teach with HeatSpring today! Who are we? HeatSpring is an online training company offering free and paid courses in residential and commercial… Continue reading “Are you ready to teach with HeatSpring?”
Introduction to Solar PV Markets + The 2016 Solar Startup Guide Want to learn more about PV markets and the business of solar? Enroll in Introduction to Solar PV Markets + The 2016 Solar Startup Guide! You’ll receive the 2016 Solar Startup Guide and expert instruction from Dr. Sean White on the features,… Continue reading “Introduction to Solar PV Markets + The 2016 Solar Startup Guide”
Talking Energy Policy with Industry Leaders Join GRID Alternatives for the Women in Energy Policy webcast Leading women in the field of clean energy policy will discuss their career paths, projects they’re currently working on and the growing role of women in traditionally male-dominated fields. This lecture… Continue reading “Talking Energy Policy with Industry Leaders”
Tour Solar Technologies Without Leaving Your Home We’ll tour solar technologies used in both commercial and residential applications across North America in this free, 42-minute lecture. Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the visual appearance of specific solar technologies 2. Differentiate between solar technologies 3. Identify specific applications for solar… Continue reading “Tour Solar Technologies Without Leaving Your Home”
Site Assessment for Solar Hot Water Heating Systems Without a proper site assessment, you may be putting your solar thermal system at risk for poor performance… This piece originally appeared in Home Power Magazine | Vaughan Woodruff, 2/2014 It is a fairly common occurrence for a solar professional to hear… Continue reading “Site Assessment for Solar Hot Water Heating Systems”
Monetizing the Federal ITC For Your Business If you are taking your business solar, it’s important to understand the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Wunder Capital has designed this guide to help answer your questions about the Federal ITC and walk you through the process of how… Continue reading “Monetizing the Federal ITC For Your Business”
Solar MBA: Contract Financing Language, Site/Land Leases and MOU’s Chris Lord and Keith Cronin tackle student questions on the Solar Executive MBA Discussion board… Power Purchase Agreement Financing Language Student 1: I have a follow up question about Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) financing. You indicated agreements with penalties for failure… Continue reading “Solar MBA: Contract Financing Language, Site/Land Leases and MOU’s”
3 Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) System Design Questions Expert Instructor Ryan Carda discusses vertical boring systems, horizontal ground loops and Energy Recovery Ventilator ducting on the IGSHPA Certified GeoExchange Designer (CGD Plus) Training discussion board… Student 1: Would you say that the addition costs associated with vertical boring are greater than the cost… Continue reading “3 Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) System Design Questions”
#NationWISE 2016 Takeaways: Mentors, Allies & Revolutions in Solar #NationWise 2016 may be behind us, but there’s still plenty to learn about the burgeoning solar industry and opportunities for women within it. After an absolutely fantastic night at Greentown Labs with our esteemed panelists, guests and fellow women-in-solar supporters,… Continue reading “#NationWISE 2016 Takeaways: Mentors, Allies & Revolutions in Solar”