SOLAR SCHOOL
You don't have to go to school to learn the basics of a solar power system. Read about solar pv and solar hot water systems. Thanks to our friends at the Sierra Club in San Antonio, we have a list of important facts about solar energy and its feasibility.
Higher Education Courses, Degrees, Professional Certifications and Workshops
2/1/10 Just published! The Texas Green Jobs Guidebook looks at training and placement for more than 200 types of jobs in the fields of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The information provided is from a number of sources and is reliable but not guaranteed. We encourage you to research any educational opportunity in the renewable energy field. Requirements for certifications, degrees, local state and federal laws and utility specifications change and it's not always possible to post them on this website. Please check out the TXSES Calendar for upcoming classes, workshops and events.
Austin Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science Renewable Energy Specialization in Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Power, as well as individual courses in solar energy. In addition to providing hands-on experience, ACC’s courses prepare students for taking the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Photovoltaic Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge or Photovoltaic System Installer Exam.
www.nabcep.org Capital Idea is an organization that provides scholarships to students in the ACC program. Read an Austin Business Journal article
here and learn what makes this program so special.
Texas Renewable Energy Education Consortium It is the mission of TREEC, a group of Texas colleges, to investigate, develop, and teach curricula dedicated to post-secondary education in emerging energy technologies to meet the demand of the Texas Workforce. TREEC intends to create seamless pathways for education from secondary to post-secondary and university education. Through education, Texas will be a leader in the renewable and sustainable energy field. Schools in this association are Texas State Technical College Waco, Lamar Institute of Technology (Beaumont), Austin Community College, Houston Community Colege Northeast, St. Phillips College (San Antonio), and Texas State Technical College West Texas (Abilene, Sweetwater, Breckenridge and Brownwood).
Alternative Energy Institute Located in in Canyon, TX , AEI was formed in 1977 at WTAMU, as an outgrowth of wind energy research begun in 1970. Our primary emphasis is wind energy, though certain research and education are also on solar energy. Recognized nationally and internationally, they are proud to be the major information resource of wind energy for the State of Texas.
Solar Energy and Biofuels Lab- University of Texas, Austin Research integrates thermal-fluid sciences with bio- and nano-technology, focusing on exploiting a wide range of renewable energy sources. In particular our group is interested in using solar energy to produce transportation fuels, electricity and sequester CO2. Check out Dr. Mack Grady's website for calculating kWH from solar panels for any tilt and azimuth angle.
This is cool!
ImagineSolar ImagineSolar offers workshops and training in solar PV installation and design. Their 40-hr workshop prepares students to take the NABCEP Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge Exam and ImagineSolar is approved to proctor that exam. A member of TXSES, Imagine Solar also provides informational seminars the first Saturday of the month at
Habitat Suites in Austin.
Ontility Offers numberous training opportunities in the renewable energy field. In partnership with
Texas Renewable Energy Education Consortium (five two-year colleges in the state) they lead one week Solar PV Installation and Design training courses that prepare students to take the Entry Level NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge Exam. This course is offered in major cities in Texas and Louisiana. Ontility also offers courses in Solar Fundamentals and Solar Thermal.
Solar Energy International Solar Energy International (SEI) is a USA non-profit organization whose mission is to help others use renewable energy and environmental building technologies through education. SEI teaches individuals from all walks of life how to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems, and how to design and build efficient, sustainable homes. SEI offers trainings online and in 22 locations around the world.
Boots on the Roof provides Wind and Solar Energy training the United States, with the mission of training the next wave of Renewable Energy Contractors, Engineers, Architects, Sales Professionals and Business Entrepreneurs. Our courses are ideal for: Licensed Contractors (Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Roofing, and General Contractors) who wish to reposition their businesses to bring Wind and Solar Power to their communities.
Fast growing companies looking to quickly train newly hired staff: sales professionals, project managers, engineers and designers .
Hubbert's Peak in Austin provides hands-on experience for students interested in training or re-training for a career in the emerging “green collar” industry. Hubbert's Peak is Austin's premiere hands-on solar school. We offer courses covering a variety of clean and sustainable technologies. Our bi-weekly photovoltaic(PV) workshops give students a comprehensive look at the applications for and installation of solar technology .
Hubbert's Peak Newsletter
K-12 Solar Education and Teacher Guides
Texas Solar For Schools Since 2001, Texas State Energy Conservation Office's Texas Solar for Schools Program has supplied many small-scale solar energy systems and commentary educational tools to school districts across the state. The schools save energy while saving money on their electric bills, and the students learn first hand about renewable energy and energy conservation.
The Infinite Power of Texas Created specifically for Texas schools and incorporating TEKS requirements, these K-12 lesson plans were commissioned by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) www.infinitepower.org/lessonplans.htm
The Dell-Winston School Solar Car Challenge was established ten years ago to help motivate students in science and engineering. The Challenge, a part of The Winston School in Dallas, teaches high school students around the world how to build roadworthy solar cars.
Students at
The Betsy Ross School in Houston, learned about the power of wind and solar through the energy station they built in 2008. This project was made possible by grants from the
BP’s A Plus for Energy grant program written and won by teacher Bethel C. Nwachukwu. BP has announced the launch of the 2009 A+ for Energy Program!
