Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Majoring in Renewable Energy

As I stated in this post, I really wish one of Denver's colleges would create a renewable energy program for students. I think that if Colorado wants to be a renewable energy powerhouse then there needs to be accredited programs that people can study. In my opinion, the local workforce needs to be educated and retrained in the ways of renewable energy via local colleges if we want to be able to provide the thought leadership on renewables.

Just a short while ago I took Ken Thames' Intro to PV class and then the hands-on class where we physically installed PV panels on a roof, wired them up and then ran a small workshop appliance. It was educational and it was really cool to see my hard work produce electricity right before my eyes.

So, as you can tell, I really am interested in furthering my knowledge of renewable energies via a classroom setting and this article in The New York Times only whets my appetite more. Anybody have any ideas how we can get local Colorado schools to create a renewable energy program? Leave 'em in the comments section.

No comments:

Wishful Thinking

*Before adding PV, wind, or solar thermal to your residential or commercial structure, the first step is to analyze this structure's energy consumption through a professional energy audit. I'd like to see some public education on the importance of an energy audit for any structure. Remember Smokey the Bear's forest fire shtick drilled into our heads over the last few decades? How about something like, "Henry the House" desperately wanting to know how much energy he consumes and wastes throughout the day?

*With over 300 sunny days a year on the Front Range is it too much to ask for solar PV and thermal modules on every residential and commercial unit (after an energy audit of course)?


*How about affordable plug-in electric cars that go more than 100 miles on a charge with PV and wind powered recharging stations?

*Dreaming of companies large and small adopting business sustainability practices to maximize profits, reduce their carbon footprint, and enhance the lives of their employees and the communities that surround them.

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