BRADFORD – Conservation Consultants and the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford are hosting a workshop next month to teach contractors, entrepreneurs and career changing professionals solar energy economics and installation. Recent developments in local energy markets, landmark state energy legislation and a more favorable national climate toward green business and job growth finds western Pennsylvania poised to undergo a tremendous growth spurt in the clean energy and conservation sectors in general and an emerging solar energy market in particular. In light of this movement Conservation Consultants has decided to host Solar-PV training workshops made possible by a grant from the Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies and the Pennsylvania Green Business Initiative of the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.
The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 5-9 at Saint Bernard Parish Center in Bradford. Representatives from Solar Energy International of Colorado will teach the course.
The training course is designed for contractors, electricians, sales reps, entrepreneurs and career-changing professionals new to solar business. The course teaches the NABCEP Photovoltaic Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge, enabling students to qualify to take the NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge test. The courses’ training will include a combination of topics including: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. Participants will learn the fundamentals of sizing a residential battery less grid-tied system, wire sizing, overcurrent protection, and grounding.
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) approved the Solar-PV installer training course, which includes 30+ hours of professional training presented in five days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with one hour lunch) each day. Space is limited so act fast!
To find out more, contact Mike Hackett of University of Pittsburgh at Bradford at (814) 362-0254 or Ann Gerace of Conservation Consultants, Inc. at 412-431-4449 ext 200. Or, visit here for online registration. Tuition is $1,000. Those who choose to pay in full will receive a 10 percent discount, interest free loan plans are also available as well as a 15 percent discount for companies who register 5 or more.
