Clean Energy Training Program
Short Courses and Workshops
Each year the CETP offers two solar photovoltaic short courses and workshops, one solar thermal short course and workshop, and one energy efficiency short course and workshop for qualifying participants. They are held at different times each year according to the availability of instructors and training location. Scheduled courses are below. All courses/workshops are free of charge.
Note: Companion workshops that take place after each short course require participants to have completed all six classes of the previous short course. Therefore, workshops are not publicly announced as enrollment is predetermined by individuals who enroll in and fully complete the short course. Also, curriculum, instructors, frequency and duration of classes, and locations of classes/workshops may be subject to change based on the needs of the training program.
Short Courses
- Solar Photovoltaic
- Solar Thermal
- Energy Efficiency
Duration:
2.5 hours one evening per week for six weeks
Location:
Mid-Cape Home Centers, Complete Home Concepts, Hyannis, MA
Course description: Focusing on residential scale systems the course covers resource and site assessment; system sizing and specification; system choices; economics; and contract details and legal requirements. Learning objectives include some or all of the following: techniques that can be used to pre-screen potential PV system customers; conducting a solar energy site assessment; proper use of a Solar Pathfinder; estimating system performance; federal and state financial incentives; economic analysis using cash flow, simple payback, and return on investment methods; net metering; renewable energy certificates; rooftop mounting options; function of major system components; obtaining interconnection approval from NSTAR; creating a customer proposal for a PV system; creating a contract for installing a PV system.
Duration:
2.5 hours one evening per week for six weeks
Location:
Mid-Cape Home Centers,Complete Home Concepts, Hyannis, MA
Course Description: Focusing on residential scale systems the course covers solar thermal applications, resource and site assessment, primary components, system choices and integration, economics and permitting, operations and maintenance, contract details and real systems. (Credit for course description: Herb Rice and Todd Druskat)
Duration:
2.5 hours one evening per week for six weeks plus one all day on-site learning experience.
Location:
Mid-Cape Home Centers,Complete Home Concepts, Hyannis, MA
Course Description: The course covers a combination of : (i) teacher presentation of science-based and in-practice information to be learned by the students, and (ii) student-centered learning through practical implementation of the course materials. Demonstrations by the teacher, outside experts and hands-on experience by the students will reinforce the lecture materials. Discussion of relevant topics in the field are encouraged at the start of each class to allow increased confidence with the course materials and to build interpersonal and presentation skills. Students who complete the course should be able to calculate the energy savings and environmental impacts for most energy efficiency methods in order to identify and assess energy conservation opportunities. In addition, the student shall demonstrate the appropriate usage of energy monitoring and measuring equipment commonly used by energy specialists and energy auditors. (Credit for course description: Kevin Galligan)
Workshops
- Thermal
- Solar Photovoltaic Installation
- Energy Efficiency
Duration:
three 8 hour days on-site
Location:
on-site at a residence in the Town of Barnstable
Workshop Description: As of August 2009, one solar thermal installation workshop has taken place. Over the course of three days participants installed—from “scratch” to finish—a 1200 gallon residential solar how water and integrated radiant heating system powered by eight roof-mounted solar thermal panels. The project was a true on-the-job training experience led by Conrad Geyser of Cotuit Solar. Conrad instructed participants in all tasks related to the installation and enlisted their help to install the system.
Duration:
three 8 hour days (usually Friday – Sunday)
Location:
Shepley Wood Products, Hyannis, MA
Workshop Description: Covered topics include tools of the trade, string sizing, mounting procedures and best practices, materials handling, national electric code, siting, system design and layout, using the solar pathfinder, safety/OSHA, installation methods.(Credit for course description: Richard Lawrence, Megan Amsler and Jason Stoots)
Duration:
two 8 hour days
Location:
on-site at a residence located in the Town of Barnstable
Course Description: