I'm going back to school!

[KarTek]

Well, my employment is questionable in the next couple months so I'm taking the opportunity to get some training and possibly head in a new direction from the last 15-20 years.

I've always been interested in solar/alternative energy so I've decided to take a prep class for the national exam to become NABCEP certified for PV installations.

Normally, this process would appear to take years but I'm trying to use a combination of training and experience to get me through in a short amount of time to take advantage of increased interest in solar energy. Anyone know anything about this certification or have any experience with installations?

Thanks!

[Hatterasguy]

That means its time for a Thirsty Thursday party!

[tonkovich]

toga?

(seriously, it seems like a good idea - the education, not the alcohol fueled hijinks.)

Originally Posted by tonkovich

(seriously, it seems like a good idea - the education, not the alcohol fueled hijinks.)

I think they are both a good idea.

[The Swede]

Not a bad idea to hit the books again in this job climate.

I'm going back in January for my master's.

Good luck to you and have fun!

[Stoney]

Originally Posted by KarTek

Well, my employment is questionable in the next couple months so I'm taking the opportunity to get some training and possibly head in a new direction from the last 15-20 years.

I've always been interested in solar/alternative energy so I've decided to take a prep class for the national exam to become NABCEP certified for PV installations.

Normally, this process would appear to take years but I'm trying to use a combination of training and experience to get me through in a short amount of time to take advantage of increased interest in solar energy. Anyone know anything about this certification or have any experience with installations?

Thanks!

I'm in the middle of building a new school in NYC that is "supposedly" the first Platnium level Green school in the Northeast and frankly NONE of the PV folks know a damn thing about installation guidelines under NEC!

First the specs have changed 3 times since the original US supplier moved all fab to China. Then the Chinese maker moved us to the end of the line (we were #2 with the US supplier) and then stopped supplying the panel in the size they contracted for, played games for better part of a year and now says we are back in production...WTF?

OK so now we have a battle between the maker's panel not fitting the support structure originally designed to fit the US product even though they "claim" it is the same item (it is not, it is wider, taller and thicker) and we have 100 or so panel units to be installed.

Add the fact that the Local 3 guys do not know the hardware or the transformers, etc...

The last meeting involved a near riot, the cops we almost called and now the Inspector general for the City is asking WTF!

Add the "smart control" system and guess what the deadline is now?

If you want to really get yourself a lifetime job learn Wastewater recycling...in Battery Park City ALL the residential buildings are required to have a Blackwater system that recycles everything and produces Grey water for non potable use and also supplies the water for all toilets in the building. The remainder can be used to water the Green Roofs (manditory) but may not be fed to Street level taps to prevent accidental consumption by dogs and the homeless. The Grey water system also feeds the sprinklers for the public parks (somehow the dogs and homeless are not gonna use the Public park water?) and drip irrigation for the roof deck planters. all grey water fittings are reversed so no potable water piping can be attached.

Problem is the school we are building DOES NOT HAVE the manditory Grey water recycling to the toilets since the City is not required to meet the Green code...??? It's a Platinum Green building that does not have to meet the LEED code???WTF??

The other area of expertese needed is folks that know the new Blue Skin/Air Block/Insulated Panel systems for Green cavity walls. Every architect that designs to LEED specs calls for them but NO ONE here really knows how to build and install them. The contractors call the Union hall and get Masons that can barely build a BBQ and I spend the better part of my day rejecting the CMU installed for basic flaws that will defeat the BlueSkin system. The AirBlock barrier is presently being reclassified as "possibly requiring PPE" so now we will have to supply HazMat suits and respirators to guys working OUTSIDE...can't wait for the first "civilian lawsuit" to be filed...

I have already bet a weeks pay we do not open on time...

[dannym]

Why does all that not supprise me?

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by KarTek

Well, my employment is questionable in the next couple months so I'm taking the opportunity to get some training and possibly head in a new direction from the last 15-20 years.

I've always been interested in solar/alternative energy so I've decided to take a prep class for the national exam to become NABCEP certified for PV installations.

Normally, this process would appear to take years but I'm trying to use a combination of training and experience to get me through in a short amount of time to take advantage of increased interest in solar energy. Anyone know anything about this certification or have any experience with installations?

Thanks!

No clue, Evan. But sounds like a good idea. Good luck!

[mgburg]

Hey! There may be an Assistant Rowing Crew position at Clemson opening up...either that, or a newly-formed Rowing Crew Cheerleading Squad (all male) that could be formed if you choose to head in that direction!!! (See newly posted post on Clemson and a possible change of Mascot, posted this morning!!!

[Mistress]

good luck.

[KarTek]

Well, I had the first class last night. About 11 in there, mostly general contractors and curious citizens...

Really easy course material - basic electricity and electronics. I should be able to ace this!

[pj67coll]

I'd be interested to follow your progress. I'm involved in new school construction in our district. Our last school was the first, or one of the first "Leed certified Green" schools in Phoenix. It was a nightmare from start to finish. In my opinion no way are the savings ever going to justify the massivly increased costs of the project. So much so that our maintenance department and the architects are trying to get the powers that be do dump the idea for the next one. So far no luck.

Anyway. The truly incredible thing is that there was no provision for solar power any where in the design phase of the project - in Arizona - can you believe it! According to the architects and engineers the technology is so costly it's just not able to compete with coal!

Frankly I'm having a hard time believing that. Anyway, they finally decided to re-design the school to incorporate solar panels after the fact and the new one is supposed to have them designed in from the beginning, though to be honest if the numbers dont add up I just don't see how we can do so in the current economic climate.

- Peter.

[Stoney]

I did a number of promotional films for Phelps Dodge Copper back in the 80's and in Phoenix we did a film about the Solar Hot Water Heating systems available thru Sears stores. It seemed a smart idea considering the cost of electricity (even back then) to heat and maintain 50 gals of hot water. One guy was using his system to provide hot water for bath, clothes washing and also to heat his Jacuzzi water.

We were at MIT Lincoln Labs covering Photovoltaics and even then they were skeptical about using them for any serious direct supply of the grid, their idea was recharging conventional batteries (lead acid) or Gel Cells (Lithium was not even an antidepressant back then, just a word used on StarTrek).

Anyway I just got my LEED cert for running this Platinum level Green building job. sure looks nice on the wall, but really the Green is mostly in design of insulation, building control systems, recycling of materials and wastewater treatment and reuse.

[pj67coll]

Originally Posted by Stoney

One guy was using his system to provide hot water for bath, clothes washing and also to heat his Jacuzzi water.

There are quite a few systems with pipes on the roof that heat water here in Phoenix. Does work well.

We were at MIT Lincoln Labs covering Photovoltaics and even then they were skeptical about using them for any serious direct supply of the grid,

I'm sorry. That may have been the case back then. But I have a hard time believing that technology hasn't progressed sufficiently since then to allow a house roof covered in solar panels to generate a significant amount of power. Wether or not it's fed back to the grid or simply used to power the AC unit. I'd really like to see a proper test of a home AC system running off of solar power.

- Peter.

[okyoureabeast]

I head back to school this Saturday!

Let's throw a thirsty Thursday party! Beer's on Clk Man!