We will cover the basics
of all types of solar energy and how to design and implement solar
electric, solar hot water and passive solar. We will get our hands
dirty installing several small fully functioning solar electric
systems. Come have some fun, get educated and learn how to plug into
the sun!
These workshops are FREE,
however to participate you must register on-site at the Workshop
Check-In
recycling and repurposing
Hold a festival that
showcases the power and possibilities of solar energy.
community outreach to
inspire the conservation of Earth’s limited resources, to promote
renewable energy, and to support the creation of sustainable
communities.
And the entire weekend
festival, including the ultra-professional sound and lights on our
main stage, runs on renewable energy: primarily solar with a bit of
wind in the mix. We pioneered this concept: inviting a few thousand
people to a festival on a farm in Vermont to show that SOLAR WORKS.
with a wide variety of
food, craft, renewable energy and sustainable living vendors
The fair will focus on
sustainable living and renewable energy, and will feature music, food
vendors, a farmers market, many fun activities for children, with
more than 100 workshops, demonstrations and speakers. Among them:
Other topics to be covered
include nuclear energy, global warming, organic farming, and the
basics of wind power.
As the implications of
climate change become more apparent, people are asking what they can
do about it, right now, hands on. The fair offers workshops and
demonstrations of solar power, water wheels, ethanol production, clay
bake ovens, the construction of “green” homes and much much more.
How Solar Power Works
As the name implies, solar
electric — or photovoltaic (PV) — systems convert sunlight energy
to electricity. This transformation occurs in solar modules,
typically referred to as panels. Each module consists of numerous
solar cells, which are usually made of silicon. They produce
electricity when incoming solar radiation knocks electrons from the
silicon atoms out of their orbits around their nuclei. These
electrons flow to the surface of the cell where they are drawn off by
tiny silver contacts.
In solar electric systems,
numerous modules are wired together in series to provide the
electricity for our homes. These modules are usually attached to an
aluminum rack, which can be mounted onto your roof or a foundation
set in the ground next to your house. The modules and the rack system
constitute a solar array.
The electricity produced
by a solar array is direct current (DC) electricity. A device known
as an inverter converts the DC electricity into alternating current
(AC) electricity, the type of power used in U.S. households. The
inverter feeds electricity into the breaker box or main panel, where
it is distributed throughout a home.
On or Off the Grid?
There are three types of
solar electric systems. Here are pros and cons of each.
Grid-Connected Systems.
The most common PV system is known as a grid-connected (or
utility-tied) system. In these systems, the utility grid becomes a
means of “storing” your excess electricity and acts as a backup,
supplying electricity any time your demand exceeds the output of your
system.
Here’s how it works:
Your solar system provides electricity to your home anytime the sun
is shining. If the system produces more electricity than you’re
using, the surplus flows onto the utility lines that supply your
home. When you need electricity, but aren’t producing any (at
night, for example) you can draw from the grid. The utility meter on
your home keeps track of any electricity you feed back onto the grid,
as well as what you use. How exactly this is calculated depends on
net metering regulations where you live (see Resources at the end of
this article). These vary by state, but currently all states have
some form of net metering except for Alabama, Mississippi, South
Dakota and Tennessee.
Theoretically, it’s
possible to produce enough electricity that you get a credit from
your utility company instead of a bill. More often, homeowners choose
to install a smaller, less expensive solar array that only meets a
portion of their electricity needs, and then buy the rest of their
electricity from the utility. This is one reason it can be much
cheaper to buy a grid-connected system: You don’t have to buy a
system large enough to produce the maximum amount of electricity you
need. Instead, you can choose how much of your power you want to
generate.
The downside of grid-tied
systems is that when the grid goes down, your system shuts off. So,
if a utility line goes down during an ice storm, your solar electric
system shuts down, too. Even if the sun is shining, the system won’t
operate. This is a built-in safety precaution that prevents your
system from back-feeding electricity onto a dead grid, which could be
dangerous to line workers or anyone who comes into contact with a
downed electrical line.
Off-Grid Systems. These
are self-contained energy systems powered by the sun that operate
independent of the electrical grid. These systems must be equipped
with a large battery bank to store the electricity needed to power
your home at night or during long cloudy periods. Most people use a
gasoline or diesel generator — or even a wind power system — for
backup power, should the batteries run low. An off-grid system gives
you the opportunity to experience true energy independence — you
are completely responsible for producing your own power. Plus, you’ll
never see another electric bill!
Although this is the most
expensive type of solar electric system, off-grid systems often are
the single most economical way to get electricity in remote
locations. If your home is a mile away from an electric line, you
could pay from $10,000 to as much as $50,000 for the utility company
to install electric poles and run an electric line to your residence.
(The cost of line extension varies greatly depending on how rough the
terrain is.) Bear in mind that the cost of line extension doesn’t
buy you a single kilowatt-hour of electricity — it only gives you
the privilege of buying electricity from the utility company. In
contrast, an off-grid system for an energy-efficient home could be
installed for $20,000 to $50,000 — and that supplies a lifetime of
low-cost electricity.
Grid-Connected With
Backup. This is a third option that can make sense if you want
reliability during a power outage but don’t care about being fully
off the grid. The idea is to purchase only a small battery bank so
that during a grid outage you can continue to operate your most
critical electric devices — such as your refrigerator and heater
fan — while line workers repair the damage. During such times,
these systems automatically switch to battery operation. You could
also choose to purchase a generator rather than a battery bank. These
types of systems can make sense if you experience frequent power
outages or want to be prepared for an emergency, but they require
more maintenance and are more expensive than grid-connected systems.
Options for Mounting Solar
Arrays
In cities and suburbs,
most solar modules are mounted on roofs, high above trees and
neighbors’ homes and away from vandals, thieves and curious
children. In rural areas, solar electric systems are often mounted on
rooftops of homes or outbuildings, or on racks secured to the ground.
A ground-mounted system is one option to consider if your rooftop is
shaded or otherwise not well-positioned for solar panels. Racks may
also be mounted on poles to raise them higher off the ground.
For optimum performance,
solar arrays should be mounted so that air can circulate over and
under them, which naturally cools them. The cooler the array, the
more electricity it produces. Roof-mounted arrays may be mounted
parallel to the roof line but raised up 6 inches to provide air
circulation, or they may be mounted on racks, which allow better air
circulation to cool the array.
Arrays mounted on racks
may also be adjustable, designed so the operator can manually change
the tilt angle of the array several times throughout the year to
accommodate the change in the sun’s angle, which improves a PV
system’s output. Pole-mounted arrays may also be installed with
automatic trackers — devices that follow the sun from sunrise to
sunset every day of the year. If a system is installed in an open
field with full access to sunlight throughout the year, automatic
tracking can boost the output of a PV system by about 20 percent.
This is typically found in commercial installations, and less often
in residential systems.
Most solar arrays are
“fixed,” or non-adjustable, and these arrays should be oriented
as close as possible to true south to ensure the greatest annual
production. They should also be mounted at an angle that corresponds
with the latitude of your site. If you live at 40 degrees north
latitude, for instance, the tilt angle for your array should be about
40 degrees. A solar installer can help you determine the correct
angle.
What it all adds up to is
that solar is more affordable than it’s ever been. When you choose
to install solar power, you’re not only making a good choice for
the environment — in many situations, you’re also going to save
money on your electric bill.
Music
Food vendors will offer
true organic selections, everything from hamburgers to veggie wraps
to smoked salmon and jambalaya.
Sponsor Levels created
for every organization:
Visionary –
$10,000
Green – $6,000
Organic – $3,000
Future Generations
– $1,500
Renewable – $800
Learn how to use backyard
gardens more productively.
Intro to Off Grid Systems
Small
Wind Power
Off
Grid Systems
Exhibitors –
sustainable living and clean energy products
Workshops –
beginner to advanced hands-on education
Clean Transportation Show
– featuring exhibitors, vehicles and demos
Green Buildings–
sustainable building techniques
Inspirational keynotes,
Lively entertainment, great food, and local beer
Renewable energy, energy
efficiency, and sustainable living education.
Learn clean energy and sustainability,
Connect with others, and
take action towards a more sustainable future.
Alternative and fuel
efficient vehicles
DIY electric bikes, to the latest offerings from
Tesla Motors,
We provide four
solar-powered Golf Carts on the grounds.
