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Austin Community College (ACC) Solar Energy Installer Training
The State Energy Conservation Office ( SECO) and Austin Community College (ACC) Workforce Development Center offers the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Entry Level Certificate Program for one year. The course began in the spring of 2006. ACC has elected to designate Renewable Energy as a new course schedule selection. For additional information, see the ACC Course Schedule and these videos of students working on PV panel installations, and the 2008 Syllabus for Solar Electric Systems, Entry-Level.

Austin Community College (ACC) Advanced Solar Photovoltaic Installer
SECO and the Texas Workforce Commission have contributed grants of more than $370,000 to develop ACC's program. An advanced course in the proper design and installation of NEC code-compliant solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for use on residential and commercial buildings. Course includes: sizing of solar electric systems; specification of system components; and sizing of DC/AC wiring. Prepares students for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System Installer certification exam after meeting all of the experience requirements. This course is designed for those involved in the solar industry or a related field and is intended for licensed electricians, contractors, or those with a strong understanding of solar electric systems and electrical principles. See the Course Syllabus, videos of ACC students working on PV panel installations, and an Austin American Statesman article.

Renewable Energy at Work - Pflugerville
This Renewable Energy at Work project includes a demonstration of renewable energy for a City of Pflugerville's Park and Recreation setting. The installation provides electricity to a new barn and light one half mile of hike and bike trail. The trail has a solar/wind system located on a picnic shelter sub-station. The barn employs a PV system and wind generation. The City of Pflugerville is providing active and static renewable energy educational programs to the general public through the Pflugerville school district.

Nolan Creek Hike & Bike Trail Solar Power Demonstration, Belton
This Renewable Energy at Work project provides for the design and installation of solar lighting technology at the Nolan Creek Hike and Bike trails parking area. The installation provides solar lighting for the parking areas in and around the hike and bike trail, and the installation process was documented as a learning tool for the community outreach and educational component.

Renewable Energy Technologies Demonstration - Sheldon Lake Environmental Center
West Texas A & M University's Alternative Energy Institute designed, installed, and is capturing production data on solar PV energy systems, a solar hot water system, a wind energy system and a geothermal energy system. This demonstration is at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's (TPWD) Sheldon Lake Environmental Center in Houston. The site is open to the public and provides evironmental education to Houston area 5th graders. TPWD continues work with SECO to intergrate the existing renewable energy educational materials and develop supplements that enhance the students' ability to us the energy production data. Enlink Geoenergy Services and Green Mountain Energy contributed financially or with in-kind services to augment the project. The site is designated as a renewable energy technologies demonstration and educational site. For detailed information, see this Sheldon Lake State Park web site.

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy System - Hensley Field, Dallas
This project provides for the design and installation of a solar photovoltaic (PV) energy system at the Hensley Field Operation Center. The project includes a final report summarizing project costs, energy savings, emission reductions, LEED certifications, and on- and off-site educational components and provides a visitor's survey to evaluate responses on the use of alternative energy. The site continues to provide community outreach.

Installation of Solar Domestic Hot Water Systems - Dallas
Three City of Dallas buildings now include solar domestic hot water systems that are in parallel with the existing gas or steam fired system. When the solar collection water temperature is greater than the domestic hot water recirculating temperature, the solar system through a heat exchanger, provides the heating required for the water to maintain temperature. The City of Dallas works to integrate new technology into existing infrastructure that uses natural resources efficiently. The City has adopted the 2000 International Energy Code with the 2001 supplement. This project was included as a component of the City's Energy Saving Performance Contract.

Installation of Solar Hot Water - Frisco
The scope of this project is to procure, install, operate, and maintain solar hot water for the City of Frisco's Public Works Facility Administration and Fleet Maintenance Buildings. The project calls for the City of Frisco to provide a detailed analysis of the technology and to introduce and educate the citizens of the city on the economic and environmental benefits of using renewable energy technologies to capture Texas' vast natural resources.

Installation of Solar Hot Water - Lakeway
The City of Lakeway installed a solar heating system to provide hot water for the shower towers at the Lakeway Swim Center. Placards are on the shower towers stating that the water is heated with solar energy. To continue educational outreach, the facility is available for educational tours for schools, civic groups and individual homeowners when studying or considering renewable energy projects. The City publishes program guides that publicize this use of solar energy.

Texas Solar for Schools Program: Sun Power Lighting Schools, Teaching Students
SECO has funded 31 small-scale solar energy systems to school districts across the state. Each school receives a nominal 1 kW system, a web-based monitoring system, and several additional hands-on learning tools to enhance the educational component of the project as well as student and staff training. During the installation, students are encouraged to participate as they are introduced to educational materials developed as part of te statewide campaign to educate Texans about renewable energy resources. SECO assists teachers by providing lesson plans that correspond to the renewable energy fact sheets. The lesson plans provide additional ideas for hands-on projects that use readily available materials and cover several areas of study. This project continues to grow. Austin Energy will install ten 3 kW systems and SECO and the Lower Colorado River Authority are planning Phase V of this program for fiscal year 2007. Another cost share contributor is Green Mountain Energy. Fifty-one systems will be installed by the end of 2007.

For additional information see Texas Solar for Schools.

Effects of Renewable Energy Systems on Air Quality
Through a partnership with Conservation Services Group (CSG), this project will implement a web-based monitoring system to track the performance of renewable energy projects installed in the US/Mexico border region. To better quantify the affects of renewable energy systems, the monitoring will include documentation and quantification of kilowatt hours (kWh) produced and the estimated air emissions reduced by each project. The energy and emissions data collected will be made available to the public through a new web site that fosters widespread public education and enables interactive graphing of the performance data collected.

Brenham Middle School Goes Solar: Sun Provides Power, Lesson for Students
This project is funded through a grant from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and the U.S. Department of Energy. LCRA and the city of Brenham provided additional funds and assistance. See Brenham Banner-Press news report.

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