Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Renewable Energy Workshop Series at Appalachian Begins in May

The Western North Carolina Renewable Energy Initiative (WNCREI) at Appalachian State University will present a series of workshops addressing hydro-electric, solar and biodiesel energy in May and June.

Workshops will be held in Katherine Harper Hall on campus unless otherwise noted. Katherine Harper Hall is located in the front portion of Kerr Scott Hall on Rivers Street in Boone.

Detailed information, directions to the workshop locations and online registration are available at www.wind.appstate.edu/workshops/workshops.php. For additional info, call the Office of Conferences and Institutes at Appalachian at 828-262-2933 or Brent Summerville at 828-262-7333.

Workshop sponsors are the Department of Technology and the Energy Center at Appalachian and the State Energy Office in Raleigh.

Topic: Residential Micro-Hydro Systems

Dates: Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27

Cost: $150 for nonstudents/$75 for students

Description: Don Harris of Harris Hydro and members of the WNCREI staff will lead a workshop on residential micro-hydro systems on Saturday and Sunday, May 26 and 27. Harris has developed residential hydro systems since 1981. The Harris system is an efficient, durable-battery charging pelton turbine and one of the most popular micro-turbines in the United States. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s leading experts.

Topic: Solar Water Heating Design and Construction

Dates: Saturday, June 2

Cost: $75 for nonstudents/$40 for students

Description: Domestic solar water heating design and construction will be the focus of a one-day workshop on Saturday, June 2. Fred Steward, who has more than 25 years of experience designing, building and maintaining solar thermal systems in North Carolina, will lead the workshop. Participants will learn how to save money by providing most of their hot water needs with free energy from the sun. The workshop will cover aspects of the design and installation of solar hot water systems including site assessment; system sizing; design issues such as collector location, orientation and tilt and storage tank volume; servicing tips and tricks; code compliance; and incentives and economics. Stewart is the service manager for Solar Consultants in Carrboro, where he installs solar and radiant heating systems in new construction and existing buildings. He also services all makes of solar, electric, instantaneous (tankless) water heaters and radiant systems.

Topic: Community-Scale Biodiesel Production

Dates: Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23

Cost: $100 (no student discount)

Description: Sustainable community-scale biodiesel production is the focus of a workshop on Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23. The workshop will include fieldwork at Appalachian’s Biodiesel and Education Research Lab. State and national experts in the field of biodiesel production will lead the workshop focusing on sustainable community-scale biodiesel production with classroom and hands-on components. For more information about Appalachian’s biodiesel research facility, click to biodiesel.appstate.edu/.