NABCEP PV Associate credential success!!

Hey all! I just wanted to thank all of the supporters and well wishes that have stemmed from the beginning of my solar PV journey! I know its not a huge accomplishment, but it certainly is very significant,  and means very much to me. For all who are wondering, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, or NABCEP for short, is the No. 1 quality credentialing and certification program involving renewable energy in all of North America. They are a non-profit, non-governmental association that provides an integrity for professionals and consumers alike. The knowledge demonstrated through NABCEP is essential to growing in the solar PV, thermal, technical sales, and wind energy practices. This here is the program's Associate exam, which requires at least 40 hours of basic solar PV training of installation, maintenance, operation, and design. There is also the NABCEP Solar PV Professional Installer Certification, which is ultimately the gold standard of the program and a personal dream of mine. For any more questions about NABCEP, don't hesitate to post a question!!

 

TH/HW: Solar Thermal/Hot Water Systems.

So most of this blog covers PV systems in all aspects. However, I thought it would be beneficial to dedicate a section to solar thermal/hot water systems. The sun is the perfect water heater, since it exposes water from its sunlight with zero pollution. Installing water heating systems in the United States can help reduce our household energy consumption, as well as the nation's unhealthy reliance on toxic fossil fuels. Not only will solar thermal systems operate efficiently in rather sunnier states, but anywhere in the country will do!

How it basically works is the sun heats a solution that is mounted on the rooftop from solar thermal flat plate collectors, or tube collectors. The solution is heated, and then pumped through a heat exchange contained inside the hot water tank. The solution then recirculates back to the rooftop solar collectors, where the cycle continuously repeats, while the heated water in the hot water tank becomes ready and available for utilization.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy EERE consumer's guide