Solar & Renewable Energy Associations

Solar and Renewable energy associations offer a way to get involved with renewable energy on a local basis.  Many offer discussions, workshops, expert advice, educational and legislative programs, and a chance to promote renewable energy in a "hands-on" way.

 

If you would like your (non-commercial) solar or renewable energy association listed, please send me the information -- Gary.

 

 
National Solar Associations
American Solar Energy Society

http://www.ases.org/

 

 

 The major national solar energy association with a long history of renewable energy activities, including the National Solar Energy Conference.

Publisher of Solar Today.
ASES Solar Citizen Program

 ASES Solar CitizenThe Solar Citizen is a new program within ASES that aims at providing practical information and tools to help families get their solar and renewable energy projects completed.
More on the program here...
MidWest
Midwest Renewable Energy Association

http://www.the-mrea.org/

 

 The people who put on the worlds largest renewable energy fair each summer solstice -- and many other things.
Illinois Renewable Energy Association

http://www.illinoisrenew.org/

 

 Renewable energy education, tours, fairs, workshops, ...
Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association

http://www.glrea.org/

 

 The Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association.

"The Mission of GLREA is to increase the mainstream use of renewable energy technologies and sustainable energy practices."
Iowa Renewable Energy Association

http://www.irenew.org/workshops.html

 

 Renewable energy education, legislation, workshops, ...
Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

http://www.mnrenewables.org/

 

 Minnesota Renewable Energy Society.  Renewable energy educational materials, and some very interesting looking events.
e-co lab -- ecological construction laboratory
Urbana, IL


Home Projects:
http://www.e-colab.org/ecolab/Projects.html

More information on Passivhaus Institute:
http://www.passivehouse.com/
Paper on Passivhaus design:
http://www.passivehouse.com/

 

 e-co lab takes on energy efficient home projects in the Urbana, IL area.
These homes are built to the German Passivhaus Design Standard, and use as little as one tenth of the energy of standard homes.
Some of the project examples they show use engineered wood "I" beams (as in the example above).  These beams provide sufficient depth for high R value walls (R56) and also greatly reduce thermal bridging compared solid wood studs.
This seems like a very promising construction technique.
The Mid Atlantic Renewable Energy Association and the Pennsylvania Renewable Energy Fair

http://www.paenergyfest.com/

 

 A large renewable energy and sustainable living fair, workshops, ...
South West
New Mexico Solar Energy Association

http://nmsea.org/index.php

 

 

 A great solar energy association with a long history of accomplishments.

They are in the process of putting their extensive technical library online, and could use volunteer help.
Texas Solar Energy Society

http://txses.org/index.php

 

 

 An active renewable energy society with educational material, workshops, house tour, ...
El Paso Solar Energy Association

http://www.epsea.org/

 Tons of interesting and useful information on renewable energy projects.
Arizona Solar Energy Association

http://www.azsolarcenter.com/index.html

 

 The folks who bring us the outstanding Arizona Solar Center.  Tons of great information. 

(but, when is that DIY section coming :) )
Montezuma Climate Action Network

http://m-can.org/index.html

 Lots of renewable energy and climate change related activities, newsletter, and  the Verde Fest Sustainability Fair.  Located in the four corners area.
West
Colorado Renewable Energy Society

http://www.cres-energy.org/index.html

 

 Colorado Renewable Energy Society.

Education, tours, workshops, talks, ...

Three chapters around the stat.
San Luis Valley Solar Association

http://www.slv-solar.org/index.htm

 

 Education, workshops, solar projects, ...
Solar Oregon

http://www.solaroregon.org/

 

 "Encouraging Oregonians to choose solar energy"
Workshops, home tours, education, library, newsletter, case studies, AND some really nice solar batch water heater plans.
Northern California Solar Energy Association

http://www.norcalsolar.org/

 

 Northern California Solar Energy Association.  Resource guide, home tours, educational resources, ...
East - South East - North East
Florida Renewable Energy Association

http://www.cleanenergyflorida.org/index.html

 

 Florida Renewable Energy Association.

"The Florida Renewable Energy Association is dedicated to expanding the use of clean, renewable energy technologies through public awareness, political advocacy, and individual initiative."
Maine Solar Energy Association

http://www.mainesolar.org/

 

 An active solar energy association.  Some of the solar water heating plans on this site come from their Solar Energy Primer.
 
NESEA -- North East Sustainable Energy Association
 

http://www.nesea.org/

 

 A large regional organization focused on promoting the understanding, development, and adoption of energy conservation and non-polluting, renewable energy technologies.
Educational programs, open houses, workshops,  publications, ...
Pocono Northeast Solutions

http://www.pnesolutions.org/

 

 Northeast PA group organizes an energy Expo/Fair as well as a number of renewable energy projects and school related activities.
BASEA -- Boston Area Solar Energy Association

http://www.basea.org/

 

 Boston area solar energy association -- educational material, a discussion forum, lectures, events, ...
North Carolina Solar Center

http://www.ncsc.ncsu.edu/

 

 Lots of interesting events and workshops. 
Lots of student oriented activities.

Programs in solar, clean transportation, wind,  homes, ...
Potomac Region Solar Energy Association

http://www.prsea.org/

 

 

 

 

Gary 4/1/07, and ongoing