Solar Living Institute

SLI CONTINUED TO OFFER WORKSHOPS AT THE SOLAR LIVING CENTER RANGING FROM BASIC TO ADVANCED SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS (PV), NATURAL STRAWBALE BUILDING, AQUAPONICS, MUSHROOM CULTIVATION, AND BUILDING A COB OVEN. INCLUDED IN THE SOLAR PV TRAINING WERE FOUR ONLINE COURSES, OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH SIFY TECHNOLOGIES. SOLAR LIVING INSTITUTE IS AN ACCREDITED TRAINING PROGRAM FOR THE PV INSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS OF THE INTERSTATE RENEWABLE ENERGY COUNCIL (IREC). STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE TO SIT FOR THE PHOTOVOLTAIC ASSOCIATE CERTIFICATE AND THE SOLAR PV PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION OFFERED THROUGH THE NATIONAL BOARD OF CERTIFIED ENERGY PRACTITIONERS (NABCEP). SLI KEEPS ITS CREDENTIALS CURRENT BY SUBMITTING ANNUAL REPORTS AND A 5-YEAR RIGOROUS RECERTIFICATION. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT 2017. NOTABLY, WE CELEBRATED EARTH DAY, THE PERMACULTURE CONVERGENCE IN OCTOBER, AND IN NOVEMBER HOSTED THE SOLAR PIONEERS REUNION WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE ORIGINS OF SOLAR HERE IN MENDOCINO COUNTY AND THROUGHOUT THE U.S. SLIS RESIDENTIAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH RECRUITS YOUNG ADULTS EAGER TO BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE GREEN AND RENEWABLE INDUSTRY, OFFERS PARTICIPANTS EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A COMMUNAL, SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE AT THE SOLAR LIVING CENTER. IN 2017 THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED SEVEN INTERNS STAYING THREE TO NINE MONTHS, OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON. WE HAD PARTICIPANTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA, GHANA, AND CHILE AS WELL AS DOMESTICALLY. IN ADDITION WE HAD 2 COMMUNITY SERVICE PARTICIPANTS, ONE WORKED ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR 60 HOURS, AND THE OTHER WORKED ON OUTDOOR PROJECTS (PLUMING, ELECTRICAL) FOR 41 HOURS. THE INTERNS ASSISTED IN A NUMBER OF BUILDING PROJECTS: FINISHING OUT THE INTERIOR OF THE GROWING DOME, BUILDING A COB BENCH, AND CREATING A SMALL DWELLING OUT OF PALLETS AND COB WHICH WE RENT OUT ON AIR BNB. FOR MARKETING PURPOSES, WE REFRESHED AND UPDATED OUR SELF-GUIDED TOUR MAP AND CREATED SOME RACK CARDS TO INTERPRET THE SOLAR LIVING CENTER AND THE VARIOUS ATTRACTIONS IT HAS TO OFFER.