For Immediate Release:

Nth Degree Solar Energy, a Grand Junction based solar design and installation company has achieved NABCEP certification.

“We have been COSEIA certified for a number of years, allowing us to deliver grid-tied solar PV electric systems in Colorado.  This additional certification allows us to design and install grid and off grid solar electric systems nationwide.” says Owen Walcher, VP of business development for Nth Degree.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a volunteer board of renewable energy stakeholder representatives that includes representatives of the solar industry, NABCEP certificants, renewable energy organizations, state policy makers, educational institutions, and the trades. Each member of the board was chosen because of his or her experience and involvement in the solar energy industry. NABCEP’s mission–to support, and work with, the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, professionals, and stakeholders–is intended to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners.

NABCEP’s goal is to develop voluntary national certification programs that will:

• Promote renewable energy;
• Provide value to practitioners;
• Promote worker safety and skill; and
• Promote consumer confidence

NABCEP is committed to providing a certification program of quality and integrity for the professionals and consumer/public it is designed to serve. Professionals who choose to become certified demonstrate their competence in the field and their commitment to upholding high standards of ethical and professional practice.

On Tuesday, March16, Owen Walcher of Nth Degree Solar Energy will give a presentation about solar to the Colorado Potato Growers of the San Luis Valley.

“My goal is to educate the farming community about the benefits of solar generated electricity.  Those benefits are both tangible, in the form of new revenue streams of income, as well as the intangibles of renewable energy, reducing our carbon foot print, helping mother earth, etc.” remarked Owen in an off the cuff interview.

The Solar 101 presentation will be delivered to get everyone up to speed on the current commercially available solar technology and teminologies. Then an introduction to Nth Degree Solar is provided followed by sample scenarios of electrical usage and possible grid-tied solar electric solutions.

To attend this presentation, contact Linda at the Colorado Potato and reserve a spot today: 719-852-3322

When: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at 9 AM

Most grid-connected solar energy systems work the same way:

1. Solar Energy is converted to electricity via photo-voltaic modules
2. An inverter converts the DC (think battery) electricity into AC (what our home use)
3. Some sort of cut-off switch or breaker is used to isolate the system from the grid
4. Your meter measures the solar energy created by your PV array.

Power Your Home, Naturally, with Renewable Energy

The easiest way to take advantage of solar power is to buy electricity generated by renewable sources from your local utility. However, it is easy, responsible, and efficient to contribute your own renewable energy to the grid. Talk to us, here at Nth Degree Energy to find the best options for your individual home’s solar capabilities ans needs.

Download Energy Saving PDF from the EERE (US Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency and Renweable Energy) website.

Start Saving Today with these easy tips:

• Set your thermostat comfortably low in the winter and comfortably high in the summer. Install a programmable thermostat that is compatible with your heating and cooling system.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120° F.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR ® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR ® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy .

Track Your Energy Costs with a Home Energy Audit

An energy audit will show you which areas of your home use the most energy and help you decide the most effective way to reduce energy costs. You can conduct a simple audit yourself, contact your local utility, or call an independent energy auditor for a more comprehensive examination. Check your home’s insulation levels, and check for open fireplace dampers. Look for holes or cracks around doors, light and plumbing fixtures, and other places where air may leak into or out of your home. Make sure your appliances and heating and cooling systems are properly maintained, and study your family’s lighting needs and use patterns, paying special attention to high-use areas. Check out Your Home’s Energy Use for more tips.