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Solar Living Institute News
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Vol. VI, No. 6
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June
24.2008
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As we approach Independence Day on July 4th, the Solar Living Institute
is prepared to help you declare your independence from fossil fuels. With
gas prices high and food prices climbing, join us to learn about positive
solutions including alternative transportation,
solar energy, and
backyard food production.
Enjoy a few articles highlighting creative regenerative solutions,
including urban beekeeping and trash building blocks, an innovative
building material for the future.
SolFest
XIII is right around the corner (Aug. 16-17)! Ed Begley Jr., Richard Heinberg, Paul Stamets, New
Monsoon, and others are already confirmed for this year. If you're
thinking of exhibiting, be sure to visit our Exhibitors page now. We
anticipate the few remaining booths to sell out quickly. Tickets are also
available for purchase-you won't want to miss this inspiring event!
This year we've expanded SolFest to include pre-festival solar industry
trainings. Come out a few days early and enjoy three packed days of
professional solar training led by industry leaders on August 13-15.
These trainings are for the novice and the experienced PV practitioner
alike-join Bill Brooks, Andy Black, pros from Outback, SMA, Unirac, and more!
For the Earth,
Lindsay Dailey
Executive Director
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 Pre-Solfest
Solar Industry Trainings: Learn From the Pros!
August 13-15, 2008
Join us for three days of solar industry trainings prior to our annual SolFest, and discover the latest and greatest in
solar technology!
These full day and half day sessions will be held in downtown Ukiah,
offering a comfortable conference-style atmosphere as well as plenty of
sightseeing in Mendocino
County, an organic
wine-growing region.
If you are looking to get into the solar industry, or are
an installer looking to develop your or your crew's skills, you
won't want to miss this! Join us for the training and then stay for
SolFest, the greenest show in earth!
presented by Andy Black
presented by Andy Black
presented by Jeff Spies of AEE
presented by Jennie Dito
presented by SMA and Kaco
Solar
presented by Outback Power Systems
presented by Unirac
presented by Midnite Solar
NABCEP credit hours will be
available, see workshop descriptions for details.
For more information, or to register for a workshop visit www.solarliving.org,
or call 707.744.2017.
Special thanks to Outback Power Systems for
sponsoring these trainings!
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 Urban Beekeeping the
Latest Buzz
By JESSICA M.
PASKO
"City dwellers across the country are
rapidly discovering the appeal of urban beekeeping. Large cities like Chicago, Seattle, Boston, Dallas and San Francisco are
even promoting beekeeping for pollination health, to keep city vegetation
green and lush."
When Cindy Barclay asks visitors to her booth at the local farmers market
if they want to try honey from downtown Albany, they're often shocked.
"They think I'm joking or they have a hard time believing it's from
right here, but it really is a draw for them," said Barclay, who
maintains hives in her small backyard, just blocks from New York's Capitol.
Surrounded by apartment buildings, Barclay uses a smoker to disarm the
bees and begins prying open one of the hives in her yard. Birds chirp and
traffic roars in the background as the bees begin to softly buzz. (more)
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Southern
California Workshops: July 14 - 20
For the
past five years the Solar Living Institute has partnered with the Lyle Center
for Regenerative Studies at California
State Polytechnic
University in Pomona to offer SoCal
residents a comprehensive series of workshops in sustainable and
regenerative living.
The
Lyle Center is an ideal site for SLI's workshops featuring demonstration thermal solar
hot water research,
photovoltaic panels, a wind turbine, and passive solar buildings. A
wetland contains runoff from the site; edible landscaping and permaculture gardens are linked to the aquaculture
gardens; a straw bale greenhouse with photovoltaic shingles is used to
raise tilapia fish; and the integrated
waste management system emphasizes recycling and composting.
BD 101 How to Make and Use Biodiesel
- July 14
Joelle Opotowsky..........$125
NB 110 Build Your Own Straw Bale
Home - July 15-16
Drew Hubbell and Mark Tighe........$250
PV 101 Intro to Grid-tied PV Systems
- July 17-18
William Korthoff........$250
PO 131 Ecological Urban Gardening
- July 19
Juan Araya...........$95
WA 181 Water Recycling
- July 20
Stephen Lyon..............$95
Special
Offer! Take the entire 7-day series for only $750
Use
Coupon Code: Lyle7
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 SolFest XIII
The Greenest Show on Earth!
Come learn, laugh, dance, shop, eat, play and get inspired at the 13th
annual SolFest, August 16-17.
SolFest will take place under the radiant sun
and full moon at the 12 acre permaculture
demonstration Solar
Living Center
in Hopland, CA.
It is in all of our hands to strive towards leaving the healthiest and
happiest world for future generations and creating it now for ourselves.
At SolFest we teach and celebrate real
solutions to the problems currently facing our local and global
communities. From the main stage panels, speakers, and musical
entertainment to the 60+ workshops and family entertainment area, at SolFest there is something for everyone.
The workshops cover a vast array of topics from the latest in renewable
energy technology and green building to primitive living skills and
gardening. Hear from speakers like Paul Stamets,
Ed Begley, and Caroline Casey and dance to the music of New
Monsoon. Visit www.solfest.org for
updates and the soon-to-be posted workshop schedule. We're a family
friendly event that welcomes you to bring your children, under age 14,
for free. Please remember your furry family members, dogs, can not
attend.
We can always use a helping hand so if you're able to contribute time and
energy please become a volunteer. Many
volunteer opportunities exist so bring your friends.
Buy your tickets now at www.inticketing.com.
One tree is planted for each ticket purchased! Your trees will be
planted in worldwide tree planting projects that help restore devastated
forests in developing nations.
If you have an extra seat in your car or need a ride Spaceshare
is a great way to meet new friends, save money, and reduce your carbon
footprint.
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 Utility Solar
Assessment Study
(Reaching
10% Solar by 2025)
by Clean Edge & Co-op America
Many industry analysts and experts believe that solar
offers the promise of contributing
a significant percentage of America's and the world's
energy needs moving forward.
Today, solar still represents a minuscule
amount of U.S.
energy supply-less than one tenth of one percent of total electricity
generation.
But things are beginning to change. Public resistance remains high
against nuclear power and increasingly high against coal. Since 2006,
some 60 new coal plants in the U.S. have been cancelled,
blocked, or delayed, and dozens more are being challenged in 20 states.
Some states such as Kansas
are considering moratoriums against new coal-fired generation-and this is
even before nationwide mandatory carbon caps. California utilities are prohibited
from buying new coal-fired power from out of state. In this new
world, solar can help deliver the reliability that utilities need. (Read the complete report.)
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Notes from the Solar Living Center
Volunteer Work Party: July 12 & 13th
Greetings everyone!
On July 12th and 13th (Sat and Sun), Massey Burke will lead a plastering
extravaganza on our 12-acre site in Hopland,
California.
Instead of the previously planned workshop, the weekend will be free for
all. The focus will be entirely hands-on natural plastering, learning as
you work.
There will be a lot of base plastering with some finish and high end
plastering as well. The building projects include the Demonstration
Intern House, Village Shower house, Village Herb garden Cob bench and Pacha Mama. Come join us from 9am to 5pm each
day for on-the-job training. Bring a brown bag lunch, a hat and
sunscreen, and wear your work clothes. Call 707-744-2017 for more
details.
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 The Environmental
Pyramid:
A New Way to Deal with
Solid Waste
by RD Schuiling
"Trash may serve as the building blocks of the
future, if a Dutch researcher has his way. Rather than burying it in
landfills, the researcher suggests mixing trash with cement to make slabs
for building foundations. Additives could be used to ensure the slabs
don't leak toxic materials. The researcher also suggested building
landmarks or tourist attractions from the materials. He laid out his
vision in the Journal of Global Environmental Issues." Read the Abstract
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 Featured
Book:
Not a Gas Station - A History of the BioFuel
Oasis and How to Create Your Own Biodiesel Filling Station
Author, Jennifer Radtke (2007) has compiled a
Biodiesel primer based on her experience in opening a
retail Biofuel station in Berkeley, California.
Her goal is to inspire others to accept the challenge and open a station
in their locality.
Biodiesel Basics are addressed and topics covered range from diesel
engines in general to the chemical components necessary for production of
the biofuel, including related issues.
The manual is a step by step account of the opening Actual
Book is Soft-Cover
of the biodiesel filling station - starting with the vision,
wading through municipal regulations, interfacing with
the press, hanging the "Open for Business" sign, and
subsequently providing service for the biofuel
community.
Jennifer is one of the Biodiesel instructors at the Solar Living
Institute. For upcoming classes check out the biodiesel workshops on
line.
Check out the rest of our titles in these categories:
Order by July 4, Independence
Day, and receive 10% off all book titles with coupon code July4.
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 Make a Donation to
Support the planet!
We work hard to improve our future one
person at a time, but we need your help to continue this valuable work! For
every dollar you are able to contribute, we will be able to increase
our programs in defense of the earth. Here are the kinds of things
your contribution will support:
- Creating Green Economic
Opportunities
Since early September, the Solar Living Institute has provided
solar installation training to 75 low-income urban youth in the City of
Richmond, California. With one of the highest violence rates in the
country and a polluting oil refinery in their backyard, residents of Richmond have historically faced high
unemployment rates. Most of our graduates are working now, and over a
dozen are working full-time as solar installers!
- Environmental Education for Kids
The SLI
continues to be a magnet for thousands of children annually who come to
our site to learn about solar power, natural building and more.
This year we also have a program to take our education directly into
classrooms, so that all children will have the opportunity to learn about
the technologies and ideas of tomorrow.
We are one of the only training and educational
facilities in the US
providing these kinds of practical, approaches to solving our collective
crisis.
You can make
a difference by becoming a Partner of the Solar
Living Institute for $35, $50, $75, $100 or
more. For then many of you who are already partners, consider
making a gift of a partnership to a friend, colleague or loved one.
Your support
is vital to ensuring that our organization can thrive and rise to the
challenge of our mission -- to promote sustainable living through
inspirational environmental education.
Thank you for your support!
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