Get your Hands-on Solar

Get your Hands-on Solar: "Get your Hands-On Solar

By Laurie Guevara-Stone

Participants in a Solar Energy International photovoltaic workshop wire up some PV modules. Photo: Courtesy Solar Energy International

If you want to get plugged in to the exciting realities of photovoltaics - just to learn the basics, or maybe to find a new career - here's Mother's roundup of

* online courses;
* hands-on workshops;
* college degree programs;
* educational materials for elementary and secondary students;
* career opportunities and certifications.

Plug in your PC for PV
Consider signing up for an online introductory course if you are new to renewable energy. You simply pay the course fee, log on and learn at your leisure. Most online courses provide discussion forums and downloadable text; some, like SoL Energy of Carbondale, Colorado, include solar sizing-and-design software. Expect to pay from $150 for an online overview of photovoltaic (PV) systems to $500 for a comprehensive online class on system design and installation. Course duration can span from several weeks to many months, depending upon the course requirements and your motivation. The chart on Page 76 highlights various groups that offer online introductory courses."