Seminar about solar power scheduled

By Times staff | Saturday, July 07, 2007

The Iowa Renewal Energy Association, or I-Renew, will put on an all-day seminar July 14 to explain how to equip a home for solar power.

The workshop will cover the basics of residential, grid-tied photovoltaic solar systems. After a brief overview of how the solar panels convert solar energy into electricity, the participants will learn how to design the system, including how to determine costs and more.

Dennis Pottratz of Go Solar in Decorah, Iowa will lead the workshop. “Using your own solar generated energy while connected to the electric company is now easier and more efficient than ever before,” Pottratz said. “The systems are nearly maintenance free.”

The seminar will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Kornder room at the Putnam Museum, 1717 W. 12th St., Davenport. The cost is $50 for I-Renew members and $75 for non-members plus $8 for lunch. Registrations should be received by July 9. To register, call I-Renew at (319) 643-3160 or download a registration form from I-Renew’s Web site at irenew.org and mail it with payment to I-Renew, P.O. Box 3405, Iowa City, IA 52244.