Washington Sunrise Solar Energy Magazine
The first edition of a new collaboration of Shoreline Community
College, the Washington State University Energy Extension and
The Northwest Solar Center. Articles and photos look at solar
energy programs, policy, technology and installations in
Washington.
Sustainability - New Curriculum being
developed
Renewable
Energy Report.pdf
In the past few years, a spotlight has fallen on issues of
sustainability and our responsibility to the planet’s environment.
Shoreline Community College has been actively developing its
leadership role as an educator in this emerging societal issue,
joining other government leaders advocating for change and creating
systems and mechanisms for change.
In 2006, the
College joined the City of Seattle as a founding member of the
Seattle Climate Partnership, making a commitment to reduce the
College’s “carbon footprint” in the next few years. The College
became a national training center for alternative fuels and advanced
vehicle technology and co-sponsored the 2006 Washington State
Odyssey Days, a two-day conference to heighten public awareness
about the importance of using alternative fuels and other practical
solutions to reduce carbon monoxide and other greenhouse gas
emissions.
Serving
the future needs of our students and communities is one of the top
priorities of the College, and therefore new curriculum is being
developed to support the emerging renewable energy industry.
College, business
and labor officials met with representatives from the Washington
State University Energy Extension Program and Northwest Solar Center
to discuss curriculum development and with College faculty to review
existing curricula from nationally-recognized renewable energy
programs. They also identified the knowledge, skills and abilities
needed to build and support a local renewable energy workforce.
This planning process resulted in the production of a report to the
community to use as a guide for creating training programs for jobs
in renewable energy. >Click to download copy of
the report.
The group is
currently developing certificate and degree programs and plans to
begin offering the first pathway certificate program, the High
Performance & Zero Energy Building Practices Certificate:
The program was approved by the State Board for
Community and Technical Colleges in September. The general
knowledge, skills and abilities, tools and equipment needs, worker
behaviors, job titles and wages, as well as future trends and
concerns, have already been identified for this program.
Two-year programs
that are under consideration are Solar Construction (leads to a
bachelor’s degree at Washington State University); High Performance
& Zero Energy Building Practices; Photovoltaic Design & Installation
Certificate; Solar Energy Foundations; and Renewable Energy Career
Overview Tech Prep.
If you are
interested in this program, please contact Berta Lloyd, dean,
Workforce Education at 206.546.4595 or
blloyd@shoreline.edu.
Zero
Energy House Dedication and ribbon cutting
On
Thursday, May 17th, President Lee Lambert welcomed guests to
the dedication of the Washington State University/Shoreline
Community College Zero Energy House (ZEH). The event marked the
opening of the ZEH, which has been in construction at SCC since
September of last year. The speakers recognized all the people who
were involved in the project.
"We want especially to thank the
Washington State University (WSU) students who designed and
constructed the ZEH for the Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon
held in Washington D.C. in 2005," said Lambert. "SCC will be the
permanent "home" for this project. We are grateful that we can show
this house to the people of our community who are interested in
seeing how solar energy can be used in their own homes."
Joining President Lambert at the
dedication were Washington State Representative Maralyn Chase,
Dr. Candis Claiborn, Washington State University Dean,
WSU Prof. Mat Taylor, Architecture, and Northwest Solar
House Executive Director Mike Nelson. Each speaker expressed his opinion
regarding the importance of this facility for our community.
Washington
State Representative Maralyn Chase shared information on
current state initiatives that promote environmental sustainability
and a vision of economic development in Shoreline that will support
solar energy. Chase, a proponent of education and environmental
health, was the driving force behind the placement of the solar
house at SCC, and the relationship between SCC and the university
are the result of her work. Rep. Chase was also was instrumental in
getting funding for the project from the Washington State Department
of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
Dr. Candis Claiborn, advisor
to the project, and WSU Asst. Professor, Architecture and
Construction Management, Matt Taylor expressed unified
support of both institutions for environmental sustainability.
Claiborn shared the history of the project and Prof. Taylor spoke
respectfully about the team of WSU architecture and engineering
students who designed and built the solar facility.
Executive Director of the Northwest
Solar Center, Mike Nelson, gave a brief presentation on the
merits of solar energy and future goals of the center. Nelson is
considered "the Godfather" of solar energy in the state, having
lived off the grid since the 1970s.
Click
Here for Photos of the Dedication Ceremony for the Zero Energy House
5/17/2007
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE ZERO
ENERGY HOUSE DEDICATION
If you were unable to attend the Zero Energy House Dedication,
there are several articles available online from the
Seattle Post Intelligencer and
the Daily Journal of Commerce. In addition, stories were aired by
KING 5, KIRO, and Northwest CableNews regarding the new house.
Daily Journal of Commerce 5/16/07
