Homebrew Wind Power - Colorado, September 2012

September 3 - 8, 2012, Box Prairie, Colorado
Instructors: Dan Bartmann, Dan Fink, George Clous, Scotty LeCocq, Doretta Crooks
Cost = $800
REGISTER HERE
Wind is the most difficult renewable resource to harvest, because it changes wildly and unpredictably compared to more steady solar, hydro and biofuel energy sources. This also makes wind power an excellent teaching tool. While this course is open to the general public, a large number of past students are professional educators who wished to start a wind power curriculum at their high school, vo-tech school or community college. The course is also attractive to educators because it is multi-disciplinary, involving math, physics, electrical theory, woodworking, metalworking, welding, and more.

For renewable energy professionals, wind power systems are very rare compared to PV, and few installers get much chance for hands-on experience. This class gives hands-on training in not only wind power system installation, towers, balance of system, troubleshooting and maintenance, but also into how wind turbines are designed and built. Students learn the principles of wind turbine design, plus safe and sturdy construction techniques, and are thus better able to evaluate, compare and select commercial wind turbines for possible installations for their clients.

Students will build a wind turbine FROM SCRATCH over the course of this 6-day workshop!

Students who successfully complete this class will receive 48 continuing education credits hours through The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Please visit our Accreditation Page here, or contact for more information.

(Note--The completed or semi-completed wind turbines may be available for purchase by students after the workshop, for cost of materials. Please contact us if you are interested in bringing a wind turbine home with you.)

Local Accommodations:

Our shop is located 35 miles West of Fort Collins and Loveland, Colorado. It's an hour and 15 minute drive to here from town, where the nearest motel or grocery store are located, so we HIGHLY recommend for students to stay on site. You will be exhausted each night after the intensive day's work! Camping here is free, and there are plenty of excellent sites to pitch your tent or set up your RV within an 1/8 mile walk to the shop each morning. 5th wheel RVs can get up our driveway with no trouble, but large (greyhound bus size) RVs may have trouble. There are NO hookups for electric, water or sewage, however camping students can use the facilities in the house and cabin such as refrigerator, stove for cooking, bathroom, shower, etc.

There are also numerous places to “camp” indoors – our shop, a camping trailer, couches, futons, etc. and all you will need is a sleeping bag and maybe a pad. Again, if you are flying in we can accommodate you with coolers, a stop at the supermarket etc. to bring your food up here to store in the refrigerator / freezer.

Driving directions and more information: Provided upon registration via download or email.

Materials you need to bring to the shop each day:
Notepad
Pencil or Pen
Lunch and drinks
Work clothing
Work Shoes (no open-toed sandals please)
Work gloves
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
If you have forgotten any of these safety items, we keep plenty of spares at the shop.

No pets, please!

Please be sure to read our Refund Policies before signing up. This class has no minimum registration, and no signup cutoff date. It will be held rain or shine.