Intro to Solar & Wind Energy

This class is a primer on solar and wind energy. It explains in layman's terms the basic technologies, and how they are applied. The students are exposed to an in-depth look at how we (ab)use energy. It will come as a surprise to most to learn how much energy is currently wasted through the use of inappropriate technologies. This leads to the core subject of the class that deals with alternative ways to provide us with our daily energy needs in a more sustainable manner. Frequent diversions to sustainable building design and techniques illustrate how closely this is related to appropriate technologies and energy conservation. The instructor draws on a wealth of personal experience in energy independence after being off the grid for more than 20 years. Each student is encouraged to conduct his or her own energy audit and analyze how (much) electrical energy is used in their home or business and how we can use this information to calculate how many solar panels we would need to satisfy our daily electrical energy needs. Cas Van Woerden is founder of Animal Farm, a center of sustainable living, that is completely off the energy grid and uses solar energy for its electricity needs.