Solar Energy International Annual Report 2005

Need for Renewable Energy EducationSOLAR ENERGY INTERNATIONALP.O. Box 715 • Carbondale, CO 81623 • tel: 970.963.8855 fax: 970.963.8866 e-mail: sei@solarenergy.org • www.solarenergy.orgFounded in 1991,SEI serves as a link between people & renewable energy resources.Solar Energy International is a non-profit educational organization and an Equal Opportunity Institution and Employer.SEI is not affiliated with any manufacturer, dealer, distributor, or any other renewable energy commercial enterprise.Thank You to Our Supporters$20,000 & ABOVEMeg O’Shaughnessy$10,000 - $19,999Allen-Heath Memorial FoundationTortuga Foundation$5,000 - $9,999Aspen SkiCoAlice Pack & L Thomas Melly FoundationRichard Strachan FoundationUnity Avenue Foundation$1,000 - $4,999Andy BlackAspen Thrift StoreCensolarRichard C. Goldstein FoundationManaus FundOmel-Scott FoundationDon PhillipsonRon & Janice Tobe$500 - $999Robert BairAnn KeohaneJohn McBride FamilyLee MellyRandall OmelRandy Sadewic The Solar Biz Michael & Elizabeth TheleTrimline Design CentreWhiting-Arnold Foundation$100 - $499Eric Anderson Betsy L. Cotton Frederick Garcia Thais Gurich Barry Hamilton Ty D. Heller Kane FoundationRhonda HagerDr. Ed. KirkbyJane B. Koger Edward Lovejoy Daniel McClendon Michael Moreira Don Mueller Henry Kanjobe Mwandemere David T. Neeley David Power Rick Puhala Katherine Ripley-Williams Joshua Stolzenburg Scott & Carrie TinkerSteve Willett BUSINESS MEMBERS -$1003R Roofing LLCArrowhead Solar ProjectsAvalanche RanchGerry BarrettBresco LTDHal & Allison BrillBrooks Solar INCCALIFORNIA SOLARCapilano Electric Ltd.Russ & Linda CriswellDonald Campbell AssociatesEcoStruct LLCEnviro CenterJeremy & Angela FosterGraybeal Architects, LLCH3 ArchitectsHeadwaters Energy & FinanceInter Island Solar SupplyMeleana JuddKennan-Meyer ArchitectureRoy LaPlanteMarkthor MacFarlaneJack McMillenMetro Solar IncThurman Todd MillerNational Renewable Energy LabNew Electric, Inc.Novan Renewable TechnologiesPhotovoltaic Applications Spec.Fred PittengerPlumbing Partners Inc.Donna RileySeaBright Solar LLCSigma DesignSolar DynamicsJohn SebestaLannie SproulEdward Alan SteinbergErnest StenquistSustainable Automation, LLCTkar Smart Energy DesignsValley of the Gods SolarNON-PROFITMEMBERS - $75Donald & Cindy Benson Ana D. Castro Dr. Rex D'Agostino Dick Farnell Eagle Valley AllianceJohn Gallo Karen Hornback Inam Maher Christopher & Elizabeth Meder Lora PetersonMayo Energy AgencyPiedmont BiofuelsPurcell TireEsther Reaves Barbara Rubiola-Moltz Jimmy SheridanSustainable Harvest Int’l TGG & Associates Pete G.Vash James Walker INDIVIDUALMEMBERS - $45 - $99Jon Webster Abbott Akin A.Adewole Ade Akilo Boyd K.Alcorn Laura Allen Darren Anderson Douglas Antupit Todd Arends Johan Aromaki Donna Auguste John Auvil Laura BartelsMatt Bartlett Brian Bellamy William Berlin Michael Bertin Christopher Bingham Manfred Brancard James Brobisky Mary Broderick Barbara A. Brown Rose Bryan J.D. & Kate Burke Peter Carey Regina Carola Ana CastroStanley Chamberlain Robert Clay Tracey Collins Bob De Lumeau Frank Dewitt Phillip Doe Michael Dunn William Eason David E. Eisenberg John Ellis Wayne Espeland Harlan FederAllen Filson David Flynn Scott Franklin John Frediani Erica Fulker Richard Garcia Leslie Glustrom Gary Gordon Vince Gosselin Jane Haasch Rhonda Jane Hager John Harper John Harrell John Hatchett Sandra Hawley Edward Herk Joshua Hill Martin Hoffman Joel Holzman Richard Hoops Sheryl Horton David R. Jacobson Mattias Jarvegren Theresa Jeffreys Grant Jensen Neil Johnson Thom Johnson David Jones Rick Kabo Amini Kajunju Rashed Kammiel Ruth J. Kary Benjamin Kauffman Diana Kenney Arun Keshap Teresa Koper Michael Krival Jeff Lahl Brenda & CurtisLangewisch Anthony Leofsky Joshua Levine Jude Loftus John Lombard Miguel-Jose Luna Michael Makofske Martin Mauldin Jill Maynard Vicki McAninch James McCay Stacey McKinney Kim McLawhorn Dave McMillan Susan Mercovich W. Steve Meyer Zinah K. Mineyahl Tamera Minnick Harry Mitchell Ryan Moore Ian Morse E. Jerome Morton Brian Mosley Brian Mulhall William Mundy Jack Neil Wong Nelson Anastasia L. Nicole Sonja Norman Charles Packard Andrew Pascale Tom Paswater Walter Perry Matt Peters Greg Peterson Jay Pozner David Purtee Pat Quest Aldo Quiroz Linda Raven John Rehorn Doug & Leanne Rellstab Ross & Debra L. Rhizal Daniel Rice Alan Rolston Tom J. Romberg Erica Rosenfarb Mike Rossoni E.H. Roy Kurt Sadler Marcus Salva Helen Shaber Harrison Shelton Martin Skulnik G. Richard Smart Jason Smithers Michael Somers Christopher Sours Kimberly Spray Joanne Stanley Stacy Stein Kevin Stricker Christine Sura Brad Taylor Gerald Terwilliger Brian Thacker Rick Thibodeau Valley of the Sun SolarKelvin Verity Erik Viik Tom & Nancy Vineski Steve Wagner Joseph C.Wasner David Watts Jerry Weaver Brett Westby Mike White Machelle Williams Neville Williams Belinda Wong-Swanson Sue Worthington Glenn Yeager Debi Young Eva Zamzow Barb Zaug How-To & Hands-On• SEI uses a how-to/hands-on approach with commercial products and field installations.• Since 1991, over 3800 people from all 50 states and 55 countries have attended SEI's REEP Program.• The 2005 REEP Program offered 37 hands-on workshops and seven online courses.• 865 students attended REEP 2005, including 57international students.SEI’s Five Programs• Renewable Energy Education Program (REEP)• Solar in the Schools (SIS)• International Volunteers inEnvironmentally SustainableTechnologies (INVEST)• Native American Program• Scholarship Program Solar Energy International is an educational non-profit Colorado corporation. SEI is recognizedby the IRS as a tax-exempt charitable organizationunder section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.SEI 2005 Annual ReportRenewable Energy Education For A Sustainable FutureSEI provides information, education and training to people who want to shape a sustainable future.A sustainable future requires aninvestment of knowledge and skills in the people who will shape that future.The renewable energies of sun, wind and water are clean and abundant, yetunderutilized resources. Renewable energy technologies are mature, but feware skilled in their use. Decision-makersneed information to make appropriatechoices with confidence. Techniciansneed skills and experience to service thetechnologies. End-users must learn howto operate and maintain self-reliantrenewable energy systems.SEI’s Renewable Energy Education Program (REEP) teaches the practicaluse of solar, wind and water power. Our workshops give individuals the knowledgeand skills to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems and to buildstate-of-the-art solar homes that are efficient, practical and earth-friendly.Renewable Energy Education Program• RE for the Developing World• RE for the Developing World - Hands-On• Solar & Radiant Heating Systems• Solar Home Principles• Solar Home Design Online • Solar Hot Water • Solar Water Pumping• Successful Solar Businesses• Utility Interactive PV Systems• Women’s PV Design & Installation• Advanced Photovoltaics• Biodiesel Fuel • Carpentry Skills for Women• Designing & Building Natural Homes• Homebuilt Wind Generators• Introduction to Renewable Energy• Intro to Straw Bale Construction• Micro-Hydro Power• PV Design & Installation • PV Design Online• PV Industry Week• Austin, Texas• Carbondale, Colorado• Costa Rica• Grass Valley, California• Honolulu, Hawaii• Lincroft, New Jersey• Nicaragua• Olivebridge, New York• Paonia, Colorado• Portland, Oregon• Reno, Nevada• Salem, Oregon• Salt Lake City, Utah• San Diego, California• San Francisco, California• San Juan Islands, WashingtonWorkshops Were Offered in 16 LocationsFinancial Report Summary 20052005 REEP WorkshopsStaffRachel ConnorKathy FontaineMatthew HarrisSoozie LindbloomKevin LundyKhanti MunroSandy PickardJustine SanchezLaurie StoneJeff TobeCarol WeisJohnny Weiss Board of DirectorsJeff DickinsonEnergy and Sustainable DesignLinda LungNational Renewable Energy LaboratoryDon PhillipsonPhillipson Sustainable Energy OptionsRandy Udall Community Office of Resource EfficiencyJohnny WeissSolar Energy InternationalInternational Advisory BoardDr. Donald W. Aitken Donald Aitken AssociatesDr. J. Douglas BalcombNational Renewable Energy LabDavid BarsamianAlternative RadioPliny Fisk IIICenter for Max. Potential Bldg SystemsJoe Jordan NASABarbara Kerr Center for Sustainable LivingThomas A. Lawand Brace Research InstitutePhilip Livingston Solar ConsultantAmory Lovins Rocky Mountain InstituteMaureen McIntyre ConsultantDr. Don Osborn Spectrum EnergyKaren & Richard Perez Home Power MagazineSam VanderhoofSMA AmericaNeville Williams Solar Electric Light CompanyDr. Robert Wills Advanced Energy SystemsREEP ProjectsGuest Instructors & Industry RepresentativesSEI instructors are leaders in their fields, bringing the most up-to-dateinformation in renewable energy technologies. In 2005, over 100 guest instructorsand industry representatives presented in our workshops.Alumni of SEI's 2005 REEP Program gained hands-on, how-toexperience on a total of 15 installations. REEP projects represent practicalapplications of the latest commercial technologies and products. Eachinstallation remains an operational system, providing clean renewable energy forbusinesses, institutions, ranches, homes and communities. Future participants willvisit and learn from these projects before meeting their own installationchallenges.“The extraction, conversion, and utilization of energy is the single largestcomponent of air and water pollution, as well as emissions causing the change of our global climate.” --Christine A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary,Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE, 1997“I’d put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power I hope we don’t have to wait ‘til oil and coalrun out before we tackle that.” -- Thomas Alva Edison$0$100,000$200,000$300,000$400,000$500,000$600,000Education andOutreachServiceManagementand GeneralGrant andFundraisingPublication andcost of goodssoldEquipmentSalesMemberships Marketing andDistributingBuilding andlandimprovement$0$100,000$200,000$300,000$400,000$500,000$600,000RenewableEnergyEducationProgramMembership andDonationsFoundations Equipment Sales Publication andvideo salesInvestmentIncomeOther income2005 income2004 income2005 expenses2004 expensesINCOMEEXPENSES2005 ExpensesEducation & Outreach $477,284Management & General $170,537Grant & Fundraising $22,511Publications $59,954Equipment Sales $77,320Memberships $9,509Marketing & Distributing $27,364Building & Land Improvement $10,357Total $854,8362005 IncomeREEP $624,886Membership & Donations $78,208Foundations $41,672Equipment Sales $58,634Publications $89,310Other Income $3,088Total $895,798SEI's Renewable Energy Education Program continued to grow significantly in 2005. This growing earned-income revenue stream has enabled SEI to increase it's support for our in-house Charitable Programs. Both theSolar in the Schools and INVEST programs have been expanded. Additionally, SEI's net assets grew by $350,000 in2005. SEI is encouraged by the worldwide increasingly favorable climate for renewable energy and is confident thatthe need for renewable energy education will continue to grow rapidly.Native American ProgramSEI provided training and technical assistance to groups worldwideSolar In The SchoolsSEI 2005 Charitable Programs“The generous scholarship I was offered exposed me to the world of solar, technical assistance, technology in waterpumping with DC pumps, and shaped me to a sustainable future as a technician of Renewable Energy.”-- Maina Stanley Gathai, Electrician Jane Goodall Chimp Sanctuary, Kenya “Migwetch (thank you) SEI for all your work inmaking the Western Shoshone solar project a reality.We look forward to working together in the future.”-- Winona LaDuke, Honor the Earth“Thank you so much for spending your day to shareyour expertise with my 7th graders. You have made alasting impression on them that will influence theirdecisions for a lifetime. In these times when . . . preciousresources are squandered, it gives me hope to work withyou and SEI. Thank you for bringing that message ofhope to my students.”-- Joyce Wizer, Middle School teacher,Rifle, ColoradoSEI 2005 Charitable Programs2005 ProjectsIn coordination with Honor the Earth and the WesternShoshone Defense Project, SEI trained over 20 NativeAmericans in PV installation. The participants installed aPV system to power the ranch home of Mary and CarrieDann, two Western Shoshone grandmothers. The trainingwas the first step in promoting locally run energy systemsand economic development for Native communities.SEI worked with Red Feather Development Group andTurtle Mountain Community College, North Dakota, toconstruct an Environmental Research Center on the tribalcollege’s 100-acre Anishanaube Wellness Center. Tribalcollege students and staff worked together to design aload-bearing straw bale building with a range ofsustainable components.PV installationand trainingwith theWesternShoshone2005 ProjectsSEI’s Solar in the Schools program presented in 13schools throughout Colorado, and taught 891 studentswith hands-on projects including making biodiesel,constructing solar ovens, and implementing renewableenergy curriculum in their classrooms.SEI partnered with the Crested Butte Community Schooland the Crested Butte Office for Resource Efficiency fora week of k-12 renewable energy education, a teachertraining, and the completion of a student installed 1.55kW Photovoltaic system. The project culminated with aSolar Fair for the entire Crested Butte community.Scholarship RecipientsIn 2005 SEI offered 31 full and partial scholarships.Scholarship recipients included:?A professor from the University of Guyana, SouthAmerica who is now teaching his students aboutrenewable energy technologies.?Local high school students and a teacher to attendour biodiesel workshop. They have since establisheda biodiesel program at their school.?Two local students, a rancher and a carpenter whoare pursuing their own solar installation business.SEI provided training & technical assistance to groups worldwideINVEST ProgramCrested Butte studentslearn about solarelectricity.A PV system is installed in thePhilippines.INVEST volunteer, Andrew Pascale, with Thai solartechnicians.In 2005, INVEST volunteers traveled to Thailand, the Philippines, Nicaragua, and CostaRica.Maina Stanley Gathai installs a solar PV system in an SEI workshop.SEI offers alumni an opportunity to participate inINVEST, International Volunteers in EnvironmentallySustainable Technologies. SEI alumni can apply to volunteeroverseas with one of our partner organizations to help bringrenewable energy technologies to communities in thedeveloping world. Volunteers install PV systems on ruralhealth centers, teach rural farmers about solar water pumping,install micro-hydro and wind systems to power ruralcommunities, or help build sustainable houses. All this whilemeeting new people and being introduced to new cultures“I just wanted to thank you foryour generous support of myvolunteer activities here in Thailand. Thank you as well to INVESTfor providing the opportunity and to all of SEI for a first raterenewable energy education.”-- Andrew PascaleSEI INVEST VolunteerScholarship ProgramTraveling to the United States has becoming increasinglyhard for our international students, due to visa requirementsand the cost of airfare. We try to offset these costs to eligibledeveloping country residents by offering tuition scholarships.People from over 50 countries have attended SEI workshopsthanks to scholarships supported by our members. SEI alsooffers partial tuition scholarships to low-income participantsfrom the United States and other industrialized nations.SEI’s Solar In the Schools program (SIS) targetsgrades K - 12 and focuses on experiential learning of energyconcepts and issues. The goal is to have students understandenergy as it relates to all living things on the planet. SISemphasizes critical thinking skills by exploring energy choices,costs, and solutions within individual communities. In 2005,SEI presented in many different classrooms throughoutColorado teaching over 800 students about renewable energy.SEI works with Native Americans to help them satisfytheir energy and housing needs with renewable energy andnatural building. SEI works with Native American NGOs andnon-profit organizations and has trained people from theWestern Shoshone, Lakota Sioux, Yurok, Zuni, Hopi, andChippewa Nations.A Look at 2005 in PhotosParticipants inthe Home-BuiltWind Generatorworkshop inCosta RicaHawaii PV Design & Installation workshopparticipants show-off their PV installation.Building a strawbale shed in theIntro to StrawBale workshopA young girl checks out a solar panel atthe Crested Butte Solar Fair courtesy ofSEI’s Solar in the Schools Program.SEI workshopparticipantshelp install a PVsystem in SanFrancisco.Micro-hydro workshop participants check thehead and flow of a river.SEI’s “Grease Queen” shows highschool students the biodieselprocessor.School children help install a solar electricsystem as part of SEI’s Solar in the Schoolsprogram.Plastering a straw bale house onthe Pine Ridge Indianreservation.Building a solar battery charger inNicaragua in the RE for DevelopingWorld workshopSEI Invest volunteer Andrew Pascale, teachesa solar electric class in Thailand.