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In this Issue:

• NABCEP Certification >>
• DOE/Energy Star >>

North American Board of Certified Energy Practioners (NABCEP)
A small group of small wind folks have been working with NABCEP to develop a small wind installers certification.  This effort has been funded to date by the New York State Energy Development Authority (NYSERDA) and was started in January 2005 with the formation of a Small Wind Technical Committee.  Mick Sagrillo has been the chair and Trudy Forsyth has been the co-chair of the Small Wind Technical Committee that includes: Roy Butler (Four Winds), Robert Preus (Abundant Renewable Energy), Brent Summerville (Appalachian State University), Jenny Eigenberger (Lakeshore Technical College), Clay Sterling (Midwest Renewable Energy Association) and David Blecker (Seventh Generation Energy Systems).  This committee has developed a small wind task analysis, which defined the necessary skills, abilities and knowledge typically required of practioners who install and maintain small wind systems.  The purpose of the task analysis is also to ensure the safety, quality and consumer acceptance of small wind installations throughout the U.S.  The task analysis was completed and approved by the NABCEP board in December 2006.  From that point, the small wind committee developed recommendations for two levels of certification, the Level 2 certification is proposed to be the NABCEP certification.

The proposed Level 1 certification is for those practioners who will install small wind systems that are grid-connected, rated at 3 kW or less, weigh less than 400 pounds, on towers that are 85’ or less and erected without a crane.  The proposed Level 2 certification would include Level 1 plus turbines up to 100 kW, with no height or weight limitations, that can be erected with the use of a crane.  While there is still discussion with the NABCEP board about the Level 2 certification, it is the intent of the Small Wind Technical Committee to pursue the development of requirements to sit for a NABCEP Small Wind exam and see the process towards finalizing the NABCEP certification credential.

Stay tuned for status as the Small Wind Technical Committee works to get this in place.

SOLAR TODAY Magazine

January/Feburary 2008 Features >>

- Advancing a Market for Zero-Energy Homes
- CASE HISTORY: Sungalow Shines
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ASES’ Green Collar Jobs Report

“Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Economic Drivers for the 21st Century”

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DOE/Energy Star
The Energy Star labeling program sponsored by DOE and EPA has typically been for electric appliances.  It has been a very sought after label because of the number of consumers who purchase their appliances based on the label.  This program has been around for some time and when they first started only a few appliances would get this label but over time manufacturers would strive to meet the Energy Star requirements, producing more energy efficient appliances.  Consequently the Energy Star criteria have risen over time for specific appliances because once the majority of appliances meet the Energy Star criteria the level goes up so that not all appliances can meet the criteria.

Under the guidance of Andy Kruse at Southwest Windpower, the Energy Star team held meetings last spring and this fall to discuss whether renewables should be included within the Energy Star label.  The fall meeting was attended by Andy Kruse (Southwest Windpower), Mike Hess (Mariah Power), David Laino (Windward Engineering), Dennis Lin (DOE Wind Program) and Trudy Forsyth (NREL).  Trudy gave a presentation prepared by Larry Sherwood, Small Wind Certification Council, on the Small Wind Certification Council, the relationship between the AWEA small wind standard, testing entities and the Small Wind Certification Council.  There was much dialogue between Energy Star staff, their consultants, and the small wind industry about the technology, metrics that could be used by Energy Star for their labels and ways to work together.

Stay tuned for more status on this issue.  It was great to have this dialogue and members of the small wind industry are optimistic that small wind turbines could be part of the Energy Star program.