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Renewable Energy Education in TexasArranged by the Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES)TREIA Conf. Education PanelNov. 14, 2006: 

Renewable Energy Education in Texas Arranged by the Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES) TREIA Conf. Education Panel Nov. 14, 2006 Renewable Energy “Education” cuts a broad swath, and the panel will point to some of the significant ‘renewable energy education’ activities in the state.

A broad range of Renewable Energy Education Activities: 

A broad range of Renewable Energy Education Activities formal educational activities like “courses” offered talks and workshops at meetings and fairs hands-on activities (kids building model solar cars) tours of solar and energy efficient homes lesson plans for school teachers student projects conferences such as TREIA 2006 and others

Panelists: 

Panelists Jim Duncan, Business Owner, Fort Worth, TXSES board member, active in the North Texas Renewable Energy Group (NTREG). Activities in North Texas. Gary Covington, Business Owner, Midland, Past TXSES board member, School Renewable Energy Lesson Plans. John Gardner, EDS, Houston, TXSES Board member, active in Houston Renewable Energy Group (HREG), Solar Home Tour and Cool House Tour. Gary Vliet, UT/Retired, Austin, TXSES Board member, Renewable Energy in Higher Education.

Renewables in Higher Education…….. and Other: 

Renewables in Higher Education …….. and Other Gary Vliet, UT Austin

The Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair: 

The Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair Held in Fredericksburg each year (in Fall) since 2000 Workshops Presentations Family Tent activities (building model solar cars, solar cookers, etc.) Exhibits and Products

The Roundup, Family Tent: 

The Roundup, Family Tent

‘Roundup’, Electric Vehicles: 

‘Roundup’, Electric Vehicles For the Young & Old

‘Roundup’, Tent Talks: 

‘Roundup’, Tent Talks

‘Roundup’Vendors & Equipment: 

‘Roundup’ Vendors & Equipment

The Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge: 

The Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge 1993 - the Winston School team in Dallas (led by Dr. Lehman Marks) built a solar car and participated in the 1993 SunRayce USA from Arlington to Minneapolis. 1995 - the Winston School began organizing the Winston Solar Challenge (solar car race) for high school teams and to date 11 race events have been held. In recent years the major sponsor has been Dell and the events are designated the Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge

The Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge: 

The Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge The Winston Solar Challenge has shared information with over 900 schools (middle and high) in 20 countries, and 94 schools have participated in their events. (About 10 teams for each participant team.) The Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge has held more contests than any other organization world-wide. Dr. Marks poses the question:  For every student actually involved in the final competitions, how many dreams did we create in the minds of kids along the race routes!

‘Winston’ and ‘Dell-Winston’ Solar Challenge events: 

‘Winston’ and ‘Dell-Winston’ Solar Challenge events Year Route Participating Schools* 1995 Dallas County 3 1997 Dallas to San Antonio 5 1998 Texas Motor Speedway, D-FW 7 1999 Dallas to Los Angeles 6 2000 Texas Motor Speedway, D-FW 8 2001 Austin to Columbus, OH 5 2002 Texas Motor Speedway, D-FW 10 2003 Austin to Cocoa, FL 7 2004 Texas Motor Speedway, D-FW 11 2005 Round Rock to JPL/Pasadena 18 2006 Texas Motor Speedway, D-FW 14 2007 Round Rock to New York ?

The Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge: 

The Dell-Winston School Solar Challenge

North American Solar Challenge and Others: 

North American Solar Challenge and Others 1990 University of Michigan, 1800 miles (Epcot Center, FL – Warren, MI) 32 cars, 1 completed entire route, top speed 24.7 mph. Univ. North Texas placed 18th, & UT Austin placed 22nd. 1991 Western Washington won, approx. 505 miles. (Sacramento to Los Angeles). Univ. Texas Austin placed 2nd. 1993 University of Michigan, 1109 miles (Arlington – Minneapolis) 34 cars, 1 completed entire route, top speed 27.3 mph. Univ. UT Austin placed 32nd. 1995 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1251 miles (Indianapolis – Golden, CO) 38 cars, top speed 37.2 mph. TXA&M placed 27th. 1997 California State University, Los Angeles, 1242 miles (Indianapolis – Colorado Springs) 36 cars, top speed 43.3 mph. TXA&M placed 4th. 1999 University of Missouri — Rolla, 1423 miles (Wash. DC – Epcot Center, FL) 29 cars, top speed 25.3 mph. No Texas team

North American Solar Challenge and Other (Cont’d): 

North American Solar Challenge and Other (Cont’d) 1999 University of Missouri — Rolla, 1423 miles (Wash. DC – Epcot Center, FL) 29 cars, top speed 25.3 mph. No Texas team 2001 University of Michigan, 2247 miles (Chicago – Claremont, CA) 30 cars, 13 completed entire route, top speed 40.0 mph. TXA&M placed 27th. 2003 University of Missouri — Rolla, 2234 miles (Chicago – Claremont, CA) 20 cars, 12 completed entire route, top speed 43.1 mph. TXA&M placed 20th. 2005 University of Michigan, 2495 miles (Austin – Calgary, AB) 20 cars, 14 completed entire route, top speed 46.2 mph. No Texas team Even in years when UT and A&M did not compete in the American Solar Challenge, they had teams that designed and built car but didn’t qualify.

North American Solar Challenge, 2005: 

North American Solar Challenge, 2005

The Solar Decathlon: 

The Solar Decathlon Event among University teams to design, build and compete in an ‘Energy Efficient and Solar-Powered Home’ competition. Two events to date (2002 and 2005), and another planned for 2007. Final competitions in Wash, DC in the fall. UT Austin teams competed in 2002 and 2005. Texas A&M competed in 2002. The UT Austin Solar Decathlon House has been donated to the Blacklands community located at Leona and 22nd St., Austin. Will be part of the Blacklands low income housing project.

The Solar Decathlon: 

The Solar Decathlon

Renewable Energy Courses at Universities and Colleges.: 

Renewable Energy Courses at Universities and Colleges. The following is a very cursory list of Renewable Energy related courses offered at Universities and Colleges in Texas. Expected there are many related courses in science and environmental science programs. One thing that appears to be apparent is that very few courses are in the curricula mainstream ……. most or all courses listed below are elective. There is a wide variety of research projects at the various universities.

West Texas A&M University, Canyon.: 

West Texas A&M University, Canyon. WTA&M offers two semester long courses: - Phys 301 – Solar Energy - Phys 302 – Wind Energy and Wind Turbines Courses developed by Dr. Vaughn Nelson Courses have been offered since the mid-1980’s Wind course available through distance learning since 1998 Solar course available through distance learning since 1999. Both courses are elective.

Other Universities: 

Other Universities Texas A&M University Course (Solar Thermal) offered annually (?) in College of Architecture by J. Haberl University of Texas at Austin ME 374S (Solar Thermal and PV) offered in Mechanical Eng. annually since 1975 by G. Vliet University of Texas at El Paso Solar course was offered each year and half in Mechanical Eng. but recently discontinued.

St. Philips College, San Antonio: 

St. Philips College, San Antonio Renewable/Alternative & Fuel Cell Energy Sources 101 A new 24-hour Continuing Education course on renewable energy and fuel cells. Course is a preview of a new 74 hour program --Sustainable Environmental Science -- planned to be offered in their Natural Science Department (Chaired by Dr. William Davis).

Slide23: 

St. Philip’s College Continuing Education Renewables Course

Austin Community College: 

Austin Community College Practical PV course (48 hours, design and installation) taught this fall by John Hoffner and Michael Kuhn Offered under the Continuing Education Dept. Designed for the skills needed to pass a national test offered by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) to accredit an Entry Level PV Installer. Instruction on PV design issues, code issues, safety, installation, market information, etc. 16 hours of hands-on experience on PV hardware and installation of a grid-tied PV system. Final lab day is installation of 1 kW grid-tied system. Starting spring 2007 course will be part of the academic department of ACC and available in the Power Generation Dept. as a course for an Associates Degree.

Austin Community College: 

Austin Community College