Solar Photovoltaic Installation Workshop at Stevens on August 25

Hoboken, NJ, August 20, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Stevens Institute of Technology and Empowerhouse, the joint 2011 Solar Decathlon project developed by Stevens and The New School, are hosting a workshop on grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) installations. The workshop will begin at 6:30pm on Thursday, August 25, in Hoboken, NJ.

Speakers representing the two universities, state government, and an energy utility will introduce workshop participants to technical and economic details necessary to understand and evaluate grid-connected PV installations. The workshop will be held at the Empowerhouse Project Site on the Hudson River, in view of Manhattan. Participants will also get an early look at the net-zero Solar Decathlon entry, currently under construction.

"This workshop capitalizes on the Empowerhouse team's emphasis on a collaborative environment and community involvement," says Dr. Keith Sheppard, Associate Dean of Engineering and Science at Stevens. "The speakers are all engaged in solar power and other high-efficiency energy installations at the University and elsewhere."

The scheduled speakers are:
Keith Sheppard, Assoc. Dean, School of Engineering and Science, Stevens
Chris Steffens, Empowerhouse Faculty, Parsons The New School for Design
David Vaccari, Dept. Director, Civil, Environmental and Ocean Engineering, Stevens
Mark Byrd, HVAC Manager, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ron Reisman, Renewable Program Energy Manager, NJ Clean Energy Program
Andres Salas, Renewable and Energy Solutions, PSE&G

Stevens and Empowerhouse provide a unique opportunity to learn about PV installations for both residential and commercial projects. The high-efficiency, solar-powered Empowerhouse design will find a home after the Solar Decathlon competition in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Deanwood, where the future owners will enjoy electricity bills of zero dollars after factoring in PV energy sales back to the utility. The Stevens campus, where solar panels generate up to 10,000 kWh of electricity each month, will provide a case study in commercial PV deployment.

The workshop runs from 6:30-8:30pm on August 25. RSVP is required for attendance. Participants should register and can find additional information and directions at www.stevens.edu/solarworkshop.

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