Thermal 101: Introduction to Solar Heating for Homeowners

Thu, Mar 19

Congratulations! If you are investigating solar thermal technologies, you are about to learn about the most efficient renewable energy investment you can make! This three hour class will provide an overview of solar air heating and solar domestic water heating. You’ll learn about the basic function and components, sizing and costs. We’ll also cover available rebates and incentives. This course will not address solar water heating for space heating which is covered in our Thermal 302: Design and Installation Class. Participants will leave this class with the ability to distinguish solar electric and solar thermal and with an understanding of the uses of both; have a good understanding of how to identify a proper site for a solar thermal system and have resources to explore local installation options.

If you plan to install your own system, or install as a profession, please sign up for our 300 level classes: Thermal 301 and Thermal 302.

By the end of this class, you'll understand:

A little of the history and technology of solar thermal systems
The benefits and limitations of solar thermal systems
How to tell if you have a good site for a system
How to estimate system size
How to estimate system costs, rebates and incentives
Your next steps toward a system

Lecture Topics:

Solar Air Heating
Solar Pool Heating
Domestic Solar Water Heating
Overview of system sizing
Basic site assessment procedures
Economic benefits of solar water heating

When:	Thu, Mar 19 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Cost:	$45

Registration closed - This class has already happened

Instructors

Amy Beaudet

Amy joined Alt E in 2007 and has earned the title "Queen of Solar Thermal" in only a short time. When she isn't in the office helping people design water and space heating systems, she can be found tinkering with new ways to put solar on her home.

Complete Schedule for this Class

Important Information

Class enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, as class size is limited. To reserve a space please pay the entire tuition upon sign-up. Classes are subject to cancellation due to low enrollment, and you will be notified in advance if a class you had previously enrolled in is cancelled.

Location

Hudson, MA

Headquarters

The Alternative Energy Store
43 Broad Street
Suite A408
Hudson, MA 01749

Accommodations

The Holiday Inn Express in Hudson, MA, offers special room rates to Alternative Energy Store students! You will receive reservation information in a separate email shortly after enrolling in the class.

Directions

From Logan Airport, Boston, MA: (Total Est. Time: 50 minutes Total Est. Distance: 42.17 miles Map)
1: Start out going WEST toward TERMINAL C (Portions toll). 0.9 miles
2: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto ramp. <0.1 miles
3: Merge onto I-90 W / MASS PIKE / MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE (Portions toll). 30.7 miles
4: Merge onto I-495 N via EXIT 11A toward MARLBOROUGH / N.H.-MAINE. 7.8 miles
5: Merge onto MA-85 CONN E / HUDSON ST via EXIT 25A toward RT-85 / HUDSON. 1.7 miles
6: Turn LEFT onto MA-85 / WASHINGTON ST. 0.1 miles
7: Turn RIGHT onto BROAD ST. 0.7 miles
8: End at 43 Broad St Hudson, MA 01749-2558

From 495:
Take Exit 25A onto Hudson Street. Go about a mile to the 2nd set of stop lights and take a left onto Route 85. Take your first right onto Broad Street. Follow Broad Street for about 3/4 of a mile. On the left hand side after you cross a small bridge you should see a large brick building, known as the Hudson Mills Building at 43 Broad Street. Park in the front and take the main lobby elevator to the 4th floor. Our office is on the far Southeast side of the building. Follow the signs to find your way.

From Other Points:
Please use this Mapquest map with our address as the destination (43 Broad Street, Hudson, MA 01749).