Clean Energy Resource Teams

Save money on a new system & support MN manufacturers while incentives last

 
For a limited time only, the MN Office of Energy Security is offering a significant rebate for solar thermal installations on homes and businesses across the state!

Heat your water or your home this winter with a reliable, energy efficient, and cost-saving solar thermal system. Manufactured here in Minnesota, solar thermal panels can reduce your heating and water heating bill!

To participate, visit http://solarthermal.mncerts.org and fill out either the Solar Air Heating Form or the Solar Water Heating Form.

“This is an amazing opportunity for people to get great deals on a solar thermal installation and support green manufacturing jobs right here in Minnesota at the same time,” says Joel Haskard, co-coordinator of the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs).

About Solar Thermal: While “solar energy” is often thought of as generating electricity, solar thermal systems offer a more efficient use of solar power, using the sun’s energy to heat our water and warm our spaces. A Solar Air Heating System directly transfers the sun’s warmth into hot air to heat your home, reducing your heating costs when you need it the most. A Solar Water Heating System uses the heat of the sun to heat your water, saving on your hot water costs. Both solar thermal systems utilize a clean and renewable energy—the sun!

About the Rebates: The Minnesota Office of Energy Security hopes that Minnesotans will take advantage of this technology, and is offering up to $500,000 in solar thermal rebates for business and residents for a limited time. While rebate amounts will vary, businesses and multi-family units can apply for a rebate up to $25,000 for a solar thermal system. Homeowners are also eligible for of to 25% of the cost of smaller systems.

To learn more about solar thermal systems, available rebates and incentives, our Minnesota manufacturers, and to take action, visit http://solarthermal.mncerts.org or email solar@cleanenergyresourceteams.org with detailed questions.

Please spread the word about this opportunity to all of the people and groups that you know who might be interested in adding a solar thermal system to their home or business! Click here to download the official program announcement >>

Hot Rebates for Solar Thermal is the third in a series of “CERTified Campaigns” from the Clean Energy Resource Teams to provide Minnesotans with clear and actionable ways to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in their community. To learn about other campaigns, visit http://act.mncerts.org.
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
There have been quite a few postings lately for green jobs in the areas of energy efficiency and clean energy, so we wanted to make sure that you heard about them and spread the word to folks you know who are looking for work!

CERTs Coordinator for Northwest, MN: Do you lecture your family about turning off the lights? Would you consider a visit to a wind turbine a good use of vacation time? Do you like to talk with others about clean energy? We have a job for you! The Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team seeks temporary appointment of a Northwest CERT Regional Coordinator. The Northwest CERT Regional Coordinator will be instrumental in advancing the NW CERT’s mission to advance clean energy in the region by working with various organizations and individuals across the region and connecting them with the resources they need to identify and implement local energy efficiency and clean energy projects. The ideal candidate for this position will be someone with knowledge of clean energy practices, models and technologies and someone who likes to, and is good at, working with people. Send resume to Lissa Pawlisch, University of MN, 411 Borlaug Hall, 1991 Upper Buford Cir, St. Paul, MN 55105 or to PAWL0048@umn.edu by June 15th. See the job posting for further details!

CERTs Case Study Researcher Internship Opportunity, Summer 2010: CERTs is looking for a skilled writer who is interested in researching and authoring case studies on energy efficiency and clean energy projects! This will be a great chance to build on your portfolio of written work and meet people in the industry. CERTs supports community-based clean energy projects across the state with seed grants. Once the project is completed, the grantee submits a final report telling how the project was implemented. The final step is to create a case study to describe community models, technologies and lessons learned about projects CERTs has helped fund. These case studies are typically one to two pages long and are a helpful resource to communities who want to do similar projects. Interns will be given a byline (credit) for the case study they write (if they wish) and hopefully gain valuable insight into the variety of clean energy projects springing up across the state. Please submit a cover letter and your resume to Michelle Vigen at vigen010@umn.edu by Wednesday, June 9th at noon. See the job posting for further details!

Center for Energy and Environment Project Assistant: We are looking for an exceptional and hard working individual to provide assistance in implementing our residential programs. Specific tasks assigned to this individual would vary according to their capabilities, but would cut across many aspects of our programs. It would be an ideal above-entry level position for someone to gain some great hands-on experience in implementing some of CEE’s wonderful programs, and work with some of the leading practitioners in the energy efficiency field. Potential applicants should send applications directly to the email listed on the job announcement. Applications might not be accepted after June 4th—be sure to check with CEE. See the job posting for further details!

Center for Energy and Environment Policy Associate: We are looking for an individual with a little more experience, and with exceptional and proven analytical and persuasive skills to help implement CEE’s policy agenda. Again, specific tasks would vary depending on the individual’s experience, but would include monitoring and advocating in regulatory and legislative arenas. Some amount of program development would also be involved with this position. Potential applicants should send applications directly to the email listed on the job announcement. Applications might not be accepted after June 4th—be sure to check with CEE. See the job posting for further details!

Neighborhood Energy Connection Finance and Human Resources Manager: The Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC), a 25-year-old nonprofit environmental organization, seeks a forward-thinking, entrepreneurial-minded, and highly-motivated individual to manage its finances. The NEC is a regional leader in the field of energy efficiency. With an expanding car sharing program and a long history in residential energy efficiency programs, the NEC is at the forefront of developing new tools for the burgeoning green economy. The Finance and Human Resources Manager is a qualified accountant responsible for managing the organization’s finances and benefits programs. Applications will be accepted through June 11, 2010. See the job posting for further details!

Other places to look: Minnesota-specific job boards that you should check include PCA’s NextStep and SEEK Job Listings, Minnesota Environmental Partnership Jobs List, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Job Board. Other popular job search engines with energy listings include careerbuilder.com, idealist.org, indeed.com, job.com, monster.com, yahoo.com, and nationjob.com.

 
Do you lecture your family about turning off the lights? Would you consider a visit to a wind turbine a good use of vacation time? Do you like to talk with others about clean energy? We have a job for you! The Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team seeks temporary appointment of a Northwest CERT Regional Coordinator.

The Northwest CERT Regional Coordinator will be instrumental in advancing the NW CERT’s mission to advance clean energy in the region by working with various organizations and individuals across the region and connecting them with the resources they need to identify and implement local energy efficiency and clean energy projects. The ideal candidate for this position will be someone with knowledge of clean energy practices, models and technologies and someone who likes to, and is good at, working with people.

 
These presentations were given as part of the April 21, 2010 Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team meeting on Smart Grid Technology in Northwest Minnesota. Together these presentations offer an introduction to smart grid technology general, and highlight its use in NW MN.

 
Smart Meter Basics and Benefits by Darryl Tveitbakk, Northern Municipal Power Agency

Download presentation >>

 
Smart Grid Technology Use at East Grand Forks Water and Light by Corey Thompson, Electronic and Information Systems Manager and Bonnie Abel, Customer and Energy Services Manager

Download presentation >>

 
Smart Grid & Beyond by Joe Jacobson, Eusco

Download presentation >>

 
The Metro CERT Spring Resource & Networking event was a big hit this year! On April 14th from 4-8pm the shindig brought together more than two hundred Metro CERT affiliates, partners and friends excited to celebrate Metro CERT’s second year of connecting communities to resources, hear about our first round of seed grants to Twin Cities communities, learn about our new energy efficiency campaigns and other resources, and connect with their fellow energy geeks.

Photos: Check out photos from the event to reflect on the good times you had or to see what you missed. Press play on the slideshow below, or click here to see the images on Flickr.

The evening’s line up:

• Terry Webster, Office of Energy Security: Making Smart Energy Investments
• Sam Hanson, East Side Neighborhood Development Company: Building BLOCKS
• Greg Palmer, Xcel Energy: Partnership with CERTs & Xcel Programs
• Diana McKeown, Green Institute & Metro CERT: Metro CERT: Year in Review
• Everyone: Networking and refreshments

If you’re looking for an event keepsake, you can download the promotional postcard.

Thanks to our sponsors!

Eureka Recycling was proud to partner with Metro CERT to make this a zero waste event. By rethinking, reusing, recycling, and composting all the discards, we greatly reduced our environmental impact! For more info, visit http://www.eurekarecycling.org.

Xcel Energy was a proud sponsor of the Metro CERT Spring Resource & Networking Event. To learn more about their commitments to energy efficiency and conservation, as well as renewable energy, visit http://www.xcelenergy.com. Also, check out the award Xcel just honored CERTs with here.

 
Past events: If you want, you can also learn about 2009 and 2008 Metro CERT Spring Resource & Networking events, and see photos from the 2009 get together.

 
CERTs is taking this opportunity to highlight events and reflections on the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.

So, if you’re looking for something to do tomorrow or looking to do a little reflecting on how far we’ve come since the first Earth Day, check out the links below.

I’m sure there are events we’ve forgotten. If you know of something that is going on to celebrate Earth Day that you’d like others to know about, click here to share it on our Facebook page!

 
EVENTS & RESOURCES:

• Events happening on Earth Day on the CERTs calendar
• Events posted by Minnesotans on the CERTs Facebook page
• Earth Day resources from our friends at Office of Energy Security

 
REFLECTIONS FROM AROUND MINNESOTA:

• Earth Day 40: A Week of Reminiscence From Those Who Were There – Conservation Minnesota, John Helland
• Earth Day 40 years later: Renewables – Bemidji Pioneer, Brita Sailer
• Looking Back on Progress After Earth Day 1970 – Conservation Minnesota, Bob Dunn
• The birth of Earth Day – Marshall Independent, Ted Rowe
• Earth Day Then and Now: Naiveté, Realism, Fear, and Hope – Conservation Minnesota, Chuck Dayton

 
EARTH DAY AT THE CAPITOL: THUMBS UP FOR CLEAN ENERGY!

Students from across the state will gather in the Rotunda at the Minnesota State Capitol this Earth Day, April 22 from 10am-2pm to talk about actions they’re taking to reduce the carbon footprints of their schools. They’ll be sharing the microphone with legislators and climate leaders who have been working to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green jobs in Minnesota. This is a fantastic opportunity to document innovative clean energy efforts in Minnesota. The event, “Earth Day at the Capitol: Thumbs Up for Clean Energy!” is a celebration of student-led energy efficiency and clean energy projects, Minnesota’s leadership on clean energy and green jobs, and working together to build our clean energy future. Click here for more information about the event.

 
Some of the best legislation yet to help consumers, manufacturers and construction workers in the nation became law today in Minnesota, when Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the Jobs bill—which will bring benefits for clean, renewable energy as well as jobs.

The Jobs bill includes provisions for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE), which enables local governments to create programs that will allow property owners to make energy efficiency, solar and other renewable energy improvements to their homes or businesses.

Sixteen states have passed similar PACE-enabling legislation. “Minnesota property owners can be part of the solution by tapping into the renewable energy resources that our state is blessed with,” said Ken Bradley, director of Environment Minnesota. “PACE allows building owners to make investments by using energy savings and pay those investments back through property voluntary assessments. This is a program that helps consumers put more money in their pockets at the end of the day!”

Stay tuned to CERTs for more news about PACE. If this is getting you excited about installing a solar energy system, check out our Minnesota solar installers map and other resources!

Thanks to Environment Minnesota and the Minnesota Solar Energy Industry Association for the news!

 
Green Institute seeks an Energy Efficiency Technical Specialist whose primary responsibility is to provide support to the Community Energy Program at The Green Institute. The position reports directly to the Community Energy Program Manager.

To apply: Please submit application with cover letter to nkelly@greeninstitute.org or to Nancy Kelly at 2801 21st Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55407. Applications received after April 26, 2010 may not be considered.

BACKGROUND
Green Institute’s mission is to “sustain the environment and our communities through practical innovation.” The Community Energy Program accomplishes this through working to develop or assist in the development of community-oriented energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The main focus areas of the community energy program include residential and small businesses. The primary outreach mechanism for community energy projects is through the ReUse Program customer base and the Metro Clean Energy Resource Team.

This position is funded by a grant from the US Department of Energy with funding covered through March 31st, 2011. The grant is focused on the expansion of the energy conservation programming at The Green Institute and evaluating the feasibility of the collection of residential/commercial organics for the production of biogas. This position will focus on support the expansion of the energy conservation programming.

More information at http://www.greeninstitute.org and http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
The Energy Efficiency Technical Specialist reports to the Community Energy Project Manager. This includes the following tasks:

• Conduct applied research on energy conservation/efficiency for small commercial buildings, including collection of benchmark and baseline data, keeping up with the most up to date credible research on energy saving technologies, and regularly communicating results in a professional manner
• Work as part of a team ensuring that the evaluation, implementation and verification of energy efficiency projects are successfully executed.
• Review technical specifications, engineering calculations and interface with contractors for cost estimates and installation of energy efficiency project for small commercial customers.
• Complete appropriate residential energy efficiency course and provide technical support to residential energy efficiency program
• Provide technical and project support to the Clean Energy Resource Teams, including assisting with measurement and verification of energy savings of CERTs projects
• Contribute to efforts to strengthen the Community Energy program at the Green Institute

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
A qualified candidate will possess the following characteristics:

• Technical:
  • Experience with utility energy efficiency programs and knowledge of energy efficiency technologies associated with small-commercial building systems.
  • Understanding of energy codes and standards
  • Experience and skill taking field measurements and analyzing field data included in the energy audit process for small commercial or residential buildings.
  • Ability to analyze field data and
  • Technical background in energy issues and data analysis such as provided by a degree or certification
  • Experience in the building trades is a plus

• General:
  • Bachelors degree in Mechanical or Electrical engineering and a minimum of 3 years of utility, energy efficiency, or equivalent trade experience (electrical or HVAC contracting)
  • Attention to detail, ability to identify problem and develop solutions with high quality and follow-through
  • Strong written and oral communications skills in communicating technical information to non-technical audiences
  • Ability to work effectively with a wide range of people and as part of a team
  • Ability to self-initiate and work independently, including effective time management
  • Basic computer skills (Word, Excel, etc.)

SALARY AND BENEFITS
This is a full-time position with a competitive salary (commensurate with qualifications and applicant’s current and/or past positions) plus a complete benefits program including health, dental, disability, retirement and vacation. Occasional evening and weekend work hours to attend community events/meetings will be necessary.
Green Institute is an equal opportunity employer.

Download Job Announcement >>

 
This presentation from Metro CERT’s Julia Eagles outlines simple ways that you can save energy and money in your own home by taking action today!

Click on the link below to download a copy of the presentation for yourself, or watch the presentation using the slide viewer.

Save Energy & Money at Home with Metro CERT! (2mb pdf) – Julia Eagles, Metro CERT, Spring 2010

To get more info about the content of particular a slide, click on the orange info bubble in the top left corner of most pdf pages. This feature is only available on the downloaded version of the presentation.

Once you have taken action—or if you already have—we’d love to hear your story so we can share it with others! Tell us what you’re doing to save at http://stories.mncerts.org!

 
Spring is here, the ponds and prairie potholes are opening up, and all across our region good things are happening!

In New London, the NL-S YES! team is building solar thermal panels to help reduce the heating costs for the Little Theatre. In Montevideo community members are learning about passive home construction from architect Tim Eian as part of an ongoing series of presentations in conjunction with the Hill Grocery House project. The ACGC YES! Team hosted an energy and environment fair for some 400 students, while community groups in both the St. Cloud area and Stevens County continued the work of long-term planning for sustainability. If you have stories or events to share about cool things happening in your community let’s talk!

In this month’s West Cental CERT update, you will find information on upcoming events around the region, CERTs campaigns, the latest solar PV news, and information about how CERTs is helping communities connect. Thanks again for sharing, hosting, celebrating, and keeping the renewable energy conversation current for our region.

Click here to download the update >>