Home Workshops
How do I register for a workshop?
You can visit our online workshop calendar to register for a workshop. We also take registrations over the phone at 707-744-2017. To register for a workshop by mail, print and fill out the registration form and send it with payment (workshop fee plus $10 registration fee) to:
Solar Living Institute
P.O. Box 836
Hopland, CA 95449
How do I pay for a workshop?
All payments must be made in full. We accept check or credit cards. A non-refundable $10.00 registration fee is charged in addition to workshop fees for phone or mail registrations. Note: Active Solar Living Institute Partners DO NOT pay registration fees (see Support the SLI for more information).
Do you offer any kind of financial assistance for workshops?
Yes! The Solar Living Institute has a worktrade program in which people can come and volunteer onsite in order to gain workshop credit. We trade one workshop day for (two) 8 hour days volunteering at the SLI. You can offset part or all of workshop fee through volunteering, but it is important to note that the SLI requires that all volunteers do their worktrade shifts before the beginning of the workshop. If you are interested in doing worktrade, we suggest you contact us ASAP in order to get the process underway. Volunteers are welcome in workshops on a space available basis.
How do I know if a workshop is sold out?
Sold out workshops will register online as sold out. If the registration button is active on the website, there is still room in the class.
What if I want to attend a sold out workshop?
If a workshop is sold out, you can add your name to a waiting list and you will be contacted immediately should a space become available. What if I need to cancel my attendance?
Cancellations or modifications to a registration (i.e. transferring to another workshop) made prior to two (2) weeks from the workshop date will be charged a $40 fee. Any cancellations made within two weeks from the workshop date are non-refundable.
What if the workshop is canceled? If, for any reason, a workshop needs to be canceled, we will give you as much advance notice as possible. We will issue you either a full refund or credit if a class is canceled.
How do I know I am registered for a workshop?
You should receive confirmation of registration including a receipt, location details and directions, and any other relevant information within ten days of signing up via mail or phone. If do not receive confirmation from us, please call our office at 707-744-2017.
What if I’m unsure which workshop I should take? If you have a question about which photovoltaics class is right for you, read the information below. If you still have questions, give us a call at 707-744-2017 and we’ll be happy to talk to you about the content and knowledge level of workshops.
If you are a beginning PV person, homeowner, PV career seeker, general public looking for an introduction to solar: - PV 101, 102 for general intro to PV
- For more on off-grid, proceed with PV 190, 290
- For more on grid-tied, proceed with PV 201, 301
- For immersion, PV 200 Design & Installation Intensive 5 days
If you are an electrician/contractor looking to get into the PV industry:
- For a 1-day lecture intro, PV 203
- For a hands-on immersion, PV 200 Design & Installation Intensive 5 days
- For a shorter class, PV 201, 301 (grid-tied) or for the few interested in off-grid applications PV190, 290
If you have some experience with PV and are looking to prepare for the NABCEP Installer Certification exam:
- PV 300 Advanced PV Systems, 5 days
PREREQUISITE STRICTLY ENFORCED (PV 200, NABCEP Entry Level Certificate, 2 years working in PV with documented experience, or permission of the instructor) Can I skip PV 200 and go directly into PV 300?
You can, if you meet the following criteria: - Certificate of Completion from Solar Living Institute for "PV Design & Installation Intensive" (or equivalent from an ISPQ accredited institution such as Solar Energy International)
Or
- 2 Years of design, installation, or related experience with proper documentation
Or
- Entry Level NABCEP Certification with proper documentation
Or
- Permission of the Instructor
Will your workshops provide me with any sort of accreditation or certification?
We can provide certificates for any of our workshops, signed by our managing director and documenting your training time. Our intensive NABCEP-focused courses will also prepare you to take NABCEP tests and become NABCEP certified. We will even soon be able to administer NABCEP tests ourselves after said workshops, after we become accredited. If you are not familiar with NABCEP, check out the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioner’s website (www.nabcep.org) – they offer voluntary solar certifications, the only standard in the industry today. If you are interested in eventually making a career out of solar installation, a NACEP certification makes one stand out in a crowd of installers. How do I get to the Solar Living Center?
Directions to the Solar Living Center in Hopland are listed on our website. For directions to other workshop locations, please check your confirmation email.
At what time should I arrive and depart? All workshops run from 9am to 5pm, except for our solar intensives (PV 200 and PV 300) which are from 9am to 6pm. We ask that you arrive at the workshop location at least 10 minutes prior to the beginning of class, to give yourself time to get oriented and settled in.
Where can I stay in Hopland? Accommodations near the Solar Living Center are listed on our website. For accommodations convenient to other workshop locations, please check your confirmation email. What if I want the Solar Living Institute to come give a custom workshop to a group?
Please contact Diane DePuydt, our Regional Workshops Manager, at diane.depuydt@solarliving.org, or by calling 707-744-2017. Where can I go to find out more about the subject matter in which I am interested?
Our website has extensive websites for further information under the “resources” tab. We also sell educational books and dvds, both online and at the Solar Living Center.
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