RLS Plumbing Co. Robert Schlueter 9835 Lakeview Dr - PHCC Ohio

defined annual benchmarks requiringOhio’s investor-owned utilities todiversify their supply mix in generatingelectricity with renewable energy,including a 0.5% solar “carve-out” toassure development of solar power. Theenactment of the RPS law is a triumphon many levels and will ultimatelyencourage better stewardship of theenvironment and promote new greencollar jobs.The hotbed of renewable energyactivity in Ohio in 2007-2008 hasenhanced the need for a newly trainedlabor force in this emerging green energyeconomy. In 2007, the City of Clevelandwas the first city government in Ohioto investigate how it could use solarthermal technologies to heat hot waterat its city facilities. The City partneredwith Green Energy Ohio to conduct thefirst technical training in Ohio on thedesign and installation of solar thermalsystems. Support was provided fromThe Cleveland Foundation and OhioDepartment of Development. Thetraining was a three-day workshop heldfrom June 18-20, 2007, which includedthe installation of a 9.0 MWh STsolarthermal hot water system on ClevelandFire Station #20. The twenty-threeprofessionals who participated inthis training included city-employedplumbers, pipe fitters, electricians andrelated trade professionals along withenergy managers, installers and generalcontractors. These highly visible projectsand trainings are providing numerousopportunities to pair new laborers withexperienced installers to expand thepool of qualified professionals who cancomplete the exponential increase ofsolar projects expected to come.The City of Cleveland is continuallymonitoring the performance of the solarthermal hot water system and evaluatingthe cost savings and environmentalattributes at Fire Station #20. The datawill determine the offering of solarthermal systems to the city’s largewater customers, who typically canmaximize the economic, environmentaland marketing benefits of clean energy.Further, the data analysis has led GreenEnergy Ohio, the City of Cleveland andCuyahoga Community College to partnerand pursue additional solar thermal hotwater workshops, combining trainingsand installations on other City buildings.These workshops will be conducted inFall 2008 and cover the basics of solarthermal technologies, solar resourcefundamentals, applications and systemcomponents. An overview of the codesand standards associated with thesetechnologies will also be explained.Hands-on demonstration and installationof a solar thermal system will be a keyaspect of the training to maximize theparticipant’s education and experienceand leave a legacy in the community.There are a number of otherstate and national organizations thatprovide excellent training programs inthe renewable energy field. Some ofthese include the Florida Solar EnergyCenter, Solar Energy International, theMidwest Renewable Energy Association,the North Carolina Solar Center andthe Great Lakes Renewable EnergyAssociation. Some programs specificto Ohio are held at Owens CommunityCollege, Hocking College, CincinnatiState and Cuyahoga CommunityCollege. A more comprehensive listof website links for jobs and trainingprograms related to renewable energy,energy efficiency and sustainability, aswell as information on upcoming solarthermal training workshops offered byGreen Energy Ohio can be found athttp://www.greenenergyohio.org/page.cfm?pageID=946.Volume 2008, Issue 3 • OHIO PHC CONTRACTOR 31