NorCal Solar to Host Party to Launch 9th Edition of Solar Energy Resource Guide

BERKELEY, Calif., July 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northern California Solar Energy Association (NorCal Solar) will be launching its latest Solar Energy Resource Guide (SERG) on the eve of the 2012 Intersolar North American conference in San Francisco next month. The SERG serves as a requisite tool for northern Californians interested in utilizing solar energy at home and in their businesses.

The 9th edition SERG features articles covering a breadth of solar applications from photovoltaics and solar hot water to solar cooking, Passive House, zero net energy design, and more. It will also contain an extensive Solar Resources section. NorCal Solar plans to distribute over 7,500 copies of the SERG through 2014.

"We are extremely excited about the 9th edition of the SERG," said NorCal Solar President Elaine Hebert. "The expanded content will be useful to people who are new to solar and to seasoned professionals on the broad range of what solar can be. People have used past editions as something like a bible of solar, and it has helped them immensely on their career path."

The launch party takes place Monday, July 9, from 7-9:00 pm, at the Intercontinental Hotel, next door to the Moscone Center on Howard Street, San Francisco. Invited guest speakers include Jeff Spies of QuickMount PV and Amy Reardon of the California Public Utilities Commission. The party is free to NorCal Solar members and supporters and $15 for others.  RSVPs are requested at www.norcalsolar.org.

Intersolar NA is an annual conference that provides in-depth alternative energy industry insight by bringing together companies from all over the globe to exchange knowledge and ideas and display new products. This year's conference and exhibition will take place July 9-12 at the Moscone Center and Intercontinental Hotel. More than 22,000 people are expected. NorCal Solar will be at booth L224.

Since its inception in 1974, NorCal Solar, a non-profit consumer education organization, has fostered information exchange on the many applications of solar energy. It hosts seminars, tours, and other events, and more recently organizes popular networking events.

"There are many people looking to break into the green job market, and our networking events are a great way to meet those already working in solar," said Hebert.

In step with its goal to enhance solar energy awareness, NorCal Solar is conducting three bus tours of local solar facilities during Intersolar NA. The first two, on July 9th, will take participants to solar installations around San Francisco and at Google headquarters in Mountain View. The other trip, on July 13th, will visit wineries in the Napa Valley that utilize solar electricity. Registration for these tours is through the Intersolar website, www.intersolar.us.

NorCal Solar sponsors include Quick Mount PV, Intersolar NA, PG&E, the Redwood Alliance, Backwoods Solar, Silicon Valley Power, and EcoBranding Solutions. NorCal Solar is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society.

SOURCE NorCal Solar