For Release: October 1, 1997
Michael Finneran
(757) 864-6121
Ann C. Gaudreaux
(757) 864-8150
RELEASE NO. 97-118
SOLAR ENERGY SPECIALIST TO SPEAK AT LANGLEY
The man whose company is helping people in developing nations
use solar power to cook will give a talk at NASA Langley on
Thursday, Oct. 2, at 10 a.m.
Johnny Weiss, co-founder and director of education for Solar
Energy International (SEI), will present his talk in Building 1250,
room 118. The talk - "Solar Energy International Empowers
Developing Nations" - is sponsored by the Radiation Sciences
Branch, Atmospheric Sciences Division.
Weiss will give an overview of SEI activities, as well as
describe the link that the organization has with a Surface Solar
Energy Project at NASA Langley. Solar Energy International is a
nonprofit educational organization that helps people use renewable
energy resources and environmental technologies through education
and technical assistance.
Since 1991, more than 700 people from 48 states and 31 countries
have attended SEI's Renewable Energy Education Program (REEP). In
1996, a range of domestic and international projects were
undertaken:
- SEI worked with women in Central America to open the world's
first Solar Bakery. Together they built a large solar cooker with a
photovoltaic-powered fan inside the oven. The solar convection oven
is being used by the women to make baked goods and sell to the
local community. Through SEI's efforts, these women will have
additional income to raise their family's standard of living.
- SEI teamed with the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) to bring
electricity to a village in the Solomon Islands. SEI was
responsible for training the villagers in the operation and
maintenance of their photovoltaic systems.
- SEI traveled to Peru and taught a solar energy course to
technicians. This course covered installation, maintenance and
repair of solar electric systems for vaccine refrigeration.
- SEI placed a graduate of its Photovoltaic Design and
Installation Workshop and the Advanced PV Workshop with a volunteer
position for Energy Alternatives Africa. The volunteer worked for
one year in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mali teaching the practical use of
solar, and helped train people in the installation of solar
photovoltaic systems.
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