Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) - Connect To The Sun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Attend a Renewable Energy Class!

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2009 Living Green Expo - May 2-3, 2009

2009 Solar Boat Regatta - Saturday, May 16, 2009

Eco Experience at the 2009 Minnesota State Fair - August 27-September 7, 2009

2009 Minnesota Solar Tour - Saturday, October 3, 2009

The Eco Experience at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair

Volunteers Needed!

Solar enthusiasts needed! All solar enthusiasts — expert or novice — are invited to volunteer as Solar Area Educators with the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) and the Connect To The Sun exhibit in The Eco Experience building at the Minnesota State Fair. We need volunteers (18+ years) to staff the Solar Area of The Eco Experience. Volunteers receive free State Fair admission, solar training, and a t-shirt.

Register online at
The Eco Experience website.

Want to learn more about solar power first? Join MRES and partnering solar organizations for a free three-hour Solar Energy Training Workshop on August 19, 5:30–8:30 p.m., to develop your skills and knowledge prior to the Fair and gain insight into renewable energy, solar energy technology, regulations and codes, and fun facts about the solar area partners and displays at The Eco Experience. This voluntary training is provided free of charge for all Solar Area volunteers. You will receive details once you register as an Eco Experience Solar Area volunteer.

 

Connect To The Sun, Eco Experience at the 2006 Minnesota State Fair

Connect To The Sun, Eco Experience at the 2006 Minnesota State Fair

Connect To The Sun, Eco Experience at the 2006 Minnesota State Fair

The Eco Experience at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair

August 21–September 1, 2008

The Eco Experience at the Minnesota State Fair is an indoor green space with lush rain gardens, an eco home, live entertainment, and cutting-edge displays on renewable energy, new fuels and vehicles, and organic farming. Perfect for do-it-yourselfers, techies, gardeners, and nature-lovers, the space features a children's area with fun for kids of all ages. The Eco Experience is presented by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, helping Minnesotans protect the environment since 1967. Bring your family, bring a friend — get in on The Eco Experience!

The Eco Experience is located in the Progress Center building (J-9 on map) at the corner of Cooper Street and Randall Avenue on the State Fairgrounds. The 2008 Minnesota State Fair runs Thursday, August 21, through Labor Day, September 1, 2008. Park and ride information is available online at www.mnstatefair.org. Visit www.EcoExperience.org for more information about The Eco Experience.

About Connect To The Sun

As part of The Eco Experience at the 2008 Minnesota State Fair, Connect To The Sun, the solar exhibit sponsored by the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES), walks visitors through the world of solar energy in simple terms with demonstrations of actual equipment. Guests can learn about using energy from the sun to power their home and pick up information about exciting, community-based energy projects such as the Linden Hills Co-op's "Rays the Roof" campaign to raise money to install solar electric panels on the co-op. The MRES Connect To The Sun exhibit, developed in conjunction with the Science Museum of Minnesota, highlights ways individuals can learn about and support solar energy in their lives. Come see the solar car, designed by students at the University of Minnesota, and a solar boat.

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Aurora III, the U of M's solar powered vehicle has a top speed of 78 mph, runs 55 mph on the power of a hairdryer and can travel over 120 miles without any sun!

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Make waves with a solar powered boat that sailed in the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society's Solar Boat Regatta.

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Find out about a new incentive that gives homeowners a 30 percent federal tax credit for solar electricity and solar thermal installations.

Connect to the Sun inside and outside this year at The Eco Experience through Solar Area displays demonstrating full-scale home applications to simple hand-held devices. New to the area this year outside are eight solar panels on the Solar Power Trailer. Inside will be full-size solar thermal and solar electric demonstration panels along with a number of smaller solar demonstrators, including a sun flower, flying saucer, solar electric house, and solar boat and car racers. Come see the U of M solar-powered and road-worthy car, a solar-electric-powered truck, and a solar-powered boat. Talk with one of our many volunteers about how you too can Connect to the Sun.

See last year's Connect To The Sun exhibit

Preview the Connect To The Sun exhibit online

Volunteers Needed!

Solar enthusiasts needed! All solar enthusiasts — expert or novice — are invited to volunteer as Solar Area Educators with the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) and the Connect To The Sun exhibit in The Eco Experience building at the Minnesota State Fair. We need volunteers (18+ years) to staff the Solar Area of The Eco Experience. Volunteers receive free State Fair admission, solar training, and an Eco Experience t-shirt. Register online at The Eco Experience website.

Want to learn more about solar power first? Join MRES and partnering solar organizations for a free three-hour Solar Energy Training Workshop on August 19, 5:30–8:30 p.m., to develop your skills and knowledge prior to the Fair and gain insight into renewable energy, solar energy technology, regulations and codes, and fun facts about the solar area partners and displays at The Eco Experience. This voluntary training is provided free of charge for all Solar Area volunteers. You will receive details once you register as an Eco Experience Solar Area volunteer.

Become a 2008 Solar Area Partner

We invite solar advocates to once again partner with us in the Solar Area of The Eco Experience during the 12-day Minnesota State Fair. Last year, over 350,000 State Fair attendees visited the Eco-Experience building.

2008 Solar Area Partners

Best Power Intl. LLC

Best Power Intl. LLC

Edina Bike and Sport

Edina Bike and Sport

Fifty Lanterns International

Fifty Lanterns International

freEner-g

freEner-g

Innovative Power Systems

Innovative Power Systems

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society

Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES)

Northland Bioneers Conference

Northland Bioneers Conference

QBP (Quality Bike Products)

QBP (Quality Bike Products)

Solar Midwest

Solar Midwest

Solar Skies Manufacturing

Solar Skies Manufacturing

Sun Energy-CMC

Sun Energy-CMC

University of Minnesota Solar Vehicle Project

University of Minnesota
Solar Vehicle Project

Whole Builders

Whole Builders

Winkelman's Environmentally Responsible Construction (WERC)

Winkelman's Environmentally Responsible Construction (WERC)

ZAP Minnesota

ZAP Minnesota

2008 Eco Experience Solar Area Information & Forms

These documents have information on the expectations and benefits of the partnership. We hope you will join us!

2008 Eco Experience Partner Opportunities (PDF)

2008 Eco Experience Solar Area Exhibit Partner Agreement (PDF)

2008 Solar Area Partner Proposal Form (PDF)

2008 Solar Area Partner Proposal Form (DOC)

Note: In order to receive all benefits of an official Solar Area Partner, applications must be submitted to MRES at gransee.bowman@gmail.com no later than June 19, 2008.

More Information

Doug Shoemaker

(612) 308-4757

Michelle Gransee-Bowman

gransee.bowman@gmail.com

 

 

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2928 5th Avenue South • Minneapolis, MN 55408 • (612) 308-4757 • info@mnRenewables.org