For the dates and times of upcoming events read our
Plymouth
Area Renewable Energy Initiative
fulfills
their mission by offering
the
following events and activities:
Energy Assessments and Planning
Sessions. Part time staff and/or volunteers tour members’ homes to
help them generate a list of action steps that will help them reduce their
energy consumption and increase their energy efficiency.
Energy Exchanges. These
motivational meetings are for members/prospective members and provide a medium
for knowledge sharing about each other’s energy goals and accomplishments.
Information sharing takes place via a group wide discussion and mini
presentations on topics such as building an energy efficient home, installing a
solar water heating system, federal tax incentives, alternative transportation
and energy saving lifestyle changes.
Energy Raisers are
modeled after a “barn-raising” following the tradition of neighbor helping
neighbor. PAREI members work together,
sharing labor and skills on a renewable energy installation with the
understanding that the favor will be paid forward when the next participant is
ready to install a system on his/her own home. PAREI organizes 8 – 12 volunteer
energy raisers each year installing primarily solar water heating systems.
Energy Raisers are an excellent opportunity for tradespeople to introduce
themselves to solar energy. All volunteers must be a member of PAREI to
participate. Each Energy Raiser includes an information session/tour for the
general public.
Solar Site Visits. PAREI
tours members’ homes to determine the feasibility of installing a solar thermal
or solar electric system. PAREI then works with families to meet their solar
goals by assisting them in three ways 1) Do it Yourself – PAREI offers solar
products, technical advice and member partnering 2) Energy Raisers – PAREI
educates and trains families interested in taking part in the volunteer
installation process or 3) Coordinates with tradespeople to install systems
professionally.
Energy Advisors: PAREI volunteers, willing to share their experience/research, make
themselves available to others seeking energy related information and
sustainable living ideas. Members open
their homes to help neighbors learn first hand about an outside woodboiler,
green building products, a homemade solar air circulator, greenhouse, chicken
coup, composting toilet or a solar water heater.
Educational Events. From lectures to hands-on trainings, PAREI sponsors events for the
general public to learn about such things as net-metering, peak oil, global
warming, heating with wood pellets, alternative transportation, solar air
circulators and solar photovoltaics.
Local Foods Plymouth PAREI administers an on-line local food buying website to connect local farmers with buyers reducing the miles our community’s food travels from farm to kitchen…saving energy through the foods we choose to eat. Visit www.lfp.dacres.org for more info.