The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is pleased to announce the release of a new Solar Heating Installer Resource Guide. This new resource guide is aligned with the NABCEP Solar Heating Installer Job Task Analysis and it makes an excellent study companion for the NABCEP Solar Heating Installer Certification or Entry Level Exam. The new guide follows upon the successful introduction last year of the PV Installer Resource Guide; a document that has been accessed over 200,000 times since October 2011. Both resource guides are available for free download from the resources page on the NABCEP website (www.nabcep.org/resources).

The Solar Heating Resource Guide is co-authored by Chuck Marken and Vaughan Woodruff, two respected educators in the Solar Heating field. Marken is a licensed New Mexico plumber, electrician and heating and air conditioning contractor. He has been installing and servicing solar thermal systems, and teaching installers, for over thirty years. Marken is also a technical editor for Home Power and SolarPro magazines. Vaughan Woodruff is a NABCEP Certified Solar Heating Installer and served as lead solar heating instructor for the Northeast Solar Heating and Cooling Instructor Training Program, which was part of the Department of Energy's Solar Instructor Training Network. In addition, he authored the Field Inspection Guidelines for Solar Heating Systems for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). 

NABCEP’s Executive Director, Ezra Auerbach, says, “The new Solar Heating Installer Resource Guide is a valuable addition to the reference material available to anyone wishing to learn about Solar Heating systems.” He continues, “This resource would not have been possible without the guiding efforts of the Technical Editor, and longtime NABCEP supporter, Les Nelson.”

Les Nelson’s involvement in the solar industry dates to 1972, and includes solar heating manufacturing and contracting, solar regulatory and policy development, and solar energy advocacy at the state and federal levels. Nelson sits on the Board of Directors and is acting Treasurer of NABCEP. He serves as a Director of the Solar Energy Industries Association and Chair of its Solar Heating & Cooling Division. Additionally, he is the Director of Solar Heating & Cooling Programs for the International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials in Ontario, California.

Chairperson of NABCEP Board of Directors, Don Warfield, says, “I am proud that NABCEP is able to bring together such distinguished people who, working collaboratively, developed this outstanding resource for Solar Heating Installer Certification candidates.” He continues, “The development of the Solar Heating Installer Resource Guide was supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). On behalf of the entire NABCEP Board I wish to express our gratitude to NYSERDA for its continued support.”

                                                                                 

About NABCEP: The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is the most respected, well-established, and widely recognized national certification organization for professionals in the field of renewable energy. NABCEP is a volunteer board of representatives who are chosen based on their experience and involvement in the solar energy industry. NABCEP’s mission is to develop and implement quality credentialing and certification programs for practitioners by supporting and working closely with professionals and stakeholders in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries. To learn more visit www.nabcep.org.