This summer I am researching sustainable development and renewable energy in rural communities as a means of creating resilience against climate change. I will be working at Avani, a chapter of Barefoot College located in Kumaon, Uttarakhand India. Recently I have been connecting my involvement this semester with the Solar Decathlon project and the research and work I will be doing over the summer. I recently joined the Solar Decathlon project and become part of the Empowerhouse Collective working with a solar cooperative in Ward 7 Deanwood DC, where the Parsons designed/built home was moved after the competition on the DC mall.
Something struck me yesterday when I went down to DC and met with a solar contractor, president of the Ward 7 Solar Cooperative and homeowner of PVC’s, and Georgetown student and member of Georgetown Energy, a non-profit formed by students to assist homeowners in the contracting and installation of solar panels. Discussing the benefits and financial savings of rooftop solar panel installation and the practicality in being trained as a solar engineer and installer, I realized this might be something I will be fortunate enough to learn and be trained on this summer as a volunteer at Avani.
This is incredibly exciting to think I could potentially learn how to be a solar engineer this summer. To learn something so practical, tangible and applicable to the life I want to lead sounds pretty great.