CCSE provides a variety of informative and educational workshops designed for every individual in the solar community. The core of our workshop program encompasses 5 regularly-scheduled workshop series, which are offered free to the community and include:
- Solar for Homeowners 1 – Getting Started
- Solar for Homeowners 2 – Be a Smart Solar Customer
- CSI Application Process Made Easy
- Passing the CSI Inspection Protocol
- Innovative Solar Technology
In addition, we often host special workshops and seminars on a variety of relevant topics that can all be found on the CCSE Workshop and Event Calendar.
All of our previous CSI workshop presentations are available online for download.
An exciting new feature we have to offer are online training versions of our most popular workshop series, which you can watch in the comfort of your own home and at your own pace.
Workshop Descriptions
Solar for Homeowners 1 – Getting Started (Monthly, on the 4th Thursday)
You will learn the fundamentals of solar power for residential systems. We will explain how to read your utility bill, calculate your annual electricity usage and properly size a PV system for your home. Bring your electrical utility bill and find out what portion of it can be reduced or eliminated with clean solar energy!
- Register online for the next Solar for Homeowners 1 workshop
- Download the most recent Solar for Homeowners 1 presentation
Solar for Homeowners 2 – Be a Smart Solar Customer (Monthly, on the 2nd Thursday)
Informed consumers can save themselves time and money by doing their homework before picking a solar contractor. After learning the fundamentals of residential installations in Solar for Homeowners 1, attend this follow-up workshop to learn the ins and outs of choosing a solar company that operates in an ethical and trustworthy fashion. Discussion topics include bid comparisons, cost trends, and consumer awareness. Knowing this information will give you a leg up when you enter into negotiations with contractors for the installation of solar.
- Register online for the next Solar for Homeowners 2 workshop
- Download the most recent Solar for Homeowners 2 presentation
CSI Application Process Made Easy (Quarterly)
Whether you are a new solar installer looking to submit your first application or a seasoned veteran with many projects under your belt, this workshop will bring you up to speed on PowerClerk, CSI’s online application processing tool. Topics of discussion include recently implemented CSI Handbook changes, reservation request and incentive claim processing, required documentation for residential and nonresidential projects and requirements for PBI and EPBB projects.
- Register online for the next CSI Application Process Made Easy workshop
- Download the most recent CSI Application Process Made Easy presentation
- View the online training version of CSI Application Process Made Easy
Passing the CSI Inspection Protocol (Bi-monthly)
The design of your solar system, as well as shading issues, affects the production of your solar system and thereby the CSI rebate amount you will receive. For quality assurance, the accuracy of incentive payouts as specified on the EPBB calculator is verified through onsite inspections for randomly selected projects. Come learn about the relationship of azimuth and tilt, how to handle oddly shaped arrays (non-geometric figures), CSI inspection protocol guidelines and much more.
- Register online for the next Passing the CSI Inspection Protocol workshop
- Download the most recent Passing the CSI Inspection Protocol presentation
Innovative Solar Technology (As scheduled)
These workshops are for solar developers, installers, engineers, researchers and PV enthusiasts who want to learn more about solar technologies and discuss new and emerging ideas. We invite guest speakers to discuss technologies that are pushing the envelope at the forefront of the solar industry.
