The Eco Experience at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair

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August 23–September 3, 2012

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 2012 Minnesota State Fair runs Thursday, August 23, through Labor Day, September 3, 2012. Park and ride information is available online at www.mnstatefair.org. Visit www.EcoExperience.org for more information about The Eco Experience.

Become a Solar Area Partner

We invite solar advocates to partner with us in the Solar Area of The Eco Experience during the Minnesota State Fair.

Eco Experience Partner Levels and Benefits Letter

MRES Partner Agreement

About Connect To The Sun

As part of The Eco Experience at the 2012 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 our Make Mine Solar group purchasing project for solar hot water and solar air heat. 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.

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, full-size, working solar thermal panels that lets you wash your hands with hot water at the fair and a solar electric panel that is powering a water fountain. Come see a solar-powered boat and a solar car charging station for electric cars. Talk with one of our many volunteers about how you too can Connect to the Sun.

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.

All volunteers should attend the Volunteer Training 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 training is free of charge for all Solar Area volunteers.

The Fair is Aug 23-Sept 3.  We have morning (8:45am-1pm), afternoon (12:45-5pm) and evening (4:45-9pm) shifts available. Click here to sign up for your shifts.  If you have trouble with the Volunteer Matters Website, contact their customer service or see the   Log in Directions here.

The Volunteer Training will be August 16th, the ticket pickup line will begin at 5pm and training will be from 6-9pm at the Solar Arts Building at 711 15th Ave NE, Mpls.  Complimentary vegetarian and all beef hotdogs with all the fixins will be served with pop, courtesy of Blue Horizon Energy. Beer will be available at the in-house brewery for $3 a pint. This building has a 26kW system on the roof, tours will be available before the training.

This training is where you will pick up your State Fair tickets and your Eco Experience t-shirt if you do not already have one. if you cannot make it to pick up your tickets, you must arrange pickup of tickets from MRES. We cannot mail or deliver any tickets unless you are doing more than 4 shifts. The training teach solar basics, answer FAQ's, give updates on rebates, incentives, products and more, plus meet all of our partners who are the center of the solar industry in Minnesota.

More Information

Doug Shoemaker - (612) 308-4757

or Laura Cina laurac@mnrenewables.org