Find your own ways, small or large, to
use solar technology. Once you start, you'll discover new
ways to add solar energy to your life.
Going big takes commitment
The Borns of Minneapolis power their
entire home with solar energy. A desire to be good stewards
of the earth and energy-independent motivated them to act
for solar. Their electricity is produced by a fuel source
that's always there, doesn't pollute and is owned by everyone
and no one — the sun.
Starting small is easy
If you can do it with fossil fuels, you
can do it with solar.
Tally
numbers on a solar-powered calculator.
Listen
to a solar-powered radio.
Recharge
batteries with a solar-powered charger.
Cook
with a solar-powered oven.
Power
appliances with a solar-powered cart.
(Photo
by MRES)
A 4-kilowatt solar electric array mounted
on the garage roof provides all the electricity the
Born family needs — and then some. They receive
a credit from their local utility company for electricity
they generate but don't use.
Help put solar energy
in the spotlight
Community-based projects help individuals
join forces with businesses and organizations that share an
interest in promoting solar energy.
Choose how you want to help:
(Photo
by MRES)
Raise money
A group of friends gathered donations
from neighbors to pay for the 1-kilowatt solar electrical
system on the roof of West St. Paul's Old
Man River Cafe.
(Photo
by MRES)
One solar-energy project can lead to
another
When word spread about the Old
Man River Cafe project in West St. Paul, other such
initiatives sprang up.
These Minnesota community solar
energy projects need your support:
Inspired by the Old Man River Café
project, Izzy's
Ice Cream in St. Paul used an ice cream social to
raise funds and recruit volunteers to help install its
solar-powered electrical system.
(Photo
by MRES)
Volunteer your labor
Dozens of volunteers helped mount and
wire more than one hundred solar panels on the roof
of the Green
Institute in Minneapolis.
This exhibition was developed
and produced by the Minnesota
Renewable Energy Society, St. Paul, Minnesota, in
collaboration with the Science
Museum of Minnesota through the Community Partnerships
Serving Science Program. The exhibition is made possible
by the generous support of the National
Science Foundation, Solar Area Partner organizations,
and individual donors.
