10/16/09

LRCC Solar Pathfinder Hands-on Lesson

Photo: Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) Energy Services and Technology (EST) student, Alain Bennett (Campton-center right), uses a solar pathfinder in LRCC’s Renewable Energy Course on Prescott Hill. Explaining the solar pathfinder’s ability to accurately estimate the potential for solar energy is LRCC EST Professor, Ed Maduskuie (Chocorua-far left). Also looking on are LRCC EST students, Eric Goulette (Belmont-center left), and Debra Shigo (Rochester-far right).

"The solar pathfinder is an interesting tool to say the least," says Maduskuie, a new professor in LRCC’s EST and Electrical Technologies programs who owns ESM Electric Inc., a successful electrical contracting business with a specialty in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal utilization. “America must think ‘green’."

A solar pathfinder measures potential obstructions of the sun and can be seen against a grid on the pathfinder. When data is entered into a software program, one can make an accurate estimate of the potential for solar energy at that site.