My Nonprofit Reviews

Suppose you are passionate about a particular aspect of solar energy and want to make a difference. In that case, ASES with its small, but hard-working staff, expertise of member professionals, and passionate group of volunteers is the organization that will support your goals and assist you in making them happen. In my case, the area of interest is passive solar. By expressing this interest and the willingness to work hard towards sharing knowledge and encouraging discussion, I became involved in many ASES programs such as the Solar Building Division, the annual National Solar Tour, and the steering committee of the annual National Conference, then eventually the board of directors. I have been able to present a webinar and help select papers and topics for the conference. As a seasoned professional, I am willing to spend more time educating others and ASES makes that possible, but I can also recommend to emerging professionals that ASES is an organization that can assist your career with quality professional, career-long connections.

The American Solar Energy Society is the only non-profit organization in the United States that has continuously (since its inception in 1954) supported and promoted solar energy through education and interaction. They have always encouraged the incorporation of free and natural passive solar energy to reduce a building's dependence on mechanically obtained heat for the occupants' comfort and survival as well as reduced energy consumption and costs. They also advocate for the sustainable use of photovoltaic (PV) panels and efficiency-first strategies as well as passive cooling. Through their annual conferences, workshops, and publications as well as interaction with a super passionate and smart group of people, I have obtained the majority of my passive solar knowledge that has led me to develop Sun Plans and successfully provide home design services for clients throughout the U.S. The free National Solar Tour that they have organized every year for the past 28 years is an awesome event that solar homeowners and business owners share and learn from each other.