Another stellar crew of work-traders pass through Solar Energy International

By Ben de Lieris, Solar Energy International summer 2010 work-trader

Solar Energy International has an incredible work-trade program that allows people interested in renewable energy and sustainable building to trade eight weeks of work for eight weeks of workshops. This summer SEI was lucky to have three amazing work-traders who now join the ranks of hundreds of work-traders who have come through Solar Energy International.

 
Ben de Leiris grew up in Newport, Rhode Island and graduated in 2009 from Middlebury College in Vermont, where he studied physics. After hauling traps on a lobster boat last summer, he trekked out to Colorado this spring to catch some photons. His work-trade consisted of a diversity of jobs within the Renewable Energy Education Program (REEP)-and included everything from  promoting and coordinating workshops, working in our Wind and Solar Thermal programs, to fixing things to removing barbed wire. Ben likes playing softball, growing veggies, sailing, and surfing (some of which are tough in the mountains). This summer he will be building a cob house with House Alive on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and someday hopes to put those skills to use building his own house.

Quentin Rogers hails from north of the border in Vancouver, British Columbia. He's been a great asset to the SEI PV team this spring by assisting with online conversion for PV 202 and 203. Since studying visual arts and sculpture at the University of Victoria, he has spent his days opening a record store, DJing, working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and building too many websites to mention. Quentin also likes working on electronic music and multimedia art, and will gladly offer counseling (from personal experience) on internet/computer addiction. After leaving SEI he's hoping to get his electrical ticket and escape the virtual world to work in the real world for a change.

Carrie Schaffner grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, but has lived, worked, and studied in countless places since then. In recent years, she has spent the austral summers at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, working in logistics in the U.S. Antarctic program. It is there that she first heard of SEI's workshops and outstanding instructors. Carrie has been working in the Carbondale office since April, assisting Noah Davis with the Solar in the Schools programs, giving presentations at local schools, and most recently preparing for, and taking part in, the Renewable Energy for Educators workshops.