Interect Solar Education Program

Spring Into Basic Fall Protection Training

2012-02-28T05:00:00.006-08:00

It may seem a little soon to start talking about spring, but with the weather being so warm and a call for an early end to winter by our dear groundhog, spring projects are right around the corner.

Spring means solar system installations, getting roofs replaced on homes and getting other repair jobs done around the house. It also means making sure that your crew is prepared with the right tools and equipment. That also includes making sure their safety certifications are up to date. Now is a great time to get a head start in making sure your crew is trained for Basic Fall Protection.

Have you hired or will you be hiring new employees? Ask them to show you their certification card before going to work at site. What about employees who have been working with you for a few years? Ensure their certification hasn’t expired.

Basic Fall Protection Training is required for any person working at a height of 10ft/3m above ground. Appropriate safety equipment and a certification card showing that they have taken the training are required in order to work safely and legally on site. Re-certification is required every 3 years.

If you have employees who require Basic Fall Protection Certification, join one of our weekly afternoon workshops at our facility in Scarborough. We can also arrange to do the training at your location.

Get the jump on spring! Take advantage of the time right now to get your team geared up and certified so that when the warm weather is in full swing, your crew is ready to go and work safely!

Call 416-282-9992 or email Julie@interectinc.com to ask about group discounts, workshop dates and other details.

ISEP Solar Classes And More

2012-02-24T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Interect Solar Education Program runs solar related workshops, ranging from Site Assessment Training to Basic Fall Protection Certification.

Interect is about sustainability and green energy, which isn’t just limited to solar power. We have partners in areas such as wind turbines and greywater recycling as well.

As ISEP looks to expand its classes in the future, we’re looking to see what you, the student, wants us to offer.

Is there an aspect of “green” that you want to know more about?

Do you have a group of people you know who also would benefit from this training?

We want to know!

ISEP specializes in customized training and small classes. We have a classroom as well as a shop for hands-on practice, but we can also take our training on the road. We also offer great group rates if you want to set up a group training session with your friends, work colleagues or in your classroom!

Call or email us and tell us what you’re looking for!

Julie@interectinc.com

416-282-9992

ISEP Seeks IREC Accreditation

2012-02-21T20:08:00.000-08:00

ISEP is now taking the next step as a training provider by applying for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) Continuing Education Accreditation.

We are pleased to add a third party quality of approval on training that is already helping our students. While we plan to expand our workshops into more diverse green energy and sustainable topics, for now we will continue to offer our standard courses:

· Basic Fall Protection Training Certification

· Site Assessment Training

· 3 Day Introduction To Solar PV Program

ISEP is also available to be booked for school field trips, class workshops, Lunch & Learn Sessions, PD Day Programs and general interest lectures.

We would like to thank all of our students throughout the years who have participated in our programs and given us feedback to make them as great as they are today! Keep checking back here for more updates.

For more information on how to book ISEP training, email Julie@interectinc.com or call 416-282-9992.

Inquire About Our School Workshops!

2012-01-31T08:46:00.000-08:00

Are you a teacher looking to add a little “green” to your school? Talk to us!

ISEP has been running introductory solar training to teach youth and adults the benefits of solar and how it works!

What can we offer you and your school?

· Half/full day student solar workshops including classroom and hands-on learning

· Field trips to our facility to learn about solar and participate in a practice solar installation on a roof

· PD Day or lunchtime training sessions to help teachers incorporate solar energy education into their curriculum

Do you have any other ideas? Let us know! We specialize in customized training and can build a workshop for you.

ISEP's First Solar Lunch & Learn - By Andreas

2012-01-24T14:02:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Today, we here at Interect Inc. held our first official Solar Lunch & Learn for our January series. It went quite well and we had the pleasure of meeting and teaching a very eager group of individuals interested in solar energy. Most of the material was presented by Hermann and Julie, who discussed the basics of solar pv, grid-tied and off-grid systems and the importance of site assessments to see whether solar is a viable option for a household. We also gave them a quick tour of our facility here so that they could see the various things we do, from wholesale and education to manufacturing in the shop. I was there just to help out today, organizing the food and answering questions.

The time went by rather fast and our guests had many good questions; it was really nice to see the genuine interest some people have when you introduce them to solar energy and how it works. We ended off with a short discussion session and before we knew it we were already passed our initial hour of time we had for this session. We finished off answering any other questions they had and thanked them for coming.

So all in all the first Solar Lunch & Learn session was a great success in my opinion and all of us here are looking forward to doing many more. After all, the more people we can encourage and teach about the importance of green energy and renewables, the better the planet will be for all of us and future generations to come.

That’s all for now and we look forward to seeing you in a future Lunch & Learn! Check here for details.

Solar Lunch & Learn - Jan 23rd-27th - Sign Up Today! - By Andreas

2012-01-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

It's the middle of winter which is normally the slow season for most solar companies, but things are always busy and on the go here at Interect. As you all know, we have hosted many events in the past and also offer many different courses through our ISEP program. This time, we will be holding an event a little bit different from anything we have done previously. It's a week long Lunch & Learn Session which will be running from Monday Jan 23^rd until Friday Jan 27^th, between 12pm and 1pm at our office.

Anyone with an interest in solar pv and who would like to learn more about it can drop by and get a short introduction on solar energy, how it all works and see if it’s for them. This will be more of a casual setting, where we will hold a brief presentation over lunch. It's a great idea in getting people together, giving them some information about solar energy and helping answer their questions. We're all looking forward to it and hope to see you there too!

Cost is $5 and pre-registration is required. Please call 416-282-9992 or email julie@interectinc.com to sign up for a day.

*Choose any one day between Jan 23rd and Jan 27th. Course material is repeated each day.*

Interect Inc. Christmas Party At The Herongate Barn Theatre - By Andreas

2011-12-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

Tonight the staff and I here were treated to our Christmas party. It was a great time to say the least. We travelled to a place called the Herongate Barn Theatre which is in Pickering, just a little bit east of Scarborough. This was actually the second time the Interect staff has all gone there together as a group. We had also gone last year for our Christmas Party and had such an amazing time that we decided to return this year.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by a buffet with an amazing assortment of food. I was pretty hungry by this time and pretty excited seeing all that food. Everything was delicious! The highlight of the dinner was definitely the prime rib, but I also really liked the dessert as well. During our dinner we are treated to some Christmas music being played on the piano by one of Herongate's piano players. As she wrapped up, we were heading for our desserts and I had the double chocolate cake. During dessert, the emcee provided some comedy entertainment, where we heard funny stories and jokes. He was hilarious!

After the meal we all made our way into the theatre and were seated for the play. The stage performance we saw this year was called Rock ‘N A Hard Place. It was quite funny and the actors were excellent and the story was also very original.

As the show concluded the audience gave the cast a standing ovation; they definitely deserved it, and we all were finally heading out and on our way back home. It was a night to remember for myself and all our staff here at Interect. I would love to go back next year and I highly recommend anyone to go check out a show at the Herongate Barn Theatre. You will surely enjoy it!

Fall Arrest Wednesday!

2011-12-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

Billy Bulb lit up with excitement when he heard this – and you will too!

This week, ISEP is offering a *bonus* Fall Arrest Certification on Wednesday, December 14^th at 1pm in addition to our regular Friday classes!

Join us! Call 416-282-9992, or email Julie@interectinc.com, for prices and to register.

Reminder! Interect Food Drive & "Green" Movie Event

2011-12-09T12:09:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder!

http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/1255800--scarborough-company-holds-holiday-food-drive

CanSIA 2011 - Show Summary - By Andreas

2011-12-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

This week was the annual CanSIA Show here in Toronto at the Metro Convention Centre. It was definitely a busy 2 days to say the least. Our team arrived Monday morning raring to go. Interect's booth had been set up on Sunday, which was the move in day. The day started off really well; we were treated to coffee, juice and all sorts of muffins and pastries. As the morning continued we were quite busy, perhaps a little bit more than we had anticipated. Many people who came by were interested in the various solar projects we’ve been working on and also in taking some of the various workshops we offer. Shows such as this one are very important to attend to help the green energy sector grow in Canada, especially in Ontario. In fact, there are so many different solar panel manufacturers based right out of our province such as Heliene, Centennial Global Technology among many others which we have used in the past. We also saw many of our industry partners which we are always happy to see, such as our friends at Fronius and Kinetic Racking etc. It's always a real eye opener going to shows such as this one and seeing the wide variety of new products available and what the future has in store for all of us, along with making really great new contacts with others in our field.

In the afternoon I had the chance to walk the floor for a little while and see all of the different booths. What a wide variety of companies from manufacturers, dealers, engineering - anything and everything solar related was there. There were small booths like ours for the smaller companies to some very large and extravagant ones for the big companies such as Fronius. There were a lot of neat little giveaways and free food at some of the booths. We had a lot of people who were interested in the Fronius fuel cell system we were promoting at our booth. It is new technology from Fronius and we had just received the brochures and video, which we had playing at our booth. It looked pretty impressive from what I have seen. Anyone interested in knowing more may refer to our website. As the day was wrapping up and the final visitors were leaving I was relieved to have the first day now behind me. As exhibitors of the show we were treated to dinner and drinks after the attendees had all left which was a nice surprise! After getting my share of food and drinks, I went home and got a good night’s rest and prepared for the 2^nd and final day at CanSIA.

The morning of the 2^nd day was fairly similar to the first. I arrived at 9am sharp ready for another busy day at the show. I grabbed a coffee and breakfast, as that was all provided for everyone throughout the event. I was still fairly drained from the previous day, and I wasn't the only one from what I heard from some of the other exhibitors. The morning luckily was a little bit slower which gave me a chance to get a few more pictures of our booth and visitors and friends dropping by. I also had one last chance to go around and explore the rest of the show which I hadn't gotten a chance to see the previous day. Before I knew it, it was already lunch time once again and the last half of the day was here. The afternoon picked up quite a bit and once again our booth was really busy, almost right up until the end.

Everyone was exhausted after a long 2 days, but it was worth it. I think it turned out to be a very successful show for us here at Interect Inc. We made new friends, learned a great deal and definitely got the word out there about who we are, what we do and what our company stands for to everyone we had the pleasure of meeting. I'm actually quite looking forward to going to the next solar show. Hope to see you at our next show!

Our Food Drive Is ON NOW!

2011-12-02T03:12:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, Interect Inc. started a food drive to help support our local food bank, Scarborough Centre For Healthy Communities.

We have food bins under our tree, decorated and ready to go! After only a few days, we already have several food donations and are excited for your contributions over the next few weeks. We will be collecting food here at Interect from Monday to Friday, 9:00am-6:00pm, until December 17^th.

To celebrate the end of our drive and all of the wonderful food we’ve collected, we will be hosting a “Green” Movie at 1pm on Saturday, December 17^th.

Please help support our food drive and join us for our movie!

Interect Inc. At CanSIA 2011 - By Andreas

2011-11-30T23:30:00.000-08:00

The CanSIA (Canadian Solar Industry Association) Show is Canada’s largest solar gathering. It is a yearly exhibit and conference and this year it will be held on Dec. 5-6 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, with over 5000 delegates expected to attend. The show’s main focus is providing professionals from across the country and around the globe a chance to network with others and show support for the solar industry and the future it provides. CanSIA represents approximately 650 solar energy companies throughout Canada in this growing industry.

Our team from Interect Inc. will be exhibiting at CanSIA this year. Along with advertising our wholesale capabilities and the broad range of products and solutions we offer for solar PV, we will also be there to promote our Interect Solar Education Program (ISEP) with its many workshops, such as: weekly Basic Fall Protection Training for anyone in need of fall arrest certification, our 3 Day Introduction To Solar PV Workshops, which includes Site Assessment Training and much more!

Each year we always make new friends and partnerships in the industry, so we hope to see you there. With all exhibitor spots completely sold for this year’s event, it promises to be a very informative, and busy two days for us at CanSIA 2011; come on down and join us at booth #S24!

Click image to enlarge Metro Toronto Convention Centre hall layout.

Interect Food Drive & Green Movie Event

2011-11-29T09:29:00.000-08:00

5 Kilowatt Solar Installation - Oakville - By Andreas

2011-11-17T23:17:00.000-08:00

- Hello again! It's me, Andreas, here and I've been busy at the Interect office. I’m helping to plan future events along with my usual duties here. There are a lot of fun and exciting things we have in store, but last week I was on the road again for yet another solar installation.

This particular installation took place in Oakville, which is not too far away from us here in Scarborough. It was 20 panels, which was a 5 kilowatt system. Jeff (our project manager) and I loaded up the truck with all of the panels and necessary tools at around 5:30am. After stopping for breakfast we arrived at approximately 7:30am and got started right away.

Jeff had been there the previous day, so he already had most of the racking, as well as the inverter in place. Since installing the racking is the most time consuming part of an installation, a lot of the major work was already out of the way. Jay, our sales rep. who was helping us out on site today a little later on to help out as well.

The installation was still rather challenging, as the roof was quite steep and the weather was definitely not cooperating with us at all. We also had to tie the panels to a rope on each side and pull them up manually one by one, since a genie lift was unavailable. This was not ideal to have to do, but I guess sometimes you have to improvise when you’re working on the road. I helped Jeff put some large 2x4's together and set it up from the ground to the roof by our ladders. It actually worked very well. We were extremely careful while pulling them up to make sure nothing got damaged.

As we reached the afternoon we were making good progress and had most of the panels in place, but it was just our luck that it started to snow. It was actually the first snow fall of the year and we had to really get a move on it to finish off the wiring and get the rest of the panels in place. We were both harnessed in as usual - safety first! However, it does get quite slippery on rooftops when it’s snowing and we had to be really careful. When we finally finished it was almost 6pm and it couldn't have come at a moment too soon as it was quite dark by then and extremely cold! I've almost never been happier to finish off a workday and go home for a well deserved rest.

Jay was still there as well helping us from the ground and was able to take some pictures of our installation. I though the end result looked really great! Another successful solar installation under our tool belts. I love the valuable experience I'm gaining from each new job I get to go on as they're always quite different and provide new challenges and careful planning.

Stay tuned for my next endeavour here at Interect Inc.

Solar Power International Show - Dallas, Texas

2011-10-21T22:21:00.000-07:00

This month we had the chance to visit another solar show. This time it was the Solar Power International (SPI) Show in Dallas, Texas.

Presented by 2 non-profit associations, SEIA and SEPA, the SPI show is an annual North American solar show attracting professionals from over 125 different countries. Several of Interect’s industry partners were planning on attending this event, either by having a booth, or just visiting the exhibition hall.

Our team headed down to Dallas on Monday evening, which was the first of the 3 day show. This allowed us time to settle into our hotel, get our bearings of the city and then spend the next 3 days visiting the booths.

We made good use of our time visiting our industry partners, such as our friends at Fronius, while also making new contacts. Several of the new people we met were those who had developed some innovative products utilizing solar energy as well as those involved in the training aspect of the industry. We learned a lot and we got to see many interesting ideas, booths and products. It was a good time for brainstorming with other individuals from the solar industry.

Kingston 3 Day Introduction To PV Workshop – Day 3

2011-10-07T22:07:00.000-07:00

Today was our 3^rd – and final – day here in Kingston. This one is always the most exciting; it’s the day we put all of our knowledge together and do a hands-on practice solar installation with our students! When we run our 3 Day Intro To PV Workshops at Interect in Scarborough, we have our students complete their practice installation up on the indoor roof in our shop. However, with our “travel training”, we had to get a little bit more creative. This time, we had our students build the roof too!

Before we got into the actual building part, we had our friends from Centennial Global Technology Inc. come and do a presentation for us. Jon discussed the company and gave our students the ins and outs of the solar module manufacturing business. He also gave them some good tips on how to get a job and what he looks for in new hires from an industry standpoint. Kylie was a recent graduate from a marketing program and had just been hired on at Centennial. Having just gone through the job hunt process herself, Kylie had her own wise words of encouragement and tips to share with our students.

Our installer, Jeff, presented the next topic which was on trackers. Interect has recently started building its own design of tracker, Quasar 1, the first of which has already been installed up in Huntsville. He talked about the different types of trackers that exist and a little bit about the technology behind them.

It was late morning when Jeff started his hands-on installation with the class. The first task was to talk about safety and then the group got started building the roof. Jeff walked the group through each of the steps and discussed how to use the tools.

It didn’t take too long to get the roof together and then they started on the actual solar installation. Jeff explained the concepts as they went, introducing topics relating to tools, roof structures and proper installation techniques.

As this was a practice installation and the roof was only a gentle slope raised several inches off of the ground, using harnesses was not necessary. However, to get the feeling for the real thing, we had our participants wear harnesses and also work in teams where there was a roof crew and a grounds crew, just as in a real installation.

Jeff also incorporated a hands-on section for trackers. He brought a small tracker along with him and set it up with a meter and a small scale grid-tied inverter. As the tracker was moved to face the sun at different angles, the meter showed how much power it was producing and feeding back into the grid. He also installed a full sized grid-tied inverter that would be used in a residential set-up. Jeff explained how the wires would be hooked up and the different parts of this particular inverter.

While most of the class did have some general construction background, a solar installation takes this knowledge and allows the students to apply what they know in a different way. This class in particular had no electrical background, which is why we devoted a half day to teaching them electrical basics. This became even more important as they learned about the actual wiring when it came to a solar installation.

With ISEP’s first “travel training” complete, we can proudly say this was a great success! We managed to pack our usual fun-filled, informational workshop into our vehicles and deliver it to other students who live outside of the GTA. Thanks again to FirstWork Green Skills Network and KEYS for enabling this program to happen. I also want to extend a special thanks to my fellow ISEP instructors, Andreas and Jeff, who helped me organize and present all of the material. We look forward to our next chance to take our training on the road!

Kingston 3 Day Introduction To PV Workshop - Day 2

2011-10-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

This morning we were joined by our industry partner, Thomas, from Fronius, to start off our second day. Part of Fronius’ business is manufacturing string inverters, which they have recently started doing here in Ontario. Thomas discussed their business, general inverter technology and the difference between inverter types, such as string versus micro. He brought in a demo unit to open up and show our participants. They got to see the electronics inside the inverter, take parts of it out and put it all back together again. It was a very good hands-on way of learning about inverters.

After lunch, Andreas and I discussed the job possibilities in the solar industry. What kind of training or experience do you need? What skills are important to gain or have on your resume? These are just a few of the items we covered as we talked to our participants. We like to make this section more of an open forum, where our participants all feel free to ask questions and pool their ideas about the solar industry.

The most important step in setting up a solar system is doing a proper site assessment and this is what we covered next in our class. Knowing how the sun moves in the sky during different times of the year and how shading will affect your system is vital. Solar systems are a big investment and the end user should have a system whereby they get the most production for their dollar. We discussed sun theory and then introduced the Solar Pathfinder, which is the device used to determine the best location for a solar system at a site. The best part of the site assessment workshop is being able to take the Solar Pathfinder outside to see how it really works. We walked to a nearby park and tried out different areas for a possible solar system. Our participants got a chance to set up the device and either do a sketch or take a photo at that location. We explained why some spots were good and what made them more desirable than other spots.

In 2 very full days, we’ve covered a lot of material. With a lot of theory under our belts already, we’ll be in good shape to start the more serious part of our hands-on component tomorrow…stay tuned!

Kingston 3 Day Introduction To PV Workshop - Day 1

2011-10-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

Today marked the next step in ISEP’s training capabilities: we took our training on the road! With the help of our partners, FirstWork Green Skills Network and KEYS, ISEP is able to teach a 3 Day Introduction To PV Workshop all the way out in Kingston. We rounded up our instructors and training material and headed east to meet up with our eager group of green students!

Our teaching started with the basics of solar, what the benefits are, system types and the components in a solar system. This helps the students understand how each component functions and its importance in the overall system. However, solar energy is only part of the solution when it comes to a sustainable future. We wanted to show our participants how solar fits into the overall picture, so we presented some material on Kesho Leo, a sustainable community in Africa started and run by Food Water Shelter; this site not only uses sustainable energy in the form of solar and wind, but also utilizes smart building practices for orientating buildings to maximize the weather and seasons, as well as having natural rainwater collection and using compost toilets.

In the afternoon, we focused on the basics of electricity. Topics such as Ohm’s Law and parallel and series circuits were covered as part of the introduction. By the end of the day, each student was building mini circuits and lighting up LEDs. Once they understood how battery LED circuits operate with various components and in different configurations, we moved our class outside and used the power of the sun to light up our projects! What are the voltage readings we get when we put mini solar cells in the sun? How many LEDs can you light up with a mini cell? What happens to the LEDs when there is shading?

Using solar energy is not as easy as plugging a battery into your electronics, our students found out today. However, it’s clean, free and a part of our energy future.

Greenbuild 2011 - By Melissa

2011-10-04T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Greenbuild Conference & Expo held its 10th anniversary show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, from October 4th- 7th. It was a corporate event, gathering architects, engineers, developers, contractors and builders involved in the greening of the built environment from all over the world. There were a hundred educational sessions and over 1,000 exhibitors.

One of our dealers, Tango Ray Solar, attended as a booth exhibitor and I was there to assist with giving out information about solar and greywater systems.

For those who aren't familiar with greywater, it is wastewater generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing, which can be recycled on-site for uses such as toilet water, landscape irrigation and constructed wetlands. Most water from a household can be used for greywater systems, except wastewater from toilet waste and food waste derived from garbage grinders.

There were many visitors at the show and our booth got quite busy at times. This was my first exhibit where I was right out front and dealing with a lot of customers; it was a little stressful at times, but I think it went really well. I learned a lot of new things and helped to get our message out there to the people in the industry.

Late in the day when the crowds had finally died down, I got the chance to look around and see all of the other booths. It was nice to see so many different businesses and new ideas. The green roof concept really caught my attention and there were many companies there advertising that.

My time at the Greenbuild Expo was a great learning experience and I look forward to seeing all of you at the next one. Green energy definitely has a bright future!

My Summer Internship At Interect - By Nick

2011-09-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, my name is Nick and I had the pleasure of working for Interect as a summer intern from the beginning of May until the end of August this year. I am currently finishing my third year at Humber College for Sustainable Energy & Building Technology. I was eager to get my first experience in the field with such a unique team and do what I can to help develop their success in the Solar Industry. My personal interests involve green energy and green building, therefore this experience allowed me to link both aspects together.

During my time with Interect I had the opportunity to work on several different aspects and be a part of various events they held throughout the summer. As well as being a wholesale distributor of solar products, Interect also runs training related to the solar industry. The Interect Solar Education Program, or ISEP for short, is a workshop based educational program for individuals interested in PV technology. Interect has been running half day solar workshops since 2008 and has since developed 3 day workshops and 8 week programs with community groups such as FirstWork and WoodGreen.

With the 3 day workshop, participants receive a comprehensive understanding of solar system components and how they work together to produce electricity used in our homes. We held one of these in June for a group of electrician apprentice high school students. I was tasked, along with Laszlo (a fellow graduate of my program who has taught workshops for Interect in the past) to create and present the Solar In Reality component of the workshop, which takes participants through the steps of sizing components in a PV system. Although we gave them a lot of math, the students got a clear understanding of the steps one needs to properly size a system. The second day of the workshop was filled with a lot of fun activities such as the Site Assessment component, which was led by Laszlo; he demonstrated the steps of finding a suitable location for a PV system and gave the participants the chance to step outside of the classroom and do some hands-on work. Following the Site Assessment came the most exciting part yet; an installation of a PV system with Jeff from Quasar Alternative Energy Inc. in our facility with our practice roof system set up in the warehouse. This was great because it gave the participants the real idea of what installing a PV system is really like, from the initial measurements to the racking systems and PV panels.

Another new component of ISEP is the Solar Summer Camp. I was tasked with creating the initial client databases for the first run at this program. My job, along with my co-workers, Melissa and Andreas, was to find young keen, green individuals interested in joining us for a camp held at our headquarters in Scarborough. The goal of the camp is simple; to educate students about the green energy industry focusing mainly on PV and to help them determine possible career opportunities in the solar industry.

This summer, Interect also became a certified training centre for Basic Fall Protection Training workshops and needed a customer database for this new initiative as well. I helped them by finding companies and individuals requiring this training and creating a database of these potential clients. We ran these certification workshops weekly throughout the summer and I was on hand during many of them to assist as necessary.

On May 28^th Interect hosted an Open House event where we offered a tour of our facility, networking possibilities, guest speakers from Fronius (an inverter manufacturer and one of Interect’s industry partners) a BBQ and a chance to celebrate a new partnership with Quasar Alternative Energy Inc. This open house was a great opportunity for me personally to network with others in the green energy industry and to promote Interect’s image, new facility and ISEP program.

In conclusion my time with Interect has given me the opportunity to put into practice what I have learned in school and it enhanced my experience in the field. With the new knowledge from Interect on PV technology I’m able to consider PV systems into building designs with more confidence than I had before this experience, thanks to hands-on related work. The ISEP program is a great way to directly communicate with people interested in the green energy industry. I would like to thank the owner, Hermann Pfaller, and my supervisor, Julie Adshade, for the opportunity to work with Interect and complete my co-op work placement through Humber College; it was a pleasure. I look forward to meeting them again next summer!

As Mr. Pfaller says; “A green today for a greener tomorrow”

Thanks Interect!

The Scarborough Mirror Features Interect's Event On Front Page!

2011-09-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Saturday, September 24^th, from 12-2pm, Interect will be celebrating Green Energy Field Day with an open doors event that includes a tour, refreshments and a “green themed” movie.

The Scarborough Mirror ran a front page article on our event! Below is a snapshot of the article; click this link to go to the online version of the paper: http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=Q0r2qT9107fF&EID=a7c951ec-6945-4a1b-9e31-18dca7984811&skip=

See you tomorrow!

Reminder - Fronius Inverter Workshop - Tomorrow!

2011-09-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

Join us! Free! Pre-registration is required.

416-282-9992

Julie@interect.ca

Become An Eco Volunteer!

2011-09-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Maybe you are looking to give back to your community. Perhaps you want to make a difference and help the environment. Possibly you need to complete your volunteer hours for high school.

Are you looking to do something different?

Volunteering is a great way to make a difference in other people’s lives and in the world in which we live. ISEP is always looking for volunteers who may want to donate their skills for writing, marketing or even teaching. If you think you may have something to offer to a green energy company, let us know! We want to hear from you!

Volunteer opportunities exist in many different areas and finding the best fit in something where your interest lies is important. Here’s a link for more good information on green volunteering:

http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/become-eco-volunteer?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Create+your+own+green+job+plus+Fall+eco+resolutions&utm_campaign=Create+your+own+green+job+plus+Fall+eco+resolutions&utm_term=Become+an+eco+volunteer_21+++

Contact ISEP For Volunteering Information:

416-282-9992

julie@interect.ca

Interect Tour & "Green Themed" Movie - Green Energy Field Day

2011-09-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Interect is celebrating Green Energy Field Day!

From 12pm-2pm on Sept. 24th, Interect's doors will be open to the public! We encourage you to come by and have a tour of our shop and training centre.

To get people geared up for green thinking, we'll be showing a "green themed" movie. Refreshments and pizza will be provided.

A draw will be held to win an inverter!**

**Please visit www.interectinc.com for draw details.

Location:
510 Coronation Drive, Unit 17
Scarborough, Ontario

(Close to Morningside & Lawrence)
www.interect.ca

www.interectinc.com

September Fronius Workshop - Register Today!

2011-08-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars! On Tuesday, September 20^th, ISEP will be hosting another Fronius Inverter Workshop.

During the workshop, Fronius will provide information and history about the company, as well as going into their inverter technology. They will be bringing along a demo unit for a hands-on portion of the training. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Fronius has visited us a few times already to hold all day workshops and we’re excited to invite you to this next one. It’s been a big year for the company, as they have just opened their plant in Mississauga and started manufacturing their first domestic compliant inverters there in March.

**Registration is required. Please email or call Julie to add your name to the list.**

Contact Info: Julie@interect.ca

416-282-9992

Interect Inc. Turns 3 Years Old Today!

2011-08-19T20:19:00.000-07:00

Interect was started in 1997 by CEO, Hermann Pfaller. Three years ago today, Interect reached another milestone - we became incorporated.

Today we took some time to share stories, eat some cake and celebrate how far the company has come. In that time Interect has moved and expanded its space, gained more employees and increased its capabilities in the wholesale market and with its training programs.

The future looks bright and we’re looking forward to many more successful years!

Happy 3^rd Birthday , Interect!

Intersolar North America 2011 Highlights - KACO Blog

2011-08-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

Back in June we went to Intersolar Europe, but the Intersolar show happens all over the world. North America recently held their Intersolar show in San Francisco and our friends at KACO were there. They wrote about the highlights in their blog, so here’s what they said about the show:

http://www.kaco-newenergy.com/sunnylounge/?p=511

This Summer Light Up Your Garden Using Solar Power

2011-07-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

Solar power is great for our homes, construction signs and calculators…why not use it in the backyard as well?

http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/illuminate-your-backyard-using-only-solar-power

Weekly Basic Fall Protection Training Sessions – Every Friday!

2011-07-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Calling all Solar Panel Installers, Green Roof Installers, Roofers, Electricians, Window Washers and Painters:

Do you work at heights of 10ft/3m?

Have you been certified in Basic Fall Protection Training?

Join us for one of our Friday classes! ISEP is proud to announce that we are now offering weekly Basic Fall Protection Training Workshops!

· Gain fall protection/fall arrest knowledge

· Recognize and prevent fall hazards

· Learn about harnesses and fall arrest systems

· Earn your Basic Fall Protection certificate in 3 hours

· Call for current prices and group rates

Certification is required to legally work on a roof and expires after 3 years. If you think you may require Basic Fall Protection Training, talk to your supervisor.

Remember to always work safely.

For more information, please contact us:

Julie@interect.ca

416-282-9992

www.interectinc.com

3 Day Solar Training - By Robert

2011-06-23T18:23:00.000-07:00

Starting the three day solar course, I wasn’t entirely sure what I would be getting myself into. I expected to learn about how solar panels work, but not to what extent. Luckily for me, as well as the rest of the high school students taking the course, it turned out to be a great learning experience and was made interesting by the instructors.

The program, which was set up by St. Stephen’s Community House, took place over three days, and was designed to teach us the basics of solar installations and some of the theory behind how they work. The first two days were primarily lectures, where we were taught things like how to calculate the demand/load factors when installing solar panels, what makes up a solar panel, how a solar panel system is wired up, as well as lots more facts and details relating to solar panels.

The primary instructors were Julie and Laszlo, who gave us the majority of the information we learned and applied over the three days. They even brought in a man from Fronius, one of the main builders and distributors of solar panel inverters. We were shown how an inverter works, and were even able to take one apart to see what it’s made of. This was definitely one of my favourite parts of the course, as we were actually able to touch the components and see what inverters are made of first hand.

Most of the hands on work was left until the third day, where we had a chance to try out a solar pathfinder, as well as install an actual solar panel on a small roof in the Interect workshop. Using the solar pathfinder was a neat experience, where we were able to determine the best spots to install solar panels based on shade, using the small circular device. In the afternoon in groups of two, we were able to climb on top of the roof and secure a solar array to the roof, just like how it would be done on peoples’ homes. Installing the solar panels was probably the highlight of the three days, as we were actually able to apply a lot of what we had seen and learned from the course.

Overall, the course was pretty fun, and is something that I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in going green, or even just wanting to know more about solar panels in general. It was very informative, and definitely something that I would consider getting into in the future.

Intersolar Europe Part 3 - Austria Trip

2011-06-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

For the last part of our week in Europe, we headed to Austria. The drive from Munich to Austria was beautiful; valleys of small villages nestled among the mountains made for a pleasant time where the hours just rolled by. As Hermann, Interect’s CEO, is originally from Mürzzuschlag, Austria, this was a good time to go back to his hometown and to visit with some friends and family members. We even had time to stop at castle on our drive back into Germany.

Goodbye Europe until next year!

Intersolar Europe Part 2 - Site Seeing Around Munich

2011-06-11T18:11:00.000-07:00

After a busy 3 days at such an incredible show, our little Interect group was ready for some site seeing around the host city. We had 1 full day after the show in Munich, so armed with our transit pass, we set out to explore the city, see the architecture, wander through the markets and enjoy some more traditional food.

Intersolar Slideshow

2011-06-10T23:59:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to our friends at Fronius and KACO for inviting us to their booths and making time to meet with us during our trip to Europe.

So many people, products and pictures. Enjoy our Intersolar slideshow showing highlights of our trip.

Intersolar Europe 2011

2011-06-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

To promote solar technology, a small conference and exhibition was held in Germany in 1991. As interest and awareness of solar energy increased over the years, this event developed into an international draw for companies to showcase their products and share knowledge of the industry. Today it is known as Intersolar and is one of the largest solar shows in the world, with exhibitions in India, China, North America and Europe.

This year, part of the Interect team decided to make the journey over to Germany to see the show. Leaving from Toronto late in the afternoon, we flew through the night and landed with enough time to check in to our hotel and head straight to the exhibition.

Luckily for us, the show was stimulating enough to keep even the red-eye flight passenger awake and enthralled for the entire first day. With its 15 or so halls, largely divided and organized by specific products and technology, the Intersolar event requires the full 3 days to get through most of what one wants to see.

The booths alone were an impressive sight; often they were the square footage of small houses, had 2 storeys and many of them had cafés, food and bar areas for meetings. There were demonstrations and performances at a few of the booths, such as the Cirque du Soleil performers who put on shows of strength and balance throughout the days at KACO. Large buffets of traditional German food along with live local music were welcomed for lunch and dinner after hours of walking around.

During our time at the show, we were able to see most of the halls. Along the way, we visited the booths of other solar companies who were new to us and make more contacts. It was a great way to network and discuss the industry as the people were very friendly and inviting. We made time to meet up with our industry partners over sausages and coffee and socialize with the other Canadian companies at the Canadian evening party.

Overall, the atmosphere was lively and entertaining throughout the duration of the 3 days. We enjoyed our time there and hope to return next year for another exciting show!

Solar Presentation At Bendale Business & Technical Institute

2011-06-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

Today, ISEP took the show on the road and visited Bendale Business & Technical Institute (BTI), a local technical high school. We were invited to give a presentation to the students and also to see the various “green” projects Bendale is working on.

We were welcomed to the school by Ms. Lowens-Varey, the Eco Chair for their Eco Wellness Student Success Committee, who enthusiastically promotes green initiatives at Bendale. She had arranged for the library to be set up for our use and gathered together a large group of interested students. We made a short presentation to the students about our ISEP training programs. This was a great way to meet the students and answer general questions about solar and also what we have to offer in our workshops.

After the presentation, Ms. Lowens-Varey was kind enough to take us on a tour of the school. As it was lunchtime, one of the first stops was to have lunch in their staff lunchroom. Much of the food is made fresh onsite, including freshly baked bread and vegetables grown in the school’s very own gardens. The staff lunchroom has an attached outside seating area in a private garden where they grow different flowers and herbs that are also used for cooking.

The main vegetable gardens are out front. We walked out to view them and learned that Bendale holds a market every Tuesday, where people can pick and buy their own vegetables. Around the side of the school, Bendale’s footprint gardens – two of them, shaped like giant feet – are being re-worked, while greenhouses hold various other plants that are being cared for by the students.

Our tour then moved inside, where Ms. Lowens-Varey took us around through the school to the different departments to see how they were being green; the fashion classroom collects old clothes that are available to be re-used by other students and there is even a fully converted vegetable oil car! These are just a few of the green projects going on there. Ms. Lowens-Varey explained to us that the students are involved with all of the projects, as this is a very hands-on school.

Bendale BTI is one of the most actively green high schools in Toronto. With their designation as a Gold school, it should be easy for them to attain Platinum standing once they apply next year. Aside from the green projects that make this school standout, Bendale is a technical school that has a wide range of specialty departments including plumbing, electrical and car maintenance shops.

Our ISEP team thoroughly enjoyed our day at Bendale. They have a strong commitment to student learning and in green project development. We send Ms. Lowens-Varey a big thanks for showing us around their wonderful school, and allowing us the chance to talk to the Bendale students about solar energy, helping us to get the word out on our training programs.

Interect Open House

2011-05-28T17:28:00.000-07:00

Today, Interect and Quasar Alternative Energy held an Open House BBQ to celebrate Interect’s projects and move to our new location. We welcomed friends, family, industry partners and interested green minded folk to our event.

Over hot dogs and burgers, Interect staff chatted with the guests and showed them our new office and shop space. Between our indoor training roof, mounting displays and inverters, guests had much to look at and inquire about while they walked around visiting the shop.

Besides the shop, where we run all of our hands-on activities, our training room, where we hold our presentations and classroom workshops was also on display for all to see. Newly decked out with a tropical themed wall poster, our class showed off its “workshop ready” equipment which includes a large whiteboard, tv for presentations and seating for 12.

As the weather cooperated and provided a warm, sunny day for our event, the festivities also moved outside where everyone could enjoy the beautiful day…and maybe grab another hot dog from the grill!

Interect thanks everyone who came out to our Open House and celebrated with us. It was a great day and we hope to see everyone back to visit us again soon.

ISEP At The Live Green Toronto Festival - July 16th!

2011-05-24T05:24:00.000-07:00

Visit our booth at the Live Green Toronto Festival coming to Yonge-Dundas Sq July 16!

This year, the festival is going greener, bigger and better than ever. It will have a great array of green products and services, live musical performances, delicious local food, street entertainers and kids activities!

ISEP will be handing out flyers at the Interect booth. We would love to see you! So, come by our booth and talk to us about our workshops, Fall Safety Certification, hands-on practice and more!

Date: July 16^th, 2011

Time: 11am – 8pm

Yonge St. will be closed from Dundas to Queen. We'll be there! Will you?

For more festival information visit: www.toronto.ca/greentorontofestival

Grand Opening: Visiting KACO's New Manufacturing Facility

2011-05-19T17:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, Interect took a short trip out to London, Ontario to visit KACO. We were invited to the grand opening of their new Ontario manufacturing facility.

Once we arrived at KACO, we had the chance to walk around their facilities and talk to the other visitors. KACO employees were on hand throughout the building to answer questions and talk to all of us about the inverters on display.

Following the brief tour, there were speeches, most notably delivered by the Mayor of London and the owner and senior managers of the KACO team. Opening a manufacturing facility in London, Ontario is a big step for the inverter company in the Canadian marketplace, and one that KACO is both proud and excited to take. They told us of their large solar installation up on the roof of the building and other plans they have for their future in Ontario. Following the speeches, there was a ceremonial ribbon cutting captured by media photographers and a lunch buffet.

The big surprise came in the afternoon, when guests were invited to take a brief helicopter ride over KACO’s building to see the solar system on their roof. Driven out in a van to the helicopter pad at the nearby airport, small groups then climbed aboard the helicopter and went for a tour. The members of our Interect team had an exclusive flight experience just for our company. The flight lasted around 7 minutes and circled twice around the building to give us a full view of KACO’s solar installation on the roof. Though it was a fairly rainy and overcast day, the rain held off just long enough to give us a great ride while seeing the solar panel roof installation.

Solar Summer Camp Special Offer

2011-05-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

Billy Bulb is going to camp!...are you?

***Special offer: Sign up for our Solar Summer Camp on or before May 28^th and receive a *FREE* introduction to photovoltaics book!***

Join us at our Open House on Saturday, May 28^th and you will get:

-a BBQ lunch

-to see our training centre and shop

-to talk to our camp instructors

-receive a free pv book with camp registration

Please RSVP to Julie.

Phone: 416-282-9992

Email: Julie@interect.ca

Interect Solar Open House & BBQ!

2011-05-02T09:19:00.000-07:00

Interect will be hosting our first Open House in partnership with Quasar Alternative Energy Inc. on Saturday, May 28^th. Join us at our new headquarters in Scarborough and enjoy a BBQ while learning about our companies’ growth and development in the Solar Renewable Energy business; learn more about our Interect Solar Education Program (ISEP) with a representative to answer your questions.

Become familiar with recent projects! For example our 10 kW solar tracker in Huntsville which was manufactured and installed with Quasar. We'll be talking about this and other projects we're working on.

Open House Details

Date: Saturday, May 28^th

Time: 1:00, BBQ will start at 2:00pm

INTERECT INC.

17-510 Coronation Drive

Toronto, ON. M1E 4X6

416-282-9992

julie@interect.ca

**Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly!**

ISEP Workshops/Training:

http://www.interectinc.com/

Interect Company Information & Events:

http://www.interect.ca/

Fronius Workshop

2011-04-29T18:06:00.000-07:00

Fronius recently came to visit us here to run an ISEP workshop on their inverters. We had some breakfast snacks to get us started and then dove into the training with Emmitt, Michael and Thomas.

They first took us through the history of the company and the industries in which they are involved. Emmitt gave us the basics on general inverter technology, breaking down how the electronics inside them work. We went through the various inverters that Fronius manufactures and those that are relevant in our market. Between our 3 speakers, we got great in depth knowledge of how Fronius inverter technology works.

All of our participants found the presentation engaging, especially considering the enthusiasm Fronius brought with them. We especially enjoyed the hands-on inverter demonstration in our shop. Fronius brought one of their inverters with them and opened it up to show the inner workings to the class. As our participants had the chance to remove various electronic parts, Emmitt explained the components and how everything inside was wired together. He also walked us through the features on the inverter display, so that we would know how to check for certain information out in the field.

We thank our special guests from Fronius for taking the time to visit us and teach us more about their inverters. We certainly look forward to holding more of these sessions in the future!

Earth Day - April 22, 2011

2011-04-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

While you’re off celebrating Easter and enjoying your long weekend, don’t forget about Earth Day, which is tomorrow, April 22^nd, 2011.

Did you know that Earth Day is 41 years old?! It’s true. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22^nd, 1970 and was created by U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson. Back in 1970, Earth Day was an organized teach-in primarily targeted to college students in the U.S., but over the years this event has grown and is now celebrated by more than 175 nations around the world. Senator Nelson’s idea for Earth Day was inspired after a terrible oil spill off of California’s coast in 1969.

Earth Day is all about promoting appreciation and awareness for our natural environment. Now, more than ever, it is important for us to care for our home here on earth. Take some time to read up on this event and get involved in your community.

“A Green Today, For A Greener Tomorrow”

ISEP Summer Solar Day Camp! Sign Up Now!!

2011-04-20T14:13:00.000-07:00

(Click twice on the bulletin board to read the details!!)

Visit ISEP At The Green Living Show - This Weekend!

2011-04-13T07:04:00.000-07:00

Eco-Conscious Consumers • 400+ Exhibitors • 3 Days

This weekend, April 15^th-17^th, visit us at The Green Living Show, held in the Direct Energy Centre at the Exhibition. The Green Living Show is Canada’s largest green consumer show dedicated to educating the public about easy and workable solutions for leading a sustainable lifestyle. Visitors can shop the wide variety of exhibitor booths while gathering information and inspiration from a diverse selection of demonstrations, presentations, and activities.

ISEP will be at booth #216 with the rest of the Interect group. Come and ask us about our next set of workshops! It’s a great time to sign up.

Friday, April 15 – 10 am - 9 pm
Saturday, April 16 – 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday, April 17 – 10 am - 6 pm

Visit us at the Green Living Show - Use your Live Green Toronto Membership Card at our booth

2011-04-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

Drop by to see us at the Green Living Show, April 15, 16 and 17, at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. Admission is free when you bring in old electronics for recycling.

Be sure to bring your Live Green Toronto Membership card and get special deals at our booth.

We are offering:
FREE 5 YEAR WEB MONITORING*

FREE 2 YEAR SERVICE CONTRACT*

(*with purchase of a system at the show)

Don't have a Membership Card yet? Sign up online or visit the Live Green Toronto booth at the Green Living Show to pick up your free card today. More details at www.livegreencard.ca

Site Assessment Training Workshop

2011-04-11T04:11:00.000-07:00

We had a great turnout this past weekend for our Site Assessment Workshop. Laszlo, our instructor, did a wonderful job leading the participants through his presentation and answering their questions on completing a site assessment for solar pv. The hands-on demo using the Solar Pathfinder was a good time for that much needed stretch of the legs on a beautifully sunny day! It re-enforced the theory taught in the classroom and allowed the students to apply it to a life-like situation.

The group was diverse; we had students who are relatively new to the workforce and interested in getting involved in the solar industry, as well as people already fairly experienced in the industry, but simply required further training for their careers. The size of class made it easy for every student to learn at their own pace and have some one-on-one time with the instructor for further clarifications.

Join us! We’ll be hosting another Site Assessment Workshop on April 30^th and Laszlo will be back once again to show us the ins and outs of doing a proper site assessment for solar pv.

What Is Billy Bulb Up To?? Follow him!

2011-04-08T08:56:00.000-07:00

Billy Bulb is looking for something to light up his brain.

What to do, what to do?

Maybe an ISEP workshop…? There's one tomorrow.

Project News: Quasar 1, Powered By Interect

2011-04-05T12:08:00.000-07:00

Our 10kW solar tracker – Quasar 1 – up in Huntsville. Designed and built by Interect, in partnership with Quasar, with help from our ISEP students!

Quasar 1, powered by Interect - a product that is truly out of this world!

ISEP AT Halton Eco Festival

2011-04-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

Don’t miss out on this weekend’s Halton Eco Festival. On April 9^th, 2011, from 10am-5pm Interect will be at the festival talking to the crowds.

This is a great chance to sign up for our next ISEP workshops:

Site Assessment Training – April 30^th(there is still room in our April 9th workshop!)

Fall Safety Training - TBA

ISEP At The International Home & Garden Show

2011-04-01T04:30:00.000-07:00

Interect will be sharing a booth with TangoRay Solar at this weekend’s International Home & Garden Show, at the International Centre in Mississauga.

ISEP brochures, buttons and answers to all of your workshop questions can be found at booth #30 (listed under TangoRay Solar)!

See you there!

April Workshop - Solar Site Assessment

2011-03-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

Do you know what makes a site good for solar PV?

Ever wondered what it takes to make a proper site evaluation?

Find out!

ISEP is running a Solar Site Assessment Workshop. Dates: April 9^th or 30^th.

For class availabilities -

Call: 416-282-9992

Email: Julie@interect.ca

First ISEP Workshop In Our New Location

2011-03-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

Recently, ISEP held its first workshop since moving into our new location! For 3.5 hours, our trainer, Lauren, showed our students how to properly use a harness and taught them the safety regulations involved in working at a height of 10ft and above on a roof. Certification followed successful completion of the class.

Here’s a picture of Lauren and our first eager participants in our brand new ISEP training classroom. Even Max, the dog, got involved and learned a thing or two about safety!

Look for more workshops coming soon! We will be scheduling more workshops in April; more Basic Fall Safety and also, Site Assessment Training.

KACO Features ISEP!

2011-03-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

This week ISEP is featured on KACO’s blog! Please take a look; remember to “like” this on Facebook and leave a comment.

http://www.kaco-newenergy.com/sunnylounge/?p=284

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

2011-03-17T03:17:00.000-07:00

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, so remember to BE GREEN!

Use solar energy.

ISEP Now Has Its Own Logo!

2011-03-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

Our solar education program continues to expand and we have now settled into our new, larger location at 510 Coronation Drive, Unit 17, in Scarborough. We look forward to holding our first training program in our new facilities this Saturday, March 19^th, 2011 for Basic Fall Protection Certification.

ISEP is now proud to introduce its brand new logo which we will use to help promote our programs!

ISEP Workshop Featured By Green Skills Network

2011-03-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of our workshop posted by Green Skills Network:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/INTERECT-INC-GREEN-ENERGY/400558834881#!/pages/Green-Skills-Network/122886587778599

Join Us At The Green Living Show! April 15th-17th, 2011

2011-03-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Earth Day, Toronto’s Green Living Show will be on from April 15^th-17^th, 2011.

Are you looking to learn more about solar energy?

Do you have questions about our ISEP programs?

Come and chat with us at our Interect booth!

The Green Living Show

Direct Energy Centre

100 Princes Blvd.
Toronto, ON

M6K 3C3

Friday, April 15^th – 10 am - 9 pm
Saturday, April 16^th – 10 am - 9 pm
Sunday, April 17^th – 10 am - 6 pm

What I Learned In The Solar PV Workshop - Day 3 - By Tamara

2011-03-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

The last day we got what is called a basic fall prevention training certificate, which legally allows you to work on a roof, or any structure 10 feet high or more. Lauren went over the proper gear to wear, rights and responsibilities etc. The last thing we did for the rest of the day was a mock installation, on a five foot high roof in the shop with the installation team. During that time we discussed layouts and they talked to us about inches and feet. That was useful for people like me who are accustomed to measuring in centimeters and meters. It’s hard for me to visualize the distance, height etc. in inches or feet as I am used to the metric system, so it was good that Hermann explained this to us. Then they showed us how to put the harnesses on and be safe on the roof while doing the installation.

After putting the harness on we went up on the roof in pairs, securing the harness at the top. I liked the ones with plastic buckle straps more than those that have metal-rim holes in them which apparently can't fit all sizes. I got a chance to participate in every part of mounting the PV system. I thought having a tool bag would be useful to save time instead of passing tools and parts back and forth with people on the ground and dropping something would be annoying as well, but I learned that two people well prepared and organized could do a good job really quickly. It turns out two people can lift and carry a panel quite easily as long as they work carefully. I felt like the harness made movement easy and safe for me, wearing steel toe boots would be a bit too much so I'd rather wear something light and comfortable for this purpose.

The 3 day workshop was well organized and provided all the information, techniques, safety tips and hands-on practice to make me feel confident in how to do things right in Solar PV installation.

Earn Your Basic Fall Protection Certification – March ISEP Workshop!

2011-03-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

Earn Your Basic Fall Protection Certification – March ISEP Workshop!

Continuing with our ISEP (Interect Solar Education Program) workshop series, Interect Inc. will be holding training and certification for Basic Fall Protection.

During our 4 hour workshop, students will learn the rules and regulations to safely work at a height of 10ft+. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive a certification card that shows attendance at the training and demonstrates their knowledge in working safely on a roof. This is a must for any solar installer.

Training will be held on site at our facilities in Scarborough.

Please contact us for availability and space:

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

Thursday, March 17th, 2011

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Saturday, March 19th, 2011

Thanks!

email: julie@interect.ca

phone: 416-282-9992

We Have Moved!

2011-03-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

We are now at a new location with much larger shop and training facilities!

New Address:

510 Coronation Drive, Unit 17

Scarborough, Ontario

M1E 4X6

Our closest main intersection is Morningside and Lawrence. There is plenty of parking and if you’re coming to us by TTC, take the 86D bus from Kennedy and get off at Wallsend Drive, along Coronation.

With the fresh paint almost dry, furniture set-up and our shop nearly complete, we’ll be ready to go with our new workshops in no time! Check back here again for updates on our March ISEP workshop schedule.

What I learned In The Solar PV Workshop - Day 2 - By Tamara

2011-02-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

Laszlo started the following day with his workshop about site assessments, mainly how to calculate how many sunlight hours a place gets throughout the year using a Solar Pathfinder. It calculates everything for me if I know how it works (not just with a click of a button as I normally expect). Everything is done by hand with a chart that is ordered for every particular region of the world for a one year span. Laszlo also showed us software to be used with the Solar Pathfinder, some of the sites he assessed with it and samples of a report to show to the customer afterwards. I liked that he used 3D Google Earth files to measure dimensions on the roof. The whole process looked easy as long as you follow it step by step.

John from KACO came in later and talked about the types of inverters, batteries and also electricity in general. This is when we all moved to the shop, and then after lunch we got to practice with some of the tools they have there that are used when up on the roof. We scanned the small roof with a studfinder to figure out where to drill holes and also practiced measuring and drilling.

Come And Talk To Us At A Trade Show!

2011-02-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

This month is certainly a busy one. After having just wrapped up our 3 Day Solar PV Training Workshops, we find ourselves out meeting people and promoting once again. This time it’s not at one, but at two different tradeshows running simultaneously!

We set up our booth for the opening of the National Home Show on February 18^th and will be out there chatting to the public at the Direct Energy Centre until February 27^th. Starting on February 24^th and running until February 27^th we have another booth in partnership with General Coach Canada out at the International Centre for the International RV Show.

For more details, visit the show websites:

Home Show
http://www.nationalhomeshow.com/ME2/Sites/Default.asp?SiteID=39966B37D2454457B4EB98CCCE2B4B3F

International RV Show
http://www.torontointernationalrvshow.ca/

Come out and visit us at either show!

Try Before You Apply

2011-02-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

How many careers can you try out first? Not too many. Post-secondary students are often overwhelmed with career and school choices.

What are my options?

What kind of training do I need?

What educational path will lead me to a job in the future?

What is the right career for me?

At ISEP, you can try before you apply. That means you can attend one of our 3 day workshops, learn some theory related to solar, gain some hands-on experience and ask your questions. In 3 days, you can gain some insight into the solar industry and see if it is something that interests you. After that, you will have a more clearly defined idea of what it is you want to do and then apply for further training to get a certification, diploma or a degree.

ISEP is tailored to students out of high school looking to make a career choice, or even to trained professionals looking for a career change. It doesn’t matter what your experience or background is, there are various types of jobs available in the solar industry and if solar is your passion, there will be one there for you.

What I Learned In The Solar PV Workshop - Day 1 - By Tamara

2011-02-21T13:01:00.000-08:00

On the first day of training Julie introduced us to some basic facts about solar PV through a quiz. She discussed how solar energy turns into electricity - not generally hard for me to grasp the idea, but it was exciting to see a lot of material and in-depth explanation on how things actually work inside and outside of this process. Fun interactive tasks, calculation of different values through simple formulas, what circuit types and solar systems are out there etc.

Afterwards, Hermann came in and talked about jobs in the solar industry - a scope of things we could get engaged in according to what we feel we're more or less inclined to do. At the end of the day Jen went over the Insurance part, which is also a good thing to know.

Final February Workshop - Job Skills Group

2011-02-18T18:18:00.000-08:00

Each one of our students come to us with a different set of skills and work background. However, we like to make sure that everyone has some basic understanding of solar systems and how they work once they complete the program. That means starting from the beginning and teaching them the properties of electricity. Getting a handle of the basics will be useful, no matter what job you look for in the solar industry. For some, the concepts involved in electricity are brand new and for others it’s just a matter of a quick brush-up that helps remind students what they have learned back in high school. Theory is part of the essential building blocks of having a good understanding – as well as a good appreciation – of solar energy.

Our final set of February workshops wrapped up today! In just 2 weeks, we had over 30 students attend our 3 day Solar PV Training Workshops. We look forward to running more workshops again very soon and continuing our other half-day and multi-week training programs.

Please contact us to find out when we’ll be having our next set of workshops.

Second Set Of February Workshops - St. Stephen's Group

2011-02-09T20:09:00.000-08:00

We are now at the end of our second set of workshops, this time with a group double the size of last week! There are many highlights to mention with this enthusiastic group of participants, from electrical theory to discussions on job prospects in the solar industry, and of course lots of other things in between.

Yesterday, we invited Laszlo, a renewable studies student from a local college, to teach the students the importance of doing a proper site assessment. He explained what to keep in mind when doing an assessment and taught them how to use a specific site assessment tool. At the end of the class, Laszlo took the students outside and walked them through the process of picking a site suitable for solar and everyone took turns using the site assessment tool and practicing what they had learned.

We finished up the workshop today with a mock installation on our roof. With the help of our installation team, we had each student try out the harnesses and gain confidence walking around on the roof and adjusting their lifelines. They learned about solar panel layouts, safety and general installation best practices. However, installing the solar panels is always the best part of the day! Working together as a team and under the direction of our crew, the students enjoyed being a part of the installation process and seeing their hard work at the end: a roof gone solar, green energy at its finest.

Solar PV Training Workshop - JobStart Group

2011-02-03T16:23:00.000-08:00

Our first workshop started yesterday and runs until tomorrow. We’re giving our students a glimpse into the solar industry by having them take part in our 3 Day Solar PV Training Workshop.

Today was a very busy day; we first started off with Fall Safety Training, given by our trainer, Lauren. Our students learned all about the rules and guidelines of working safely and became certified to work on a roof. In the afternoon we had Steve from Magic Lite present information on LEDs and talk about their benefits. We finished up the day with some tool practice in the shop. With some basic stud finder and drill usage tips, the students showed their skills by trying to find the rafters on our roof, then drilling holes and mounting some brackets.

3 Day Workshops Coming In February!

2011-01-17T07:10:00.000-08:00

In February, ISEP will be holding 3, 3 day workshops in partnership with First Work. Through presentations and hands-on projects, we’ll be giving the students a chance to see if the solar industry is the right career path for them!

Interested in participating in some of our solar classes? Contact us to inquire when our next session begins!

julie@interect.ca

416-282-9992

Napanee Solar Panel Installation - Part 4 - By Andrew

2011-01-07T13:11:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday the team and I headed back to our installation site in Napanee to continue our work on the solar panel job. This time we were putting in the inverters.

This was really quite interesting and actually turned out to be a little easier than I had originally expected. For those of you who don’t know what an inverter is, this is the mechanism hooked up to the solar panel which takes the direct current (DC) power generated from the panel and converts it into alternating current (AC), which can then be used for your household. There are many different types of inverters but this time we were using micro-inverters which means that each panel has its own individual inverter. Usually there is just one large inverter that services many panels.

That morning, we arrived at the jobsite and got straight to work. The conditions weren't exactly ideal; it was very cold and wet, but we were dressed for it. We put on our safety harnesses and began lining up the inverters in place. There were 38 panels to go up for this specific job, and therefore 38 inverters as well. We installed the panels in 2 rows of 19. Electrically, the inverters can hold only so much voltage, so we grouped the wiring of the total 38 inverters into three groups of 13, 13 and 12, so the system voltage totals weren't too high and it would run smoothly. We then wired them all into place, securing them down with screws into their individual spots on the roof racking. After they were in place we were running out of daylight.

The last step on this installation will be the actual placement of the solar panels. Check back again soon to read about the final step in our Napanee installation!

Napanee Solar Panel Installation - Part 3 - By Andrew

2010-12-23T18:24:00.000-08:00

The panels themselves hadn’t yet arrived on the jobsite so we would have to come back at a later date to finish the job. I'm sure you'll be hearing me write about that after it happens. We had just finished putting the last few nuts and bolts in place and it was already dark; luckily we just finished in time and quickly cleaned up the jobsite. The customer saw the end result and seemed quite happy. Now the long journey back home.

It was quite the work day from sunrise to sunset and waking up the next day...ouch! I ached all over, but it was certainly worth it. I now have experience doing an actual installation and it went quite smoothly. I look forward to doing many more in the future!

Napanee Solar Panel Installation - Part 2 - By Andrew

2010-12-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

So we continued laying down chalkline after chalkline until the roof literally looked like a checker board. Then the pre-drilling commenced. We were able to do the pre-drilling fairly quickly and proceeded to put the roof mounts in place. Using the black tar sealant we secured them to the roof. Since it was my first time my hands got pretty messy, but once I got the hang of it, it was actually pretty easy and fun, too.

By this time it was already past noon and we knew we only had a few hours of sunlight left so we took a quick break for lunch. I had worked up quite the appetite too, since starting work so early. Upon returning to the jobsite we started putting the roof brackets in place, which went quite quickly and then feeding through the side and centre clamps, which are all the components that hold the panels securely in place.

By now we were coming close to the end of our installation...

Napanee Solar Panel Installation - Part 1 - By Andrew

2010-12-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

I've been very busy here at the shop lately getting a lot of training and also working on various side projects, but a couple of weeks ago I was finally able to go out with the installation team here at Interect and do an actual solar panel installation. I was definitely quite excited as it was my first time working onsite.

The installation was in Napanee which is about 2 hours east of Toronto. We left quite early in the morning to get there for sunrise. I must say the coffee we had on the way there did wonders.

Upon arrival we could see there was still snow on the roof and it was a bit chilly. Luckily I bundled myself in a few layers of clothing which helped a lot! After clearing the snow off of the roof which took some time, (I guess it’s not really a regular thing since installations don't usually happen this late in the season) we began by finding the rafters in the roof of the house.

Using a studfinder, we located the rafters and our head installer drilled some holes into them from the attic. After this we began doing our measurements for proper spacing and there were a lot to do. This was actually the part that took the longest, but it’s understandable since everything had to be extremely precise.

Check back here for my next posting to read more about the stages of the installation…

Toronto RV Show & Extravaganza

2010-12-16T10:16:00.000-08:00

From January 20^th-23^rd, 2011, the Toronto RV Show & Extravaganza will be on at the Toronto Congress Centre. Interect will be there promoting our off-grid and portable systems and talking to people about the educational programs ISEP is running.

Save an afternoon to spend some time at the show and meet up with Interect at booth #55.

Details for the show can be found on their site: http://www.rvshowtoronto.ca/.

Interect Accredited By The Better Business Bureau

2010-12-15T12:55:00.001-08:00

Interect is proud to announce that we have just been accredited by the Better Business Bureau. This is just another step along the way in providing quality service and products to our customers.

Click here to read our report: http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/business-reviews/solar-energy-equipment-and-systems-dealers/interect-in-scarborough-on-1224233.

Christmas At Interect

2010-12-13T05:13:00.000-08:00

Christmas is almost here and Interect is getting ready, decorating our office and looking forward to the holiday season. Here is our Christmas tree with a special “solar star” at the top.

We'll still be adding blog postings during the holidays, so check back often to see what's going on at Interect.

We wish you a solar powered Christmas and a sun filled New Year!

Fall Cottage Life Show

2010-11-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

This past weekend Interect participated in the Fall Cottage Life Show at the International Centre in Mississauga. Running from November 26^th-28^th, this show, joining together with the Canadian Home Workshop Show, the Explore Show and the Outdoor Canada Show, was a great success for Interect. Cottage owners eager to become more energy conscious were out in full force with their questions and enthusiasm. Many were interested in our rolling portable solar system, while others inquired about adding solar systems to their roofs and taking their cottages off grid.

During the weekend, Interect staff members took a few moments to look around at other booths and enjoy the various aspects of each show. One of the more interesting set-ups we saw there was an indoor “tree-top walk”. Using harnesses and clipping into their cable system, we took a walk along the high suspension bridge. This was good practice for our own safety and harness training that is so important for our own solar panel installers!

For everyone who couldn’t make it out to this show, we’ll see you in a few months at the Spring Cottage Show!

KACO Blueplanet Inverter Training

2010-11-25T23:25:00.000-08:00

Today Interect hosted KACO blueplanet inverter training at our office in Scarborough. Led by John, one of KACO’s sales managers, the workshop touched on introductory PV terminology and inverter definitions and continued with specific technical and installation details regarding their blueplanet inverters, including a discussion of their online string sizing tools. To compliment the presentation, KACO brought one of their blueplanet inverters, giving us a real life example of the various components and parts that make up the inverter.

We’re looking forward to setting up similar future product training sessions. Check our Interect Facebook page for more information on our next training sessions!

Theory & Solar PV Basics

2010-11-17T23:17:00.000-08:00

Along with the hands-on projects we build at ISEP, it’s important to include some theory so the students can gain a solid background in photovoltaics.

We introduce some of the basic concepts through videos and discussions. The topics we cover are solar pv terms, components of a system (what they are and what they do) and we also go over the basics of electricity, such as Ohm’s law etc. In some cases, this is a refresher from what students have previously learned from courses in school.

This week we worked on some hand-outs where the students had to work out on paper the voltages and currents of a solar system, how many panels and batteries were needed and how to determine voltage drops and calculate resistor values of a basic circuit.

After working through a few examples, the students really started catching onto the concepts involved in circuit analysis and began to feel more comfortable in their understanding of the flow of electricity through an electric circuit.

Building A Roof Mount Sample - By Jarryl

2010-11-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

For solar energy shows, Interect takes sample materials to show potential customers. One of our student projects this week was to construct a miniature roof sample with a bracket to show what it would look like on a real roof.

First we had to design how the roof would be constructed. We cut a piece of wood 12” by 9” as the base. Another piece of wood was cut to 9” by 7” to represent the beam that would be placed on the base in the middle. The beam was cut at a 45 degree angle. We aligned the beam on top of the base and drilled screws up from the bottom of the base to have the beam standing upright at a 45 degree angle. The final component was the top that would be the actual representation of the rooftop; this piece of wood was cut to a size of 12” by 16”. With this resting on top of the beam, we screwed in three screws at the top. After the roof was constructed we shingled the top piece. We then had to install the lag bolt set, the black plate and the L bracket.

Then we had a fully constructed model roof that is now ready for display at the next solar energy show.