UNITED NATIONS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY – OMAHA AREA EVENTS

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Nebraska Solar Energy Society hosts international solar energy expert Dr. Richard Komp

April 12 – 27

The Nebraska Solar Energy Society, NSES, hosted a two-week series of educational events with Dr. Richard Komp, President of the Maine Solar Energy Association.  Dr. Komp has a PhD in Physical Chemistry, a Minor in Physics, and was one of the early researchers in thin film photovoltaic panels in 1960.

Dr. Komp gave 9 presentations to the public, 4 meetings at surrounding universities and colleges, 6 educational outreaches in local Omaha schools, two earth day presentations in Omaha and Lincoln (keynote for the Omaha earth day event, and passive solar home tour after the earth day event in Lincoln), meetings with the Nebraska Economic Development Corporation, Nebraska Energy Office, Cornhusker State Industries, Congressman Lee Terry, and Senator Ben Nelson’s aide, Louise Lassiter.  The lecture scheduled unfolded in Omaha, Lincoln, Blair, and Fremont.

One of the highlights of Dr. Komp’s time with us was the outreach in the schools. Dr. Komp gave presentations teaching the students how a solar house is designed, and working hands on building a solar battery charger and testing it with the sun.  In our eyes, the excitement and interest the students showed at the schools we visited made the planning for events a great success.

The Nebraska Solar Energy Society braved the rain on earth day and brought a full set up to the event.  We had children’s educational displays, solar panels, an electric motorcycle, two wind turbines, an electric car, electric lawn mower, solar cooker, a model home display with working wind turbine and solar panel charging a battery bank with an inverter running electricity into a working model home with standard household current.  For more information on the NSES, Dr. Komp’s background and up-coming events you may visit our site at www.ceen.unomaha.edu/nses.