Discussing everything from drill bits to electrical alternators, these 23 women were at Walden West Outdoor School to install a complete solar photovoltaic system, which will create sustainable, clean energy for the school in years to come.

Walden West received its face-lift on March 7 and 8 after the women—who came from everywhere from New York to San Jose—spent four days in classroom labs in Santa Cruz as part of a workshop sponsored by Solar Energy International.

Wahila Minshall was a class participant a year ago. After completing her master's degree in environmental studies and then the course, she decided to pursue a career in solar energy. She hooked up with Akeena Solar of Los Gatos and began working as a marketing manager and installer of systems throughout the Bay Area, particularly in Saratoga and Los Altos. "The class was great," Minshall said. "It was really exciting and fun. Having a class for women only just adds a whole different comfort level. We could communicate easily without being afraid of sounding like a bunch of women."

Carol Weis, an SEI instructor, says the classes are "a lot of fun" and believes there is "something special" about the women's-only class. "The women are all talking within 30 minutes; there is a level of conversation that immediately happens. These classes talk much more and get hands-on for everything," Weis said.

At the school, nine photovoltaic panes were secured along the rooftop. Also installed was an inverter, which converts a direct current made by the panels into a useable alternating current. A special addition to the installation was a demonstration meter, which will allow students to see the energy being created. The system will provide Walden West with 2,000 hours of clean electricity per year and will save $600 in energy bills every year.

Walden West is an outdoor school in the Saratoga hills, hosting weeklong science programs for fifth- and sixth-grade classes in Santa Clara County during the school year. Walden West received a Flex Your Power grant for the project, but when that money didn't cover the full system—photovoltaic systems average $13,000—Akeena Solar stepped in to take up the slack and set up the labor via SEI class attendants.

"There were good reasons to do it," Minshall said. "Not only do you educate all these women, but it will educate all the kids as well."

After the installation, Akeena Solar will guarantee the system for five years, although it should last the school up to 30 to 50 years.

"We appreciate this so much," says Anita Parsons, Walden West co-director. "We wouldn't be able to do it without SEI and Akeena organizing and donating the time and money." With this installation, Parsons says the school will adopt an entire solar energy program to incorporate into the camp curriculum.

"It is exciting because the kids will actually be able to see the electric meter backing up. It is a great place for them to learn, and we'll save energy but also show them how we are saving energy for California," Parsons said.

Akeena President Barry Cinnamon, a Saratoga resident, was enthusiastic about the project because he says he feels solar energy "is the best way to go" for long-term positive impacts on the environment. It also helped that Walden West was "the ideal place to install a system," he said. "My kids go here in the summer, and they have a terrific outdoor education program. This will be great."

Jennifer Seguin, an SEI participant and the environmental project coordinator for the city of San Jose, says the city is looking to coordinate its energy policy to address statewide needs. She was sent to the class to learn and report back to the city in hopes of creating a coordinated energy plan. "I had learned all the theory, but then I wanted the hands-on experience," Seguin said. "It has been great. I am definitely getting an idea of solar power and installation."

For more information about SEI and its programs, visit www.solarenergy.org. For information about Walden West, visit http://www.sccoe.k12.ca.us/waldenwest/home.html, and for information on Akeena Solar, visit http://www.akeena.net.