JOHN DAY Professional-level workshops on solar hot water and solar electric components, as well as a hands-on natural building workshop, will be offered at SolWest Fair this month.

The fair, a celebration of sustainable living and renewable energy systems, is set for July 26-29 at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Two classes in a comprehensive solar hot water curriculum will introduce participants to the design, theory, and installation of solar hot water systems.

A class on Thursday, July 26 will cover basic system design, review of system components, system location and layout, installation walk-through, and Oregon solar program information. The class is designed to provide the guidance needed to become an Oregon Tax Credit Certified Technician (TCCT).

A class on Friday, July 27, will detail the basic principles involved in solar water heating, and discuss common features as well as differences in system designs. Also included will be a discussion of Best Practices for rooftop installation, piping systems, and storage configuration.

The session also will include a hands-on assembly of the Sol-Reliant system, including collector mounting on a pre-fabricated ground-mount structure, setting the tank, and plumbing the two together. Students will install the solar hot water system that heats the showers for SolWest Fair.

Fair-goers interested in natural building can help the John Day Community Garden Group build a utility shed for storing tools at the garden. Construction will use native materials such as peeled poles, with recycled board-and-batt siding.

Volunteers in this free class will be able to learn traditional methods of constructing small buildings.

Instructors are Energy Trust Solar Hot Water Inspector Jerry Henderson, John Patterson, owner of Mr. Sun Solar, and Randy Joseph of Joseph Millworks. The solar plumbing classes are approved for a total 12 hours of continuing education towards journeyman plumbing licenses.

The deadine to sign up for technical classes is July 15.

For more information and signup forms, visit www.solwest.org or call 541-575-3633.