Besides offering discussion courses, Simply Living also sponsors skills courses created and led by our members on topics such as how to install solar panels or how to manage personal finances.
Our skills courses are listed on this page. In some cases Simply Living members can get a discount, and for everyone who we refer, course leaders return some of the proceeds to us. It's a great way to learn new skills while supporting Simply Living!
Introduction to Solar PV
Through Blue Rock Station
Description
This course is designed for those new to solar. Ideal for folks wishing to understand the fundamentals of how solar photovoltaic systems work – but are not necessarily going to design or install systems at this time. This course is ideal for homeowners interested in solar, electricians thinking they may wish to expand into the solar marketplace, building owners or architects who have questions about how solar might be incorporated into their facilities, or consultants who are increasingly being asked about solar and how solar electric systems work. This curriculum has been approved by ETA-I (Electronic Technicians Association, International) for 8 hours of continuing education units (CEUs). It is a selected portion of the more in-depth Residential Solar Installation & Design course (10 hours).
Dates, Times, Format
This is an online course. You can go through it at your own pace.
Course Facilitators
In 1993, Jay and Annie Warmke founded Blue Rock Station, a 40-acre sustainability center located in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in southeastern Ohio. The center features the first earthship built east of the Mississippi River, and is a living laboratory to test and demonstrate sustainable living concepts and options. Since 2004 over 35,000 people have visited Blue Rock Station. Find out more at bluerockstation.com.
Registration
Members of Simply Living can use code SLPV when they enroll to receive $50 off! If you are not already a member, you can join here.
Residential Solar Installation and Design
Through Blue Rock Station
Description
This course is ideal for folks wishing to install a solar system on their home or business, understand what they are getting into if they wish to hire someone to install a system, or enter the rapidly growing PV industry as a career. This course tracks with the provided textbook (Understanding Photovoltaics – 8th Edition). It is organized into 11 chapters, 71 major topic areas – with 11 review quizzes, 25 lab projects, over 550 narrated slides, dozens of integrated videos, links to online resources and materials for added comprehension and more. This curriculum has been approved by ETA as preparing persons interested in obtaining the PV Level 1 Certification. It has also been approved for 35 hours of LA CES health, safety, and welfare Professional Development hours.
Dates, Times, Format
This is an online course. You can go through it at your own pace.
Course Facilitators
In 1993, Jay and Annie Warmke founded Blue Rock Station, a 40-acre sustainability center located in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains in southeastern Ohio. The center features the first earthship built east of the Mississippi River, and is a living laboratory to test and demonstrate sustainable living concepts and options. Since 2004 over 35,000 people have visited Blue Rock Station. Find out more at bluerockstation.com.
Registration
Members of Simply Living can use code SLPV when they enroll to receive $50 off! If you are not already a member, you can join here.
Spirit and Money
With Randall Loop
Description
Your Money or Your Life, a best-selling book and study course by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez, provides a nine-step program for personally retooling your conscious activity with money, leading to transformation, fulfillment, and purpose. Expected results of applying the tools include a higher quality of life; paying off debt and building savings; linking your deepest values/purpose with your finances; reduced expenses – an average of 20 percent within 6 months; and a fulfilling and sustainable relationship with money.
Dates, Times, Format
This is a pre-recorded webinar course. You can go through it at your own pace.
Course Facilitator
Randall Loop, LMT, LSH will be leading the course within the pre-recorded webinars. He is highly familiar with financial desperation. He went bankrupt in the recession of the late 1980s and he navigated several personal crises over the next few years. In 1997 he began to regain a measure of success at living his values, but until 2004 he remained just shy of his “Goldilocks Point”– as he calls it. During 2004 Randall discovered the Your Money or Your Life Study Group through Simply Living, and as a result of living the 9 simple awareness-building steps, he paid off nearly $20,000 in credit card debt, developed savings, and now owns a home/business combo in Merion Village/South Columbus. Since 2006 he has led study groups and coached individuals through the program.
Register
30% of the cost of this course goes to support Simply Living.