Walt Ratterman Award for Creative Community Energy
Inspiration for the Award:
The annual Walt Ratterman Award for Creative Community Energy was created to recognize and honor Walt Ratterman, one of NABCEP’s first certificants, who was killed while working in Haiti when the devastating earthquake struck. Walt’s astonishing renewable energy work among some of the world’s most needy was truly inspirational. Walt channeled his efforts into the non-profit company he co-founded, SunEnergy Power International (SunEPI). Since his death the company is no longer an active organization, although the website serves as a resource for past projects. The company’s mission was “to promote an increased quality of life in remote, rural regions of the world through the use of renewable energy.”
Intent:
By creating this award, we hope that Walt’s legacy will continue to inspire other renewable energy installers to follow his formidable lead.
What is taken into consideration?
The Walt Ratterman Award will be presented to the NABCEP certificant who does the most creative public service oriented renewable energy project of the year. Installations can be domestic or off shore but they must be performed at no charge for a not-for-profit or charitable organization. Considerations such as legacy, local labor and material content, on-the-job-training, and project sustainability will help guide the award committee.
Who can qualify for the award?
Nominees for the award must be NABCEP certificants in good standing and may work in any technology that NABCEP offers certifications for.
How to nominate someone:
Nominations should include details of the individual nominated, their projects, and the nominator’s reasons for the nomination. All nominations should be forwarded to Ezra Auerbach, NABCEP’s Executive Director, at eauerbach@nabcep.org. Nominations for the award will be accepted until December 31st.
2010 Award Winner
Wade Andrews of Namaste Solar in Boulder, Colorado won for a 2010 domestic PV project on the Cal-Wood Education Center in Colorado.
- Video (Click here to leave the NABCEP site and go to Renewable Energy World to see video coverage of the award presentation. NABCEP does not endorse any advertisers on the REW site.)