Microgrids Where the Big Grids Dont Go

Microgrids Where the Big Grids Dont Go Microgrids Where the Big Grids Dont Go Microgrids Where the Big Grids Dont GoSamuel Egbu used to pay 50 naira (32 cents) to charge his phone battery in Umuagwu, a village in Rivers State, Nigeria. Or sometimes he would wait with his dead phone in the small crowds gathered around a neighbors portable generator.Electricity was scarce until solar power changed the community. Life used to be very difficult and uncomfortable in the village because there was no light, Egbu said. As soon as it is dusk, everybody retires to their houses.Now he charges his phone at his own home using a large rechargeable battery. The battery draws its charge from a solar photovoltaic array in the neighboring community of Egbeke.Street lights, powered by the solar array, shine on the main street of Umuagwu for the first time. We now feel like we are living in the big cities, Egbu said.The PV array and the battery kit are parte of an electrification pilot project by Green Village Electricity to deliver power to households leid connected to a central grid or traditional power plants. The Nigerian company uses technology and a business plan developed in the U.S. by IEEE Smart Village. Smart Village proposes to work with GVE and other partners to light up places like Umuagwu and Egbeke all over the world. The goal is to deliver electricity and educational services to 50 million people by 2025.Ray Larsen, IEEE Smart Village co-founder, and Paul Lacourciere, IEEE Smart Village volunteer, near a SunBlazer trailer. Image IEEEThe project started small in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010. Ray Larsen, a Smart Village co-founder, and his colleagues helped deliver 15 solar microgrids in trailers to communities that had never been on a central power grid.The power stations, which they called Sunblazers, shipped as kits of panels that produce 4 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, plus 40 to 80 12-volt lead-acid battery packs. Local technicians cut and welded frames and wired the panels.Then they hauled the finished products into remote communities where they powered homes through the battery packs. The kits were composed almost entirely of off-the-shelf parts configured for efficiency and portability.Today, 10 of the units are still running. One of the original 15 was destroyed in a riot and the others are under repair after heat and humidity rotted the wood floors of their chassis. The poor mix of wood with a wet climate is one lesson learned from that first project.Now Sunblazer is in its second and third generations, Sunblazer II and Sunblazer Lite. Both new models are lighter and more portable than the first, and their panels are more efficient. Sunblazer II includes six 300-watt panels that deliver 9 kWh of electricity per day in equatorial sun. The panels store power in four station batteries that can charge a portable household battery pack in about four hours. The chassis is steel tubing with a floor of sealed plywood or steel.S unblazer Lite is about half the size and weight with two panels that deliver nearly 3 kWh per day. It has a stainless steel frame and an enclosure of high-density polyethylene plastic.The new models also include mostly off-the-shelf components, and the designs are intentionally fluid, open to adaptation to suit changing conditions in communities and countries around the world. Each station can expand to deploy more panels and charge more batteries.You can couple them together and drive big loads. Were taking a broader look than just home lighting, Larsen said. Were trying to be more than just a lighting company. Were looking not just at lighting, but at clean water, water purification, education, refrigeration, pumping.We build somewhat larger systems to handle those loads. Smart Village has since branched into Kenya, Cameroon, South Sudan, and Nigeria.In Nigeria, GVE is deploying 24 kW of solar power to three different villages to put power in 200 homes. In September, Nigerias Bank of Industry invested more than $675,000 in the company and Smart Village added an additional $65,500 to fund the pilot program. If it is successful, the Bank of Industry plans to fund an expansion that would reach 200,000 homes in the next five years, according to Ifeanyi Orajaka, chief executive officer of GVE.So far from the pilot projects we have deployed, the business model has proven to be very sustainable as well as very scalable, Orajaka said. The service appears to be working, as customers spend less and receive more.Before now I spend about 450 naira daily (for 3 liters of fuel) but now I spend 200 naira and yet I have a better value for my money, I have longer hours of electricity and without generator noise and fumes, one customer told Orajaka. Learn about the latest energy solutions at ASMEs Power Energy Conference and Exhibition. For Further Discussion Before now I spend about 450 naira daily (for 3 liters of fuel) but now I spend 200 naira and yet I have a better val ue for my money.Sunblazer II Customer

Showcase Your Personal Brand in Your Cover Letter

Showcase Your Personal Brand in Your Cover LetterShowcase Your Personal Brand in Your Cover Letter3 ways to highlight your unique value proposition.Job seekers often overlook the titelseite letter in favor of the resume, but its just as important and effective in getting you noticed by your dream employer. Its not only a way to expand on your experience, but showcase your unique selling points, or personal brand.When drafting your titelseite letter, its essential to tailor it. That may include limiting your brands focus You dont have to expand on everything you have to offer, only those traits and skills that match the job description. At the same time, you want to be able to tell why youre best fit among candidates who may have the same qualifications - what makes you different.3 ways to showcase your personal brandThe tricky thing about cover letters, however, is that theyre actually not about you, but rather what you can do for the employer. Essentially, your cover letter should showcase your brand in a way that matches exactly what the employer is looking for in a candidate. Three things to keep in mind when showcasing your brand in your next cover letterBe Creative. The opening of the cover letter is fruchtwein crucial, as its the first impression the employer will get from you. Instead of a boring, standard opening, consider a different approach. Youll still want to address how youll help the employer, but using a narrative hook (for instance, the story of how you became interested in the company) is a unique way to reveal your knowledge and use your own voice instead of a templates.Show and Tell. The body of your cover letter is an extended view of whats already on your resume. As both should be tailored to the job description, choose which accomplishments, competencies, or experiences to talk about in greater detail. You dont have to choose all of them, but focus on one or two where you can show off the results and how they apply to the job position at hand. Be sure to link them to your Web site or portfolio, which can prompt employers to see more that youve done.Close Strong. Nearing the end of the cover letter, you want to wrap it up with strong language and a call to action. Avoid using qualifying words (I think, I believe) and let them know when you intend to follow up. At the same time, link your social media sites, so theyll get to see your interactions and expertise for themselves.In these ways, your cover letter will be focused, concise, and connect your brand to the employers needs.Reposted with permission from Personal Branding Blog

What Does a Library Technician Do - Job Description

What Does a Library Technician Do - Job DescriptionWhat Does a Library Technician Do - Job DescriptionA library technician is one member of a librarys staff. He or she may work in public, academic, school, medical, law, or government agency libraries. Working under the supervision of alibrarian, this paraprofessional acquires and organizes materies, lends resources to patrons, and organizes and reshelves items after patrons or users return them. The scope of a library technicians duties varies according to the size of the facility. In some libraries, he or she may answer erfahrung questions, teach patrons or users how to use resources, and plan programs. Many also have clerical duties including answering telephones and filing. Quick Facts Library technicians earn a median salary $32,890 annually or $15.81 per hour (2016).This occupation employs approximately99,000 people (2016).Employers include public, school, university, law, medical, and corporate libraries.About two out of th ree jobs are part-time positions.Library technicians can expect a good job outlook according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This government agency expects employment to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations between 2016 and 2026. Roles and Responsibilities We looked at job announcements listed onIndeed.comto learn about the job duties of a library technician. Here are some of them Provide information service, such as answering questions regarding card catalogs, and assist in the use of bibliographic tools, such as Library of Congress catalogCheck books and materials in and out at the circulation deskMaintain student discipline in the libraryCommunicate with a wide variety of patrons by telephone, letter, or electronic means regarding routine and non-routine questions on services to publishers and other specialized library servicesProcess print and non-print library materials to prepare them for inclusion in library collections Maintain and update databa ses/inventories of documentsRemove or repair damaged books or other media How to Become a Library Technician According to the American Library Association (ALA), training requirements for library technicians range from a high school diploma to a specialized postsecondary training in library technology (Becoming a Library Assistant or Technician. American Library Association). Depending on the postsecondary training you receive, you can earn a certificate or an associate degree. Expect to learn about acquisitions, cataloging, information literacy and research, and public services.The ALA maintains a list of Library Certificate and Degree Programs. Library technicians need excellent computer skills and must keep up with the continuously changing technology used in libraries. Professional associations offer continuing education workshops to help library technicians keep up with new developments in the field. WhatSoft Skills Do You Need to Succeed in This Career? You will acquir e the hard skills that will allow you to perform your job in the classroom or through on-the-job training. There aresoft skillsthat are essential to your success in this occupation. You were either born with these personal qualities or can get them through life experiences. They are Reading Comprehension The ability to understand documents in order to organize them properly.Active Listening This skill will allow you to understand patrons needs and coworkers instructions.Verbal Communication To answer patrons questions and instruct them, you will need excellent speaking skillsInterpersonal Skills Strong interpersonal skills will allow you to provide excellent service to patrons and work well with colleagues. What Will Employers Expect From You? We again turned to Indeed.com to find out what employers require from job candidates applying for positions in this field. This is what we found Skill in attending to detailAbility to follow instructions with exactness and work unsupervise dFamiliarity with Microsoft Office softwareAble to shelve items on top shelves (which could be up to 80 off ground). Step stools are availableAbility to lift/carry/push/pull up to 25 pounds on a regular basis and up to 50 pounds occasionallyAble to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environmentCommunicate effectively with clients of varied educational levels and backgrounds sufficient to determine and respond to their informational needs Is This Occupation a Good Fit for You? Before you decide to become a library technician, especially if you are going to invest money in a degree or certificate, make sureit is a good match for yourinterests,personality type, andwork-related values. If you have the following traits, you may enjoy working in this occupation Interests(Holland Code) CSE (Conventional, Social, Enterprising)Personality Type(MBTI PersonalityTypes) ISTJ, ESTP, ESFP, INFJWork-Related Values Relationships, Support, Working Conditions Occupations With Related Activi ties and Tasks OccupationDescriptionMedian Annual Wage (2016)Minimum Required Education/TrainingLibrary AssistantPerforms clerical duties in a library$25,220HS DiplomaLibrarianSelects and organizes materials in a library and teaches people how to use them$57,680Masters Degree in Library ScienceCuratorAcquires, exhibits and stores collections in a museum$53,360Masters DegreeTeacher AssistantProvides extra instruction and attention to students under a teachers supervision$25,410Associate Degree or 2 Years of College CourseworkInstructional CoordinatorDevelops and coordinates implementation of instructional material in a school$62,460Masters Degree Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NETOnline(visited March 9, 2018).