2008 – SIREN Volunteer Organization Formed!
July 1, 2008
The Southern Indiana Renewable Energy Network (SIREN) was created to promote an alternative energy model and to reduce dependence on coal. It was a DIY, mutual aid group. In “barn-raising” style, SIREN members personally installed three solar systems in Monroe…
Read moreSIREN becomes a CSL project
August 1, 2008
SIREN became a project of The Center for Sustainable Living, a 501 (c) 3 organization.
Read moreSIREN and INREA co-sponsor solar tour
July 1, 2010
SIREN and INREA (Indiana Renewable Energy Association) co-sponsored a Solar Tour of over 30 homes and business in Bloomington and Monroe County with solar PV, solar thermal, solar air heating and passive solar design.
Read moreSIREN sponsors Energy Showdown
August 1, 2010
SIREN sponsored an Energy Showdown. The contest awarded prizes to participants who achieved the greatest percentage reduction in their electricity bills. Collectively, the contestants saved more than 11.5 megawatt hours of electricity. The grand prize winners, Woodie and Pam Bessler, reduced their total electrical…
Read moreSIREN gives first Going Solar presentation
May 5, 2011
Earth Care, a local interfaith group focusing on energy conservation, invited SIREN to present a public program describing the performance, cost, availability and carbon reduction of renewable energy. Woodie Bessler authored the first Going Solar program, presented in May at…
Read more50+ destinations on 2011 Solar Tour
July 1, 2011
The Solar Tour was repeated as part of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Tour. This year there were more than 50 homes and businesses on the tour.
Read more2011 – SIREN presents 5 Going Solar programs
December 31, 2011
SIREN volunteers gave a total of 5 Going Solar presentations in 2011, all in Bloomington..
Read moreSIREN volunteers lead Solar Bicycling Tour
July 1, 2012
SIREN volunteers led and narrated a Solar Bicycling Tour of 8 residential installations on June 23.
Read moreSIREN helps H-IPL to win $150,000 OED grant
December 1, 2012
SIREN volunteers provided grant writing assistance to the Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light (H-IPL) to thank H-IPL affiliate Earth Care for inviting us to give the first Going Solar program. Through a grant from the Indiana Office for Energy Development, six congregations (4…
Read more2012 – SIREN presents 8 Going Solar programs
December 31, 2012
SIREN volunteers Woodie Bessler, Darrell Boggess and Terry Usrey presented 8 Going Solar programs in Bloomington this year.
Read moreSIREN Interactive Inventory Map created
July 1, 2013
SIREN volunteer Terry Usrey created the Solar Inventory Database and interactive map. Originally conceived of as an online virtual solar tour, it has evolved into a unique site registry annually updated by solar contractors.
Read more2013 – SIREN presents 10 Going Solar programs
December 31, 2013
SIREN volunteers Woodie Bessler, Darrell Boggess, and Terry Usrey presented 10 Going Solar programs in 2013. For the first time, programs were given outside Bloomington; the speakers addressed audiences in Columbus, Evansville and Indianapolis.
Read moreSIREN supports MCEC
August 1, 2014
SIREN became one of the community sponsors for Monroe County’s successful application to compete in the Georgetown University Energy Prize. Four SIREN volunteers serve on committees in the Monroe County Energy Challenge.
Read more2014 – SIREN presents 12 Going Solar programs
December 31, 2014
SIREN volunteers presented 12 Going Solar programs around the state in 2014. Arvind Gopu and Chandra Romel made their debut as presenters; Woodie Bessler, Darrell Boggess and Terry Usrey continued in that role.
Read moreChanges in SIREN and CSL
February 10, 2015
As Jeanne Leimkuhler, CSL board president and SIREN Steering member, prepared to move to California, two other SIREN members assumed new responsibilities in CSL, our parent organization. Rhonda Baird, formerly SIREN’s program coordinator, become the new CSL president and Chandra Romel…
Read moreSIREN takes high school class on a solar tour
March 15, 2015
SIREN volunteers Anne Hedin and Darrell Boggess led a Solar Tour tailored to the needs of a high school Environmental Sciences class. Woodie Bessler provided additional classroom support.
Read moreSIREN nominated for Be More award
April 28, 2015
SIREN was nominated for a Be More Sustainable Award. The Be More Awards in 10 categories are offered by the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network to recognize the efforts of dedicated volunteers and organizations.
Read moreSIREN assists H-IPL on second OED grant
May 1, 2015
With assistance from SIREN and the Center for Sustainable Living, Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light obtained a second OED grant for $100,000, enabling congregations in Bloomington, Gary, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, and Merrillville to go solar. SIREN will serve as technical adviser…
Read moreSIREN relaunches website
August 14, 2015
SIREN unveils revamped website including more user friendly Solar Q&A, contractor list, event listing, etc. SIREN volunteer Arvind Gopu developed this site with assistance on content and usability from Anne Hedin and Lavanya Pashikanti.
Read more2015 – SIREN presents 18 Going Solar programs
December 31, 2015
In the fifth year since beginning to offer Going Solar programs, SIREN volunteers including Arvind Gopu, Darrell Boggess, Cliff Burk, Chandra Romel, Terry Usrey, and Woodie Bessler presented to 18 audiences around the state – a 50% increase from the…
Read moreSIREN unveils redesigned solar map
February 13, 2016
The SIREN solar map since its inception in July 2013 has been one of the most appreciated feature on our website. This past winter SIREN volunteers Arvind Gopu and Soichi Hayashi worked on a complete redesign of the Solar Map…
Read moreSIREN unveils updated contractor listing
March 26, 2016
SIREN introduces an updated Contractor Listing page, including a simpler tabular listing and dynamic one-page printable PDF. The new version features a more modern user interface that responds elegantly to different screen sizes as well as a simplified back-end for…
Read more2016 – Announcing SIREN Name Change!
March 26, 2016
SIREN changes its full name to Solar Indiana Renewable Energy Network. Since 2008, SIREN has been a leading educator and promoter of renewable energy sources and energy conservation in south central Indiana. Through the years, we began reaching audiences well beyond that…
Read moreWoodie Bessler wins Be More Sustainable award
April 1, 2016
The City of Bloomington recognized Woodie Bessler for his volunteer work with SIREN and the Monroe County Energy Challenge. Woodie authored the first Going Solar program, which has since been given more than 50 times to approximately 1,000 people. In support…
Read moreICEY + SIREN double solar density in 2 neighborhoods
January 1, 2017
The Interfaith Community of Environmentalist Youth (ICEY) completed an ambitious project with SIREN’s help to increase solar adoption in the Brian Park and Elm Heights neighborhoods. SIREN organized a group-buy program while ICEY members went door to door recruiting prospects….
Read moreSIREN partners with city on the Solarize Bloomington initiative
February 1, 2017
The City of Bloomington partnered with SIREN as its technical adviser to choose an installer for two City buildings and to give residents an opportunity to participate in and benefit from volume purchasing rates. For the residential piece, SIREN refined…
Read moreSolarize Bloomington generates 138 new solar installations in 2017!
January 1, 2018
Under the threat of legislative action to revoke net metering for customers of investor-owned utilities, SIREN organized two Solarize phases in 2017. The first phase resulted in 93 systems/560 kilowatts under contract before the legislature met in July. Under pressure…
Read moreSIREN solar map code refactoring and heatmap feature
September 29, 2018
The SIREN solar map released in Feb 2016 got a refresh this fall. CSL volunteer and board president Andrea Avena Koenigsberger, with IU colleague/expert web application developer Michael D. Young’s mentorship and SIREN volunteer Arvind Gopu’s guidance added a heatmap…
Read moreSolarize and Indiana Solar for All add more solar installs in 2018!
January 1, 2019
The net metering rule change permitted people who purchase solar systems between 2018 and July 2022 to benefit from net metering until 2032. Despite the post-Gold Rush effect, 48 more Solarize contracts were signed by December 2018. SIREN members participated…
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