About

Early Background

Schools & Homes Energy Education Project/Solar-Active was established in May 1993 as an initiative of Sheffield Environmental Training, a South Yorkshire environmental charity; and with funding from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions’ Environmental Action Fund.

On 4th November 1996 it registered as a not-for-profit company, and as a charity on 15th January 1999. In 1999 the Plugging Into the Sun® trademark was registered.

In December 2002 we established Recovery Insulation Ltd as a for profit share capital company and social enterprise. In 2005, the Inno-Therm® trademark was registered.

What Has Been Achieved

Since 2009 we have successfully developed an educational method for teaching and leaning about energy efficiency and renewable energy resources for application in the home and workplace.

The SOLAR STEM resources support an approach to learning that focuses on stimulating student’s interest and involves real life applications of scientific concepts while providing opportunities to use inventive, creative, problem solving skills crucial to scientific and inventive thinking; making science enjoyable to learn and teach.

Congratulations to Solar Active who has received a RISE Award for his Solar Car collaborative learning zoom workshops. Providing practical on-line self-supporting remote learning sessions were successfully conducted using a problem solving approach. The professional development practical on-line sessions are available to home educators, primary, and secondary students and FE/HE teachers. Places are available – contact david@solar-active.com to register.

Solar Cells

Our unique flexible solar cells have significant output in diffuse light conditions. An in-house encapsulation process is in production for our single and double cells.

Solar STEM Resources

The resources include model solar car, boat, hydrofoil, lorry and mini-water pump and solar water heating, solar electricity, wind and water wheel demonstrations. They are powered by our unique flexible solar cells.

The model solar car kit has been specifically designed for the builder to learn using their creative and inventive of any changes they make first hand.

This approach is highly effective in creating enthusiasm and encouraging invention; while allowing one to gain knowledge skills through a process of trial and error; experiencing the affects and problem solving skills.

Solar Car & Boat Challenges

Since 2003 young people in South Yorkshire have been building solar model cars and boats as part of the EPSRC ‘Engineering a Better World’ case study [Solar Detectives] to develop their enterprise skills and enthusiasm in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics.

The QCA “considered the Solar Cars/Boats used in the Solar Detectives case study to have helped pupils transfer knowledge and skills between different subject areas. The inspired engineering experience was supported by the educational method and curriculum materials created by Solar Active.”

Solar-Active provides has provided resources and support for 50+ Solar Challenges across UK and Europe in using our solar car & boat, inter-active demonstrations, carbon-footprint and energy efficiency home/school surveys. The support also includes access to web based technical and teaching materials.

CPD Training Workshops

CPD training workshops are conducted in our education method and how to use our renewable & energy efficiency education resources to accomplish curriculum outcomes. Workshops and courses are conducted with community/environmental organisations, young people, educational institutions (Primary, Secondary, FE/HE), home educators, professionals and the general public.

The resources also provide the opportunity to create student enterprise projects and enthusiasm in STEM SUBJECTS. Encouraging students to study and enter into careers in engineering and develop an understanding of the issues of sustainability, climate change and global warming. Proven useful with the hard-to-reach and fits into concept of V-A-K Visual, Auditory and Kinaesthetic learning.

Tell me, I’ll forget. Show me, I’ll remember.

Let me do it, I’ll understand.

Dígame, yo lo olvidaré. Muéstremelo, lo recordaré.

Déjeme hacerlo, yo lo comprenderé.

A Chinese proverb by Confucius