Helen Cox, director of CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability, speaks at a previous workshop.

Have you ever considered using solar energy but are not quite sure if it is right for your household or how much it will cost? California State University, Northridge’s Institute for Sustainability will host three workshops to answer these questions and more about going solar.

CSUN students, staff, faculty and the community are welcome to attend the free workshops at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 27, at noon Feb. 16 or 6:30 p.m. Mar. 19 — all on the garden level of the Oviatt Library 16.

Helen Cox, director of the Institute for Sustainability, along with Max Aram ’13 (M.S., Manufacturing Systems Engineering) and Chris Blevins, founders of Pick My Solar, will discuss how solar energy works, key factors to consider when using it and if switching to solar energy makes sense for you.

“Workshop attendees will receive unbiased information about solar options for their home and will be able to make an informed decision about whether or not it makes sense for them to install solar panels,” said Sarah Johnson, an administrative coordinator with the Institute for Sustainability. “ The feedback from past attendees include ‘excellent and information packed.’”

Pick My Solar is a website that allows homeowners interested in solar power to receive bids from companies with transparency. The site’s staff will be available at the workshop to determine installation costs, financing options and potential solar savings for all attendees who bring their utility bill.

CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability promotes, facilitates and develops educational research and university and community programs related to sustainability. It serves as an umbrella organization across the university on issues related to sustainability and is connecting the campus with efforts in the community. For more information and to RSVP, email sustainability@csun.edu or visit CSUN’s Institute for Sustainability.

Institute for Sustainability, solar