American Solar Energy Society, Inc.

Impact Statement

It is with pride in our accomplishments that we share the 2008 annual report of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Since 1954 we have worked to advance professional and public understanding and support for solar energy, energy efficiency and the built environment. Our dedicated efforts are bearing fruit and the promise of a sustainable energy economy is envisioned by more and more Americans every day.

During 2008 we increased our membership by more than 15% and now service about 12,500 ASES members. We continue to interact with our members through low-carbon electronic means wherever possible, supporting our sustainability effort by lessening the amount of paper we generate. Further we offset our corporate travel by purchasing more than $2000 in renewable energy carbon offsets. We continue to advance our membership management capabilities with new data management software and interactive web-based capabilities allowing members to interact with their own member record, support online purchasing and improved communications.

At the end of 2008 we added an associate editor to the SOLAR TODAY staff. This continues our staffing-up efforts in line with increases in SOLAR TODAY frequency. We printed seven editions of the magazine in 2008 and will print nine in 2009. Additional significant growth in the magazine was seen in newsstand sales and we plan substantial additional circulation growth during 2009.

SOLAR 2008 continued our proud tradition of moving the ASES conference around the country. In San Diego, California our show drew about 5000 attendees to the 37th annual National Solar Conference. We saw more than 180 exhibitors in the trade show and our high quality educational program.

The fall proved to be another busy time with our 13th annual National Solar Tour attracting more than 140,000 tour takers. We coordinated tours in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, where Americans could see energy efficiency design and solar technologies in their own neighborhood. Our statistics show that the vast majority had not seen green buildings and solar technologies in action before. Most tour takers volunteered that they planned to purchase solar technologies within the next two years!

Our policy work featured the rollout of an economic development report called, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Economic Drivers for the 21st Century. This benchmarking study demonstrated that in 2006 the RE&EE industries provided about 8.5 million employed and nearly $1 trillion in gross revenue in the U.S. -- a figure far greater than previously known. Further, we forecast three scenarios for future revenue and jobs and in the most aggressive case showed potential for more than $4.5 trillion in gross revenue and more than 40 million employed by 2030 in the RE & EE industries. Also in the policy arena ASES, along with many others, worked tirelessly to promote and advance Congressional support for extension of the federal Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit for renewable energy. This legislation was passed by Congress before adjourning for the year.

Finally we ended the year with a slight deficit of about $85,000 on a gross budget of more than $2.7 million. Our shortfall was made up by the more than $100,000 brought forward from 2007. This deficit was expected as we ramped up our SOLAR TODAY production capabilities and extended the magazine into new markets.

We are ready to achieve more education and outreach in 2009 under the excellent voluntary leadership of our Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, our active and talented membership and the ongoing dedication and hard work of the ASES staff.

Needs Statement

American Solar Energy Society's needs include, Sponsors for the National Solar Conference, Sponsors for the National Solar Tour, additional Advertisers for SOLAR TODAY magazine, and more motivated individuals to become members.

Background Statement

Since 1954 we have worked to advance professional and public understanding and support for solar energy, energy efficiency and the built environment. Our dedicated efforts are bearing fruit and the promise of a sustainable energy economy is envisioned by more and more Americans every day.

Executive Director Statement

It is with pride in our accomplishments that we share the 2008 annual report of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). Since 1954 we have worked to advance professional and public understanding and support for solar energy, energy efficiency and the built environment. Our dedicated efforts are bearing fruit and the promise of a sustainable energy economy is envisioned by more and more Americans every day.

During 2008 we increased our membership by more than 15% and now service about 12,500 ASES members. We continue to interact with our members through low-carbon electronic means wherever possible, supporting our sustainability effort by lessening the amount of paper we generate. Further we offset our corporate travel by purchasing more than $2000 in renewable energy carbon offsets. We continue to advance our membership management capabilities with new data management software and interactive web-based capabilities allowing members to interact with their own member record, support online purchasing and improved communications.

At the end of 2008 we added an associate editor to the SOLAR TODAY staff. This continues our staffing-up efforts in line with increases in SOLAR TODAY frequency. We printed seven editions of the magazine in 2008 and will print nine in 2009. Additional significant growth in the magazine was seen in newsstand sales and we plan substantial additional circulation growth during 2009.

SOLAR 2008 continued our proud tradition of moving the ASES conference around the country. In San Diego, California our show drew about 5000 attendees to the 37th annual National Solar Conference. We saw more than 180 exhibitors in the trade show and our high quality educational program.

The fall proved to be another busy time with our 13th annual National Solar Tour attracting more than 140,000 tour takers. We coordinated tours in 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, where Americans could see energy efficiency design and solar technologies in their own neighborhood. Our statistics show that the vast majority had not seen green buildings and solar technologies in action before. Most tour takers volunteered that they planned to purchase solar technologies within the next two years!

Our policy work featured the rollout of an economic development report called, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Economic Drivers for the 21st Century. This benchmarking study demonstrated that in 2006 the RE&EE industries provided about 8.5 million employed and nearly $1 trillion in gross revenue in the U.S. -- a figure far greater than previously known. Further, we forecast three scenarios for future revenue and jobs and in the most aggressive case showed potential for more than $4.5 trillion in gross revenue and more than 40 million employed by 2030 in the RE & EE industries. Also in the policy arena ASES, along with many others, worked tirelessly to promote and advance Congressional support for extension of the federal Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit for renewable energy. This legislation was passed by Congress before adjourning for the year.

Finally we ended the year with a slight deficit of about $85,000 on a gross budget of more than $2.7 million. Our shortfall was made up by the more than $100,000 brought forward from 2007. This deficit was expected as we ramped up our SOLAR TODAY production capabilities and extended the magazine into new markets.

We are ready to achieve more education and outreach in 2009 under the excellent voluntary leadership of our Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, our active and talented membership and the ongoing dedication and hard work of the ASES staff.

Board Chair/President Statement

ASES is governed by a 19-member Board of Directors to steer the organization towards its vision to create a sustainable U.S. energy economy.

The ASES Board of Directors serves without compensation from ASES. The board leads strategic efforts throughout the year and meets at a late winter retreat, at the ASES annual conference, and a fall meeting where the budget is adopted for the following year. The fall meeting is held at the site of the next year’s annual conference.

We live across these United States, from the state of Washington to Florida, Vermont to California. We are12 men and 7 women, about evenly representative of young, mid-career, and senior age groups. In addition to our board work, we often volunteer for other ASES activities: presenting papers at our conference, participating in our local solar tours, or helping write our ASES policy papers. While a few are relatively new ASES members, others have been members for more than 30 years.

ASES Board members bring a wealth of experience. About half the Board have had careers of more than 20 years beyond their college degrees, and about two-thirds bring prior experience on other boards. Most members work in areas directly related to the ASES mission.

Board members’ careers are in most cases directly solar in nature: advocacy, business services and strategies, consulting, data collection and dissemination, design, energy development, project management, research, and technology development. Related careers include college teaching of architecture, energy policy, and physics, energy education, environmental law, fundraising, investment management, and global change development.

In the coming year, we will meet the challenges of a faltering economy and a rapidly expanding growth in energy efficiency and renewable energy investments. The Board will maintain our professional and geographic diversity and our unwavering commitment to good governance. Descriptions of each board member, contact information, and Board committees are found on the ASES web site, www.ases.org, in the About ASES section.