RENO — Sunvelope Solar of Sparks announced Tuesday that a collaborative series of community outreach events called “Solar Hot Water 101” will be available free to the public at many local library branches throughout northwest Nevada this month.

This series of one-hour presentations is intended to teach the basics of modern solar hot water systems as well as outline the generous financial incentives offered by utility companies to install them.

“We were looking for ways to engage more people in this conversation,” said Auguste Lemaire, owner of Sunvelope, in a press release, “and asked the folks at NV Energy if they would come along to enhance our message about solar hot water. This seemed like the right thing at the right time for all of us in the industry given the big pot of money they still have available for their customers in 2011.” Sunvelope Solar is a manufacturer and installer of Solar Hot water systems. Representatives of NV Energy will be on hand at these events to explain their rebate program and answer questions.

The local dates and locations are as follows:

July 27 at 6 p.m. at the Spanish Springs Library, 7100A Pyramid Way in Sparks

Aug. 2 at 5:30 p.m. at the Sparks Library, 1125 12th St. in Sparks

Information for NV Energy rebates available for solar hot water can be found at www.nvenergy.com/renewablesenvironment/renewablegenerations/solarwater/hotwater.cfm.

For more information, call Sunvelope Solar at 331-2728 or go online at www.sunvelope.com for more information.