The
following workshops address all aspects of converting
to clean and renewable energy sources. To locate the time
and place of these workshops, click here:
Basics of Solar Electricity
(Photovoltaics)
Len Loomans
Brief intro to the “basics”:
quantifying the solar resource, system design types,
sizing techniques, estimating output, life-cycle costs,
NEC compliance and utility requirements. Available state
and federal rebates, tax incentives and Renewable Energy
Credits/Green Power marketing will also be covered. If
the sun is shining, we'll go outside for some hands-on
demonstrations, and there will be plenty of time for
questions.
Len Loomans is a Consulting
Energy Engineer with over 20 years experience within
the electric power industry. Currently he provides clients
with engineering design & commissioning services for renewable energy systems; including photovoltaics,
wind, hydroelectric, cogeneration and other energy efficiency & conservation technologies. He also teaches a Photovoltaics Class for the Lifelong
Learning Div. of CCRI. Len holds a B.S. in Electrical
Engineering from Colorado State University.
Climate Action Conference
10:00 am to 12:00 noon
New
for 2007!
Morning
Climate Action Conference
10:00
am to 12 noon
with
Dr. Steven Hamburg
Stephen Majkut
Omay Elphick
|
|
Let’s
make inconvenient truths more convenient.
Find out what you can do right now to produce
positive effective changes in your life and
in the lives of others. Hear from the experts
about climate change on the ground in New
England literally and figuratively, followed
by facilitated break out sessions in the
areas of Youth Organizing, Neighborhood Actions,
Best Practices at Home, Going Green at Work
and Creating Sustainable Municipalities.
Start the day off righteously!
For
early risers, join us at 9:00 am for Yoga as Touching the Earth with yoga teacher, energy and climate activist Karina Lutz
Let
us know you're coming to the Climate Action
Conference by clicking here.
|
Steven P. Hamburg is a forest ecologist who has been
involved in sustainability initiatives for 25 years.
He hails from the faculty of the University of Kansas
where he directed the Environmental Studies Program
and founded the office of the Environmental Ombudsman.
He then spent a year at Environmental Defense prior
to joining the Brown faculty where he is currently,
in the Center for Environmental Studies and director
for the Global Environment Program at the Watson Institute
for International Studies. Brown has published over
50 articles on ecosystem ecology and related topics
in a wide range of journals including Nature and Science.
He serves as vice chair of the International Long-Term
Ecological Research Network and on the Board of Directors
of Save the Bay and Clean Air-Cool Planet.
Stephen Majkut is a graduate of the University of Rhode
Island with a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
He is a Registered Professional Engineer. Mr. Majkut
joined the Department of Environmental Management in
1975, first managing Rhode Island’s hazardous waste
management program under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, and now, since 1986 administering
Rhode Island’s air quality program. He is responsible
for permitting, assuring compliance with air pollution
control regulations, air toxics, air quality attainment
planning, mobile sources, air quality/transportation
issues, global warming and regional air quality issues.
Omay Elphick is Deputy Director at the Energy Consumer
Alliance of New England's Rhode Island office. Previously
as policy specialist at Save the Bay, Omay researched
the brownfield regulatory landscape and developed recommendations
for improving the redevelopment process for coastal
brownfields in Rhode Island. Omay also oversaw construction
of the Save the Bay Center, a "green" educational
and administrative building. Before joining Save the
Bay, Omay was a Senior Analyst and Nonprofit Consultant
at a private branding and business consulting firm
in Boulder, Colorado. He has an MBA in Marketing and
a BA in Economics.
Community Supported Energy
Greg Pahl
An idea whose time has finally come! Community ownership
of local renewable energy sources has been highly successful
in Europe and is now gaining momentum in North America.
Increasing fossil fuel prices, energy supplies, and commercial-scale
wind farm controversies make the strategy of community-based
energy projects attractive and doable. Topics will include
examples of successful initiatives, advantages of community-based
energy, and obstacles that stand in the way of greater
community control. A question and answer session will
follow.
Greg Pahl is journalist and
author of five books who has been involved in renewable
energy issues for more than 25 years. His latest book,
The Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook: Community Solutions
to a Global Crisis, was published in February 2007 by
Chelsea Green Publishing.
Eco-House Tour
Bradley Grove Hyson
Frustrated with compulsory
consumption in your home? Experience the alternatives
in one of Rhode Island’s most environmentally designed
buildings. Learn about more than 50 ecologically friendly
building systems, technologies and products that help
this housing model use less than half the resources of
a typical home its size.
Bradley Grove Hyson is the
founder and director of the Apeiron Institute for Environmental
Living. He has led hundreds of tours of the eco-house,
which also incorporates his knowledge of environmental
issues, ecological building, and his vision for global
sustainability.
Energy Affordable Housing
Karina Lutz and Ed Connelly
More and more low-income residents
pay almost as much, if not more, for utilities than rent
these days. To address this, People’s Power & Light and New Ecology, Inc. are working with Rhode Island Community Development
Corporations (CDC’s) to discover the potential for energy
efficiency upgrades to existing affordable housing. Meanwhile,
new money is coming in for low-income weatherization
and utility gas efficiency programs because of the passage
of the landmark Comprehensive Energy Efficiency Act last
year. Find out how Rhode Islanders can make housing more
environmentally sound and affordable – because sustainability
means both.
Karina Lutz works in development
and advocacy for People’s Power & Light, Rhode Island’s nonprofit green energy company. A sustainable energy advocate
since her days as editor of Home Energy magazine in Berkeley
in the 80s, she also teaches yoga and writes poetry and
plays.
Edward F. Connelly is the
president of New Ecology, Inc. (NEI), a Cambridge-based
non profit that concentrates on sustainable development
in urban settings. Connelly is a national leader in the
effort to green affordable housing. He founded and ran
CleanScape, Inc., a triple bottom line social venture
that provides recycling and landscaping services to corporate
and institutional clients, and creates living wage jobs
for residents of the Providence RI Enterprise Community.
He is the former Deputy Director of the Rhode Island
Resource Recovery Corporation and assistant town administrator
for Sharon, MA.
The Energy Star Homes Program
Jon Dember
The workshop is a general
overview of the Energy Star Homes program, which helps
people build high levels of comfort, indoor air quality,
and energy efficiency into their new homes. A variety
of incentives are available to help an owner or builder
certify their home as an Energy Star Home, which is nationally
recognized for representing greater value, lower operating
cost, increased durability, comfort, and safety. The
outline includes information on the program background,
goals, procedures, benefits package, technical support,
and technical standards.
Jon Dember is an Outreach
Support Specialist for the Energy Star Homes program
in New England, covering Rhode Island and eastern Connecticut.
He has worked as a housing inspector for rent subsidy
programs, both for Rhode Island Housing Corp., and previously
in Upstate New York for a community action program. In
1997-2000 he was a co-organizer of the CoopPlus of the
Finger Lakes, a renewable energy member co-op.
From Local to Global: The
RI Model for Harnessing Wind Power Worldwide
Lefteris Pavlides
This workshop will assess
Rhode Island’s electricity goal to produce 15% of its
electricity from wind within the next five years. It
will review the legal, economic, public perception and
site considerations in order to implement this goal.
It will also examine the far-reaching, long-term global
implications of this local initiative. Workshop participants
will be encouraged to join the Rhode Island Wind Power
Alliance and suggest ways that their participation can
contribute to achieving this goal.
Lefteris Pavlides, a professor
of architecture at RWU, has served as the Director of
the Wind Power Rhode Island Project since 2005. Most
recently, he was involved in helping organize a WIND
POWER conference at the RWU Center for Macro Projects
and Diplomacy and taught a “Wind Architectural Studio.”
Fun with Fuel Cells
Ross McCurdy
This is a fun introduction
to fuel cell technology that is suitable for anyone able
to tie their own shoes. Using hands-on lab kits, participants
will use solar panels to produce hydrogen from water
and then use this hydrogen to power fuel cells and produce
electricity. The fuel cell electricity will then be used
to power a small motor and run a tiny light bulb. This
workshop will clearly demonstrate the sustainability
potential of hydrogen fuel cells.
Ross McCurdy is a Science
Teacher at Ponaganset High School and an advocate of
fuel cells and other alternative/renewable energy. With
the help of students and other dedicated people Ross
created Protium, the world’s first fuel cell powered
band and operator of RI’s first fuel cell vehicle. Ponaganset
High’s Fuel Cell Team is currently working on a street
legal Fuel Cell Model T hot rod.
The Future of Transportation
in RI
Barry Schiller
This workshop will consider
transportation choices in our state and the promotion
of sustainability. After a brief overview of current
issues surrounding bus transit, commuter and intercity
rail, bike paths, bicycle commuting, pedestrian issues,
highway maintenance and expansion, and cleaner cars,
participants will discuss their priority concerns and
responses in moving towards sustainable living.
Barry Schiller is a retired
math professor at Rhode Island College, and has been
involved in state transportation issues since the fight
against the proposed I-84 highway across the Scituate
reservoir in the 1970s. He has served as a member of
the Board of Directors of the RI Public Transportation
Authority and is now a member of the State Planning Council's
Transportation Advisory Committee, and the Rhode Island
Sierra Club's Transportation Chair.
Renewable Energy Sources Overview
Daniel Cartier
This workshop focuses on explaining
renewable sources and the benefits they bring. Solar
electricity, wood pellet, hydro, biodiesel, solar thermal,
fuel cells, wind energy, wave power and green power will
all be discussed. Photos of real world projects from
Rhode Island and around the world will be presented.
Dan Cartier is a Mechanical
Engineer educated at URI with a Certification in Energy
Management. Dan has worked with renewable energy systems
for over twenty years. Currently Dan is working for the
Chariho Regional School District as Director of Building
and Grounds and consults on renewable energy systems
as well.
Retrofitting Your Home with
Renewables and Energy Saving Ideas
Dan Cartier
After this workshop, the average
home owner will be able to map out a plan that will allow
them to live a fossil free life. It will cover available
energy saving options for the local homeowner, renewable
energy systems that can be installed in the typical home,
as well as green fuels locally available for cars or
trucks.
Dan Cartier is a Mechanical
Engineer educated at URI with a Certification in Energy
Management. Dan has worked with renewable energy systems
for over twenty years. Currently Dan is working for the
Chariho Regional School District as Director of Building
and Grounds and consults on renewable energy systems
as well.
Solar and Wind Options for
Clean Energy
Bob Chew
Learn how to incorporate solar
and wind systems into your home or business. Bob Chew
will discuss renewable energy options- how to create
them, what they can do for you and the environment.
Robert Chew has been a solar designer/ contractor since
1977. He is president of SolarWrights, inc., a solar
contracting firm headquartered in Bristol, RI with offices
throughout New England.
Solar Hot Water: Basic System
Design
Dan Cartier
This workshop will review
the basics of solar hot water systems and the best systems
for New England. Decision making, basic system design,
necessary installation skills, resources for solar hot
water education and component selection and purchasing
will all be outlined and explained. Photos of real world
projects will be shown.
Dan Cartier is a Mechanical
Engineer educated at URI with a Certification in Energy
Management. Dan has worked with renewable energy systems
for over twenty years. Currently Dan is working for the
Chariho Regional School District as Director of Building
and Grounds and consults on renewable energy systems
as well.
What is Bio-Diesel
Bob Cerio
Introduction to Bio-Diesel,
the fastest growing alternative energy resource today
and a look at its emerging markets.
Bob Cerio has over twenty
four years experience in the field of Energy Conservation
and Management with a focus on integrating renewable
energy resources into an energy portfolio.
