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Workshop Descriptions
Saturday, October 25, 2008

                                Transportation                               

12-12:50pm
When the earth speaks we need to listen! Understanding more about 100% Electric cars.  Larry Cottingham, Zap Cars
This presentation will focus on the economic and environmental benefits of 100% electric cars. and will include a brief discussion of the technology and its recent rapid advancements. There will be two models of 100% electric vehicles on site for spectator viewing.

1-1:50pm
Transportation Energy and Climate. David Coyte, CART
Transportation is the elephant in the room that none wants to acknowledge. Transportation accounts for 2/3 of our oil consumption and a significant portion of our greenhouse gas emissions. Our highway investment strategy of the last 50 years has swallowed our farmlands and choked our cities while forcing investment in unsustainable infrastructure. This workshop looks at the energy and economic impacts of transportation and the dramatically better alternatives available.

2-2:50pm
Designing High Performance Healthy Homes. Sydney and Rodney Wright
What is the relationship between a high performance home and the resident’s lifestyle? Drawing on first hand experience, as well as on the comments of our clients, we will examine the impact of a sustainable home on the people who dwell there. Design decisions based on high performance green homes will provide a healthy home, without polluting materials. The design will bring daylight into the life of the occupants, enhancing their visual and psychological well being while reducing energy demand

3-3:50pm
Art in Motion. Yvette Hurt and Joseph David

4-4:50pm

History of Public Transportation in Lexington. Bill Ambrose
        In the 1890s, the first streetcars provided an effective means for intercity travel, with streetcar routes covering the entire city.  For a nickel,         riding the trolley to downtown would take less then ten minutes.  Streetcars were on every route, with less than fifteen minute                            waits. Lexington at the time had a population of twenty thousand and covered roughly a mile circle starting from the courthouse.  By 1938,                the motor bus had taken over for the trolley system, which would eventually become LexTran. 

 

        I will discuss the history of the Lexington trolley and interurban lines, review the financial problems that the line suffered from and discuss the         future potential for interurban rail transportation.


5-5:50pm
TBA



 Energy
11am
Solar Water Heating. Matt Partymiller
This workshop will address solar hot water and all its capabilities.
Solar hot water for domestic water heating, space heating, and commercial
properties will all be addressed.  In addition, comparisons will be drawn
between solar hot water and PV.  Performance, cost, and proper system
design will all be discussed.  The presenter is open to any and all
relevant questions.

12-12:50pm
The Whole House Solar Approach. Jason Streit

1-1:50pm
Understanding Peak Oil. George Perkins

2-2:50pm
Stand-by and Phantom Loads.  John Robbins, CEM, CSDP
Recent reports are showing that 5% to 10% of modern electricity usage is for stand-by and phantom loads, once considered too small to worry about.  But since there has been so much rapid growth in the numbers of small devices and equipment which use power when turned off or which are never turned off, controlling these small electric loads has become both an opportunity and challenge, whether using power from a utility company or off-grid renewable energy.  With 25 years of experience as energy consultant and designer of passive-performance homes, Robbins has written, presented and demonstrated extensively in recent years how to cut these growing electric loads.  He has also implemented load-reduction strategies at his home as well as his off-grid solar-powered office where avoiding wasted power has been essential to his track record of not needing any backup energy since 2001.  This short course will help attendees identify which devices have standby and phantom load, how to measure it and how to reduce or eliminate it.  Robbins is residential chairperson for the SW Ohio Chapter of Association of Energy Engineers, adult-ed solar instructor at Great Oaks Institute in SW Ohio, and a member of Kentucky Solar Partnership.  For more information about his presentations and projects, visit www.johnfrobbins.com.

3-3:50pm
My Green Home. Revone Bauwens
How does an average homeowner go green? Revone Bauwens is an alternative energy homeowner in Southern Indiana and  built her home incorporating passive, thermal and PV solar. She'll discuss PRODUCTS such as  water and electrical saving appliances and devices.  Just as important are PRACTICES that she and her 11 year old son incorporate into their daily life. With the use of a woodstove and in-floor radiant heat, her 3400 sq ft home's total utility bills average less than $100 a month. Their landscaping centers on water and chemical resistant plants and a National Wildlife Federation certified bird/bee/butterfly habitat. Revone is a  UPS pilot, a 22 year military veteran, and shares the homeowner's concerns and joys of going green.

4-4:50pm
Solar Energy Tax Credits, Incentives, and Clean Energy Policy Progress. Andy McDonald
The recent extension of the Federal Tax Credits for solar energy systems promises to greatly expand the US solar energy market and make solar accessible to many more  people in the years ahead. Learn about  Federal and State tax credits and other incentives available to homeowners and business-owners here  in Kentucky. This workshop will discuss the highlights of progressive energy legislation that was passed in Kentucky in 2008. We will also discuss what the next steps should be for greatly expanding the use of renewable energy, efficiency, and conservation in Kentucky - specifically, the creation of an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Portfolio Standard and a Public Benefits Fund.

5-5:50pm
Net Metering for Solar photo voltaic Systems.  Joshua Bills
Net metered and grid intertied solar electric systems offer certain advantages over stand alone solar PV systems and are becoming the norm for solar instillations around the US. Learn how these systems operate and what their advantages and disadvantages are.



                                  Green Building                               
11-11:50am
Rain Gardens 101. Russ Turpin, EcoGro
By combining simple, proven and inexpensive solutions with effective awareness, education and outreach tools homeowners can learn how to reduce local flooding and urban stormwater pollution while improving water quality and beautifying their neighborhoods. The Bluegrass Rain Garden Alliance offers advocacy, assistance, education and outreach materials to homeowners, municipalities, watershed groups, schools, churches and businesses to ensure that their rainwater management projects are planned, installed and publicized successfully. Building a rain garden (or a couple of rain gardens) in your own yard is probably the easiest and most cost efficient thing you can do to reduce your contribution to storm water pollution.

12-12:50pm
Green Remodeling. Millard Blakey, WreckCREATIONS
This is an informative workshop for homeowners wanting to incorporate green products and initiatives into their remodeling project. It begins by demystifying the “green” aspects of remodeling.  You will be asked to evaluate yourself on the “How Green Are You Ruler?”  Workshop participants will be given valuable suggestions on how and where to put the green into their remodel.

1-1:50pm
Greening Your Bluegrass: Hows and Whys. Maria Koetter
This presentation will be an overview of sustainability and how it relates to everyone.  I begin with a scientific introduction to the cause and effect of humans' impact on the environment then move on to the positive effects of making deliberate and educated choices about things like recycling, consumerism and energy conservation.  I include a discussion of how refuse decomposes (or not) in a landfill as I have learned that most folks aren't aware of what goes on in landfills.  The goal of my presentation is to provide folks with the facts on sustainability and how every action makes a difference.  I seek to provide real data and statistics in terms that everyone can relate to.

2-3:50pm
Super-Efficient, Passive Solar Homes. Gary Wattrous
Gary Watrous, Solar Architect, started his Louisville firm in 1985. Since that time he has designed a large number of passive-solar homes, churches, schools, and other buildings. The goal of his practice is to design works of architecture that are functional, beautiful and energy efficient. He wants his custom-designed Sun-Earth homes to cost the same as conventional custom homes, yet save two to three times the energy. In his talk, he will describe his design methods and techniques in detail including use of the patented Solar Airfloor.

4-4:50pm
Rain Gardens 101. Russ Turpin, EcoGro
By combining simple, proven and inexpensive solutions with effective awareness, education and outreach tools homeowners can learn how to reduce local flooding and urban stormwater pollution while improving water quality and beautifying their neighborhoods.The Bluegrass Rain Garden Alliance offers advocacy, assistance, education and outreach materials to homeowners, municipalities, watershed groups, schools, churches and businesses to ensure that their rainwater management projects are planned, installed and publicized successfully. Building a rain garden (or a couple of rain gardens) in your own yard is probably the easiest and most cost efficient thing you can do to reduce your contribution to storm water pollution.

5-5:50pm
Understanding Green Materials. Clive Pohl
This workshop will concisely explain the ideas of sustainability as they apply to the materials we use to build and finish our homes and workplaces. The presenter will suggest ways for everyone to embrace healthy and more sustainable choices as consumers. In today’s complex world, there are so many consumer options and so many products making competing claims. Learn how to organize your decision-making in order to make informed and effective choices regarding building materials and contribute to a larger environmental option.



Sustainable Living
11am-12:50pm
Energy 101: Minimizing Energy Usage and Demand. (2 hours)  John Robbins CEM, CSDP
30 years ago most renewable energy projects, from passive solar to solar water heating and electric systems, included aggressive measures first to minimize energy needs so that users could better afford and rely more heavily on their renewable energies.  It was better known that minimizing energy needs simplified and lowered costs of renewable energy systems as well as improved reliability and lessened needs for backup energy.  Energy tax credits under President Carter included generous incentives for a wide range of efficiency and renewable options.  But today's incentives focus mostly on renewable energy hardware options.  An energy consultant and passive-performance home designer for 25 years, Robbins has written, presented and demonstrated extensively about how to minimize energy usage and demand in homes and offices, including his own.  He added 40% more living space to his NKY home in 1998 while at the same time reducing energy needed by his heating and cooling system.  He then proceeded to cut his electricity usage by a third from 1999 to 2006.  Some of this was achieved with passive solar, solar water heating and solar electric, but most resulted from aggressive applications of conservation and efficiency. This short course will show how households use energy, how much less usage is possible, how to set energy-reductions goals and how best to apply a wide variety of options to achieve reductions in cost-effective ways.   Robbins is residential chairperson for the SW Ohio Chapter of Association of Energy Engineers, adult-ed solar instructor at Great Oaks Institute in SW Ohio, and a member of Kentucky Solar Partnership.  For more information about his presentations and projects, visit www.johnfrobbins.com.

1-1:50pm
Zero-Energy Green Home Building Workshop. Michael Hughes and Casey Ryan Mather
This workshop will look at the current and future possibilities for economical home design that utilize the latest strategies for minimizing energy use while providing for all energy requirements using renewable means. The workshop will introduce the latest concept: an affordable zero-net energy weekend house which has been developed by the Center for Sustainable Cities Design Studio.

2-2:50pm
Sustainable Cities.Michael Hughes and Casey Ryan Mather
Presented by Mr. Levine and colleagues. Mr. Levine is a professor of architecture, an architect and urban designer and a director of the Center for Sustainable Cities, where he has been working on projects developing both the theory and practice of the sustainable city-region.  He is one of the solar energy pioneers in the U.S., a holder of U.S. patents on structural systems and solar energy applications and the architect of a number of award winning solar buildings including his widely published Raven Run Solar House (1974).  His Hooker Office Building (1978)) with its double glass walls with insulated aluminum louvers between them has become the prototype for numerous energy conserving commercial buildings in Europe.  Levine was the founding Chair of the Sustainability Division of the American Solar Energy Society.  He has over 200 publications on solar energy and sustainability research and projects.  He has conducted sustainable city research and projects in Italy, Austria, China, the Middle East, as well as in Kentucky.

3-3:50pm

Infectious disease, global health, and vulnerable populations. Terry Foody

One disastrous event changed the prominence and destiny of Lexington, Kentucky.  A cholera epidemic in Summer, 1833, claimed 500 from a population under 7,000.  Contributing to the death toll were civic unpreparedness, lack of medical infrastructure, disorganized response, disease confusion, ineffective treatment and societal bias.  The karst geology of the Bluegrass Region and situation of the populace on the Town Branch Creek contributed to the intensity of the epidemic.

 

This workshop looks at common patterns in global disease: travel (commerce, war and religion), geography, inadequate public health response, human personality (pride, denial) and political agendas.  Major epidemics can develop in remote areas due to ingrained practices /changing environment and then spread by travel.  Even today, thousands die from cholera without access to clean water or treatment. We can learn lessons from global epidemics for prevention, response and control.  These similarities bode comparison and relevance to threatening  global diseases (SARS, HIV, flu, TB, smallpox) of today.        


4-4:50pm
Go Green, Save Green: How to Save Money, Time, and God's Green Earth.  Nancy Sleeth
Not long ago, Nancy and her family were living the American dream in a beautiful house on the coast of Maine, filled with material possessions--but there was an emptiness at the core.    Her husband, seeing an increasing number of his patients suffering from cancer, asthma, and other chronic diseases, began to suspect that the Earth and its inhabitants were in deep trouble.

In this session, Nancy will share how she and her family embarked on a spiritual and environmental journey, rediscovering how the scriptural lessons of personal responsibility, simplicity, and stewardship can be applied today.  Workshop members will learn how the Sleeths sold their big home and gave away more than half of what they once owned, while reducing their electricity usage by nine-tenths and fossil fuel use by two-thirds.  Nancy will relate the joys of adopting a healthier, less materialistic lifestyle while building stronger relationships and a richer spiritual life.  She will discuss specific ways you can make environmentally responsible choices and become a better steward of God’s creation while saving time and money.

5-5:50pm
Saving Communities Through Gardening.  Bruce Mundy & Obiora Embry
This workshop will focus on gardening basics, community gardening, and how it can be transformative to the community-at-large, especially in blighted and decaying communities.


Workshop Descriptions
Sunday, October 26, 2008

Transportation
12-12:50pm
Bike Lexington. Kenzie Gleason and Mike Galbraith
Learn about Lexington's growing bike infrastructure and how to use a bike as an energy-saving mode of transportation.

1-1:50pm
Plain Talk for this Energy Century. Nancy Grant
This workshop explores how mounting concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and the environment are already changing every aspect of daily life in small and large ways.
Highlights include:
•    overview of global energy production/consumption picture
•    sorting through the scientific jargon
•    contrasting today’s technology/infrastructure with innovations for the future
•    exploring facts and hidden consequences behind current week’s energy headlines
•    economic/lifestyle impacts of new energy laws and initiatives
This speech is not political in terms of advocating a particular party or interest group’s plan for action. However, the “take home” message for listeners does advocate participating in democracy, becoming personally involved in understanding today’s energy issues and engaging in the decision-making process at the local, state, and national level.

2-2:50pm
Hyper Miling: Getting the best MPG out of your current vehicle. Jud Engels, Northern KY Hypermilers

4-4:50pm
History of Public Transportation in Lexington. Bill Ambrose



Energy
12-12:50pm
Net Metering for Solar photo voltaic Systems.  Joshua Bills
Net metered and grid inter-tied solar electric systems offer certain advantages over stand alone solar PV systems and are becoming the norm for solar installations around the US. Learn how these systems operate and what their advantages and disadvantages are.

1-1:50pm
Solar Energy Tax Credits, Incentives, and Clean Energy Policy Progress. Andy McDonald
The recent extension of the Federal Tax Credits for solar energy systems promises to greatly expand the US solar energy market and make solar accessible to many more  people in the years ahead. Learn about  Federal and State tax credits and other incentives available to homeowners and business-owners here  in Kentucky. This workshop will discuss the highlights of progressive energy legislation that was passed in Kentucky in 2008. We will also discuss what the next steps should be for greatly expanding the use of renewable energy, efficiency, and conservation in Kentucky - specifically, the creation of an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Portfolio Standard and a Public Benefits Fund.

2-2:50pm
Stand-by and Phantom Loads.  John Robbins, CEM, CSDP
Recent reports are showing that 5% to 10% of modern electricity usage is for stand-by and phantom loads, once considered too small to worry about.  But since there has been so much rapid growth in the numbers of small devices and equipment which use power when turned off or which are never turned off, controlling these small electric loads has become both an opportunity and challenge, whether using power from a utility company or off-grid renewable energy.  With 25 years of experience as energy consultant and designer of passive-performance homes, Robbins has written, presented and demonstrated extensively in recent years how to cut these growing electric loads.  He has also implemented load-reduction strategies at his home as well as his off-grid solar-powered office where avoiding wasted power has been essential to his track record of not needing any backup energy since 2001.  This short course will help attendees identify which devices have standby and phantom load, how to measure it and how to reduce or eliminate it.  Robbins is residential chairperson for the SW Ohio Chapter of Association of Energy Engineers, adult-ed solar instructor at Great Oaks Institute in SW Ohio, and a member of Kentucky Solar Partnership.  For more information about his presentations and projects, visit www.johnfrobbins.com.

3-3:50pm
Solar Water Heating. Matt Partymiller
This workshop will address solar hot water and all its capabilities.
Solar hot water for domestic water heating, space heating, and commercial
properties will all be addressed.  In addition, comparisons will be drawn
between solar hot water and PV.  Performance, cost, and proper system
design will all be discussed.  The presenter is open to any and all
relevant questions.

4-4:50pm
Living Off Grid or Saving Energy: Getting Energized with Renewable Energy to fight Climate Change. Aur Beck
Aur, chief tech for Advanced Energy Solutions Green Geek Squad (their RE Installer Network) discusses living off grid for 18 years, which has given Aur a unique take on life. Be prepared for an interesting, realistic, often humorous look at saving the planet and yourself in the process. Change a light bulb, Change a thought process, Change the world! Become an Energy Patriot.




                                Green Building                               
12-12:50pm
Understanding Green Materials. Clive Pohl
This workshop will concisely explain the ideas of sustainability as they apply to the materials we use to build and finish our homes and workplaces. The presenter will suggest ways for everyone to embrace healthy and more sustainable choices as consumers. In today’s complex world, there are so many consumer options and so many products making competing claims. Learn how to organize your decision-making in order to make informed and effective choices regarding building materials and contribute to a larger environmental option.


1-1:50pm
Green Roofs. Janet Faust
This workshop will present the many benefits of a green roof including storm water control, increased insulation and thermal protection, increased roof life expectancy, noise reduction and, of course, aesthetics.  The learning objectives of this presentation are to increase the amount of technical performance information about green roofs as well as:
1)  History of Greenroofs
2)  Overview of Greenroof Functions and Components
3)  Greenroof Market Drivers
4)  LEED, Sustainable Designs and Greenroofs
5)  Greenroof Design Principles, Installation and Maintenance
This presentation will earn architects 1 AIA/CES Educational Learning Credit.

2-3:50pm
Super-Efficient, Passive Solar Homes (2 hours).  Gary Watrous
Gary Watrous, Solar Architect, started his Louisville firm in 1985. Since that time he has designed a large number of passive-solar homes, churches, schools, and other buildings. The goal of his practice is to design works of architecture that are functional, beautiful and energy efficient.
He wants his custom-designed Sun-Earth homes to cost the same as conventional custom homes, yet save two to three times the energy. In his talk, he will describe his design methods and techniques in detail including use of the patented Solar Airfloor.

4-4:50pm
Green Remodeling. Millard Blakey, WreckCREATIONS
This is an informative workshop for homeowners wanting to incorporate green products and initiatives into their remodeling project. It begins by demystifying the “green” aspects of remodeling.  You will be asked to evaluate yourself on the “How Green Are You Ruler?”  Workshop participants will be given valuable suggestions on how and where to put the green into their remodel.


Sustainable Living
12-1:50pm
Energy 101: Minimizing Energy Usage and Demand (2 hours).  John Robbins, CEM, CSDP
30 years ago most renewable energy projects, from passive solar to solar water heating and electric systems, included aggressive measures first to minimize energy needs so that users could better afford and rely more heavily on their renewable energies.  It was better known that minimizing energy needs simplified and lowered costs of renewable energy systems as well as improved reliability and lessened needs for backup energy.  Energy tax credits under President Carter included generous incentives for a wide range of efficiency and renewable options.  But today's incentives focus mostly on renewable energy hardware options.  An energy consultant and passive-performance home designer for 25 years, Robbins has written, presented and demonstrated extensively about how to minimize energy usage and demand in homes and offices, including his own.  He added 40% more living space to his NKY home in 1998 while at the same time reducing energy needed by his heating and cooling system.  He then proceeded to cut his electricity usage by a third from 1999 to 2006.  Some of this was achieved with passive solar, solar water heating and solar electric, but most resulted from aggressive applications of conservation and efficiency. This short course will show how households use energy, how much less usage is possible, how to set energy-reductions goals and how best to apply a wide variety of options to achieve reductions in cost-effective ways.   Robbins is residential chairperson for the SW Ohio Chapter of Association of Energy Engineers, adult-ed solar instructor at Great Oaks Institute in SW Ohio, and a member of Kentucky Solar Partnership.  For more information about his presentations and projects, visit www.johnfrobbins.com.

2-2:50pm
Zero-Energy Green Home Building Workshop.  Michael Hughes and Casey Ryan Mather
This workshop will look at the current and future possibilities for economical home design that utilize the latest strategies for minimizing energy use while providing for all energy requirements using renewable means. The workshop will introduce the latest concept: an affordable zero-net energy weekend house which has been developed by the Center for Sustainable Cities Design Studio.

3-3:50pm
Sustainable Cities.  Michael Hughes and Casey Ryan Mather
Presented by Mr. Levine and colleagues. Mr. Levine is a professor of architecture, an architect and urban designer and a director of the Center for Sustainable Cities, where he has been working on projects developing both the theory and practice of the sustainable city-region.  He is one of the solar energy pioneers in the U.S., a holder of U.S. patents on structural systems and solar energy applications and the architect of a number of award winning solar buildings including his widely published Raven Run Solar House (1974).  His Hooker Office Building (1978)) with its double glass walls with insulated aluminum louvers between them has become the prototype for numerous energy conserving commercial buildings in Europe.  Levine was the founding Chair of the Sustainability Division of the American Solar Energy Society.  He has over 200 publications on solar energy and sustainability research and projects.  He has conducted sustainable city research and projects in Italy, Austria, China, the Middle East, as well as in Kentucky.

4-4:50pm
THE GREENING of LFUCG. Tom Webb, LFUCG

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