Green Building Seminar Series
Whether you're in the building trades, an architect or engineer, or a curious homeowner, the Green Building Seminar Series is sure to provide you with important, timely information you can use. This event runs every Thursday evening from 7:00-9:00pm from February 9 to March 8 and encompasses a wide variety of topics. From renewable energy options to energy efficient practices, green kitchen and bath designs to whole building frameworks, the seminar series features local experts and lively discussion.
Presentations once again will be held in the First Unitarian Church of Ithaca Annex, at 208 E. Buffalo St.(near Aurora), from 7 to 9pm. $8/seminar, $35/series. No need to pre-register. Call (607) 272-2292 for more information.
2012 Topics and Speakers
February 9: Earthships! We'll start off with a showing of the award-winning documentary, Garbage Warrior, and follow it with a discussion with one local couple who recently built an earthship and another who are working on one this year with Michael Reynolds (the leading earthship guru, featured in Garbage Warrior). For more about the film, visit: http://www.garbagewarrior.com/
February 16: Deep Energy Retrofits. What does it take to turn a typical home into a super-performer? Jon Harrod of Snug Planet and Ian Shapiro of Taitem Engineering will walk you through their process for making a home super energy-efficient and discuss the huge benefits that can result. The presentation slides (3.85 MB) are now available.
February 23: Rehabbing Old Windows. With a few simple repairs and improvements, you can make your old windows perform as well as new ones. Mark Pierce, Extension Associate with Cornell University's College of Human Ecology, is an expert in energy efficiency issues in residential buildings, and Shad Ryan is the Owner of On Balance Solutions, which specializes in vintage and historic sash rehabilitation. They will discuss the benefits of keeping your old windows and walk you through the process of fixing and tightening them up. The presentation slides are now available for both presenter's presentations: Mark Pierce (2.09 MB) and Shad Ryan (208 KB).
March 1: Affordable Green Building. Two local experts will discuss different strategies for keeping your green building projects affordable, including the decision-making process that goes into incorporating green building practices and materials that are healthy, safe, resource-efficient, and durable but that don't cost a premium. Scott Reynolds is the Director of Construction Services for Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, and Joe Laquatra is the Hazel E. Reed Human Ecology Extension Professor in Family Policy at Cornell University, whose teaching and research efforts focus on sustainable aspects of housing. The presentation slides are now available for both presentations: Joseph Laquatra (1.97 MB) and Scott Reynolds (513 KB)
March 8: High-Efficiency Heating Systems. So, you've made your home as energy-efficient as possible and now your old boiler isn't just inefficient, it's oversized. There are a lot of options these days. We'll discuss high-efficiency biomass and fossil fuel-fired systems, mini-splits, geothermal, masonry heaters, and more, including how heat-recovery ventilation works as part of the system. The presentation slides are available for all three presentations: Hal Smith (297 KB), Guillermo Metz (446 KB), Steve Paisley (804 KB).
In case of postponement or cancellation, please check this web page the day of the seminar.
Selection of speakers does not imply an endorsement of that person's company or services by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County.
