Are you curious about renewable energy systems, but don’t know where to start? This public forum is for you!
The Tompkins Renewable Energy Education Alliance (T.R.E.E.A.) is inviting all members of the community to Ithaca College on Saturday, Nov. 17, for our "Community Forum on Energy." Designed to provide individuals, businesses, and institutions with the knowledge and contacts needed to become more energy independent through conservation and renewable energy systems, the forum will take place in Emerson Suites from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration is required. The cost is $10 before Nov. 7 and $15 after Nov. 7 and at the door. Coffee and snacks will be provided at no extra charge throughout the day. To obtain a registration form, visit www.treea.org.
As fuel prices continue to climb, we all need to make wise energy choices, from conservation to using renewable energy. With this forum, we hope to provide the knowledge and support to help people move from sustainable thinking into sustainable practice to create a healthier, greener region and world in a way that is affordable.
All across New York State there is a growing market for renewable energy, so it makes sense to become educated about alternative energy options. Where else can you get a balanced overview of the myriad of options? For most of us, it takes a lot of time, money, and energy to gather information about our energy consumer options. Although there are many state and other programs available, the fact is that it is nobody’s job to inform us about alternative energy and keep us updated with all the policy and technology changes. It is also difficult, if not impossible, for any single person to be an expert on all the options available. With this public forum, we hope to address the growing need for a comprehensive presentation of energy options – without a sales pitch. We want our audience members to learn by participating in the discussions, and to come away at the end of the day feeling informed and confident about their energy choices.
The program we’ve assembled features 27 different speakers. We will hear a plenary panel discussion of "Efficiency -- The First Step to Energy Independence," which will be followed by a series of 3 concurrent sessions.
In Room A, the day’s sessions will cover the topics of Home Solar Energy, Commercial Solar Energy, and Geothermal Energy (also known as ground-source heat pumps). In Room B, the day’s sessions will cover the topics of Commercial Wind Power, Residential Wind Power, and Bio-fuel Applications. In Room C, some of the sessions will repeat (Geothermal and Bio-fuels), and a final session on Microhydro Power and Combined Heat and Power will be presented.
Each panel is carefully structured to include the perspectives of: 1) an installer of the technology, 2) a customer of the technology, 3) a finance and policy expert, and 4) an engineering expert. Speakers will present case studies, recent experiences, and success stories, and discussions will address logistical factors, including tax breaks, state incentives, policy and zoning issues, cost and strategies for financing projects. The audience will hear brief presentations from each speaker, and then the session moderator will open the floor for questions and discussion. Community members may learn all the basics in one day, or attend a single session focused on their needs.
The forum’s sponsors include Ithaca College, Johnson Controls, Sustainable Tompkins, Snug Planet, Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), ESI Home Inspections, Sustainable Energy Developments Inc, Community Energy, Earthkind Energy, Coler Natural Insulation, New York State Department of Public Service, the New York Solar Energy Industries Association, and TREEA. This is a volunteer effort, so all sponsorship funding will go toward advertising our event, and providing coffee and snacks for attendees. Prospective sponsors can learn more at www.treea.org.
TREEA, the Tompkins Renewable Energy Education Alliance, is a group of educators and activists dedicated to educating the community about energy options and their financial, social, and environmental costs. For more information, contact Beth Ellen Clark Joseph at (607) 274 3968 or bclark@ithaca.edu.
