Events Archives 2008
OCTOBER 2008
October 2. Green Building Seminar with Steve Loken. Green builder and consultant Steve Loken will present an evening seminar on the basics of green building in Helena on October 2. Steve is the president and owner of Loken Builders (http://www.lokenbuilders.com/), a full service construction company specializing in personalized remodeling and new construction, with an emphasis on energy and resource efficiency. Steve's presentation will highlight key elements of green building, including energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water efficiency, recycled or low-impact materials and low-waste construction practices. People interested in retrofits or renovations, potential new home builders, construction contractors and architects will all have something to learn from Steve's dynamic and engaging presentation. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.
Date & Time: Thursday, October 2, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Location: Lecture Hall Room 125, UM Helena College of Technology, 1115 N Roberts
Cost: FREE and open to the public, donations welcome
October 4. Helena Green Building Tour. A guided bus tour of 4-6 homes will highlight energy efficiency measures and home-scale renewable energy projects around Helena. Super-insulation, high efficiency boilers, photovoltaic systems, solar hot water systems and passive solar construction will all be on the tour. Also on the tour will be a regular old home similar to a lot of homes in Helena. A professional energy auditor will walk tour participants through, highlighting energy leaks and low-cost or no-cost energy fixes that could be made.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 10am-2pm; registration begins at 9am
Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call AERO at (406) 443-7272.
Cost: TBA
Meeting Location: TBA
Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant
October 4. Billings Green Building Tour. The Billings Tour is co-hosted and organized by the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council (http://www.northernplains.org/affiliates/yvcc), a local affiliate of the Northern Plains Resource Council. Tour participants can expect to see great examples of commercial and residential buildings that have energy efficiency features and green building attributes. Passive solar gain, super insulation, water saving measures, and renewable energy systems will all be featured.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 10am-2pm; registration begins at 9am
Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call Merry Ann at (406) 248-1154 x108
Cost: TBA
Meeting location: Tour will begin at the NPRC/WORC Home on the Range, 220 S 27th St.
Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant; Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council
October 4. Bozeman Green Building Tour. The Bozeman Tour is co-hosted and organized by the Refuge Sustainable Building Center (http://www.refugebuilding.com/) in Bozeman. The guided bus tour will visit residential and commercial buildings that feature energy efficiency measures, renewable energy systems and green attributes like recycled materials, safe-indoor air quality and water saving measures.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, time TBA
Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call at (406) 585-9958
Cost: $15
Meeting Location: TBA
Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant; Refuge Sustainable Building Center
October 7. Solar and Small Wind Generation in Montana. Free Two Hour Mini Seminar. Bozeman. What if you could produce some, or all, of your electricity from sun and/or wind? What if you could lower your gas bills by using the roof of your house as an energy collector? In Montana, hundreds of homes and businesses are turning towards renewable energy to offset power bills and contribute to cleaner air, water, and soil. This two-hour overview covers solar electricity, solar hot water, small wind equipment, financing, rebates, and getting credit for the power you produce. Demonstrations, slide show with Q&A, and literature included. Sponsored by NorthWestern Energy's USB Renewable Energy Program. Visit www.sagemountain.org for more info.
October 7. The Climate Preparation Commons: Global Warming Science Meets Public Planning In Uncertain Times Dr. Dominick DellaSala, Executive Director of Programs and Chief Scientist, National Center for Conservation Science & Policy. This talk will focus on what can be done about preparing natural systems and communities for climate disruption, drawing on examples from the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere to provide a framework for a climate preparation commons where humanity and nature work side by side to combat the effects of climate change. www.nccsp.org
Location: Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901
Time: 7:00 p.m.
October 8. Montana Renewable Energy Association annual meeting. WHEN: 12:30-4:30 pm; WHERE: Missoula UM's College of Technology WEST campus (3639 South Avenue which is 1.5 miles west of Reserve) room number is TT11. Agenda items range from state and national policy initiatives to economics (loan and grant programs) to recent RE victories in Montana. A great place to network and find out what's going on in RE in Montana. Free & open to all.
October 8. Solar and Small Wind Generation in Montana. Free Two Hour Mini Seminar. Missoula. What if you could produce some, or all, of your electricity from sun and/or wind? What if you could lower your gas bills by using the roof of your house as an energy collector? In Montana, hundreds of homes and businesses are turning towards renewable energy to offset power bills and contribute to cleaner air, water, and soil. This two-hour overview covers solar electricity, solar hot water, small wind equipment, financing, rebates, and getting credit for the power you produce. Demonstrations, slide show with Q&A, and literature included. Sponsored by NorthWestern Energy's USB Renewable Energy Program. Visit www.sagemountain.org for more info.
October 14. Cascading Climate Change Impacts on the Crown of the Continent Ecosystem
Dr. Dan Fagre, Research Ecologist, United States Geological Survey. http://nrmsc.usgs.gov
Location: Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901
Time: 7:00 p.m
October 17. WIRED (Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development) will be hosting a presentation titled “Wind Energy Development in Eastern Montana” by Mike Carlson. This presentation will take place in Butte at the Copper Lounge from 10 – 12 pm. The presentation is open to the public.
October 17-19. Northern Rockies Bioneers Conference. Bozeman. The 6th Annual Northern Rockies Bioneers Conference (NRBC) will take place October 16th through the 19th at the Emerson Cultural Center in the heart of Bozeman. This inspiring weekend will highlight dozens of local and regional innovative speakers, youth programs, music and dancing, the annual Reel 2 Real Film Festival, local farm meals, as well as several workshops, hands on demonstrations and panel discussions. Local sessions and workshops will address topics of regional importance ranging from sustainability in the built environment, social and economic compatibility, human and environmental rights, and democracy. Bioneers is rippling through the northwest communities as a stellar celebration and educational movement, and we invite you to join us! Website: www.bornnetwork.org Contact: Lori Foster, BORN, lori@bornnetwork.org, 406.586.3426.
October 20. Regional Opportunities in Agriculture and Forestry Carbon Sequestration. A conference on the science, policies, and markets related to carbon offsets. Montana State University - SUB Ballroom (C & D), Bozeman.
October 21. Water & Wildlife: Climate Change & Montana’s Natural Resources
Panel Discussion featuring:
-T.O. Smith, Biologist, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
-Brianna Randall, Water Policy Director, Clark Fork Coalition
-Amy Cilimburg, Director of Bird Conservation, MT Audubon
-Ron de Yong, Director, Montana Department of Agriculture
Location: Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901
Time: 7:00 p.m.
October 25. Green Home Living Panel Discussion, Hamilton. Green Home Living Events is presenting a two part panel on Saturday October 25 at the Hamilton City Hall, 223 Second Street, Hamilton, at 7pm. The first panel will discuss “How to Build Green Homes”. The second panel will then cover “Growing Green Jobs”. Speakers on this panel have businesses and interests in the recycling, conservation and sustainability industries. For more information, please call Laura Craig, event coordinator, at 961-0004.
October 25. Tour a Green Blocks Home. Missoula, NorthWestern Energy, Mountain Water Co. and Allied Waste teamed up for the Green Blocks Project which will demonstrate home energy savings and bring free energy-saving home improvement to chosen residents. The first Green Blocks open house is scheduled for Oct. 25 from 1-4 PM. details here.
October 27. 'Records of Past Forest Fires and Climate Change' Talk by Jennifer Pierce, Boise State University. 4:10 p.m., Clapp Building, Room 304. University of Montana, Missoula.
October 28. The New Administration: What Will John McCain or Barak Obama do about Climate Change?
Dr. Richard Barrett, Economist, University of Montana. This lecture will review the principal climate change policy proposals of the candidates, explain how these policies work, or are intended to work, why they may be controversial, and what promises and pitfalls they may entail. Since in many respects the candidates have similar views on the issue, the lecture will focus on how these policies might work.
Panel Discussion: Climate Change Policy Options
-Bob Brown, Senior Fellow, O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West
-Mark Lambrecht, Regulatory Affairs Manager, PPL Montana
-Diego Rivas, Program Manager, Montanans for a Healthy Climate
-Ken Toole, Commissioner, Montana Public Service Commission
Location: Flathead Valley Community College, 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901
Time: 7:00 p.m.
October 30. 'Blackout: Coal, Climate and the Last Energy Crisis' by Richard Heinberg , Senior Fellow, Post Carbon Institute. In this talk, Heinberg will go to the heart of the tough energy questions that will dominate every sphere of public policy throughout the first half of this century.
Where: Social Sciences Building, Room 352, University of Montana Campus, Missoula
When: Thursday, October 30, 8:00 pm
FREE and Open to the Public!
October 31-November 2. AERO's 34th Annual Meeting: Living in a Post Carbon Era. Keynote by Richard Heinberg, Senior Fellow of the Post Carbon Institute & author of 8 books on Peak Oil. Plus local food, contra dancing, live auction, sustainability workshops, tours of farms, sustainable businesses, renewable energy projects, & more. WHERE: Lutheran Bible Camp at Lakeside, west shore of Flathead Lake.
