As people across the world strive to take better care of the Earth and its resources, Cleveland State Community College invites local residents to Get Efficient: a series of workshops and seminars aimed at helping local residents turn various shades of green as they save electricity, soil, water, and the planet.
During the series, topics covered range from building energy-efficient homes to small steps that will help prolong the longevity of the planet. Impressive as the breadth of topics is the list of panelists and speakers who will be on hand to educate those who attend.
On Thursday, Jeff Christian, Scott Wright and Tom Calaway will discuss solar energy, proper insulation, and other home energy-saving measures from 6 to 8 p.m. Christian is a renowned expert in the realm of energy efficiency. Wright is the owner of Wright Architecture, Inc. And Tom Calaway is on staff at JBC Solar, a leader in the installation of solar power systems.
Mr. Christian will return on Sept. 12 to present and facilitate a number of workshops. These include the following: how a home energy rating could increase a home’s appraised value (8:30–9:15 a.m.), getting a home on the path to producing as much energy as it uses (9:15–10:45 a.m.), moisture control and energy efficiency in basements and crawl spaces (11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.), wind power (1:15–2 p.m.), solar power (2–3 p.m.) and fueling the car of the future (3:15–4:30 p.m.).
From 10 a.m. to noon on Sept. 13, a panel discussion will take place to discuss ways to take care of the earth today so it will last for many more tomorrows. This discussion will be led by Southeast Tennessee Resource Conservation and Development Council’s Dan Huser and Cheryl Dunson of Santek Waste Management.
Doug Rye will then give a presentation on energy conservation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 21. Mr. Rye is a national energy consultant, and his informative, engaging session will conclude with a question-and-answer session. Rye will also be broadcasting his live national radio show, Home Remedies, from the CSCC campus on Saturday, Sept. 22. The show airs from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. on NewsTalk 1320, KWHN (CST). For more information, go to www.dougrye.com.
The final day of CSCC Gets Efficient, Sept. 25 will begin with Mike Barcik, Director of the Technical Services at Southface Energy Institute. From 8 a.m. to noon, Barcik will discuss why building an energy-efficient home makes sense. Cleveland and Bradley County building inspectors will then lead a technical discussion on 2006 International Residential Building Code compliance from 1 to 1:30 p.m., and the series finale will be aimed at HVAC contractors and installers. For this final presentation, certified ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) instructor Kenny Watson will provide an overview of the Manual J Abridged Edition Residential Load Calculation, Manual S Equipment Selection and Manual D Ductsize.
All seminars will take place in the George R. Johnson Cultural Heritage Center on the Cleveland State Community College campus and are free to the public. For more information, or to register for a workshop or seminar, go to mycs.cc/getefficient or call 473-2341.
These workshops and seminars are supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Alternative Energy Program grant.