Energy Expo 2007 Keynote Speakers

Greg Pahl
Greg Pahl will speak on Saturday, September 8 at 1:00 the I-Renew Energy EXPO. His talk is titled, "Community Based Renewable Energy." Greg Pahl is a journalist and author of five books who has been involved in renewable energy issues for more than 25 years. He is a founding member of the Vermont Biofuels Association where he serves as the president of the board. His latest book, The Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook: Community Solutions to a Global Crisis, was published in February 2007 by Chelsea Green Publishing Co.

His presentation will provide an overview of an exciting and rapidly growing new movement, Community Supported Energy. A time-tested and highly successful strategy in Europe, community or cooperative ownership of local renewable energy projects is finally gaining momentum in North America. This is an idea whose time has definitely come, especially in light of the increasing price volatility in the fossil fuel markets, concerns about energy supplies, and ongoing controversy about commercial-scale wind farms in some locations. Topics covered will include examples of successful initiatives, the many advantages of community-based energy, as well as some of the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving greater community control of energy resources.

Kate Schwennsen
Kate Schwennsen is our Keynote on Sunday, September 9 at 1:30. She will give a presentation entitled, "Designing a More Sustainable Iowa." Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, is an associate professor of architecture and the associate dean for academic programs in the College of Design at Iowa State University. In 2006, she was the second woman, second Iowan, and second educator to serve as president of the 149-year-old, 78,000-member American Institute of Architects (AIA).

In her talk she will address how the built environment that we create over the next three decades has the potential to change our lives, and the life of our planet. What’s the world’s single biggest source of emissions and energy consumption? Buildings. 76% of all power plant generated electricity is used just to operate buildings. The U.S. is projected to need 1,300 to 1,900 new power plants over the next 20 years (about one power plant per week). Most of this new energy will be needed to operate buildings.

Architects know that buildings can be designed to operate with less than half the energy of today’s average U.S. building at little or no additional construction cost. By the year 2035, three quarters of the built environment in the U.S. will be either new or renovated. Designing smartly, in ways that are more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, will lead to considerably less energy consumption and carbon emissions. It will also lead to the creation of more livable and likeable communities.

Sustainable buildings use LESS energy,
but often provide MORE:
* Long-term economic value
* Improved indoor air quality
* Daylighting and views
* Thermal Stability
* Acoustical privacy

Sustainable communities use LESS energy, but often provide MORE:
* Transportation options
* Mixed-use
* Housing options
* Access to outdoor recreation
* Live-work connections
* Human scale
* Neighborhood identity

What are the characteristics of sustainable buildings and communities? How sustainable and livable are Iowa’s communities? How can Iowa community leaders and architects work together to make Iowa’s communities more livable, and more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable? Kate Schwennsen, FAIA, will present some ideas and findings about these questions of sustainability and livability during this afternoon presentation.