Solar, Wind, Super-Insulating and Geothermal will be topics at the
West Virginia Small Farms Conference this
February 17.The 2011 WV Small Farms Conference will be held at the
Lakeview Resort & Conference Center outside of Morgantown, WV. The Alternative Energy workshop on Thursday includes a full day of presentations capped off with a field trip to visit a net-zero energy home that uses power from solar and wind as well as many green building materials.
Alternative Energy Agenda – February 17, 2011
WV Small Farms Conference – Morgantown, WV
8:00 – 9:30 Living Off the Grid in West Virginia (Panel Presentation)
Off-grid Homeowners: Sonny and Linda Jobe, Tom Berlin, Jim Sconyers
Ever think about what life would be like without a utility bill? Hear about what it takes to live off-grid from folks who live that lifestyle right here in West Virginia. This panel discussion will touch on various aspects of off-grid living including; appliance selection, solar power, house design, generators, and wind energy.
9:30 – 9:45 Break
9:45 – 11:00 Harvesting Solar Energy; Your Solar Investment
Did you know that investing in a solar power system yields a higher rate of return than most traditional investments? Come hear how harvesting solar energy can reduce your dependence on fossil fuels and produce a return on investment that you can brag about to the neighbors.
11:00 – 12:15 Geothermal Heating and Cooling in the Mountain State
Dan Halleran
Heating and cooling a home can be costly. Geothermal offers a solution to help take the sting out of this persistent expense. Dan Halleran, a 30-year veteran of the geothermal industry, will talk about the success of geothermal systems and what consumers need to know to make a good decision about whether geothermal is right for their home.
12:15 – 2:00 Lunch
2:00 – 3:15 Building the Net-Zero Energy Home
New home construction can be tailored to create a comfortable living space that enjoys few utility bills and the surety that power will always be available. Learn about the building design, materials, appliances, and power sources for one Net-Zero Energy home in the Morgantown, WV area. The featured home will be the focus of the afternoon field trip at 3:30.
3:30 – 5:30 Field Trip to Net-Zero Home
Registration for the Thursday workshop costs $50. You can register at the conference.
Click here for more information about the other conference workshops, registration, lodging.
