Alternative Energy - West Virginia Small Farms Conference 2011

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

Mountain View Solar & Wind

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

Berkeley Home Technologies

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.