Day 1 – Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Old to New

7:00–8:15
Building Clean—Do You Know What Your're Putting in Your House? A Discussion on Energy-Efficient Products
Dale Reckman, BlueGreen Alliance
Gooseberry

The Clean Economy Manufacturing Center, an initiative of The BlueGreen Alliance, is involved in an energy efficiency project that’s mapping the manufacturing footprint, greening energy efficient products by better understanding potential health concerns and growing the economy. We are helping manufacturers better understand energy efficient product markets and providing tools that help users and organizations locate those products. These tools include innovative online database tools and supply chain maps as well as information guides and in-person education. This session provides an introduction to these tools and their benefits.

8:30–10:00
EV Charging Strategies
Jukka Kukkonen, PlugInConnect
Gooseberry

There are over 500,000 plug-in vehicles (PEVs) on U.S. roads every day, and the sales numbers are increasing every month. In Minnesota, 4,000 PEV owners will drive over 30 million gas-free miles this year. Owners will charge their PEVs mainly at home, but PEV charging infrastructure will be needed in other locations such as workplaces. New areas of interest are corridor charging that enables long trips with EVs and destination charging that hotels, parks and other destinations can offer to attract more customers and visitors. This presentation will provide information on plug-in vehicles and PEV charging choices. For more information, visit www.multihousingcharging.com and www.workplacecharging.com.

10:30–12:00
Hearth Products 101 for Today's Builders
Rodger Holland, Holland & Hearth, Inc.
Michael Nordby, Brownstone Distributing
Peter Solac, Woodland Stoves and Fireplaces
Harborside 204/205

Hearth 101 provides fundamental product knowledge and technical information about all major categories of hearth appliances and venting systems. The session will cover what products are available in the market and why they may or not be suitable for this climate. We will discuss how to determine if a hearth appliance can be the proper product for the space and how it can affect both indoor and outdoor air quality. In addition, we will discuss maintenance, trouble shooting and the advantages of using a qualified expert for installation and service.

1:00–2:30
The Internet of Things (IOT)—The Nexus of Technologies in the Home and Business
Chris LaForge, Great Northern Solar
Gooseberry

The merging of technologies with operability via the Internet and hand-held devices is creating new opportunities for sustainable development and energy system design. The Internet of Things (IOT) is now allowing users to control and monitor a vast array of the systems in their homes or businesses. This session will review the state of the art of IOT and how renewable energy systems will interface with IOT. Many cost-savings opportunities will be advanced by these developments and the session will open a window into this incredible potential.

3:00–4:30
Heating and Cooling a Minnesota Home with a SkyTherm (roof pond) North
Kitrina Stratton, SunWindLight
Gooseberry

A summary of the thermal performance of five different passive solar test-cells (Direct Gain, Trombe-wall, Water-wall, Sunspace, and Roofpond) and a control test-cell will show evidence for the case of using a SkyTherm North to passively heat and cool a house. This passive solar method will work for 97 percent of the heating degree days and cooling degree days in Minnesota. Even though the strategy has been proven to work, little is known about it and the value it has for having a real impact on energy consumption.

Dale Reckman picture
Dale Reckman

Currently the BlueGreen Alliances "Clean Economy Manufacturing Center" Dir, Technical Services. Prior to his current role he served as Dir, Field Services for GLWN (Global Wind Network), VP Commercial Products Group with Magna Machine, Manager - Engineering Operations non-fleet product for ALSTOM Power and Manager - Estimating/Engineering for AR Power Services. Dale has been published in FMA's "green manufacturer", AWS's "WELDING journal" and The Hobart Institute of Welding Technologies "The World of Welding". Dale has spoken on multiple continents on the topics of manufacturing supply chain, renewable energy and energy efficiency and currently resides in SW Ohio

Map, Green & Grow ‐ Energy Efficient Product Supply Chains Deciphered
February 21, 2017 7:00–8:15 a.m.

Jukka Kukkonen picture
Jukka Kukkonen

Jukka Kukkonen is the founder of PlugInConnect, a Minnesota based electric vehicle market and technology consulting firm. He has helped organizations to build successful strategies for the rapidly developing PEV market in the areas of apartment, condominium, workplace and DC fast charging. Jukka has given dozens of EV presentations and workshops since 2010. He has trained various stakeholders from architects and auto salespeople to utility company personnel and public utility commission staff. In 2012 he started the MN PEV Owners Circle that has grown to become one of the largest and most active regional plug-in vehicle owner groups in the nation. He also manages EV programs for Fresh Energy. In 2012, Jukka was honored with a Certificate of Recognition from Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's office for his work with the EV market in Minnesota, and in 2013 he received the Sustainable St Paul Award.

More information about his work can be found by visiting: www.PlugInConnect.com , www.MultiHousingCharging.com and www.WorkplaceCharging.com

EV Charging Strategies
February 21, 2017 8:30‐10:00 a.m.

Jukka Kukkonen picture
Christopher LaForge

Christopher is an IREC Certified Master Trainer and is a NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installation Professional Emeritus (ID# 041704-24). He has run Great Northern Solar for 30 years. Great Northern Solar has designed, specified, sold and deployed systems since 1988 for both the grid-connected and off-grid markets.

He has worked to develop documents regarding “Establishing Training in Solar Business Development and Sales” and “Best Practices for Designing a PV Lab” as a member of the IREC Subject Matter Expert Team.

He has been an instructor with the Midwest Renewable Energy Institute since 1993 Teaching Advanced Photovoltaic (PV) design and installation.

Christopher has developed training for contractors, administrators, project managers and the public. Clients have included the City of Minneapolis - Minnesota, Hennepin and St. Louis County in Minnesota, the Madison Area Technical College and several other colleges. He has trained many electrical contractors and solar instructors in the greater Midwest and beyond.

In September, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council recognized Great Northern Solar CEO Christopher LaForge as the 2016 IREC Certified Clean Energy Instructor/Master Trainer of the Year.

Renewable Energy Systems and the NEC – 2017 Update Part 1 of 2
February 21, 2017 8:30‐10:00 a.m.

Renewable Energy Systems and the NEC – 2017 Update Part 2 of 2
February 21, 2017 10:30 a.m.‐12:00 p.m.

The Internet of Things (IOT) - The Nexus of Technologies in the Home and Business
February 21, 2017 1:00‐2:30 p.m.

Solar Electric and Eenergy Storage - Hartley Nature Center Project - A Case Study
February 21, 2017 3:00‐4:30 p.m.

Kitrina Stratton picture
Kitrina Stratton

Kitrina Stratton has 30 years of varied design experience in a wide range of industries. She holds a Masters Of Architecture is Sustainable Building Design Science and was the lead on the University of Nevada’s LEED project team. In addition, she is a Lead for NetZero home instructor and has taught “Youth Build.” Kitrina is currently a plans examiner for the City of Minneapolis.

Heating and Cooling a Minnesota home with a SkyTherm (roof pond) North
February 21, 2017 3:00‐4:30 p.m.

Super Energy Efficiency Homes Should Always Be the Goal: Case Study of An Affordable, Low Tech, High Performance Home in an Urban Environment
February 22, 2017 1:00‐2:30 p.m.

Rodger Holland picture
Rodger Holland

Roger Holland is the co-owner of Holland & Hearth Inc., a manufacturer representative firm that manages the North Central region of the US for nine hearth products manufacturing plants located throughout the world. Rodger’s Hearth industry career spans 30 years. He has worked both in the field and in manufacturing facilities to bring quality hearth products to the market. He is an active member of the Hearth Products Association (HPBA) Government affairs committee and has served on the HPBA board of directors for 6 years including the Chairmanship in 2012. He is NFI Certified in Gas and pellet fuels and WHERF certified in wood burning.

Hearth Products 101 for Today's Builers
February 21, 2017 10:30 a.m.‐12:00 p.m.

Peter Solac picture
Peter Solac

Peter Solac is the owner of Woodland Stoves and Fireplaces, a Minneapolis based company that handles a diverse range of hearth products. He started the business in 1977 with a keen interest in woodburning stoves. At that time the frequent interruptions in fossil fuel availability and a rapid rise in oil prices lead to a rebirth in the use of wood as a heating fuel.

Woodland Stoves and Fireplaces sells and installs wood, gas, and electric hearth products, but nearly half of their business is in woodburning products, a rarity in today's market. Those woodburning products include decorative and heating fireplaces, woodstoves and Finnish Masonry heaters.

Peter holds many licenses including a Minnesota Building Contractors license which he uses not to build houses, but to understand how hearth products fit into modern building construction and comply with todays building and energy codes.

Hearth Products 101 for Today's Builders
February 21, 2017 10:30 a.m.‐12:00 p.m.

Michael Nordby picture
Michael Nordby

Michael Nordby is co-owner at Brownstone Distributing in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michael has over 25 years in the Fireplace and Hearth industry with residential and business properties. As a business owner, board member and industry consultant, he has a unique expertise in hearth products and the need for this product in today’s construction. Michael has served on multiple boards over the years including the NCHPBA Board of Directors, HPBA National Board of Directors and the HPBA Executive Committee. He continues to be an active member of the HPBA Government Affairs Committee. He also holds the NFI (National Fireplace Institute) certification in gas products for the hearth products industry. It is a core belief of Michael’s that the fireplaces of today enhance and save energy in homes and businesses.

Hearth Products 101 for Today's Builders
February 21, 2017 10:30 a.m.‐12:00 p.m.