Day 1 – Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Old to New
7:00–8:15
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
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
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
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
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.