S.E.E. Expo special presentations

Here’s a complete list of the workshops and other special programs at the expo. One-hour presentations are included in the ticket price; intensive half-day workshops have a separate admission charge (see below). For times and locations, consult the S.E.E. scheduled presentations at: www.seeexpo.com/schedule.html.

One-hour presentations

“ALL PERSPECTIVES”: FAIR AND BALANCED
Join the Energy at the Crossroads Tour for a look at media coverage of energy issues.

ACTION ON THE CAMPUS
Students can learn about the Campus Climate Challenge campaign and the Dogwood Alliance’s paper campaign.

ACTIVISM 101
Avram Friedman of The Canary Coalition on grassroots mobilization around clean-air and climate-change issues.

ADVANCED BUILDING TECHNIQUES IN RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION
Marcus Renner of Appropriate Building Solutions on advanced framing, structural insulated panels, insulated concrete forms and more.

AN EARTH-FRIENDLY CHALLENGE
Kim Carlyle of Caring for Creation and the Network of Spiritual Progressives addresses global warming.

BACKHOME CHAPTERS
BackHome Chapter members talk about their community activities, ranging from cordwood workshops to maple-syrup making.

BATTERIES FOR POWER SYSTEMS
Tim Moates, nationally recognized sustainable-energy expert and author, on batteries for off-grid energy systems.

BIOFUELS PRODUCTION
Learn the issues involved in making biofuels, as well as the benefits to our region, environment and economy.

BIOFUELS WATERSHED
Advocate/author/educator Lyle Estill of Piedmont Biofuels on why biofuels are at a watershed moment in terms of scaling up to meet America’s fuel needs.

BIOFUELS: FEEDSTOCK PRODUCTION
John Bonitz discusses the big picture of moving toward energy independence via biofuels.

BUYING A GREEN HOME: BUYERS, SELLERS & THE ENVIRONMENT
The ECO-Agent Association, a group of real-estate agents promoting “green” building, offers a presentation on green homes.

CAPTIVE PROPAGATION: WHY, WHEN, HOW?
Joe Merzlak, the director of AnimaLogic, on captive propagation and other species-conservation efforts. Several “live ambassadors” representing endangered and threatened species will be on hand.

CAROLINA SAFE-ENERGY CAMPAIGN
Lou Zeller of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League talks about the threats posed by manure incinerators, nuclear power, coal and waste gasification.

COMMON SENSE AT THE NUCLEAR CROSSROADS
Western North Carolina is in the cross hairs of the nuclear-transport system. Find out how to join the citizens’ organization called “Common Sense at the Nuclear Crossroads.”

DANGEROUS BEES AND WANNA BEES: BOMBS
Dr. Lew Patrie, WNC Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, discusses the dangers posed by current U.S. energy and weapons policies.

DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
Eric Henry of the award-winning T.S. Designs explores sustainable businesses.

ECO CLEAN-AIR CAR FAIR: ALTERNATIVE FUELS FORUM (SATURDAY 10:30 TO 12:30)
Learn about the Clean Cities Program and inspect alternative-fuel vehicles. Presented by the Environmental & Conservation Organization, Bill Eaker of the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, Barry Carr of Honda and Brian Winslett of Blue Ridge Biofuels.

ENERGY AT THE CROSSROADS TOUR
Mary Olson of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service leads a presentation outlining the current crisis we face with nuclear power plants.

ENERGY POLICY & LEGISLATION
Ivan Urlaub, executive director of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, offers an overview of critical energy challenges facing our state.

ENVIRONMENTAL CAREERS
The environmental-science field is one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy. James Hutcherson of Blue Ridge Community College discusses new opportunities.

FARMING FOR THE FUTURE: ENERGY AND AGRICULTURE
Robin Kohanowich, coordinator of the Sustainable Farming Program at Central Carolina Community College, on how energy use ties in with sustainable agriculture.

GLOBAL MOBILE CHERNOBYL
Mary Olson, Southeast director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, on the transport of radioactive waste through our region.

GLOBAL WARMING & THE SOUTHEAST
Amy MacDonald of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy on the impact of global warming on our treasured national places.

GOT ORGANIC?
Debi Athos and Lance Kurland of Pure Food Partners on the expanding organic-food market.

GREEN BUILDING 101: AN INTRO TO SUSTAINABLE BUILDING
Marcus Renner of Appropriate Building Solutions on site analysis, structure, energy efficiency, interior elements and more.

HEALTHYBUILT HOMES
Learn about the NC HealthyBuilt Homes Program, a “green builder” effort led by the WNC Green Building Council, the North Carolina Solar Center, the State Energy Office and others.

HEALTHY CRAWLSPACES
Learn how to create a nonvented crawlspace that will keep your home healthy, mold-free and dry. Presented by Isaac Savage of Home Energy Partners.

INVESTMENTS THAT MATTER
An informal discussion and Q&A session hosted by Don Honeycutt, Ann Lamb and Kevin Austin of Merrill Lynch.

KISS OFF CORPORATE AMERICA: ECO-PRENEURING
Join Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, co-authors of Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life, for a how-we-did-it presentation on their sustainable business.

LIVING COMPLEXLY SO OTHERS MAY SIMPLY LIVE
Cecil Bothwell, a 20-year off-the-grid veteran and founding editor of the Warren Wilson College environmental journal Heartstone, on making complicated choices to reduce our impact on the planet.

MEDIA REFORM AND ENERGY POLICY
Wally Bowen, founder of the nonprofit Mountain Area Information Network, discusses opportunities to create and sustain alternative media.

MICROHYDRO SYSTEMS
Dave Hollister of Sundance Power Systems will get you up to speed with microhydro systems and help you avoid some very common problems.

NC GREEN POWER
NC GreenPower works to encourage grid-tied renewable energy through voluntary, tax-deductible contributions.

NATURAL BUILDING METHODS
Topics include straw-bale, cordwood, adobe and cob, with a discussion of building codes, banks and insurance in relation to natural building.

NUCLEAR TRANSPORTATION HAZARDS
Presented by WNC Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and Common Sense at the Nuclear Crossroads.

ORGANIC EATING ON A DIME
Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko share practical tips, strategies and recipes for enjoying healthy foods while saving money and helping the environment.

PRACTICAL PHOTOVOLTAICS
Bryan Walsh of the Solar Connexion will answer questions about converting sunlight into electricity.

RADIANT FLOOR HEAT: SOLAR DYNAMICS
Ole Sorensen of Solar Dynamics discusses these two independently efficient systems.

RADIANT-SLAB FLOOR SYSTEMS
Radiant floor systems offer homes and businesses an efficient way to harness solar thermal energy and direct it into the floor. Presented by Beach Barrett of Thermacraft.

RAINWATER 101
A primer on rainwater harvesting, including dos and don’ts, filtration, collection, storage and pumping.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: POWERING THE GOOD LIFE
Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko on learning to live a more self-reliant, entrepreneurial, sustainable and fossil-fuel-free life.

RETROFITTING FOR BUILDING PERFORMANCE
Isaac Savage of Home Energy Partners on how to retrofit existing homes to reduce energy consumption and save money.

SAVE THE PLANET WITH YOUR KNIFE AND FORK!
Learn to choose foods that lessen the environmental damage done by agribusiness. Presented by Stewart David, former education director of the Chicago Vegetarian Society and current president of Carolina Animal Action.

SOLAR EVACUATED TUBES
Ole Sorensen of Solar Dynamics on evacuated tubes, the most efficient solar technology now available. Learn why they outperform flat-plate collectors by up to 200 percent.

SOLAR HOT WATER
Beach Barrett of Thermacraft discusses basic solar theory, economic rules of thumb, the relative merits of flat-plate collectors and more.

SOLAR HOT-WATER SYSTEMS
A simple solar-thermal system can offer savings on monthly utility bills. Find out about the extensive applications for solar hot water from Ole Sorensen of Solar Dynamics.

SOLAR TAX CREDITS
Steve Kalland, executive director of the North Carolina Solar Center, on state and federal solar tax credits.

STARTING SIMPLE WITH SOLAR
Aur “De Solar Mon” Beck, founder of the Illinois Renewable Energy Association and host of WDBX-FM’s Your Community Spirit, discussing the many options for solar applications.

SUSTAINABLE AG: ITS EFFECT ON ANIMALS
Joe Merzlak, director of AnimaLogic, takes you from a coffee plantation in South America to oil-palm farms in West Africa, with several “live ambassadors” that call these locations home and these crops their dinner.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AT BUNCOMBE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
A unique educational program blending sustainable agriculture and character development via hard work. Teacher Casey McKissick shares the program’s purpose, history, goals, successes and failures.

THE FRESH FOOD REVIVAL
Peter Marks of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project discusses locally grown foods and offers taste tests.

TREASURED PLACES: THE SOUTHEAST IN PERIL
View two short documentaries produced by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy that highlight the impacts of global warming on natural treasured areas in the Southeast.

WHO GROWS YOUR FOOD?
An overview of the major producers that generate most of the food bought in this country. Presented by Peter Marks of the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project.

WIND SYSTEMS
Learn about small-scale, residential wind systems, from site analysis to turbines to towers. Presented by Appalachian State University’s WNC Renewable Energy Initiative.

WRITING FOR MONEY
Richard Freudenberger, publisher of BackHome magazine and the S.E.E. Expo’s primary sponsor, on the ins and outs of “writing for hire.”

Intensive half-day workshops

Limited to 25 people per workshop; $40 registration fee per event. The preregistration deadline has passed, but if any seats remain, you can sign up at the expo’s main gate on Friday. Consult the Web site (www.seeexpo.com) beforehand to find out which ones are full.

BIOFUELS PRODUCTION
Presented by Blue Ridge Biofuels. Saturday, Aug. 26, 1-5 p.m.; repeated Sunday, Aug. 27, 1-5 p.m.

SOLAR HOT-WATER SYSTEMS
Presented by the N.C. Solar Center. Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m. to noon

PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
Presented by the N.C. Solar Center. Sunday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to noon

WIND POWER
Presented by Appalachian State University’s Small Wind Initiative. Sunday, Aug. 27, 8 a.m. to noon for an intensive classroom session; 1-5 p.m. for a hands-on tower raising.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Presented by Home Energy Partners. Saturday, Aug. 26, 8 a.m. to noon