Light House Sustainable Building Centre - Events Feed

Canadian Earth Institute Winter & Spring Courses 2010

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:15:44 -0800

Start: Jan 21 2010 - 8:00am

End: Mar 31 2010 - 8:00pm

Canadian Earth Institute is eager to let you know about their
courses for 2010 winter and spring - January to March 2010.

NEW Facilitated Courses
Changing the World thru Intelligent Listening RRU Jan. 21, 2010
Exploring Our Relationship with Nature RRU Feb. 6 & 13, 2010
Overcoming Obstacles to Leadership to Zest and Joy UVIC Feb 22 to Mar 29
Strengthening Cooperation Among ENGOS CEI March 2010
___________________________________________________________
Hands-on Learning
Intro to Permaculture Design, RRU April 10, 2010
Intro to Cob Building RRU May 29, 2010
Conserving Water—Rainwater harvesting, Greywater recycling, Composting Toilet—CEI- TBA
More Cob Building and Permaculture—CEI Summer 2010
Women Learning Sustainable Trade Skills CEI Late spring TBA
__________________________________________________________
Discussion Courses
Menu for the Future RRU Jan 26, 2010
Healthy Children, Healthy Planet RRU March 31, 2010

For more details, see the attachment. Also watch for changes to their website
later this month at www.canadianearthinstitute.org …

Please contact the following for more information:

Canadian Earth Institute
info@CanadianEarthInstitute.org
www.CanadianEarthInstitute.org
389 Atkins Avenue, Victoria, B.C.
V9B 3A1 250.727.9163

2010 Green Building Challenge Workshop - Greening Your Condo

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:41:58 -0800

Start: Mar 18 2010 - 6:00pm

End: Mar 18 2010 - 8:00pm

"Greening Your Condo"

Station Place, 1255 Main Street, Vancouver

2010 Green Building Challenge Workshop - Rating Systems for Homes

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:43:19 -0800

Start: Mar 20 2010 - 10:00am

End: Mar 20 2010 - 2:00pm

"Rating Systems for Homes"

Kerchum Residence, Point Grey, Vancouver

Guido Wimmers - Guest Expert on Passiv Haus

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:41:57 -0800

Start: Mar 20 2010 - 2:00pm

End: Mar 20 2010 - 4:00pm

"Building Better Buildings"

Guido Wimmers, Dipl.Ing. LEED AP

Solar Technology Tours at SPEC

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:31:54 -0700

Start: Mar 20 2010 - 3:00pm

End: Mar 20 2010 - 5:00pm

Are you thinking about installing solar panels to make your house, business or cabin more self sufficient and sustainable?Come to the SPEC building to learn about our three different solar energy systems and how they can be the solution you are looking for!

The SPEC Building boasts three installations of solar demonstration technology, solar hot water, solar space heater and PV panels. If you are interested in learning about energy, getting specific questions answered or simply want to see what they look like, keep an eye on our webiste.

We are currently working on our 2010 solar tour schedule and we aim to offer a minimum of one tour a month. So far we have confirmed the following two dates which you can sign up for by emailing admin@spec.bc.ca
Saturday March 20 @ 3 pm and Wednesday April 15 @ 3 pm.

In July, 2005, SPEC worked with the Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-operative to install solar panels (photovoltaics) on the roof of the SPEC building in Kitsilano. With the generous support of a Green Building Fund grant, offered by VanCity and the Real Estate Foundation of BC, we were able to secure a 1.4 kilowatt system, capable of producing about 1.5 megawatt hours of electricity annually. This is about half of the annual power consumption in the building.

SPEC's system reduces greenhouse gas emissions by close to 800 kilograms per year. (This assumes that the system offsets the need for new generation in B.C. with a mix of 20 per cent coal, 70 per cent natural gas and 10 per cent large hydro. When compared to generation on the entire North American grid the reduction is over 900 kg.)

More importantly, perhaps, we also installed a grid-tie that allows us to sell power into the BC Hydro grid at times when the building is not drawing from the cells. This is a relatively new process in BC, and requires a net-metering agreement with BC Hydro and the installation of a special meter.

As one can see from the information that follows, photovoltaic panels are not necessarily the renewable energy option of choice for Vancouver homeowners.

Photovoltaics make very good sense in off-grid applications, such as at a remote cabin, on your boat or other recreational vehicle. It would also make good public policy sense for public buildings to generate as much power as they can, whether by the use of photovoltaics, or wind generators or solar hot water panels. Here, the payback may be measured in two ways: in the dollars saved directly on energy costs and in the reduction in peak energy demands that could be achieved, thereby reducing or delaying the need to build new major power generation facilities.

In areas serviced by BC Hydro, the cost of public power remains lower than the cost of photovoltaic generation--at present energy prices. Homeowners looking for a cost-effective solar energy solution might want to consider solar hot water systems, which can achieve financial payback in relatively short time frames, and are very affordable.

Following are some frequently asked questions concerning the solar panel system, provided courtesy of Vancouver Renewable Energy Co-operative. For more information, visit their site at www.vanrenewable.org .

Are solar systems really viable in Vancouver where we get so much cloudy weather?

Germany has the largest installed solar electric base in the world (with 300 MW it recently surpassed Japan), yet many cities in Germany receive less sunlight than Vancouver. Vancouver receives 1919 hours of sunlight annually compared with 1837 in Berlin, 1680 in Munich and 1643 in Frankfurt.

How much will the system save?

BC has some of the cheapest electricity in the world. This system will save around $108.00 per year.

How long do the solar panels last?

Solar panels manufactured over 50 years ago are still producing power. The amount of power produced does diminish over time. The panels generally come with a 20 year warranty.

What is the payback for a system?

There are two different payback periods to consider. The energy payback is 2-4 years. This means that after 4 years the panels will have produced more energy than it took to manufacture them (the embedded energy).

Many people are also interested in the financial payback. However, many other products such as cars, entertainment systems and furniture are generally not purchased with payback in mind. In nations like Germany with good incentive programs the payback period can be less than 20 years. British Columbia lags behind many other places when it comes to promoting solar power.

The Sate of Washington has legislation pending that would pay producers up to 67 cents (Canadian) for solar electric power. This would mean a simple payback for this system of 11 years. Under current BC rates the payback period for this grid-tie system will be about 167 years. This is a "simple payback" that does not take in to account the rising cost of energy. As energy costs rise the payback period will shorten.

Isn't BC's energy already clean and green?

Although the majority of BC's power comes from hydroelectric dams, BC Hydro does import a portion of its power from coal-fired plants in Alberta. It is also important to realize that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is considering treating hydroelectric dams as a source of greenhouse gas
emissions. And some politicians and industry leaders are advocating that BC generate power from coal and natural gas.

But what about the fact that Solar PV isn't a firm source of power?

Although the the annual production of a Solar PV system can be calculated fairly accurately the amount of power generated by a system does fluctuate greatly during a 24 hour period and from day to day depending upon the weather. However, non-firm sources of power make a good complement to hydroelectric dams which can reduce their production and save water when PV systems are producing power. PV systems also tend to complement wind turbines in British Columbia which are likely to produce more power in the winter when PV systems are producing less.

2010 Green Building Challenge Workshop - Prefab and Laneway Homes

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:43:44 -0800

Start: Mar 27 2010 - 10:00am

End: Mar 27 2010 - 2:00pm

"Prefab and Laneway Homes"

McGill Laneway Home, Vancouver

Emily Jubenvill - Guest Expert on Sustainable Lifestyles

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:44:22 -0800

Start: Mar 27 2010 - 2:00pm

End: Mar 27 2010 - 4:00pm

"Green Urban Living"

Emily Jubenvill, Community Gardens Coordinator, Vancouver Public Space Network

Living Building Challenge

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:15:56 -0800

Start: Apr 8 2010 - 9:00am

End: Apr 8 2010 - 4:00pm

The Living Building Challenge Road Show is Coming to Vancouver!

Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to learn about the evolution of green building by attending one of the pilot workshops now being offered in six cities across Canada, educating and highlighting the dynamic aspects of this cutting-edge system in green building. Geared toward all advanced green building practitioners, these workshops are designed to identify and discuss strategies for deep-green projects.

Living Building Challenge Road Show Schedule :

• Vancouver – April 8, 2010

Other dates:
• Toronto – March 2, 2010
• Winnipeg – March 4, 2010
• Ottawa – April 14, 2010
• Montreal – April 15, 2010
• Calgary – April 20, 2010

Reserve your space – Register Now!

Workshop Flow
Each workshop will be six hours long and includes lunch, and a variety of tangible benefits, such as relevant printed material and a one-year membership in the Living Building Community to encourage ongoing involvement.

Agenda
9:00 - 10:00
• Housekeeping + Ice-breaker
• The Philosophy of Living Building Challenge (an introduction)
• Petal rationale + strategies: Site
10:00 - 10:15
• Bio-break
10:15 - 11:45
• Petal rationale + strategies: Water, Energy, Health
• Small Group Discussions
11:45 - 12:30
• Lunch + Case Studies
(may include guest presentation by local project team)
12:30 - 2:00
• Petal rationale + strategies: Materials, Equity, Beauty
• Small Group Discussions
2:00 - 3:30
• Breaking down barriers: Financial Study + Code Reports
• Community + Tools
• Group Discussion, Q + A

Cost
Non-Member: $475 CAD
Member*: $365 CAD

*CaGBC Members and CaGBC Chapter Members who purchased the National Benefit Package

Click here for more information about the Living Building Challenge or download poster.

Workshop Sponsors:

Vancouver:
Division 15 Mechanical Ltd.
Richmond, BC
http://www.div15mechanical.com/

Toronto:
Vibraclean Corporate Housekeeping
Mississauga, ON
http://www.vibraclean.com/

Ottawa:
Homesol Building Solutions
Almonte, ON
http://www.homesol.ca/

For more information, please contact Crystal Finnigan - cfinnigan@cagbc.org
or visit this link: http://my.cagbc.org/newsletter/index.php?sbget=enews_issues,,110,,0,,,,,,;enews_archives,,,,0,&issue=110&recipient=7030

Permaculture by Design - CEI

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:30:26 -0800

Start: Apr 10 2010 - 9:00am

End: Apr 10 2010 - 4:00pm

Course Code:GLEL 1829
Saturday April 10, 2010
9:00 am-4:00 pm
$75 per student
Facilitator: Beth Cruise, Exec. Director of CEI
Register: (250) 391-2600, ext. 4801
Online:www.royalroads.ca/continuing-studies

Permaculture is a way of designing gardens and food production landscapes for humans that work with the principles of nature rather than against them, it is based on thoughtful, lengthy observation, of looking at systems such as forests in all their functions and allowing the systems to follow their natural evolution. It takes into account basic human needs such as food, water, and energy and weaves landscape elements together in was that reduce work, eliminate pollution and sustainably address local needs. It helps humans fit into natural work better than conventional exploitative methods. It blends ethics, principles of cooperation and common sense.

Topics:
Permaculture design principles and process
Observation and landscape analysis
Climatic factors
Soil building
Food forests and plant guides
Organic food production and food security
Water: harvesting, conservation and management
(including rain catchment methods, greater recycling and composting toilets)
Mapping and design exercises

Please see attachment for more details.

LeapFrog Energy - Introductory RETScreen Workshop

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:14:37 -0800

Start: Apr 12 2010 - 8:30am

End: Apr 12 2010 - 4:30pm

This hands-on workshop will introduce participants to tips, tricks and
best practices to set up energy models using RETScreen® version 4. By
the end of the workshop, participants should be able to accelerate the
process of implementing clean energy solutions. Participants will
learn: how to set up a RETScreen® model with a few keystrokes and mouse
clicks; how to set up models for energy efficiency, solar and wind
energy; how to do "what-if" analysis for a clean energy solution; how
to factor potential utility and government incentives and tax breaks;
how to make life cycle equipment choices for lowest operating costs;
how to calculate the reduced impact of greenhouse gas emissions.

This is a full day workshop limited to 20 participants. The attendee
registration fee is $279 (plus GST). Full-time students, with proof of
status, can register for $149 (plus GST). Payment must be made in
advance of the workshop by major credit card, corporate cheque, or bank
draft received at least 7 days before workshop date. Continental
breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please advise of any dietary
requirements when registering. To pre-register please email your
contact information to ivor.dacunha@gmail.com and indicate "LeapFrog
RETScreen Chilliwack" in the subject line. You will be contacted by
phone or email to complete the registration process. Cancellations or
no-show registrants will not be entitled to a refund; however,
confirmed registrants can send a substitute if unable to attend.

LOCATION:

Best Western
43971 Industrial Way
Chilliwack BC,
V2R 3A4, Canada

TO REGISTER:

Please visit the website for more information:
http://www.retscreen.net/ang/11_form2.php?idTraining=2875