Green Home Builders Conference

Green Homeowners Panel

Thursday, MARCH 26, 7PM AT NCTC
􀀵 Mike Tidwell, founder and director of the Chesapeake Climate Action
Network and winner of numerous conservation awards, will explain why
we have to go green to protect our future. Tidwell has been featured
on Meet the Press, NPR, and the New York Times and is co-host of the
nationally syndicated radio show Earthbeat.
􀀵 Andrew Grigsby, principal and sustainability consultant with
Commonwealth Sustainability Works, helping diverse clients integrate
green thinking into homebuilding, community development, land use,
and business planning.
􀀵 Chris VanArsdale, attorney and entrepreneur at the vanguard of the
green building movement in the Washington, DC region, serves as
Executive Director of the Canal Park Development Association, Inc.
Builders and Homeowners

Conference
Friday, March 27, 2009
8:30am - 4:00pm
National Conservation Training Center
Shepherdstown, WV
(Come to this, Jed and I will be speaking at 2:30! oh, and there will be all sorts of other speakers too!!!)

GREEN HOMES TOUR
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
10AM TO 4PM

For more information:
http://www.potomacaudubon.org
Tour Maps $15 available at the
conference and after March 2 at the
following locations:
Charles Town:
Dream House Furniture Store
Shepherdstown:
Four Seasons Books,
Martinsburg:
Good Natured,
Berkeley Springs:
The Nature Niche
Tour proceeds go toward purchase
of renewable energy credits to offset
carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles on
the tour circuit and to support
Potomac Valley Audubon Society’s
environmental youth education
programming.
Conference Registration Information:
Early Registration by March 6 - $45
Registration after March 6 - $55
EPHBA members $40 before March 6.
Pay by check or credit card (invoiced by e-mail)
Registration fee includes NCTC’s fabulous
smorgasbord lunch, snacks, and materials.
For more information or to register:
E-mail: phrcd.6003@verizon.net
Phone: 304-267-8953 ext. 5
Promote your Green Business: Consider a Conference Display!
Display space fee is $100, which includes one paid registration!
Regional home construction can no longer maintain the status quo. Building for a Greener Future is a
conference designed to help builders understand how to transition to greener construction.
Speakers include:
Afternoon concurrent sessions will provide information about green
building, weatherization, and home energy retrofits for building,
remodeling and living green. Hear experts and practitioners
explain:
􀀵Transitioning to Green: Perspectives on the Challenges and Rewards.
􀀵Getting Started with Building Green: The Homeowners Perspective.
􀀵Dealing with Energy: Home Energy Audits and Weatherization.
􀀵Tools for Builders: Certification Programs and Training Opportunities.
􀀵The Green Advantage for Marketing and Affordable Housing.
􀀵Tax Incentives and Legal Considerations.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable,
sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived
from any public assistance program. Full statement of the USDA Nondiscrimination Statement available upon request.

Menu For the Future

There is still space in the series, "Menu For the Future" scheduled for 7 Wednesday nights, beginning this Wednesday, March 4, at 7:00 p.m. and held at the Friends Centre Meeting house on Picadilly Street in Winchester. I've ordered a few additional copies of the discussion guide which includes readings from people such as Michael Pollan, Wendel Berry, Lester Brown and Barbara Kingslover. Call me at 665-8989.

Documentary Film Screenings

BALLE will be showing a series of 3 documentary films dealing with sustainable agriculture and responsible food consumption starting this month. Films will be shown in the Hester Auditorium of Henkel Hall (near the library) of Shenandoah University at 4:00 p.m. Two titles are yet to be decided, but mark your calendars for the dates and let your own contact lists know.

22 March -"The Future of Food," with adding the special section on CSAs.

26 April

24 May -

Even though the weather is cold, our thoughts are starting to turn toward spring and the new growing season. We look forward to the renewed opportunities for fresh food!

Best wishes,

Robert Hughes, co-ordinator, For the Greater Good, Inc.

Community Tree Planting

SAVE THE DATE

SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 9:00AM to NOON

THIRD ANNUAL COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING

GROW YOUR SHARE OF FRESH AIR (AND CLEAN WATER TOO) !

WHAT: The Opequon Watershed, Inc., along with Virginia Cooperative Extension, and the Virginia Departments of Conservation and Recreation, Environmental Quality, and Forestry will be hosting a Tree Planting along streams and stormwater drainages in the Opequon Watershed!

Trees are vital to a healthy stream since they filter pollutants, create habitat, and hold soil in place.

Come plant trees and make a difference in our local environment!

WHERE: Ft. Collier Industrial Park – Other sites in Winchester to be announced

WHEN: Saturday, March 28 from 9am – Noon (coffee, juice, and breakfast snacks will be provided)

WHO: YOU! And your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers… All are welcome! Just bring gloves, a shovel, and clothes that can get a little dirty!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please call(540) 667-0761 or email jiml@crosslink.net. Please pass along to anyone who may be interested! We look forward to seeing you there!

USGBC Meeting

USGBC Meeting

Shenandoah Valley Branch Monthly Program: March 11

Join your friends and colleagues for an evening of networking and education in Winchester, Virginia. This month's program features presentations on LEED 2009 and the LEED for Homes program.

TIME: 6-8 PM

LOCATION: Shenandoah Valley Council for the Arts, 811 S. Loudoun Street, Winchester, VA

Speakers include: Tom Mawson, NCR Chapter Executive Director, who will share the changes coming to the LEED Rating System and to the LEED Accredited Professional program in 2009. Our second speaker is Lee O'Neal, who will explain the LEED for Homes Program.

LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.

Lee O'Neal is the President of Green Sustainable Holdings, Inc. as well as Director of Energy & Green Programs for CGE Solutions, a home energy rating & building performance firm based in Ashburn, VA. Lee currently serves on the RESNET Quality Assurance and Ethics Committee, National Standards Energy Audit Committee and Drafting Sub-Committee, RESNET Sampling Standards Drafting Committee, Lee also serves on the Building Performance Institute (BPI) Technical committee, Quality Assurance and Ethics sub-committees.

COST: $15 for members of the NCR chapter; $20 for non-members; $10 for EGB members

Hors d'ouevres and beverages will be served. This month's event will be catered by The Stone Soup Bistro in Shepherdstown, WV. Our wines will be sponsored by Grapes and Grains of Shepherdstown, WV. REGISTER HERE

March Green Drinks

Green Drinks Northern Shenandoah Valley!

Where? Union Jack Pub in Winchester at 101 N. Loudoun Street on the walking mall (in the bar upstairs on the 3rd floor!)

When? March 26th at 5:30ish

Why? Duane Myers will be telling us all about solar panels! Duane says to come with your questions and if he doesn't have the answer, he'll find the answer for you!

Get directions here

Invite your friends (and your family, and your neighbors, and your friend's friends, and people that aren't your friends), we'll see you there!

So what is Green Drinks? It's a grassroots networking opportunity. Nothing fancy, no membership required, no cover charge, just a cash bar, a bunch of eco-minded people, and conversation. From Automobiles and Buildings to Recycling and Watersheds and every topic in between, we'll be talking about all things green. Who goes? YOU and all of your friends! We're hoping that this will be an informal way to meet and engage other like minded individuals in the area. Everyone from every profession and of every age is invited, so please, spread the word. (and just because it's called Green Drinks doesn't mean you have to drink)

Greening the Valley one conversation at a time.