Thursday Sept 9, Calgary

Friday Sept 10, Edmonton

Participants will...

• Understand what a logic model is 
• Build a logic model for an existing or new environmental education program
• Review instruments that can be used to measure outputs, outcomes, and impacts
• Create a draft evaluation plan that can be used to evaluate the success of your environmental education program

Resource people:

• Philip Cox - Plan:Net
• Gareth Thomson - ACEE

 

CLICK HERE to register for the Calgary workshop.
CLICK HERE to register for the Edmonton workshop.

More information is on ACEE's website.

The Solar Energy Society of Alberta & Grant MacEwan University Presents:

Renewable Energy: The Path to Energy Independence, Reducing Our Footprint & Utility Bills 

 

Register here (click on "Classes"; fee: $250)

 

Class runs Sept. 14 - Oct. 26 Tuesdays (6:30 - 9:30 p.m.)

Grant MacEwan University City Centre Campus rm.  7-139

The Solar Energy Society of Alberta and the Grant MacEwan Institute of Environmental Studies presents a seven-week evening class focusing on Energy Efficiency; Solar Electricity; Solar Hot Water; Solar Home Design, Non-toxic building and Green Transportation. The class includes a Saturday tour of solar installations.

Each Student will develop their own energy independence map. Tools will be provided to determine your energy usage. A wide variety of alternative energy systems will be introduced. Solar equipment will be demonstrated.

Instructor: Rob Harlan, Executive Director, Solar Energy Society of Alberta. Mr. Harlan has installed over 150 solar hot water and solar electric systems. He has lived off of the utility grid in a solar house for 25 years.

Noon - 1:30pm

Hosted by the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) - 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge

Medicine Hat's Energy Sustainability Department is focused on providing its citizens with energy conservation and renewable energy education, incentives and leadership through a variety of "Hat Smart" initiatives. The mission of the department is to help Medicine Hat reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and position itself to thrive in the post carbon economy. 

The speaker strongly believes municipal energy strategies should include energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy, as they will play a critical role in the sustainability of all communities in the 21st century. Leadership from provincial and federal governments is also needed and will ultimately be paramount to the success of such strategies.

Lethbridge and Medicine Hat have been friendly rivals for over a century, often trying to outdo each other, but could it be that Lethbridge is being left in the dust regarding sustainable energy? The speaker will explain the issues and offer his perspective.

Speaker:       Russ Smith

Russ Smith is the City of Medicine Hat's Energy Sustainability Manager. He has worked for the City of Medicine Hat for the past fifteen years in a variety of roles with the City including extensive financial and strategic planning within the City's Energy division.  Russ earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary in 1991.

Moderator:    Tom Cain

Cost:            $10.00 (includes lunch)

Presented by CAUSE 

Hunter Lovins

Discover

• Options for meeting our current electricity challenges
• The business case for climate protection
• How Alberta can lead the way in energy solutions

September 21, 2010

ConocoPhillips Theatre in the Glenbow Museum 

4:00 pm 

MC - Gary Holden, CEO of Enmax 

$20 - Coffee reception to follow 

 

September 22, 2010

Mac Hall Ballroom, University of Calgary 

7:00 pm 

$10 (or pay-as-you-can at the door; seating is limited) 

Tickets available at: Sunnyside Market, MEC, online, and at the door 

(100% Calgary Dollars accepted at Sunnyside Market in Kensington, and at the door) 

 

About Hunter Lovins 

• Time Magazine's Hero of the Planet in 2000 
• Renowned 30 year consulting veteran and expert on energy efficiency and renewable power 
• Newsweek Magazine's Green Business Icon in 2009
• President, Natural Capitalism Solutions, and a founding Professor at Presidio Graduate School
• Co-author of 9 books including Natural Capitalism, & the e-book Climate Protection Manual for Cities

 

Grant MacEwan University - CN Theatre Rm 5-142 105 St. Building 105 St. and 105 Ave., Edmonton

7pm

Guest Speaker: Paul Gipe

(Download the poster here.)

Alberta has tremendous clean sustainable renewable resources. Come hear  how to make the transition from one who really knows.  Paul Gipe is a pioneer in developing renewable energy policies all over North America. Instrumental in architecting the successful Ontario Green Energy Act  Mr. Gipe is an authority on what works and what doesn't in Canada.

Free presentation and discussion. No registration required. Free refreshments at 6:30 pm

Paul Gipe is a sought after speaker on renewable energy policy.  In 2004, Gipe served as the acting executive director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association where he created, managed, and implemented a provincial campaign for Advanced Renewable Tariffs. The campaign sought to adapt electricity feed in laws to the North American market and was instrumental in placing the European concept on the political agenda in Canada and the United States. He is also the author of several booksvon wind energy. He has also lectured widely on wind energy and how to minimize its impact on the environment and the communities of which it is a part. For his efforts, Gipe has received numerous awards.

To register, contact Paul Cabaj at paul.cabaj (at) gmail (dot) com or 780.716.4475 or Tim Weis of the Pembina Institute at timw (at) pembina (dot) org or 780-485-9610 x105.

On September 23 & 24, 2010, 40-50 people representing a range of interests will gather in Red Deer to determine strategy and membership for an Alberta Green Energy Alliance. 

The prospect of a Green Energy Act to reduce Alberta's reliance on coal and better utilizing our renewable resources provides the foundation for launching the Alberta Green Energy Alliance.

Purpose

Develop core membership and preliminary strategy for the Alberta Green Energy Alliance

The Alberta Green Energy Alliance would offer the provincial government the political license to create an Alberta Green Energy Act. The Act would help diversify and green Alberta's economy and would support individuals, communities and companies in generating electricity from low-impact, renewable sources.

This meeting will be a forum to discuss whether a Green Energy Act would include a general feed-in-tariff, a community feed-in-tariff, a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) or a combination of these.

Objectives

Meaningful, green jobs are a major benefit of utilizing renewable resources

• Gather representatives from key constituents which would advance an Alberta Green Energy Strategy
• Explore key strategies for success employed in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and other jurisdictions which have established progressive renewable energy policies
• Identify draft list of short term and long term policy goals with the highest possibility of implementation and impact in the Alberta political context
• Develop preliminary strategy for the Alberta Green Energy Alliance including additional membership, preliminary communication structure, resource identification, etc.

Agenda

Thursday, September 23

8:30 Registration and light breakfast

9:00 Introductions: 5 minute core presentations from participants on current/planned policy/mobilisations work and/or active projects

9:30 Presentations of results of background research (will be forwarded to all participants

10:30 Break

10:45 Panelist presentation responding to background research and strategic perspective on green energy act in Alberta

• Paul Gipe - Wind Works

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Facilitated discussion

• What do we know about the Alberta Context (including a review of the Alberta Energy Plan
• Based on this what short term and long term policies might have the greatest chance of succeeding - e.g. limited FIT for community/rural projects?

14:30 Break

14:45 Next Step Strategy -  short and long term goals and objectives and preliminary action steps for each 

17:00 Break

18:00 Optional networking supper and cash bar on site ($25 additional charge) 

Friday, September 24

8:00 Breakfast

9:00 Review straw dog memorandum of understanding and if possible, revise and sign  (Draft to be circulated before event, revised Thursday evening)   

10:30 Break

10:45 Next steps  - additional membership, preliminary communication structure, resource identification, etc. 

12:00 Close (lunch not included)

 

References

Recommended pre-reads

Grading North American Feed-in Tariffs by Paul Gipe (2010)

How do existing North American feed-in tariff programs stand up to best practices worldwide? How well do they compare to, say, programs in Germany or France? What programs are world-class? What programs are laggards? What programs fail to make the grade and are poor imitations of successful policies elsewhere? What innovations have North Americans contributed to what has become the worldwide policy of choice for developing renewable energy? These are all questions that need to be answered as policy makers look for guidance on how to design programs that not only work, but are also fair and equitable to ratepayers. This essay examines and grades North American feed-in tariffs. Some excel, some pass, and many fail in comparison to best practices worldwide. Read more...

Best Practices in Social Economy and Community Wind by Julie MacArthur, BALTA Researcher, Simon Fraser University (2010)

The purpose of this paper is fourfold: (a) to explore the context and rationale for community based wind development, (b) to outline basic forms and structures of community and co-operative wind projects, (c) to examine financing and policy challenges and opportunities, and (d) to outline domestic and international best practice cases. What is known about this niche of the green energy sector is often contained in diverse literatures that rarely speak to each other. This paper is an attempt at drawing together conceptual and practical tools from a wide base to explore, examine and facilitate community based wind projects in Canada generally and Alberta specifically. Read more...

Greening the Grid: Powering Alberta's Future with Renewable Energy by Jeff Bell and Tim Weis, The Pembina Institute (2009)

Alberta's growing demand for electricity can be entirely met by tapping into the province's vast renewable energy resources.

Pembina's analysis of green electricity scenarios clearly demonstrates Alberta has incredible potential to become a leader in green power production and energy efficiency and doesn't have to rely on dirty fuels. Read more... (fact sheet, full report)

Other Provincial Clean Energy Alliance Documents

A Vision of a Greener Energy System for Ontario by Ontario Green Energy Act Alliance (2008)

On September 16, over 100 people gathered to envision a greener Ontario. The group was diverse: First Nations, farmers, advocates and practioners, current and retired employees of local distribution companies and municipalities, civil servants, lawyers, business leaders and a broad representation of non-governmental organizations.

This important event has officially launched the stakeholder engagement process for the creation of the Ontario Green Energy Act.  It was a participative session where the stakeholders were taken through a formal visioning process. The outcome was a declaration of strategic goals for the future of Ontario's electricity sector.

The final statement outlines the potential for renewable energy and conservation in Ontario - and the barriers that the Ontario Green Energy Act must overcome to achieve them. Read more...

Nova Scotia Sustainable Electricity Alliance Terms of Reference by Ecology Action Centre (2010)

The Nova Scotia Sustainable Electricity Alliance is comprised of leading trade associations, environmental groups, First Nations, energy developers, academics and consumers. We represent both rural and urban Nova Scotia.

The Alliance was formed as a result of a common mission to support the implementation of policies that facilitate the development of community based and community owned renewable energy production. The purpose of NovaSEA is to encourage a strong long term renewable energy policy framework; facilitate the transition to price stability that a secure long term supply of renewable electricity generation affords; and create an environment of equitable access to renewable energy development opportunities for all Nova Scotians.

This includes opportunities for First Nations and community driven projects to maximize local community economic development and support the diversification of the renewable energy market in Nova Scotia. Read more...

Additional Reference Documents

Feeding the Grid Renewably: Using feed-in tariffs to capitalize on renewable energy by Roger Peters and Tim Weis, The Pembina Institute (2008)

Feed-in tariffs have been demonstrated to be the most effective policy mechanism that a country can use to foster the rapid development of renewable energy systems. Close to two-thirds of the world's wind energy and half of the solar PV systems have been installed as a result of feed-in tariffs.

The purpose of this document is to introduce the reader to the key elements of feed-in tariffs and the ways in which they function to achieve rapid renewable energy deployment. Read more... (fact sheet, full report)

Building the Green Economy: Employment Effects of Green Energy Investments for Ontario by Robert Pollin and Heidi Garrett-Peltier (2009)

The study, led by Professor Robert Pollin, an expert in the economics of building a clean-energy economy and co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, assesses the job creation potential of two investment scenarios. Under the first scenario, based on European countries that have laws similar to the proposed Green Energy Act, a total investment of $47.1 billion over 10 years would result in 90,000 jobs per year. The jobs would ramp up over time as investments in conservation, renewable energy, recycling waste energy into electricity and smart grid upgrades increased.

Under the second scenario, based on the green energy investments proposed in the Ontario Power Authority's plan for rebuilding the province's electricity system, investments totalling $18.6 billion over 10 years would result in the creation of 35,000 jobs per year. The Ontario Power Authority is expected to release a revised electricity plan this summer, once it has gauged the initial response to the Green Energy Act. Read more...

Registration

To register and for more information, contact Paul Cabaj at paul.cabaj (at) gmail (dot) com or 780.716.4475 or Tim Weis of the Pembina Institute at timw (at) pembina (dot) org or 780-485-9610 x105.

Thanks to our sponsors!

September 24-26, 2010

Tired of governments ignoring you?

Sick of industry calling the shots?

You’re not alone!   

Greenpeace Canada, Indigenous Environmental Network, Rainforest Action Network, and Sierra Club Prairie will be hosting a Tar Sands Climate Action Camp outside of Edmonton. This will be an intensive three-day training session to help prepare participants to gain grassroots organizing skills, and training in Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) to stop climate change, shut down the tar sands, and shift us towards a just, green future!

There will be workshops on the following topics:

• Climate change & climate justice History of civil disobedience 
• Environmental justice and anti-oppression Non-Violent Direct Action (NVDA) theory and practice 
• Action planning and decision-making, 
• Affinity groups 
• Campaign planning and powermapping 
• Working with the media 
• Know your rights, legal briefing 

This is a critical time for action. At the camp you will meet other participants ready to take action. The training will be provided by experienced grassroots organizers, and NVDA trainers and organizers, and will be open to those who have previously done activism, NVDA and/or Civil Disobedience, or have little or no experience but want to learn more! We’ll be learning how to plan and implement activities that will RAISE THE ALARM ABOUT THE GROWING CLIMATE CRISIS. Whether you’re joining as an individual or part of a group, this camp affords an opportunity to meet and join others wanting to get active on climate change and create just and healthy communities for the future.

So what are you waiting for?! Fill out the application and send it to eryn.wheatley@greenpeace.ca by Tuesday, September 14, 12 Midnight MST.

Can’t come to the camp but still want to get active and involved? Check Greenpeace Canada, Indigenous Environmental Network, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Club of Canada Prairie.

12:15 - 14:00

University of Calgary, Murray Fraser Hall, room 2370

Under Western Skies: Climate, Culture and Change in Western North America

This interdisciplinary and cross-cultural gathering welcomes presentations on the environmental challenges now faced by diverse populations, both human and nonhuman, in the Western lands of Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

October 13 to 16, 2010
Mount Royal University (Calgary)

In October 2010, 250 young Canadians will attend a once-in-a-lifetime learning event that will turn their good intentions into concrete actions to protect our most precious natural resource: water.

It’s called the Canadian Water Innovation Lab 2010 (CWIL), a natural extension of the Waterlution mission.  More than 30 workshops have already been hosted in nine provinces for some 650 youth and 100 scientists, business, Aboriginal, and community leaders, and policy makers — exceptional people looking for creative solutions to our complex water resource management problems.

The event will take place from October 18 to 25, 2010, in Alberta:
Oct. 18-20 is a Pre-Lab at The Banff Centre for 50 selected facilitators.
Oct. 21 to 25 is the main CWIL event at Camp Chief Hector in Exchaw, Alberta.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE DESIGNED FOR PROFESSIONALS 

Program Objectives 

By the end of this course participants will be able to: 

• Identify and articulate the key practices of sustainable building Establish competencies in applying LEED®, Built Green® and other relevant  criteria or established guidelines 
• Analyze the costs and benefits of incorporating sustainable building measures 
• Take advantage of financial incentives and technical assistance offered by governments, utilities and non-profit organizations 
• Work with architects, designers, builders, building operators, and utilities to improve a building's performance 
• Establish a sustainable design goal for project development 
• Assist in the education and training of staff in sustainable building 
• Upon successful course completion students are eligible to take the CSBA exam 

Course Description 

The Sustainable Building Advisor (SBA) course is a nine-month, specialized training course and certification exam designed to enable graduates to advise employers or clients on strategies and tools for implementing sustainable building. 

Who Should Participate 

Join the hundreds of professionals who have taken the SBA course including:  

• Architects and Engineers 
• Tenant and Developer  
• Representatives 
• Project Managers 
• Other Building Industry  
• Professionals
• Resource Conservation  
• Specialists 

Benefits of the Course 

• Save long term costs for building owners, operators and tenants 
• Improve the environmental, social and economic viability of the region 
• Reduce environmental impacts 
• Decrease owner liability 
• Improve your skills in a rapidly growing field

Expert Instructors

Experts in their fields will present the proven and the latest in sustainable design, construction and operation techniques with an emphasis on both practical applications and underlying theories. 

Interactive Format

Interactive class discussion and rigorous inquiry will be integrated throughout the course. Participation will be encouraged and expected to enhance a cooperative, fun learning experience. Each unit will include an in-depth small group project that will reinforce technical concepts and develop competencies in applying LEED®, Built Green®, and other local programs. 

Demonstrated Competencies   

Small group project presentations and written papers summarizing results will be required for each unit to document learning and  for credit.

Field Trips

Site visits to exemplary projects will provide opportunities to test conceptual understanding with real projects. 

Integrated  Approach

Units will be fully integrated by the lead instructor to reinforce learning and provide familiarity with cross-disciplinary aspects of applied sustainability. 

Readings

Focused reading selections will be assigned for further learning. 

Resources

Internet and other resources will be integrated into the classroom experience. 

Cross-Sector Applicability

Course content (including case studies and project- based exercises) will address various types of construction (commercial, residential, renovation, and new) and development (greenfield, redevelopment), etc. 

Become a Certified  Sustainable Building Advisor (CSBA) 

Upon successful completion of the course students are eligible to take the CSBA exam. If passed, they earn the designation of Certified Sustainable Building Advisor or CSBA.

Unit Outline 

Nine two-day sessions 

Meets Friday and Saturday per month 

Unit 1: Introduction to Sustainable Building and Design 

Unit 2: Importance of Place 

Unit 3: Energy Efficiency and Integrated Lighting Design 

Unit 4: "Green" Material Selection 

Unit 5: Indoor Environmental Quality & Health 

Unit 6: Water Conservation and Quality Protection 

Unit 7: Sustainable Job Site Operations 

Unit 8: Building Operations and Maintenance 

This course is approved as a Level 400 Mastery course under the US Green Building Council's Education Provider Program. 

Brochure

Poster

Registration Form

More information

Thursday Oct 28, Calgary

Friday Oct 29, Edmonton

Participants will..

• Review policies - and best practices - that help ensure a stable and successful non-profit organization: e.g. governance, succession planning, fund development, and financial managment, and new approaches to strategic planning
• Inventory your organizations'existing policies, and identify gaps in your policy framework
• Create an action plan to develop essential policies and best practices within your organization

Resource People:

• Stephen Legault Consulting
• Gareth Thomson-ACEE

CLICK HERE to register for the Calgary workshop.
CLICK HERE to register for the Edmonton workshop.

More information is on ACEE's website.