Owen Electric Cooperative is helping to bring America’s leading energy efficiency authorities to Kentucky to showcase the latest energy-saving home innovations at the 2010 Midwest Regional ENERGY STAR® Conference.
Hundreds of building professionals, government officials and business leaders will attend the conference March 24-26 at the Lexington Center and Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Lexington. The conference will include a trade show and four tracks of educational, in-service-worthy sessions. Additional networking and entertainment activities are designed to encourage better information exchange and awareness within the energy efficient home industry.
The conference is hosted by the Home Builders Association of Lexington. Owen Electric, along with Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, as well as Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities, are presenting sponsors. The conference will feature nationally recognized speakers such as Phillip Fairey of the Florida Solar Institute, who has more than 30 years in building science research, and Steve Baden, executive director of the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), which sets national standards for energy efficiency ratings.
At noon on March 25, Baden and Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters will deliver a keynote address. Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear will speak on March 26. Jonathan Miller, Kentucky Secretary of Finance and Administration, will also take part in the conference.
In addition, the conference will offer breakout sessions on topics such as selling ENERGY STAR® and on whole-house humidity and moisture.
Roy Honican, residential services coordinator at Nicholasville-based Blue Grass Energy and chairman of the conference, said that with the downturn in the economy and energy costs rising, there is unprecedented interest in ENERGY STAR® and energy efficiency among both homeowners and builders.
“Professionals from across the country will talk with us about the newest trends and technologies,” Honican said. “The conference will showcase ENERGY STAR® for both new and existing homes, and provide exhibit booths of the latest products. Energy efficiency is the future of the building industry because it offers a better product that lowers monthly bills.”
The conference will also provide continuing education credits for industry professionals.
Topics that will be covered include:
- Selling ENERGY STAR®.
- Home performance with ENERGY STAR®.
- Whole house humidity and moisture.
- Building your first ENERGY STAR® starter home.
- Insulation options.
- Duct sizing.
ENERGY STAR® qualified homes include features that typically make them 20–30% more energy efficient than standard homes.
Here are some of the other presenters:
- Dr. Joseph Lstiburek, a building scientist and the author of numerous books and technical papers on building science, indoor air quality and durability.
- Mark Jansen, director of Energy Efficient Homes Midwest, who has completed more than 40,000 energy ratings since 1991.
- Sam Rashkin, national director of ENERGY STAR® for Homes, which has more than 2,500 builder partners and over 330,000 labeled homes.
- Chandler Von Schrader, national manager of home performance for the
Environmental Protection Agency.
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