2009 Energy Tours
Stay Tuned!
Past Tours
January 29th 6:30-9:00
"Home Energy Efficiency seminar at Exploration Works in Helena featuring a presentation by Steve Loken"
Discover the most cost effective ways to increase the energy efficiency of your home from a presentation by Steve Loken. You will learn how about inexpensive techniques that will benefit anyone from novices to professionals by:
- saving money on utility bills
- decreasing your environmental impact
- increasing both the comfort and the value of your home
Loken has over twenty-five years of experience designing and building sustainable, energy-efficient homes. An internationally known speaker, featured in numerous publications, Loken will offer insights on the "low-hanging fruit"-- home energy improvements that pay for themselves in cost savings in just a few years. He'll discuss air infiltration, heating system efficiency, insulation, lighting and appliances, and more. For more information visit his website, or read this Parade Magazine article about Steve.
Information will be presented and forms provided on federal and state tax credits available for efficiency upgrades as well as detailing what rebates are available from Northwestern Energy. There will be an opportunity to learn how to get involved in energy conservation through AERO's Neighborhood Conservation Project or if you are already involved bring your club to hear some great project ideas. A project recently completed by the Helena Sustainable Builders Guild will be presented to provide a hands-on look at how one local home was substantially upgraded.
AERO is a non-profit organization that has promoted sustainable energy and agricultural systems since 1974. Loken, a longtime AERO member, comes to Helena as part of the ExplorationWorks! Energy Conservation Series -- informative presentations to help save energy and reduce environmental impacts from our energy consumption. Members of Helena's Sustainable Building Guild will also be present to answer questions.
For questions or more information CONTACT AERO at 443-7272.
2008 Energy Tours
Green Building Seminar with Steve Loken: October 2
Green builder and consultant Steve Loken will present an evening seminar on the basics of green building in Helena on October 2. Steve is the president and owner of Loken Builders (http://www.lokenbuilders.com/), a full service construction company specializing in personalized remodeling and new construction, with an emphasis on energy and resource efficiency. Steve's presentation will highlight key elements of green building, including energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water efficiency, recycled or low-impact materials and low-waste construction practices. People interested in retrofits or renovations, potential new home builders, construction contractors and architects will all have something to learn from Steve's dynamic and engaging presentation. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.
Date & Time: Thursday, October 2, 7:00pm-8:30pm
Location: Lecture Hall Room 125, UM Helena College of Technology, 1115 N Roberts
Cost: FREE and open to the public, donations welcome
Helena Green Building Tour: October 4
Tour 4-6 homes with a guided bus tour or with a guided bicycle tour. The tour will highlight energy efficiency measures and home-scale renewable energy projects around Helena. Super-insulation, high efficiency boilers, photovoltaic systems, passive solar construction will all be on the tour. Also on the tour will be a regular old home similar to a lot of homes in Helena. A professional energy auditor will walk tour participants through, highlighting energy leaks and low-cost or no-cost energy fixes that could be made.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 12:30pm-4:30pm, registration begins at Noon
Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call AERO at (406) 443-7272.
Cost: Bus Tour $10; Bike Tour $5
Meeting Location: Myrna Loy Center, 15 N. Ewing St.
Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant
Bozeman Green Building Tour: October 4
The Bozeman Tour is co-hosted and organized by the Refuge Sustainable Building Center (http://www.refugebuilding.com/) in Bozeman. The guided bus tour will visit residential and commercial buildings that feature energy efficiency measures, renewable energy systems and green attributes like recycled materials, safe-indoor air quality and water saving measures. A pre-tour lecture by Nancy Taylor, author of Go Green: How to Build an Earth Friendly Community, will touch on a variety of green building topics. The lecture kicks off at 9:00 am.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, time 9:00am-2:00pm
Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call at (406) 585-9958
Cost: $10
Meeting Location: Bozeman Public Library, 626 E. Main St.
Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant; Refuge Sustainable Building Center
Billings Green Building Tour: October 11
The Billings Tour is co-hosted and organized by the Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council (http://www.northernplains.org/affiliates/yvcc), a local affiliate of the Northern Plains Resource Council. Tour participants can expect to see great examples of commercial and residential buildings that have energy efficiency features and green building attributes. Passive solar gain, super insulation, water saving measures, and renewable energy systems will all be featured.
Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 10am-2pm; registration begins at 9am
Registration: Pre-registration REQUIRED: call Merry Ann at (406) 248-1154 x108
Cost: TBA
Meeting location: Tour will begin at the NPRC/WORC Home on the Range,
220 S 27th St.
Sponsors: NorthWestern Energy, through a Universal Systems Benefits grant; Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council