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A lot of things could be holding you back from living a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle — the price tag, the bazillion green options to choose from or the technology that seems as complicated as nuclear physics.
“We get into the American dream, and everyone has their own house and a standard square yard, but that’s not sustainable,” said Michael Anschel of a Minneapolis-based architectural firm committed to urban living and green design, remodeling and building. “It’s fairly simple. Use a green building standard, and don’t try to reinvent the wheel yourself.”
Anschel is one of several speakers who will discuss the long-term cost benefits of green building at a Winona Community Energy Summit Feb. 20 at the Tau Conference Center. The event is sponsored by the Sustain Winona Partnership, an all-encompassing collaboration of local schools, colleges and government.
An afternoon session from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. will include a panel discussion about local energy-saving initiatives and expert presentations on affordable green building, integrating hybrid renewable energy platforms and solar thermal heating and lighting.
The evening session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. will feature the area’s top design and building professionals discussing green roofs, return on investment in solar thermal heating and how sustainable design can improve indoor air quality, lower energy costs and use resources more efficiently.
Rick Carter of Minneapolis sustainable design firm LHB Corp. said businesses are leading the way in green building, and construction companies should follow suit in the home market.
“It’s not always about dominating nature and overcoming it — it’s about working with it: Using less energy, using more day lighting, managing storm water on site,” Carter said. “The parallel focus on climate change has accelerated things. More people used to be motivated by saving money but now are more interested in reducing their carbon footprint.”
Vendors will be available from noon to 9 p.m. to demonstrate green building products and technologies.
Contact reporter Amber Dulek at amber.dulek@lee.net.
