new hampshire's
     sustainable energy resource

NHSEA Home Energy Conference

Our Sponsors

BioHeat USA logo
GDS Associates logo
groSolar logo
KW Management logo
New Hampshire Electric Co-op logo
Public Service of New Hampshire logo
Skillings & Sons logo
Stonyfield Farms logo
Unitil logo

Conference Program

Six distinct tracks of workshops will be offered. There will be a workshop in each of the three sessions for each of the six tracks. For details about workshops offered in each track, click on the track below.

Schedule of the Day

8:00–8:45  Check in and morning refreshments

Holloway Commons, UNH, Durham

8:45–10:15  Session 1 Workshops

Location TBD

10:30–11:30  Plenary Session and Lunch

Holloway Commons

Welcome – Paul Leveille, Chair NHSEA Board of Directors
UNH Welcome – TBA
Keynote Address – Steven J. Strong, President Solar Design Associates, Inc.

1:15–2:45  Session 2 Workshops

Location TBD

3:00–4:30  Session 3 Workshops

Location TBD

4:45–6:00  Event Reception

Holloway Commons

Track A: Making Your Home Energy Efficient—Start Here

Session 1: 8:45 - 10:15
Making Fossil Fuels More Efficient: "Feed Your Family, Not Your Furnace"
Joanne Lamprey of Lamprey Brothers
Joanne Lamprey will be discussing the importance of: Preventive maintenance on your heating and cooling equipment; Avalux; Outdoor Reset Controls/Humidifiers; Duct Work: sealing & insulation; Programmable Thermostats.
Session 2: 1:15-2:45
Energy Audits and Efficiency Contractors—Developing Your Home's Energy Action Plan
Andy Duncan of Building Energy Technologies, and Bruce Bennett of GDS Associates
Andy and Bruce will provide an expert's perspective on how you, as a home owner, can employ audits and contractors to achieve your own efficiency goals. In addition to asking the right questions, Bruce and Andy will tell what levels of audits are available and provide some tips on the best "bang for your buck" approach to energy efficiency. Finally, the program will provide advice on how to find, select and work most effectively with a contractor who is implementing your plan.
Session 3—3:00-4:30
The NH Carbon Challenge: Simple Steps That Save Energy in Your Home
Julia Dundorf and Denise Blaha of NH Carbon Challenge
With gasoline and home heating oil hovering at $4.00 a gallon, now is a great time to reduce your home's energy consumption. This workshop will give an overview of New Hampshire's changing climate and will highlight projections for this century. We will then emphasize simple steps that residents can take to reduce their environmental impact and save money in the process. New Hampshire households that have taken the Carbon Challenge (http://nhcarbonchallenge.org) have reduced their energy consumption by an average of 17% and are saving $850 a year.

Track B: Making Your Home Energy Efficient—Next Steps

Session 1: 8:45 - 10:15
The Envelope Please: What's Wrapping Your House
Margaret Dillon of SEEDS
Margaret will reacquaint you with the foundation of your home's energy signature. The importance of the building envelope will be reviewed to provide you with a practical guide for improvements, how to find the most often ignored problems and cost-effective solutions.
Session 2: 1:15-2:45
Building Homes with Sustainability in Mind
Paul Leveille of The Jordan Institute
Paul will provide, from his own personal and professional experience, an insight into the rewards and challenges of building sustainable homes. Paul's advice and story will motivate you to rethink the true benefits of sustainable homes.
Session 3—3:00-4:30
Selling and Buying Green: the Marketing and Financing of Sustainable Homes
Kelly Cullen, UNH & Bean Group and others tbd
Buying and selling real estate can be complicated. This process can become more complex when buyers want to find environmentally friendly property, or when sellers want to highlight the green qualities of their buildings. This session will discuss new developments in Green Real Estate, from the impacts of LEED certification, and Energy Star ratings, to the EcoBroker movement among real estate professionals. We will gear this talk toward consumers and green builders who want to know the basics, and talk about what they can do to find or highlight the green characteristics of real estate.

Track C: Renewable Energy For Everyone

Session 1: 8:45 - 10:15
Solar Heated Air and Water
Ananda Hartzell of groSolar
In this workshop, Ananda provides an overview of active residential solar hot water and solar air heating systems and discusses appropriate applications in the northeast United States. The overview covers fundamentals of system operation, installation details, and performance considerations. The discussion includes details ranging from mounting options to how solar integrates with existing systems.
Session 2: 1:15-2:45
Reinventing Wood: Central Heating with Pellets and Chips
Scott Nichols of BIOHEAT USA
Scott will update you on recent advances and implementations for central heat plants that use biomass sources. New equipment, design techniques and low-maintenance programs will be provided to give attendees the scoop on central plant heating systems. Fuel sources and cost savings will also be reviewed so that you can understand the true cost for these plants.
Session 3—3:00-4:30
Reinventing Wood: Practical Considerations for the Homeowner
Dr. William Strauss of Maine Energy Systems (MESys)
Dr. Strauss will provide a complete overview into the realities of wood heat for the home. From systems, costs and savings, Dr. Strauss will inform attendees about what considerations are present for the implementation of wood heat for the home. Different wood sources will be reviewed so that you can make the best decision about what kind of wood heat works best for you.

Track D: The New Generation of Renewable Energy for the Home

Session 1: 8:45 - 10:15
Building Green Homes
Paul Leveille of The Jordan Institute
The progress of green home building will be reviewed by Paul as he updates us on New Hampshire efforts and relevant examples from outside the state and country. Paul's presentation will provide a broad overview of what has brought us to this point in our development of green housing stock and what lies in the future.
Session 2: 1:15-2:45
Geothermal: Tapping into the Earth's Energy
Carl Orio of Water Energy Distributors, Roger Skillings of Skillings and Sons
Tax credits for Geothermal have now been added for adopters of these technologies and Carl and Roger will show the benefits of these systems and their effective planning, design and implementation. Attendees will receive a wide range of information on this ever-expanding source for sustainable energy.
Session 3—3:00-4:30
Solar Hot Water for Almost Any Home
Jack Bingham of Seacoast Energy Alternatives (USA Solar Store)
Jack will review the dramatic progress in solar how water resources. From equipment, tax credits and returns on investment, the impact and opportunity for solar hot water is only beginning to be realized in New Hampshire. Jack will provide you with a professional's insight into installation, cost and system maintenance so that your sustainable energy goals can be effectively realized.

Track E: Solar Powered Everything

Session 1: 8:45 - 10:15
On and Off Grid Photovoltaic Systems: What you need to know
Mark Weissflog of KW Management
We will begin with the building blocks of an on/off grid PV system. Cover the sizing of photovoltaic systems based on your annual energy usage — bring in a calculator and your Annual electrical energy usage for us to use. What are some of the PV Module options currently available and what are the mounting options — which produces more energy roof or ground mounted systems. Why should you monitor your production? What are some of the maintenance issues you might encounter? How do you determine and stick to your energy budget. What are a few of the pitfalls of an off grid system—what questions to ask. How do I get a permit—and what are the rules, regulations and RSA's in NH. What will I have to do to interconnect with the utility company? What should it cost?
Session 2: 1:15-2:45
Integrating Solar and Wind in Residential Systems
Steven J. Strong of Solar Design Associates
The last two decades have brought significant changes to the design profession. It is no longer the goal of good design to simply create buildings that are aesthetically pleasing. Sustainability must become the cornerstone of our design approach to create buildings that rely on renewable resources to produce some and, eventually, all of their own energy. We'll explore residences powered by wind and solar addressing the design aspects, the energy systems requirements and the importance of overall integration to provide a window into the coming new era where environmentally responsive, energy-producing buildings will become standard practice.
Session 3—3:00-4:30
Photovoltaics and Wind Energy: Analyzing the Options
Mark Weissflog of KW Management
A short review of the basic components in a PV and Wind RE systems. PV siting and mounting options, Wind turbine and tower options—horizontal or vertical systems anyone? What is my average wind speed and why is wind speed and rotor diameter important. When will you need the energy and how do I predict performance—Do you need to have a PHD in meteorology. Which system works best for you AND which produces more energy—what are the variables. Annual Maintenance issues for PV and wind and we will end with a few items on getting a Building and electrical permit—rules, regulations, interconnection and RSA's.

Track F: Citizen-Volunteers for a Sustainable World

Session 1: 8:45 - 10:15
The Fine Print: How Building Codes, Tax Incentives, and Local Regulations are Fostering Sustainability (or not)
Clay Mitchell of Epping Planning Board and Wes Golomb of NH Technical College (and others tba)
Wes and Clay will provide updates and insights into programs throughout New Hampshire and the nation are making their way onto the scene. This program will provide an introduction and set of case studies that can form the basis of community action toward sustainability. From energy to food, the major efforts, results and challenges these efforts face will be reviewed and analyzed in light of their role as the springboard to your community action program.
Session 2: 1:15-2:45
Energy Committees in NH - Tapping Your Community's Energy
Clay Mitchell of Epping Planning Board and Julia Dundorf of NH Carbon Challenge
Julia and Clay will take a more close look at local community action in New Hampshire following the widespread success of the Climate Change Resolution. The program will provide foundations for local energy committees and activists to achieve better results, ideas for successful campaigns and sources for future activities. A major focus will be keeping your activities...active.
Session 3—3:00-4:30
Community Wind and Solar
Peter Adams, Co-Director, Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative
Gas and food prices are rising and energy is getting scarce. This is a global problem that needs to be addressed on a local level. Since 2003 The Plymouth Area Renewable Energy initiative (PAREI) has explored ways to expand energy options while getting more out of the energy we use. Through education, group Energy Raisers and a combined membership knowledgebase the initiative helps members create a plan to prepare for a lower energy world. Peter Adams, founder of the Initiative, will discuss issues related to the world oil supply and explore options for our local area in this new energy paradigm.