Longfellow Energy Fair offers sessions to help businesses save energy and dollars

On Sat., Feb. 7, the Environment & Transportation Committee of the Longfellow Community Council will host a day-long Energy Fair at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 E. 31st St. (behind the Lake St. Library).

Three tracks of speakers will cover topics related to energy efficiency, energy conservation and renewable energy. Several sessions are specifically targeted to small and mid-sized business owners:

Increase profits with energy efficiency (9:30-10:20am)

Being able to understand the utility bills and the energy systems in your business is the first step to increasing profits by lowering your utility bills. Bruce Stahlberg (Affordable Energy Solutions) will help business owners understand their utility bills and utility rates, and make a plan to prioritize energy efficiency improvements appropriate for their business, from low cost actions to investments that need financing. Attendees are encouraged to bring a copy of their utility bill.

Shining a light on Longfellow Businesses: Taking action and funding energy improvements (10:30-11:20am)

A number of Longfellow businesses have pulled the trigger on energy improvements after having an energy audit. Bruce Stahlberg, Affordable Energy Solutions, and Matt Kazinka, Lake Street Council, will talk about how these businesses took action and how they funded their energy improvements.

Why now is the time for solar (11:30am-12:20pm)

Several factors have recently come together to make NOW the time for solar development to leap forward in Minnesota. This session will focus on the improved financial realities of solar and community solar gardens as a tool to offset energy costs and as an opportunity for rental income on business rooftops. Speakers in this session include: Kim Havey (MN Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources). Dustin Denison (owner of Applied Energy Innovations and co-founder of MN Community Solar, which is installing a solar garden along Lake St.), Timothy DenHerder Thomas, (founder of Cooperative Energy Futures and the Our Power campaign to expand access to energy efficiency and clean energy, and (Rick Condon, Faith Community Solar).

Using Solar on Your Site (9:30- 10:20am)

Steve Haslach (Applied Energy Innovations ) will introduce three on-site solar technologies — solar hot water and solar hot air He will talk about how a needs assessment and site assessment is done and discuss options for financing your system.

Other sessions of interest include: Avoid falling for energy saving myths, by Terry Webster from the Minnesota Department of Commerce; Weatherization work groups, insulation bulk buying and other actions communities can take together to reduce heating bills, by Timothy DenHerder Thomas of Our Power and Cooperative Energy Futures; and City Council members Cam Gordon and Andrew Johnson who will talk about the city’s energy future to wrap up the event.

The Energy Fair begins at 8:30am, with bagels and coffee and keynote is at 9am. Lunch is served from 12:30-1:30pm, during which attendees can visit sponsor tables. Wrap-up session begins at 2:30pm with program ending at 3pm.

To register, see the Longfellow Energy Fair website at www.longfellow.org/energy. Cost is $10, which covers entry fee, bagel breakfast and lunch provided by a local restaurant. (When signing up, attendees choose a lunch option. A vegetarian option will be available.)