Past list view

Our guest speaker this month will be one of our own members, John Yeates. John will be discussing a topic he is passionate about - the economics of cogeneration (a.k.a. combined heating and power, or CHP for short). He will illustrate why CHP can provide an affordable, clean, efficient, and reliable component of the power system in the U.S./Pacific Northwest.

There is significant technical and economic CHP Potential in Washington State and John will be discussing the barriers that exist and what can be done so that these systems with their impressive public and private benefits, become more widespread.

John Yeates is an economics graduate student at the University of Utah. Given his profound interest in energy economics and his love for the Pacific Northwest, John recently moved to the Puget Sound Area to carry out his dissertation. John is exploring cogeneration in the Pacific Northwest and the business models/regulatory structures here that will be conducive to CHP. He has been to conferences throughout the Northwest and currently interns for NBIS (Network for Business Innovation and Sustainability) where he is organizing an industrial ecology initiative for South Seattle. Upon successful completion of dissertation defense, John is looking forward to a life-long career as an energy economist in the Seattle area.

Seattle Renewable Meetup has not hosted a meeting on Cogeneration previously so this will be fascinating introduction to a technology that many of us are probably not that familiar with. Please join us this month.

We are changing our regular monthly schedule temporarily for this month only. Rather than meet on the 4th Thursday this month we're scheduling the July meeting for the 30th. Our guest speaker this month will be Joel Sisolak, Director of the Washington Chapter of the Cascadia Green Building Council. He will talk to us about the LEED Certification Program; the strengths and benefits of the current program, as well as it's limitations. Sisolak will also discuss the Living Building Challenge, a Cascadia-owned program that pushes building design and construction toward true sustainability."

We have had speakers in previous meetings who have touched on the LEED program, however this month we should gain special insight into the continued evolution of the LEED program and what targets are being set for future building energy consumption. Please join us for what I'm sure will be an informative and and engaging discussion. I'm also please to thank Ginger MacDonald for all her work in organizing and hosting this months meeting.

Hope to see you there,

Sean Abbott
Organizer, Seattle Renewable Energy Meetup

This month we are pleased to have Steve Allwine of Johnson Braund, a local Architecture firm that specializes in sustainable design. Steve is Johnson Braund’s Marketing and IT Director. He also leads the organization’s effort into ‘more-sustainable’ design. His background includes working as a TV News Producer at a CBS affiliate, radio announcer at KOMO radio and a writer at KOMO TV. He also serves as Treasurer at the regional chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Science and is currently becoming LEED-AP certified.

Johnson Braund Design Group, Inc. is a Seattle-based Architecture and Design firm. For over 30 years, they’ve been designing hotels, apartments, banks, and parks across the United States. They serve as lead prototype designer for a number of Marriott brands and have thousands of projects spanning 42 states. Their local designs include a number of the Senior Housing Assistance Group (SHAG) apartments, Banner Banks, along with the Tukwila’s Macadam Winter Garden, named 2008’s ‘Best Park’ by the State’s Park & Recreation Association.

Over the past two years, Johnson Braund has been focusing on implementing efficiency upgrades to their facility. Steve has lead this effort and designed a number of the systems involved. In less than a year’s time, they’ve been able to cut their grid consumption by 50%. To do this, they’ve invested in insulation upgrades, a hybrid multi-fuel heat pump system, heat recapture, LED lighting, daylighting, occupancy sensors and in one of the largest privately owned PV arrays (10Kw) in the state. They’ve been awarded a National EnergyStar award from the EPA for their efforts, and are currently undergoing certification for both an EnergyStar Building and becoming one of the first LEED Platinum O&M buildings in the nation. All of the upgrades offer a solid return in investment, ranging between a few months to 10 years, so they also make sound business sense.

Renewable energy is important to embrace, but making sure to not waste that energy is paramount. Steve will explain the reasoning behind their system, unique features, how they went about it, and how they’re pushing for the same improvements to their wide range of clients.

We have another stellar speaker this month, I hope to see you on the 26th!

ATTN: Respected Seattle Renewable’s Members:

IF there was ever a meeting NOT to miss. This is it !!!

As the Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest continue to recognize and appreciate the growing presence and energy concerns of Seattle Renewable’s membership, we are proud and absolutely ecstatic to announce Democratic Representative Jeff Morris as our next speaker.

A little about Jeff Morris;

• Jeff represents the 40th District that includes San Juan County and parts of Skagit and Whatcom counties.
• A 4th generation native of the Puget Sound.
• A Congressional Staff Member.
• Director of the Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative.
• Recently acclaimed, “ West Coast Power Player “ by the Department of Energy.
• Recipient of the “Smashed Brick Award” by the Canadian Consulate.

For those members that have not been to a meeting in a while this is a fabulous way to jump start your Renewable Energy concerns and questions. For new members this is a wonderful way to get to meet our dedicated staff and warm membership base.

This is will be AWESOME! See you all there!!!

Seating will be limited to the first 100 so reserve right away.

Regards,

Seattle Renewables – “ The Cutting Edge of Renewable Energy Information”

Friends of Seattle Renewables:

As a member of Seattle Renewables, the Organizers would like to afford you the opportunity of input in the direction of our group in outreach to the larger Community. We are planning a consensus building exercise on the 13th of November at Seattle 1st Presbyterian Church, our regular meeting place. The outcome of this exercise will assist the Organizers in bettering the monthly meetings, assist in the construction of a vital website, sharpen our presence in the Renewable Energy Development sector of the market, and provide better networking opportunities for members.

The above partial list are current goals. What is needed are objectives and the prioritization of these objectives to make it work. What we are asking between now and the 13th are three or four responses to the following question (bring to the meeting):
"... How can Seattle Renewables become a vital information hub in providing useful and practical knowledge about renewable energy development in the Pacific Northwest?" The more specific you are in your responses the better we can address the question given.
We look forward to input on the 13th, 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Sean Abbott, Organizer
Seattle Renewables