Meet The Presenters

Josh Bills- is the owner of Susbelievable Services which specializes in battery-based and grid interied solar electric systems and solar water heating systems. He also designs and installs micro-hydro and wind systems and is a regional supplier for renewable energy equipment. Joshua helped found the Kentucky Solar Partnership in 1999, and has worked with Appalachia-Science in the Public Interest for nearly 10 years, on projects in Kentucky and abroad.

James Bush, Governor’s Office of Energy Policy has helped to develop the fleets, the fueling locations, the …….

Mr. Carter-LFUCG Recycling Centers-

Cool Cities Lexington- presented by Sierra Club volunteers So what is a Cool City? These are cities that have made a commitment to stopping global warming by signing the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. Begun in 2005, the Cool Cities campaign empowers city residents and local leaders to join and encourage their cities to implement smart energy solutions to save money and build a cleaner, safer future.

Global warming requires solutions at every level. Cool Cities not only brings real solutions at local levels it also showcases solutions for others to model and builds leadership to ensure solutions are implemented at state levels and nation-wide. Hybrid cars, energy efficient buildings, and renewable energy are just a few of the many ways to make this real.

David Coyte-is the President of CART (the Coalition for the Advancement of Regional Transportation) and environmental activist. Mr. Coyte has focused on energy and transportation issues for 20 years. He and his partners have recently bought and are renovating the Mother Ann Lee Hydroelectric Station on the Kentucky River at Shakertown.

Jim Embry, Obiora Embry - Jim Embry—Mr. Embry has been a community activist for over forty years, beginning with his civil rights activism in 1960 when he was 10 years old. One of his passions is sustainability, which was evidenced in his presentation, “ A Vision for Lexington, Creating a Sustainable Future, ” at the Lexington Urban County Council hearing on the Comprehensive Plan on November 8, 2005. His community service record is a long and rich one with no end in sight“

Janet Faust-JD-Rain products for green roofs are produced by JDR Enterprises, Inc., a leading manufacturer of Geonets, Geocomposites, sub-surface drainage composites, sheet drains, strip drains for residential and commercial applications. JDR also manufactures Rock-Shield for pipeline construction. Our products are available through a world wide network of Distributors and agents.

Kandris Goodwin – is with the University of Kentucky Tracy Farmer Center for the Environment. Her work with environmental education and is co-educational coordinator for the Bluegrass Energy and Green Living Expo. She has over 20 years of experience of educational experience.

Jerry Hash-UK College of Agriculture When you conserve energy, you are taking a direct role in environmental control,” said Jerry Hash, UK Extension housing associate. “You’re limiting environmental pollution by reducing the amount the power plant has to produce.” The Healthy Homes exhibit will concentrate on several areas including indoor air quality, moisture control in the home, radon awareness, lead paint in older homes, HVAC systems and windows. “We’re joining with Energy Star to encourage an approach of moisture control, which in turn restricts, controls and eliminates mold in the home,” Hash said. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Energy Star is a dynamic government/industry partnership that offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions, making it easy to save money while protecting the environment for future generations.

Mark Isaacs-is a Louisville native and MIT trained architect, builder and Semonin Realtor associate. His company, Legacy Homes, is a builder of premier condominium communities with afoucs on urban infill locations and energy efficient construction in Louisville. Mark wants to find 50 builders like his self all across the country interested in Near Zero Carbon condominium development and supporting them with design, consulting and supply chain solutions.

Everything I know about the pleasure of urban living I learned while living in Italian cities and towns. When I came back to Louisville in 1980, I saw Louisville differently. as a place with endless possibilities to create the kind of urban vibrancy I had experienced in Italy. One night, after a few beers with a buddy at the Outlook Inn, we traipsed around the alleys and sidewalks of the Original Highlands, Irish Hill, and Phoenix Hill neighborhoods waving our hands around: we imagined viable and vibrant urban neighborhoods combining residences and businesses, preserving existing historic buildings and knitting together blockfaces with quality new construction. Even 27 years ago, we envisioned passive solar, energy-efficient buildings that would use close to zero fossil fuel.

Today, we are building that vision at Legacy Lofts: 48 condominium units at the corner of Main and Campbell Streets. Sally and I have decided to sell our home in the Highlands and move there to enjoy a way of life where we will walk to the Bodega café and grocery next door, great restaurants like Mellilo's and Artemesia, and all the galleries nearby. Urban living brings low maintenance, low hassle living: enjoy the community courtyard, your own private terrace, the fitness center and terrace lounge. And you get to enjoy ultra-low utility bills: Legacy Lofts will be a model to the nation of life with close to zero fossil fuel consumption.

Susana Lein-owner of Susana’s Organics at Salamander Springs Farm near Berea, KY, has since 2000 been building farm infrastructure and house from scratch and since 2003 selling produce, value-added products, grains and dry beans year-round (see www.localharvest.org/farms/M5606 . Susana is also a permaculture teacher and designer and alternative builder. After spending much of the 1980’s designing unsustainable developments around Boston, Susana left her landscape architecture firm in 1990 to live 7 years ins Guatemala where she built appropriate technologies and taught permaculture in several South American countries, and learned much about living within the means of the earth.

Dick Levine—Mr. Levine is a professor of architecture, an architect and urban designer and a director of the Center for Sustainable Cities, where he has been working on projects developing both the theory and practice of the sustainable city-region.  He is one of the solar energy pioneers in the U.S., a holder of U.S. patents on structural systems and solar energy applications and the architect of a number of award winning solar buildings including his widely published Raven Run Solar House (1974).  His Hooker Office Building (1978)) with its double glass walls with insulated aluminum louvers between them has become the prototype for numerous energy conserving commercial buildings in Europe.  Levine was the founding Chair of the Sustainability Division of the American Solar Energy Society.  He has over 200 publications on solar energy and sustainability research and projects.  He has conducted sustainable city research and projects in Italy, Austria, China, the Middle East, as well as in Kentucky.

Andy McDonald-is the co-coordinator of the Kentucky Solar Partnership. He manages a program that offers low-interest loans for solar water heaters to residents of Eastern Kentucky.

Robin Penick-Housing Program Specialist has been with the KY office of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for over 10 years and has helped families throughout Kentucky find affordable housing. Her emphasis on green initiatives has helped the folks in Kentucky while helping the environment as well.

The College of Agriculture and Human and Environmental Sciences welcomes Bob Perry as the new coordinator of the Food Systems Initiative. The initiative is a one-year pilot program designed to act as a networking hub to connect university expertise with government policymakers, local entrepreneurs and corporations. Bob’s new duties include promoting development of new food enterprises in Kentucky, specifically linking to Agricultural Development Board programs that concentrate on tobacco dependent counties. He is also to advice programs involving sustainable and local food production do occasional class lectures or seminars and provide programs for county agents and specialists. The new center would work in close partnership with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy. The Initiative is also charged with reaching out to other areas of the university outside the college. UK Dining Services is currently testing the feasibility of using locally grown produce in all 20 campus restaurants and Bob will help them fine tune the new system.

Clive Pohl-is a registered architect and Partner in the firm PHOL ROSA POHL known primarily for innovative residential and commercial projects. In 1996 Clive became a founding member of an innovative architecture collaborative in Seattle where the use of sustainable resources informed design decisions and the scope of his work broadened in the commercial realm. He relocated to Lexington in 1999 to solidify the growing partnership that in 2000 became POHL ROSA POHL. Clive is an active member of the Kentucky Chapter of the US Green Building Council and works frequently with Lexington’s Habitat for Humanity.

John Robbins-CEM (Certified Energy Manager) provides a range of services related to energy efficient and high performance services building design. He designs, analyzes, consults on, and provides education about residential and small commercial high performance building design, as well as energy-efficient work/lifestyles choices, ranging from purchases to behaviors. The majority of his business involves direct design, analysis, and consulting about design and operation decisions.

James Schrader is a student at the University of Kentucky, SCIP internship and is developing a bio fuels closed loop circle at the university using fuels made from the KLair.

SouthFace-a non-profit organization dedicated to environmentally friendly housing.

Lannie Sproul – is a degreed engineer as well as a C.E.M.(Certified Energy Manager). He is the owner of Bright Homes Consulting PLLC, here in Lexington. His company’s focus is applying engineering and technology to create healthy, low maintenance homes, both existing and new. As a certified PV (photovoltaic) designer he designs and installs stand-alone PV systems for sign lighting or other remote locations.

Shane Tedder-UK Sustainability Coordinator for Residence Life and co-educational coordinator for the Bluegrass Energy and Green Living Expo.

Russ Turpin- Our Philosophy at Advanced Mulching Technologies, Inc. (AMT) is a professional contractor, specializing in erosion prevention, storm water compliance, environmental restoration and landscape material handling. AMT is dedicated to professional development and education as well as being certified (where applicable) on the installation and maintenance of all erosion and storm water control products we provide. In addition, AMT is committed to promoting products that produce a positive influence on our environment. Our mission is to provide composted organic materials, which can be used to either filter surface runoff or establish healthy vegetated buffers. These application methods work to improve soil and water quality through the processes of physical, chemical, and biological filtration.

Alan Warner-American Institute of Architects

Gary Watrous-American Institute of Architects (AIA) holds a Masters degree in architecture from Yale University and is a la LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited professional. He is a Midwest leader in energy efficient design of many building types, including homes, churches, daycare centers, elderly housing, etc.

Rodney and Sydney Wright-The Wrights founded their architectural and planning service in 1960. Their projects emphasize green architecture and planning with concern for energy efficiency, passive solar strategies, sustainability and livability. Their designs apply their research in the use of appropriate, non-polluting, environmentally friendly materials and methods of construction. Single family homes are a particular delight to them. They have designed assisted living housing, elder housing, affordable housing, multi-family housing, commercial and institutional buildings as well.