Organizers of the 2005 Sun Valley Sustainability Conference are taking their message to the streets of Ketchum this year with the main events being held at the nexStage Theater.
"We had the idea of having it right in Ketchum where people can walk," said Morgan Brown, who has been a key organizer of the annual event and is an authority on "green" construction rating systems nationally.
As transportation improvements and energy conservation are essential components of sustainability in communities, they are also part of this year's conference.
A session on "Walkable Communities" is the first session, which begins Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 8:30 a.m. after a breakfast reception.
Leading the morning session is Dan Burden, a nationally recognized authority on bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs who formally served for 16 years as Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the Florida Department of Transportation. Now the executive director of Walkable Communities Inc., a non-profit corporation helping North America develop walkable communities, Burden will discuss street corridor and intersection design, traffic flow and calming, and other design and planning elements that affect roadway environments.
As the nation struggles to meet the increasing demand for fossil fuels, those who attend the conference this year will receive an education in how green building is evolving as the norm. The film "End of Suburbia," which punctuates the conference with a couple of showings, takes a look at the potential impact on the economy and the suburban way of life of demand for oil outstripping its supply.
Hunter Lovins, the author of "Green Development" and co-author of "Natural Capitalism" will give the keynote address Friday. Co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute with her husband Amory Lovins, Lovins' address is titled "Green Development: Integrating Real Estate and Ecology."
"It was an amazing coup to get Hunter," Brown said. "She and her husband are pioneers."
Lovin's message for the future is that business' interests, society's interests and those of the environment coincide. She will speak Friday morning about how to value natural resources.
University of California at Berkeley Professor Sim Van der Ryn, a pioneer of sustainable architecture, will give a talk on green building and will premier a new book.
A Renaissance man of the green movement, prolific author Dan Chiras is serving triple duty at the conference, speaking Wednesday afternoon about sustainable housing and Thursday morning on passive solar design. One of his best-selling books is "The Natural House."
For Wednesday's showing of "The End of Suburbia," Chiras will give a lecture titled "The End of Cheap Oil."
Back on the topic of housing, and following Lovins on Friday, William Kreager of Mithun Architects in Seattle, will give a talk titled "Honey, I Shrunk the Lots."
"I am excited about getting him back for this," Brown said. "His talk is about how people are worried about density. This is an important one for us."
Brown said Kreager will speak about how in-fill in old neighborhoods can look good and enhance communities.
Other national speakers include Patrick Condon, head of the Sustainable Design Department at the University of British Columbia, who will speak Friday on sustainable community design and regional cooperation.
Local people will also make presentations in the conference. They will include Brown, who will discuss green rating systems both locally and nationally. He will also speak about solar energy.
John Grove will speak about constructed wetlands, Kelley Weston will give a lecture titled "Waterwise Landscaping," Bruce Haglund will ask the question "How Do You Know It's Sustainable?", Jeff Brooks with Idaho Power will talk about the Energy Star Home Program and Gary Seifert will speak about wind energy.
Developer George Kirk will speak about the economic benefits of building green. A number of people will address the concept of smart growth, including Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commissioner Nils Ribi, former Blaine County Commissioner Len Harlig, county Planning and Zoning Commissioner Jeff Adams and Rebekah Helzel, director of Advocates for Real Community Housing.
A free public workshop will be held Friday afternoon.
A homes and garden solar tour, open to everyone, will be held Saturday. Information will be available at the workshop.
Schedule
Friday, Sept. 30
1:15 p.m. Green Building Panel: Panelists on different green building topics will give short presentations, followed by audience Q&A.
2 p.m. Compact Urban Housing: "Honey I Shrunk the Lots" - William Kreager, Mithun Architects.
2:30 p.m. Smart Growth Panel: Panelists on different smart growth topics will give short presentations, followed by audience Q&A.
3:30 p.m. Wind Energy - Gary Seifert, Idaho National Laboratory.
4 p.m. Renewable Energy Panel: Panelists on different renewable energy topics will give short presentations, followed by audience Q&A.
6 - 7:30 p.m. Evening Reception & Discussion, Video "End of Suburbia"
Saturday, Oct.1
9 a.m. -- 1 p.m. Sustainability Tour: Homes & Businesses, free tour of green homes, gardens and businesses.
