Green Infrastructure/Green Buildings track 

Session 1: Wed, February 10, 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Rethinking Rural Communities–Applying GI/GB in Alaska
While relocating a village presents a tremendous challenge in terms of financial, emotional, and physical resources, it also presents an opportunity to consider and incorporate principals of sustainable design. In this fun, interactive session, attendees will provide their ideas to plan a new rural community using sustainable design principles. We will begin by providing a brief overview of green infrastructure and green building ideas, then present the critical issues facing rural communities in five Alaska climate zones. Attendees will break into small groups and, discussing each issue, will develop new sustainable solutions. Each issue will be addressed based on location within the state.
Session 2: Wed, February 10, 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Sustainability as it Applies to Village Relocation
This session will present ideas for the use of sustainable design principles in village relocation projects. The importance of community involvement and historic references will be illustrated.
Session 3: Wed, February 10, 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Green Infrastructure and Green Building in Alaska This session will provide an update of Green Infrastructure plans begun last year in Fairbanks and elsewhere in the State. We will also discuss the progress of Green Building in our State.

For information about the Green Infrastructure / Green Building track call or e-mail Ann Rappoport (907)271-2787 Ann_Rappoport@fws.gov or Lauri Strauss (907)770-4352 lstrauss@kpbarchitects.com

REAP Forum: Hydrokinetic potential in Alaska 

Hydrokinetic turbine in Ruby

Everyone knows about wind turbines. But what about installing turbines underwater in Alaska rivers to make power? Last summer, UAA civil engineering professor Tom Ravens and his students looked at 17 potential sites for turbines on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers. They measured velocity and water depth and, based on the data,  are developing hydrologic and hydraulic models to estimate the energy potential of these sites. Come hear him discuss the preliminary results and learn more about Alaska’s hydrokinetic energy potential at REAP’s monthly forum from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Anchorage museum.

A demonstration project in Ruby on the Yukon River has already shown that hydrokinetic turbines can be placed in the river and electricity  generated. The work done by Ravens and his students will be made available to the public and could encourage energy developers and villagers to seriously consider hydrokinetic energy as a renewable energy source. Hydrokinetic power could be particular useful for residents of rural Alaska, who face some of the highest electricity rates in the United States and, in many cases, live next to large, fast flowing rivers.

Dr. Tom Ravens joined the UAA faculty in the School of Engineering in 2007. Previously, Dr. Ravens was a professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston. His interests in renewable energy include renewable energy assessment, environmental impact of renewable energy systems, and system design and testing. In addition to the Alaska Energy Authority-funded hydrokinetic assessment study that will be the subject of this presentation, Ravens is also working on a Department of Energy- funded project to assess hydrokinetic energy for the U.S. In the area of environmental impacts, he is examining the impact on hydrokinetics on flow, water level, and sediment transport in Cook Inlet. Besides his renewable energy work, Ravens is engaged in coastal processes and coastal erosion research. Projects include: Impact of climate change and storm surges on Y-K delta sedimentary processes; Sediment transport and flow in the Sag River Delta and the impact of the causeway; and Predictive and process-based coastal erosion modeling for the North Slope of Alaska.

For more information, call 929-7770 or email s.nowers@REalaska.org

Mat-Su College Forum: Building a Masonry Stove for Efficient Wood Heat 

Mat-Su College Public Square Renewable Energy Lecture Series: MARK MASTELLER, Alaska State Director, Cascadia Region Green Building Council at 7pm in FSM 204, Mat-Su College. Masonry stoves – long used in northern Europe – are “heat storing radiant fireplaces” made of stone and concrete that burn wood efficiently and cleanly. The wood is burned at very high temperatures and the heat is stored in a large thermal mass. Mark Masteller will discuss how masonry heaters work and describe his experience building a Masonry Heater in his home. For more information, contact Dr. Pete Praetorius at 907-745-9728.

Building: FSM 204-206 7:00-8:30PM at Matanuska-Susitna College – Mile 2 Trunk Road, Palmer