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The Chewonki Foundation will hold its 8th Annual Conference on Sustainable Energy Saturday, April 26. Highlighting the day will be a first-in-the nation installation of a combined solar electricity and hot water module system designed and manufactured by Ascendant Energy, a Rockland, Maine company.

"I am very excited that Chewonki participated in the development of this efficient, newly commercialized technology that has the capacity to make electricity and to heat hot water at the same time with the same module. This has been a great collaboration," said Peter Arnold, Sustainability Coordinator for the Chewonki Foundation.

Keynote speaker, Paul Kando will open the day's events. Kando has spent a lifetime in the renewable energy fields since moving to the United States from his native Hungary. He worked on one of the nation's first solar energy installations, helped design and install a solar heating system for the White House during Jimmy Carter's presidency; managed a large solar energy program for the U.S. Department of Energy; and worked in building energy research in Scandinavia, where he produced three documentary films on advanced building systems.

Chewonki's conference has been a much anticipated springtime event for the last seven years, and Arnold says interest in the subject of renewable energy is growing quickly, especially as prices for fuel continue to rise and awareness of global warming increases. The annual event will draw a motivated cadre of climate change activists, energy and efficiency innovators, and supporters of emerging new alternative technologies. The conference, open to the public by registration, is designed to offer current information on climate change science and practical workshops for people interested in exploring ways to increase their energy efficiency while using more sustainable, renewable energy technologies rather than unsustainable fossil fuels.

2008 Conference Schedule

8 to 8:30 - Exhibitor and presenter arrival and setup

8:30 to 9 a.m. - Registration and Exhibits

9 to 9:15 a.m. - Welcome and energy updates

9:15-10:15 a.m. - Keynote Address by Paul Kando

10:15-10:30 a.m. - Break

10:30-noon - Morning workshop session

Noon to 1 p.m. - Lunch

1 to 2:30 p.m. - Afternoon workshop session

2:30-2:45 p.m. - Break

2:45-3:45 p.m. - Presenters panel discussion

3:45-4:30 p.m. - Tour of Chewonki's Renewable Energy systems

Paul Kando will briefly address the latest science, the warning signs, and the anticipated tipping points that will affect our world and our region. He will speak on the many things people and nations around the world (with very similar resources to our own) are doing about climate change and the depletion of fossil fuels. "What some see as a looming crisis, others see as the opportunity of a lifetime. Both views are right, of course. But which of the two will prevail depends on whether we are willing, with a reasoned urgency, to act. There are clouds on the horizon, but I plan to convince you of their silver lining. Then I will leave you with an open question- What are we waiting for?"

Paul Kando was originally educated as a chemical engineer and went on to work on one of the first projects using solar energy. In the wake of the first 1970s oil crisis, he switched to energy research and led a team conducting the first-ever energy audit on a whole city.

At the University of Delaware he conducted research on energy storage technologies and photovoltaics. Later he managed a large solar energy program for the U.S. Department of Energy. After 1981, he worked in building energy research both in the U.S. and Scandinavia, where he produced three documentary films on advanced building systems. His current activities include consulting and teaching, conducting energy audits and leading discussions on issues of current interest, especially climate change.

Workshops include:

• Zero Energy Homes by Mike White of Island Carpentry

• Solar Heat and Power modules by Chris Straka of Ascendant Energy

• Geothermal Installations by John Logan of Geo Maine

• Solar Hot Water Installations by Fortunat Mueller of Revision Energy

• Economics and Renewables by Maine State Housing

• Solar Air Heating Technology by Rob Taisey of Assured Solar

For complete workshops descriptions please visit our Web site www.chewonki.org/pathways.