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In this issue:
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Feature article
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selections from:

Energy Independence Sol-utions masthead

Spring '10

Download the full issue in .pdf format, with all the graphics (2.0 MB)

Make Your Plans Now for
SolWest Fair!

  This year's SolWest is organized around the idea that, no matter what the state of the economy, you can choose to live your own Good Life.
  What is the "Good Life"? It's knowing that you have the life you want, and not wanting something more. It's looking around you, and seeing your accomplishments with pride. It's feeling excited about what each day will bring. It's living well without impacting the ability of future generations to also live well. Finally, it's knowing that you can handle the challenges that life inevitably throws your way.
Our exhibitors, social events, and workshops this year will be focused on helping you fulfill your plans and hopes for your sustainable future! Here's our annual preview of some of the wonderful happenings we're planning for you:

  Keynote Address: Dave Wann

        We are already inventing a new way of life that is twice as satisfying yet uses only half the resources we currently use, such as water and energy. We can create a bright new way of thinking, a brilliant new way of being, that historians may one day call the Second Renaissance.

  Come listen to Dave, as he describes how to craft a joyfully moderate way of life that uses fewer resources and yields greater satisfaction.

Exhibitors, Displays, and Activities at SolWest

  As usual, our exhibitors will be providing hands-on and interactive displays. We'll again have working systems on the fairgrounds producing solar hot water, wind and solar electricity. There are always great buys on RE gear and other donated items at our Silent Auction.

Family Activities

  Saturday is always family day at SolWest. Our volunteer presenters are working on exciting presentations again this year, including Garbage Greenhouses for Kids and the perennially popular Fun and Games with Solar.

Workshops and More

  As usual, SolWest will have over 50 workshops for young, old, technically-knowledgeable and renewable newbies. Workshops will cover the hardware, skills, and philosophy of sustainable living. Workshops already scheduled include Why Choose Natural Building, Solar Camping, Homesteaders Healthcare Reform, Renewable Education Opportunities, and You Can Garden Anywhere. We'll also have the usual lineup of technical introductory classes on solar, wind and micro hydro power. All regular SolWest workshops are free with fair entry.

The SolWest Community

  SolWest is the most fantastic community of sustainable living advocates in the region. You'll be spending three days among people that care passionately about the same things that are important to you: living well, using renewable technologies and resources, while allowing for future generations to also live well. The energy among SolWest devotees is truly renewable! SolWest is an open community, and everyone is welcome into the circle. Please spread the word about SolWest to your friends, and help us add to the circle.
  If you want to give something to the organization that has sponsored SolWest for the last 12 years, please consider joining EORenew as a member or volunteering to help us for a couple of hours at the fair! To join, volunteer, or receive a printed fair program in the mail, please contact the office at info@solwest.org or 541-575-3633.

Pre-SolWest Workshops 2010:
Solar Hot Water and Natural Building Extravaganza

  The John Day area will be a center for natural and sustainable building education both before and after SolWest. Experienced and enthusiastic instructors will teach workshops on solar hot water and earthen building.

Cob Bench, Natural Wall Panels, and Clay Plasters

  Learn to do miraculous things with dirt! In the Cob Bench Sculpture and Construction workshop July 19-22, students will build a beautiful, durable, and thermally massive cob bench using soil, sand, and straw. The class will cover all aspects of cob construction through lecture and hands-on building. Issues and techniques to be covered include: mixing, application, materials, test bricks, and how to connect cob to other parts of a structure. Lectures and labs will cover foundation, drainage, siting, passive solar, roofs, and tools. The workshop will prepare participants to use earthen materials to build anything from benches and ovens to cottages.
  The one-day Natural Wall Panel Techniques and Materials lab on July 23 will engage students in exploring hands-on ways to create natural wall panels. As innocuous as drywall seems it takes a tremendous amount of energy to mine, manufacture, and transport. Two alternatives are slip-straw, and wattle and daub. With both techniques the materials can be locally sourced, are sustainable, non-toxic, and have a very low embodied energy. Slip-straw infill provides acoustic and thermal insulation, wattle and daub is an excellent traditional way to build non-structural walls. Participants will have a chance to ask questions about specific projects they wish to engage in, and discussions will cover topics of interest.
  Natural clay plasters (July 26-27) can transform plain flat walls into vibrant and healthful surfaces that are a treat for the eyes. These versatile plasters can be applied to drywall, brick, cob, straw-bale, and other surfaces. Participants will learn all the skills needed to enhance a home with natural plasters in this hands-on workshop. Discussions will cover various mixes for base coats, finish coats, and sculpture, tools, materials, coloration, and techniques.
  Join us in making new friends, laughing, and turning the new cob bench at the fairgrounds into beautiful sculpture.

About the Instructor: Bernhard Masterson is the consummate natural builder who fuses a deep commitment to sustainable systems and a rich sense of aesthetics to create unique living environments. Trained as a sculptor and educator Bernhard has focused on natural building since 2002. He has become skilled in alternative waste systems, water management, Rocket stoves, earth ovens and Rumford fireplaces. Bernhard is a positive and insightful teacher who derives deep satisfaction from empowering others to pursue their visions. For more info about Bernhard, see his website.

Residential Solar Water Heating

  Thursday July 22, we'll present an introductory course on Solar Hot Water System Design, Theory, and Practice (for solar and plumbing professionals). This course covers the design and installation requirements for solar water heating systems in residential construction. The class will be approved for hours of CEU towards journeyman plumbing licenses and is designed to provide the guidance needed to become an Oregon Tax Credit Certified Technician.
  Topics will include basic system design, review of system components, system location and layout, installation walk-through, and Oregon solar program information.
  Oregon TCCT certification will be granted to those who successfully participate in the course and pass the exam that will be administered the morning after the course.

About the Instructor: Jerry Henderson is a former mechanical contractor working now as a designer, project manager and inspector in support of creating healthy and environmentally supported living spaces. He is an instructor in solar system installation for the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA) and the Bonneville Power BrightWay to Solar program. He has worked on both state and national levels to usher in uniform codes and standards for solar installations. Jerry is also a member of the committee creating the Oregon Solar Specialty Code.

        "For solar thermal, we're currently limited by the capacity of the installers, particularly for commercial solar thermal applications. We just haven't seen the interest from the plumbers to become solar thermal installers like we've seen electricians become PV installers."

        ETO's Kacia Brockman
        in an interview for IREC

EORENEW NEWS:

  This is the time of year when winter projects get wrapped up, and spring and summer projects underway. Here's a little bit of what is happening in the EORenew office these days:
  We've done one of our classroom presentations at the Humbolt School third grade, and we have a couple more on the calendar before the school year is over. Younger kids always love a slide show and "energy game." Older kids are challenged by the physics of energy.
  We're collecting materials and pledges of volunteer help to prepare the cob bench site and roof structure for the pre- and post-SolWest natural building workshops (see page 1). Do you have a few materials left over from a building project? Some tools you'd be willing to lend us (marked with your name)? Call or email, and we'll send you a detailed list of what we need.
  Our Green Tags contract for power from our fairgrounds array through the Northwest Solar Coop has expired. Since the first of the year, we've been banking the Green Tags "on consignment," in case a buyer is found. However, with all the wind and geothermal being currently sold as "green power," the market for Green Tags from small solar PV installations is very quiet.
  Our stimulus funds (ARRA) project has faced slow start due to delayed contracting from an overwhelmed Oregon Department of Energy, but we expect to get underway soon! As soon as we receive signed contracts for our two projects, we expect to write the bid prospectuses for the fist phases of the project. At this point, the project may be delayed for several more months due to the museum season and ODOE's apparent desire to approve each individual bid solicitation package. We will keep you posted!
  Jennifer is soliciting and scheduling workshops for this year's SolWest. Since we are emphasizing self-reliant and sustainable living, a wide variety of skills will be in demand. If you have in depth knowledge of some special skill, and you'd like to share your expertise, please give her a call or drop a line and talk it over.
We are in the process of setting up with PayPal so we can accept credit cards online for your purchases of goods or services. Watch for the new PayPal button on our "support EORenew" page.
  Can you put SolWest posters up in your community, or distribute SolWest cards to local racks, at events (Earth Day?) or at your group meetings? Let us know how many cards or posters you would like, and we will get them to you.
  Last of all: did you lose anything at last year's SolWest? We have a nice hat, sunglasses, silver bracelet, remote, and BIG flashlight. If not claimed, they will be donated locally.
Office contact info for all the above is 541-575-3633 or info@solwest.org.

Volunteers Help Us Out!

  Like every organization, EORenew depends on volunteers to keep things running smoothly at the office and at our events. You are an essential part of our organization and the services we provide! Volunteers donate hundreds of hours each year teaching classes, staffing positions at SolWest, working in our office with organizing projects, and running our organization by being on the Board of Directors. Supporters also help us to make ends meet by donating items on our wish list.

        The economy has increased demand for our services exponentially. With your help, the shoestring keeps holding on&ldots; your contributions go directly into our work. Thank you!

 --Our vision for renewable energy-based communities cannot be accomplished without the help of people like you! Thanks to you, EORenew keeps spreading the energetic word!

Our funders and donors play a major role in continuing our work of promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Who are EORenew members?

      RE manufacturers, distributors, and retail businesses
      People in building trades (architects, electricians, contractors etc.)
      Electric utilities
      Local stores and service businesses
      Professional individuals (all sorts, incl. public servants, financial services, health care, consultants, bookkeepers, etc.)
      Ranchers and farmers
      Self-employed people (artisans, professional services, etc.)
      Teachers and students
      Retired people
      Native American tribal organizations
      -- and anyone interested in learning about and promoting energy self-reliance!

Thanks to the following new and renewing business members. Your support makes our programs possible:

      Abney Solar Electrix, Redmond OR
      AIEI.info, Eugene OR
      BackHome Magazine, Hendersonville NC
      Blue Mountain Eagle, John Day OR
      Blue Mountain Solar Inc, Cove OR
      Burns Electric, Burns OR
      Dan Antonioli Construction, Oakland CA
      E2 Powered, Bend OR
      Earthtoys / Hometoys Inc, San Diego CA
      EasternOregonRealty, Inc, John Day OR
      Eastern OR Prof Services Inc, Mt. Vernon OR
      Hitney Solar Products Inc, Chino Valley AZ
      Home Power Magazine, Ashland OR
      Jackson Oil, Inc, Canyon City OR
      Johnny Creek Ranch, Kimberly OR
      JWN Company Inc, Prairie City OR
      KJDY Radio, John Day OR
      MidNite Solar, Arlington WA
      New York Life of Pendleton, Pilot Rock OR
      OSEIA, Beaverton OR
      OutBack Power Systems, Arlington WA
      Prairie Drug & Hardware, Prairie City OR

        ... and a big thanks to all our renewing members! You have the power to make a difference!

More thank-yous to...

      ... SEI, for a current edition of their Photovoltaics Design and Installation Manual for our library.
      ... Baker County Library, for letting us use the Archive Room for our annual Board retreat
      ... Exeltech, for a new on/off switch for the faithful little XP1100 inverter that has run our office going on 9 years now!

      Our Wishlist:

          Portable sound system

          Materials for pre-SolWest workshop:
          Old tarps (still usable)
          5 gallon buckets
          Recycled concrete and bricks
          Lumber, plywood, brackets and roofing
          Straw and hay bales

          We want your old Computer Stuff:
          Wheel mouse
          DVD writeable USB driv
          Graphics software (pref Adobe)...
          Adobe Acrobat...
          Web design software...
          ... all compatible with Windows XP
           

      -let us know if you can donate any of these items

Like most nonprofit organizations, EORenew owes much of its funding to your generous donations. Contributions above value received ($15 for our newsletter) are eligible for deduction from your taxable income as charitable donation.

Every dollar you donate frees up valuable funding for our renewable energy education, information, and energy service programs! We accept donations designated for specific programs. You may also make a donation through your local United Way. Please consider EORenew when making your charitable donation decisions for 2008.

Why I support EORenew:

"I support EORenew because "renewable" is the only viable future for human use of energy; we really have no other good choices but to learn as much as we can about existing renewable technologies." -- Kay Firor, chair, EORenew Board of Directors

 "As the energy costs for the consumer increase, it is imperative that the consumer is informed of the possible alternatives to formulate a prudent decision about their energy alternatives." -- Ken Primrose, EORenew Board of Directors

 

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