Greener Institutions for a Changing Climate
A one-day conference at Willamette University, Salem, Oregon -- Wednesday, September 26, 2001

SCHEDULE INFORMATION
(click here for speaker biographies or registration information)


Conference Location: Montag Center, Willamette University


8:00 - 9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 10:00 Welcome -- Tori Haring-Smith, Dean, WU College of Liberal Arts
Keynote Address -- Christine Ervin, U.S. Green Building Council
10:15 - 12:30 Morning Workshops
 
  • Panel 1 - Low Cost Options for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions:  How Far Can the Northwest Go?
  • Panel 2 - Green Buildings and Technology
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
1:45 - 4:00 Afternoon Workshops
  • Panel 3 - Fostering  Institutional Commitment
  • Panel 4 - Calculating a Climate Change Footprint
4:15 - 5:00 Closing Remarks (speaker TBA)
5:15 - 6:00 Tour of a local 'green' building: Marion County Courthouse Square Building, 100 High Street NE. Limited to first 15 people to sign up at registration desk.
8:00 p.m. Lecture by author and entrepreneur Paul Hawken: "The Quest for Sustainability." Sponsored by The Dempsey Foundation.
(no charge for the lecture, seats on a first-come, first-served basis)
Lecture Location: Smith Auditorium, Willamette University



Panel 1 -- Low Cost Options for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Far Can the Northwest Go?

Opponents of slowing climate change argue that it will be too costly. Yet most observers agree that energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies offer at least some potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at low cost. What do these options look like for the Northwest? Can we make a significant dent in greenhouse gas emissions at low or even no cost? Discussion may also include the current "energy crisis" and sustainable solutions.

Moderator: Don Negri, Professor of Economics, Willamette University
Panelists:  Eban Goodstein, Associate Professor of Economics, Lewis and Clark College
Rhys Roth, Co-Director, Climate Solutions
Peter West, Assistant Director, Renewable Northwest

Location:  Alumni Lounge, 3rd Floor, University Center


Panel 2 -- Green Buildings and Technology

This panel on green buildings will provide concrete information to facilities managers, institutional administrators, and the general community regarding architectural designs and technologies that can reduce energy consumption and material waste, constrain or eliminate toxic out-gassing, and mitigate other environmental impacts of buildings.  The goal of the panel is to familiarize attendees with the potential scope and scale of what can be done with new and existing facilities, discuss obstacles, and view successes.  The panel will include discussion about the challenges and opportunities of green building certification programs - like the US Green Building Council's LEED program.  Attendees will learn about effective strategies that they can implement to substantially reduce the environmental footprint of their buildings and campus.

Moderators: Nathan Good, AIA, Director of Green Building Services, Portland General Electric
Panelists:  Mike O'Brien, Green Building Specialist, City of Portland, Office of Sustainable Development
Charles Stephens, Energy Analyst, Oregon Office of Energy
Heinz Rudolf, AIA, Principal - Architect, BOORA Architects
Paul Schwer, PE, Principal - Mechanical Engineer, PAE Consulting Engineers

Location:  Autzen Conference Room, 3rd Floor, University Center


Panel 3 -- Fostering  Institutional Commitment

Recognizing that individual efforts are often stymied by lack of institutional support, this workshop will provide strategies for implementing programs for offsetting climate change impacts. The panel will include representatives from a variety of types of institutions – including universities, industry, and government.

Moderator: Charlie Wallace, Chaplain and Professor of Religious Studies, Willamette University
Panelists:  Clark Gaulding, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Peter Schoonmaker, Institute for the Northwest
Bryan Johnston, Dean, Atkinson School of Management, Willamette University

Location:  Alumni Lounge, 3rd Floor, University Center


Panel 4 -- Calculating a Climate Change Footprint

In this workshop we’ll examine the ways in which our daily activities as individuals and institutions can impact climate change, for the better or worse.  This workshop will focus on computing a "climate footprint" as a way to take stock of an organization’s impact on climate. Using case studies and simple electronic spreadsheets, we’ll demonstrate how individuals and institutions can calculate their contributions to climate change and discuss ways to offset the impacts.

Moderator: Karen Arabas, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, Willamette University
Panelists: Eban Goodstein, Associate Professor of Economics, Lewis and Clark College
Julian Dautremont-Smith, Lewis and Clark College
Diana Deumling, Research Associate, Redefining Progress
Jim Goddard, Nike Corporation

Location:  Autzen Conference Room, 3rd Floor, University Center


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