The theme of this gathering: we face
exciting but heavy times. The agenda of the summit overall was very positive, eclectic and ripe for the
low hanging fruit. I have yet to be just awed by pure ingenuity and people thinking BIGGER.
It is the easy picking that people are focusing on: I understand the tangible need, the quick return
and the “feel good” that comes with that but WOW Let climb the tree and jump. That being said
I first want to fill the knowledge pool, so when I land it makes the biggest splash, that creates a swell so big that everyone
can ride and it’s endless (renewable). ENERGYSWELL!
I attended these seminars: peak oil, building
science evolution, lean is green, selling high performance homes, zero carbon homes, a builders panel on energy star, energy-carbon
connection, small town revolution and understanding energy code. Some of which held value and definite
intrigue, and some that fell flat. Most exciting and challenging were the building science evolution (building
as a system), small town revolution and the energy-carbon connection.
Thoughts and themes that stick and hopefully will not peel:
·
IT’S ABOUT THE ENERGY…referring to the fact we have green-washed
building practices and forgotten about the fact we MUST save energy!
· Small, rural and secluded places on this planet (FRASER) are home to creative, weird, lean and conscious thinkers.
So Let’s start an ENERGY revolution!
·
“Don’t swallow the sweater” referring to how we insulate
the ribs and not the exterior envelope, funny but true.
· We can all benefit from the Energy Star code (among others) and movement, yet we cannot have competing ratings, codes,
regulations and values, so get together to FOCUS on what matters-ENERGY!
Thinking beyond the horizon I believe that WE must progress with focus, ingenuity, creativity yet
patience and willingness to sacrifice the consumptive and wasteful lifestyles we all know (and love to some extent).
As a whole this energy crisis comes down to the “ALL ME” and not “what about them (us).”
WE are all in this together so OUR future depends on the ability we each have to recognize, change and live a different
but equally great lifestyle. Yikes, that being said I will step down from the pulpit and continue to learn,
educate and share. I love this!