Themes and Topics

This year’s conference is built around three running themes:

Learning and Creating: Community Based Initiative and Innovation

Authentic “Green” systems use a whole systems approach, and are therefore based on an area’s specific resources, challenges, and needs.

The PASS Eco-Summit will strive to examine how communities have devised ingenuitive solutions to their specific environmental pressures.  This applies not only to physical communities, such as cities and neighborhoods, but to sector-based communities as well.  People of similar vocations, such as architects, have formed common goals, priorities, and programs to foster creative, sustainable, and responsible practices.  It is from these authentic community based programs that we can truly explore the potential, and evaluate the benefits, of green systems.

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The Built Environment, a Foundation for Sustainability

The Southwest is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.  Adversely, it is also one of the most arid regions, with limited natural resources.

As new buildings are constructed and old ones are renovated, the built environment can either make or break our regions ability to sustain itself.  

Once constructed, our built environment defines how we interact with the natural world, and determines how sensibly we will use our resources in the years to come.  This conference will explore how the building and housing industry has responded to this enormous responsibility while continuing to reap financial benefits.

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Living Green on a Daily Basis

Successful green systems consist of mutually supporting networks in which every individual has an important role to play in creating a sustainable community.  Incorporating green living practices in our daily lives is one of the most powerful ways to foster responsible practices in our surrounding environments, while allowing us to enjoy the benefits of green systems first hand.  The Conference Day will include an optional intensive Green Living Workshop, providing instruction on practical, applicable green methods.

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PLENARY SESSION TOPICS

1. Desert Resources, Desert Challenges:  A Bioregional Overview   
   
   What does green mean for the Southwest? Due to the inherent harsh conditions, desert inhabitants have a long history of living in a sustainable manner, and today the Southwest stands on the threshold of opportunity in a rapidly changing sustainability and energy economy. How can desert communities readily position themselves as leading examples for sustainable practices? How can we maximize the green potential of the desert through a deeper understanding of our environment?
   
   William M. Brown III, Sage West Consultants & The Climate Project
   

2. The Built Environment, a Foundation for Sustainability    
   
   As new buildings are constructed and old ones renovated, the built environment
   can either make or break our region’s ability to sustain itself. Once constructed, our built environment defines how we interact with the natural world, and determines how sensibly we will use our resources in the years to come. How has the building and housing industry responded to this responsibility while continuing to profit?
   
   Robert Noble, AIA, LEED AP, Founder Eco Investment Network International, Inc., Founder and CEO Envision Solar, LLC, California Center for Sustainable Energy Board Chair
   

3. Beyond the Green Home: Optimal Sustainability for Larger Areas
   
   Resorts, small neighborhoods, corporate parks, universities, and other centralized living and working environments have enormous potential to benefit from conservation planning and sustainable systems. Learn how developers have used habitat conservation, water re-use, and green building to optimize the functionality and livability of their projects.
   
   Susan Davison, Director of Operations, Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh, AIA
   

4. The Benefits of Locally Generated Renewable Energy      
   
   How can we maximize the power and benefits of renewable energy by bringing it closer to our homes and businesses? Learn about innovative concepts and community initiatives for providing city-wide renewable energy, potentially lifting the burden of long-distance power lines.
   
   Bill Powers, PE, Author, San Diego Smart Energy 2020, U.S. co-chair, San Diego-Tijuana EPA/SEMARNAT Border 2012 Air Work Group  
   
   
   BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS THEME:
   The Built Environment, a Foundation for Sustainability
   
   

5. Green Building 101/Integrated Design  
   
   Gain a deeper understanding of the term “green building” as we focus on integrated design, one of the first and most important steps in the green building process. Developers have saved time and money simply by including all parties in the initial planning. How does the integrated design process set the stage for the aesthetics, efficiency, and durability of a project?
   
   Alan Locke, Principal, IBE Consulting    

6. Passive Solar Design: What’s More Critical, Energy, Water, or Thermal Comfort?
   
   Using examples from applied research projects in the Southwest this session will explore: the most appropriate passive solar heating and cooling strategies for desert climates, how much space is enough, how the garden/landscape can contribute, and how the integration of these ideas can help make the best use of these critical resources and create comfortable living spaces.
   
   Martin Yoklic, Associate Research Scientist, Environmental Research Lab

7. Retrofit:  How to Green Existing Buildings
   
   Learn how to transform already existing buildings into energy optimizing structures. This session will show how and why it can be less expensive, and more sustainable, to “green” an existing structure than to start from scratch. A useful session for builders and anyone wishing to retrofit a home for energy efficiency.
   
   Douglas N. Poffinbarger II, LEED AP, Architect, Planner, PE Consultant

8. Green Buildings Are Beautiful:  The Versatility of Green Building Supplies and Techniques           
   
   Learn how green building has opened the designer’s door to creative expression through the marriage of strikingly sleek form, and energy efficient function. This session will examine re-using building supplies that would otherwise be discarded in a functional and aesthetic manner.
   
   Experienced builders and architects will explain how to combine materials and methods based on the location and specifics of a project.
   
   Walter Scott Perry, Architect, EcoTech Design;
   Tracy A. Stone, Architect 

9. Certification Programs and Financing Programs for Green Building
   
   How can you build green and save money? What are the most efficient ways to finance green projects? How and why do green projects get certified and what are some of the options? From homes to schools, commercial buildings to neighborhoods,
   this session offers a look at various rating systems including LEED, Green Point Rating, and California Green Builder programs as well as non-rating system resources for homeowners, designers, and contractors such as ReGreen, Savings By Design, and GoSolar California. All the basic info to get your project started.
   
   Jeff Bricmont, Principal, Modern Earth Finance;
   Bonnie Montoya-May and Jon Dougal, U.S. Green Building Council – Inland Empire Chapter            
   
   
   BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS THEME:
   Learning and Creating: Community Based Initiative and Innovation
   
   

10. Local Governments: The Cornerstone of Green Progress and Development
    
    Vital for the overall success of green communities, city-wide green building programs are not only economically feasible, but profitable as well. Representatives and planners from Southwestern green cities will discuss various benefits and processes involved in their programs. An ideal session for politicians, government employees,and anyone who participates in community planning and development.
    
    Patrick Conlon, Director, Office of Energy Management, City of Palm Desert, CA;
    William M. Brown III, Sage West Consultants & The Climate Project, Taos, NM;
    Pamela Foxley, LEED AP and Leah Price, LEED AP, Environmental Planners, RBF Consulting, Irvine, CA
    

11. Help is Out There: The Green Toolkit for Governments and Businesses
    
    It may not be as expensive as you think to get started greening your business
    or government. Learn the expensive and the not so expensive ways to get started and what some current organizations and trade associations can do to help you. Get the most current info on programs, rebates, grants, and incentives that are designed to encourage green living and building. This session is recommended as a continuation of the previous Breakout Session.
    
    Cynthia Kurtz, Vice President, Sustainable Communities, The Planning Company
    David Jacot, Southern California Edison
    

12. The Outdoor Environment:  Opening Our Doors to Natural and Edible Landscapes
    
    Creating a relationship between our living and working environments and the outdoors often improves our health and productivity. Using basic permaculture techniques, you can provide much of your own sustenance through food, waste, water, and energy management. Also discover how we can create amazingly lush landscapes simply by maintaining and caring for the desert plants that already surround us.
    
    William H. Roley, PhD, Director, Permaculture Institute of Southern California;
    Robin Kobaly, Executive Director, Summertree Institute
    
    
13. Rethinking Our Relationship with Water     
    
    Explore cutting edge technologies and processes that focus on conserving, reusing, and purifying water. Hear from specialists on innovative water distribution and treatment techniques, and get ready to open your mind to methods that can cut water usage down to next to nothing. Is it possible? The future may be closer than we think. More...
    
    Martin Yoklic, Associate Research Scientist, Environmental Research Lab;
    Susan Longville, Director, Water Resources Institute, California State University San Bernardino
    Dave Mahaffey, Mahaffey I.T.I.
    
    
14. Conservation Planning for Open Space Preservation
    
    Conservation planning, land use planning, and community planning can overlap on a regional scale to conserve habitats and preserve what communities value about the places they live and work. Regional possibilities become “greater than the sum of the parts” when local governments and agencies collaborate on planning for mutual benefits. This session brings together a panel with experience in Conservation Planning to dialogue on how to best implement open space preservation in ways that benefit all parts of our communities.
    
    Moderated by Stephanie J. Weigel, Regional Land Use Planner, Sonoran Institute
    Jim Sullivan, GIS Program Director, CVAG
    
    
    WORKSHOP THEME:
    Living Green on a Daily Basis
    
    
    
15. Green Living Workshop (3 hours)
    
    For those interested in learning how to incorporate fundamental green concepts and processes in their daily lives, the Conference will include a 3 hour intensive workshop in practical, hands-on applications.  The Green Living Workshop is optional for all conference attendees, however, it is also available separately for the general public.
    
    Topics will include:

• Basic home improvement for energy efficiency
  Mike Reynolds, President, Board of Directors, Morongo Basin Council, BIA Baldy View Chapter
  
  
• Solar electric and hot water heating systems on a budget
  David Borland, Turtlefeather Centre
  
  
• How to make your own solar tracker
  Wade White
  
  
• Water use efficiency
  Jennifer Cusack, Hi-Desert Water District
  
  
• Achieving better health through green choices -
  Michelle Kou, RBF Consulting
  
  
• Affordable “night sky friendly” lighting options
  Bill Souder
  
  
• Current rebates and incentives
  Bonnie Montoya-May and Jon Dougal, U.S . Green Buiding Council, Inland Empire Chapter
  

Moderated by Nicholas Holmes, Ecological Designer / Builder

To register for the Green Living Workshop independent from the Eco-Conference, please call or send your request.