Approximately 400 people attended the second annual "Save Green Expo" at CrossRoads Institute in Galax on Saturday, September 17th.
The theme of this free event was
“Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle” and included talks and demonstrations of many ways to save money while also reducing use of fossil fuels and plastics (which are made from petroleum). Forty-six door prizes were given away, and Squealer’s Barbecue and Chestnut Creek Coffeehouse Caterers provided lunch options.
Highlights:
Visitors were greeted at the entrance by Virginia Tech’s award-winning hybrid car and beautiful plants from Sparta Landscaping Supply, whose owner Gary Halsey gave a talk on how to make your own compost and improve your soil with things we usually put in the landfill.
Remy Spangle of the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative (based at James Madison University) set up life-size windmill blades in the lobby and showed how they were constructed for maximum efficiency. This was a highlight of the day, as Remy spoke about siting principles for wind energy and also led a captivating workshop for children to teach them the basics of wind energy. See more at
http://vwec.cisat.jmu.edu/index.html.
Wytheville Community College’s Rhonda Keen promoted WCC’s Construction Technology Programs, including the Solar Installer Certificate and Alternative Energy Diploma, both available here in Galax at the Crossroads Institute. For more information, go to
http://www.wc.cc.va.us/docs/WCC_Catalog_2011-2012.pdf#page=48.
Todd Melesco of New River Concrete (Main Street, Independence) displayed samples of his artistic countertops, which incorporate local river stones in their design. See more at
http://www.newriverconcretecountertops.com/
Chris and Maddie Ecker of Fancy Gap displayed pictures of their monolithic dome house and data indicating how energy-efficient it is, compared to a traditional ranch-style home. For a photo tour of their unique and beautiful home, go to
http://www.monolithic.com/stories/practical-universal-design-ideas-for-the-dome-home-builder/photos.
A parade of children in their handmade hats was a highlight of the day, as they marched around and through the exhibits. The children’s area was a hotbed of creativity and fun throughout the day, thanks to volunteers from Chestnut Creek School of the Arts.
The
New River Center for Energy Research & Training in Christiansburg demonstrated how they teach “whole-house” energy planning for maximum efficiency and offer certification that vastly improves employment prospects in today’s economy. Visit them at
http://www.nrcert.org.
Architect Fred Oesch of Oesch Environmental Design in Schuyler, VA, captivated the audience with his artistic and innovative home designs incorporating environmental principles. See his projects at
http://www.nrcert.org.
Ed Ricci, owner of Energy Management Services in Christiansburg spoke about options to reduce energy costs by using geothermal heat pumps and water furnaces. He works directly with homeowners to meet their needs at a price that can fit into their budget. Learn more at
http://www.energymanagementhvac.com/id1.html.
Renewable Engineered Systems’ Bryan Brown of Martinsville demonstrated how he works with homeowners to help them invest in wind, solar and LED technology in an affordable way, taking advantage of federal and state incentives. If you are interested, see more at
http://www.r-e-s.biz/.
Arwen Cayton explained and showed pictures of Cranberry Acres, her family farm on just one acre of land in Woodlawn. Her message is that anyone with a yard or any piece of land can produce at least some of their own food, with proper planning and maintenance. See her profile and her homemade clothing designs at
http://www.etsy.com/people/CranberryAcre.
These and many other speakers and exhibits made this an exciting and successful event.
Watch the Gazette next summer for information on the 2012 Save Green Expo.
Grayson LandCare is a nonprofit 501c3 grassroots organization working to improve the economy, protect our natural resources, and preserve our local culture.
Further information is available at
www.GraysonLandCare.org.
