We will be fostering and promoting green initiatives, projects, products , and services of businesses and organizations in our region, at this event and others throughout the rest of the year. Since 2008 our Monday Nite green events have been very well received . We've already partnered with Utica Monday Nite again this summer and look forward to partnering with other companies and organizations in the future. Please contact Richard Morris (event organizer) at 724-6364 or envexpo@dreamscape.com to get involved and for further information about up coming events.
7/25 : Straw Bale Energy Efficient House Tour located at 2972 Austin Road, Clinton, NY.. Owner and designer Mary Ellen Blakey will conduct the tour of the only straw bale house in Oneida County. Ms. Blakey incorporated natural building materials and techniques into this unique structure. Both active and passive solar energy are used in addition, to a wood stove backup to keep total utility costs at around $500 for the year. This is one home owner’s answer to living frugally and reducing her environmental footprint.
Come tour the first straw bale house in Oneida County! This home was owner designed and built using straw bale and natural building materials and techniques. This house is powered by solar photovoltaic panels , which generate all of the electrical needs for this home. In the winter it is heated by passive solar heat with a wood stove back-up. The south facing windows utilize the heat from the sun to warm the home in the cold months. In the summer, thermal mass helps to keep it cool. Sun is prevented from coming through the windows during the warm months of the year by the roof overhang. Many of the features of this home use recycled and reused materials, such as old bowling alley lanes re-crafted as kitchen counters. This is one home owner’s answer to living frugally and reducing her environmental footprint.
Costs to run the house:
Electric bill $-0-
Water from well on property
Septic system
No fuel oil
No expense for air conditioning
Total utility cost, including heat, to run this home is $500 per year.
Directions :
Take 12B through Clinton. After you pass through Franklin Springs, take left on Dugway Road. Take left on Lombard across second bridge(Dugway goes to the right), then left on Austin Road. House in on left about ˝ mile on Austin.
8/1 : Orion Natural Gas and Hybrid Bus Production Plant Tour located at 165 Base Road, Oriskany. The plant is part of Daimler Buses North America , which is the leading commercial bus company in North America.
The production facility in Oriskany, NY provides the system integration and final assembly of the Orion transit buses. The bus structure is shipped from the Mississauga, Ontario Canada plant to the Oriskany, NY plant where seating, engines, transmissions, axles, electrical heating, air conditioning systems and other final finish components are installed.
Tours will be led by the Manager of Manufacturing Engineering, Bob Frank. The tour will include a walk through of the production line based in 2 separate buildings onsite. Building 2 is where the frame, after being shipped from the Mississauga, ON plant, enters the production line in Oriskany. This building houses the vehicle assembly line, axle build-up, AC installation, electric harness build-up, and component sub assembly areas. Building 3 houses the final vehicle assembly line and also includes paint booths, vehicle wash bays, water test bay, and maintenance pits.
Daimler has been very gracious to open their facilities for this tour. They request that all visitors wear close toed shoes and foot apparel. No sandals. In addition, cameras and/or other video recording equipment will not be allowed. Daimler and Green Local 175 thank you in advance for your cooperation.
6/27 : Earthquakes & Nuclear Power Plant Safety in New York State This presentation will take place in the Upstairs Gallery at the Utica Public Library, 303 Genesee St.. Two Utica College Geology professors will tell the how, what, where, and why of earthquakes. Learn about the different causes of earthquakes and the damage they create.
Professors Herman Muskatt and Adam Shoonmaker will also discuss the vulnerability of nuclear power plants in New York State to earthquakes . Special focus will be on those just upwind of our area. The public will have an opportunity after the presentation to ask questions and to voice their opinions.
7/11 : Solar Installation at La Galerie Rouge Tour, 8240 Seneca Turnpike (Route 5), Clinton, NY.. La Galerie Rouge recently installed a 5.3 kilowatt photovoltaic system consisting of 22 solar panels, which will produce enough power to cover 100% of their electrical usage. Rick and Joanne Bianco, owners of La Galerie Rouge, see solar panels as a viable energy choice here in the Mohawk Valley. This system also reduces their "carbon footprint" which is one of the primary reasons for this installation. On July 11th, starting at 6:30pm , we will be showing how the PV System works and the benefits of net metering. Literature and advice will be available for those interested in learning , which programs are available and possibly doing the same for their home or business.
La Galerie Rouge is located at 8240 Seneca Turnpike (route 5), Clinton, NY. We are approximately a 1/2 mile west of J-Kay Lumber.
7/18 : Old Path Farm Tour at 9035 Grange Hill Road, New Hartford. This small - scale farm produces, local fresh produce and pastured eggs without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. It is part of the local food movement and embraces Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as a way to provide healthy affordable food, to people in our area. Owner Nancy Grove and Pete Bianco will be our tour guides , as well as explain the significance of such terms as CSA and Certified Organic. The tour will provide an aesthetically pleasing experience , which may start you down the road to a healthier lifestyle.
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