The Renewable Energy Fair has evolved into the Energy Innovation Fair. For more information please visit - www.EnergyInnovationFair.ca
2019 Renewable Energy Fair + Workshops
Building on the success of the springtime EcoLiving Fair + Workshops, the Renewable Energy Fair + Workshops was made possible with funding from Alberta Environment and Parks' "Community Environmental Action" grant program!
The event is proudly hosted by RDC Green Campus and ReThink Red Deer.
2019's event was held on Saturday, October 26 from 10am to 5pm at Red Deer College - Cenovus Learning Common (room 2909)
General entry and parking is free. Workshops are $5ea. at the event desk.
AGENDA
10am to 12pm - Energy Round Table - welcome and special presentations facilitated by Danielle Klooster of Catapult Entrepreneurs on renewable energy development opportunities in Central Alberta including hydrogen transportation, lithium manufacturing, geothermal conversion of oil and gas wells, Electric Vehicle (EV) mobility, and Community Renewable Energy projects. Presentations followed by an interactive panel discussion and audience Q&A.
12pm - 1pm - Marketplace of exhibitors and special displays including Electric Vehicles, e-bikes, and tours of the Red Deer College's Alternative Energy Innovation Lab!
1pm - 5pm - Marketplace of exhibitors and special displays plus hourly Workshops ($5ea. - topics detailed here) and 1/2hr coaching sessions for renewable energy business opportunities in Central Alberta
Confirmed Exhibitors include:
- Sol Invictus Energy Services Ltd.
- Sunfind Solar
- Municipal Climate Change Action Centre
- GoElectric Calgary
- Kerry Wood Nature Centre
- CBI Solar
- PHASE 3 Electric (Solar)
- Exposure Solar
- Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate
- The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary
- RDC School of Continuing Education
Attractions include an Electric Vehicle showcase, e-bike(s), and a repair cafe to celebrate National Waste Reduction Week. More TBA!
About the Fair:
Energy is on everyone's minds these days. And the Government of Alberta had ambitions to dramatically increase its electricity production of renewable sources by 2030 in support of a sustainable economy. Closer to home, ReThink Red Deer is working alongside the Red Deer College Green Campus Initiative to engage Albertans by taking the idea of sustainable living from an idea, to meaningful conversation and skill building, to an inspiring reality. In 2017, ReThink Red Deer secured a substantial grant from Alberta Environment and Parks through the Community Environmental Action program. This grant program was renewed in 2019 and is intended to improve climate literacy of Albertans with the ultimate goal of reducing our collective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while amplifying the economic opportunities this presents. Among ReThink Red Deer’s activities supporting this program are the enhancement of its working relationship with RDC Green Campus and the establishment of a Renewable Energy Fair that builds upon the success of the Pathways to Sustainability conference (2011) and the annual EcoLiving Fair and Workshops (held annually since 2011); both held at RDC. We have also hosted the fifth Energy Futures Roadshow with The Natural Step Canada and plan to incorporate a follow up session during the morning session of the Fair.
This annual event is a fundraiser for ReThink Red Deer and gives Red Deer College the opportunity to engage its students and stakeholders while showcasing its Green Campus initiatives - specifically, the Alternative Energy Innovation Lab, MakerSpace, Trades Programs, and the College’s Green Energy Master Plan including their Net-Zero Campus Energy ambitions. Attendees have the opportunity to learn about renewable energy sources as well as green living choices. Attractions include keynote speaker(s), an expert panel discussion, special tours (Alternative Energy Innovation Lab, MakerSpace, Solar PV installations, etc.), an electric vehicle and bicycle showcase, a Repair Cafe, demonstrations, workshops, and a green business marketplace.
2018 Renewable Energy Fair + Workshops
Keynote Speaker - David Dodge
David is a producer with Green Energy Futures where he has created over 150 documentaries on Canada’s most inspiring clean energy leaders, projects, and policies. He has dedicated the past decade to researching climate change, energy, and renewable energy topics for radio, newspapers, and magazines. Prior to Green Energy Futures, David worked at the Canada Parks and Wilderness Society and Destination Conservation. As a Communications Director at the Pembina Institute, he developed an online media strategy for clean energy issues and helped design a multitude of reports including Greening the Grid, a landmark document demonstrating that Alberta will find great success in transitioning to clean electricity generation. David currently serves as the Chair of Energy Efficiency Alberta and as Co-Chair of the Energy Transition Committee for the City of Edmonton.
Keynote followed by "The Power Hour" Expert Panel Discussion with Q&A including:
- Red Deer College,
- The City of Red Deer, and
- Peavey Industries (Peavey Mart)
Electric Vehicle Showcase
Public Tours of the all new Alternative Energy Innovation Lab and Centre for Innovation In Manufacturing (12:30pm)
Workshops / Seminars - tickets $5 each at the door (1:30pm to 4:30pm):
- Learn about Combined Heat and Power Units (1:30pm - Alt Energy Lab)
Presenter: Evan Green and Abbas Ali Beg - ATCO
- Understanding Your Utility Bill (1:30pm - room 2905)
Presenter: Wayne Coristine - Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate
- Intro to Passive House Design: The Benchmark of Predictable Energy Efficiency (2:30pm - room 2906)
Presenters: Frank Crawford and Dustin Poole - Passive House Canada (Alberta)
- The Solar Lifestyle: from PV to EV (2:30pm - room 2905)
Presenters: Caleb Schmidt - Sunfind Solar Products, Carmen Christie-Bill (Tesla Model 3 owner)
Find out what solar PV owners making the move into owning Electric Vehicles (EV) have to say about the solar lifestyle... and learn from their experience so you can make the transition as sunny as possible!
- Alberta Residential & Commercial Solar Rebate Program - an overview (3:30pm)
Presenter: Jennifer D'Aoust - Energy Efficiency Alberta
Renewable Energy Marketplace and Demonstrations including:
- Kuby Renewable Energy LTD.
- Scott Subaru (Passive House Dealership)
- Black Creek Developments
- GoElectric Calgary
- Energy Efficiency Alberta
- ATCO (cogen unit)
- Passive House Canada (Alberta)
- Alberta Utilities Consumer Advocate
- Sol Invictus Energy Services
- Sunfind Solar Products
- IG Verifier - Green Bonds Verification
- Cap Solar
- Carbon Bite Innovations (CBI Solar)
- Eco-Growth Environmental Inc.
- EQUS REA LTD.
- Catapult Entrepreneurs
- Red Deer College Continuing Education
- Skills Canada Alberta
- Ecovision's Friends of the Greenhouse (FOG)
- The Root Cellar: ecoStore & Apothecary
- Central Alberta Maker Space Group / Red Deer Mini MakerFaire including a Repair Cafe (bring broken / damaged items and learn how to fix them with our volunteer repair experts)
PLUS a special Green Drinks Red Deer Social event (Friday, Oct 19)
About the event sponsors:
THE LONGEST GREENEST HIGHWAY PROJECT
The Sun Country Highway team set out on November 17, 2012 from St. John's, NL to demonstrate the longest network of free EV Charging Stations in the world. The 10,125 km project was completed in 35 days upon arrival in Victoria, BC while commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Trans Canada Highway and the 100th Anniversary of Thomas Wilby’s 1st Motor Car Tour Across Canada. The SCH Trans Canada Highway network, consists of over 80 free public access charging stations that are located at restaurants, hotels, tourist destinations, municipalities and various other sustainability focused businesses across Canada.
The SCH team chose an all electric Tesla Roadster due to showcase EV technology and organized media interviews at each charging station. This amazing project which was completed without the use of tax payer money to promote electric vehicles as a sustainable means of transportation and, as a key enabler of economic development opportunity.
Red Deer-based Peavey Industries Ltd., which operates Peavey Mart stores across Western Canada and MainStreet Hardware in Blackfalds, has installed electric car charging stations at its outlets in Red Deer, Blackfalds, Medicine Hat and Regina. The company has partnered with Sun Country Highway to install the chargers, which are available to users at no charge.
