January 28, 2020
Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet
Speaker: Steven Feit, attorney with the Center for International Law (CIEL)
View Recording of Full Presentation (including slides and Q&A)
Additional resources:
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (Senators Udall and Lowenthal) – currently evolving, this link will get you started!
The Plastic Atlas good resource! mentioned in Q&A
October 29, 2019
MAREA Brings Solar Home Tour to TEK Park
Speaker: Eight local home owners share their experiences with deciding to go solar — lineup includes an off grid home with battery backup, a system designed and built by the owner, performance data and findings, glitches (lessons learned!), simple system working just fine, a manual array tilt option, and of course considerations like electric cars, energy efficiency, and plenty of Q&A!
Download (slides only): Solar Tour at TEK Park – all Slides – Oct 29, 2019
View Recording of Full Presentation (including slides and Q&A)
September 24, 2019
DR. MICHAEL MANN – A Return To The Madhouse: Climate Change Denial in the Age of Trump
Speaker: Dr. Michael Mann
View Recording of Full Presentation (including slides and Q&A)
April 30, 2019
Hemp in Pennsylvania–Past, Present and a Sustainable Future
Speakers: Erica McBride Stark and Les Stark
Download Erica McBride Stark’s Presentation
Download Les Stark’s Presentation
March 26, 2019
Addressing climate change: An interdisciplinary challenge
Speaker: Dr. Kathy Straub
Download the presentation
February 26, 2019
Electric Vehicles are our future, today!
Speaker: John McVicker
Download the presentation
October 30, 2018
Home electricity use, even when you're sleeping or away! Surprising news and info
Multiple speakers! If you have any questions, let us know at hello@themarea.org. Thanks!
September 25, 2018
Power Up Gambia! The power of solar to improve healthcare
Speakers: Lynn McConville, Power Up Gambia Executive Director, and Celentano, Advisory Board Member (and solar expert)
Download the presentation
August 28, 2018
Regenerative Agriculture is Solar-Powered Food Production via Soil Biology
Speaker: Dr. Kris Nichols
Presentation, additional references and thank you note with contact info, all listed below. (Thanks Dr. Nichols!)
Presentation, August 2018
Thank You, with contact info
Article: “The contentious nature of soil organic matter”
Article: “Soil networks become more connected and take up more carbon as nature restoration progresses”
July 31, 2018
Has China killed recycling? Are my efforts still worth it?
Speaker: Samantha Wittchen, iSprings Associates
Download the presentation: Has China Killed Recycling – July 2018
June 26, 2018
Plants for Pollinators
Speaker: Joan DeCesar, Penn State Master Gardener
Download the presentation: Plants for Pollinators June 2018
May 29, 2018
UltraBattery Head-to-Head in Partial State of Charge
John Buchanan, Director of North American Business Development & Services for Ecoult, a subsidiary of East Penn Manufacturing
john.buchanan@ecoult.com
April 24, 2018
We're Talking Solar
For additional information, please see Go Solar, Resources
February 27, 2018
The Evolving Energy Landscape: New York State’s Reforming Energy Vision
Becky Wigenroth, Technical Leader, Principal, from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
Wingenroth Presentation Feb 2018
January 30, 2018
The Trial of the Century
The Trial of the CenturySpeaker: Sophie Kivlehan, James Hanson granddaughter
Sophie Kivlehan Talk
October 31, 2017
New SunShot Project enables High-Density Grid Integration of Pennsylvania Solar
Nicole Lacouve, PPL Electric, Research and Development Engineer
New DOE SunShot pilot project will use smart grid technology to connect hundreds of new Pennsylvania solar installations to grid by 2020. In January of this year, PPL won a DOE SunShot award of more than $3 million as part of a program to support the integration of solar energy into the nation’s electric grid. PPL’s project is one of thirteen projects selected from across the country for funding by the Enabling Extreme Real-Time Grid Integration of Solar Energy (ENERGISE) program. Download Nicole Lacouve PPL Presentation Oct 31 2017
May 30, 2017
MAREA Solar Hot Water Project Gives to Community
MAREA is delighted to announce that our years-long project to install a solar thermal hot water system at the Opportunity House in Reading, is now complete! The large system is up and running, supporting the Opportunity House with domestic hot water for showers, cooking and childcare services provided to those in need.Opp House Presentation by Tom Green, PE
April 25, 2017
Seven Years Off the Grid
Wes and Linda Loder, local off-grid homeowners
A decision to live off-the-grid has proved “successful and satisfactory” is a beautiful understatement for this lovely home that inspires all who visit. The Loders will talk about what living off grid involves, and how they manage their own electrical, water and climate control needs in a minimal-fossil-fuel setting. Download Aug 25 2017 Wes Loder presentation
October 25, 2016
Sealing the Rim Joist
Speaker: Phil Jones
Download the presentation
June 28, 2016
A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall (thanks Bob Dylan!)
Speaker: Kurt Reinhart
Download the presentation
May 31, 2016
Going Solar! Navigating the options for bringing clean energy to your home
Speaker: Vera Cole
Penn State Energy and Sustainability Policy
Download the presentation
April 26, 2016
Batteries and Solar Electricity
Speaker: Bill Hennessy, Berks Solar
Download the presentation
March 29, 2016
Energy Conservation through Behavior Change -- (NORESCO)
Speaker: Scott Finlinson PhD & Samantha Trbovich
Download the presentation
SPARK:
Kaili Soisson ksois195@live.kutztown.edu
Natalie Hazen nhaze696@live.kutztown.edu
NORESCO:
Three Robinson Plaza, Suite 330, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
www.noresco.com/behavior | 740.707.3330
Scott Finlinson, PhD, Manager, Green Operations
sfinlinson@noresco.com | 412.788.4044 x2204
Samantha J. Trbovich, M.B.A., Program Specialist, Green Operations
strbovich@noresco.com | 412.443.5850
October 27, 2015
Vera Cole
MAREA Intro
Download Vera’s Presentation
Ben Bowers
Hempcrete: A carbon friendly and sustainable building option
Download Ben’s Presentation
Larry Moyer
Virtual Net Metering:
Significance for rural customers and PPL’s “change of heart” related to “non-generational load” in personal case
Download Larry’s Presentation
Kurt Reinhart
Heat Pump Water Heaters:
A way to save 2/3 of the energy from the second largest electric energy consumer in your home
Download Kurt’s Presentation
Marie North
Passive Solar Features & Retrofit Possibilities:
Passive home owner and Certified Sustainable Building Adviser
Download Marie’s Presentation
Phil Jones
Bathroom Exhaust fans:
Reduce energy use by 90% and cut through that thick shower fog
Download Phil’s Presentation
July 28, 2015
Aquion Energy’s Sustainable “Saltwater” AHI Batteries
Speaker: Chris Rigatti, Product Manager
Download the presentation
May 26, 2015
Bumblebees in America: Now You See Them, Now You Don’t
Speaker: Jordanna Sprayberry, PhD
Assoc. Professor of Biology & Neuroscience Muhlenberg College
To learn more and find out what you can do to help:
June 30, 2015
Making a World of Difference: Cooking with the Sun
Speaker: Paul Munsen
SUN OVENS International
Download the presentation
March 31, 2015
Distributed Energy Resources Enabled by the Smart Grid -- Opportunities in PJM’s Markets
Speaker: Susan Covino
Senior Consultant for Emerging Markets at PJM
Download the presentation
February 24, 2015
Local Homeowners’ Long Road to Net Zero Pays Off Net-zero House: A house that produces as much energy as it uses. Imagine that!
Kurt Reinhart
Solar Calculations(pdf)
solar Calculations(xls)
Contractor Contact Information
October 28, 2014
Jessica Smith and Ron Mixell
VCharge Electric Thermal Storage, PPL Project in East Stroudsburg PA
Turning Residential Electric Heaters into a Grid Asset:
A residential transactive energy application in Pennsylvania
January 28, 2014
The Why and Wherefore of Biogas Systems: Natural Gas without Fracking
Speaker: Bob Hamburg
Director, Omega-Alpha Recycling Systems, Glenside, PA
Download the presentation
October 29, 2013
Speaker: Eric W. Stein, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Management Science and Information Systems, Penn State
Former Director of New Ventures and Entrepreneurial Studies, Penn State
Designing and Operating a Sustainable Hydroponic Food System:
Lessons from the Field
Download the Presentation
September 24, 2013
Shopping for Clean Electricity
Speaker: Christina Simeone
Penn Future, Energy Center Director
Download the presentation
Answers to questions asked at the meeting:
Q: Is Washington Gas Energy Services (WGES) licensed by the PA Public Utility Commission (PUC)?
A: Yes. A list of licensed electric generation suppliers is available here, and WGES is included.
Q: Is there an entity that rates the performance of electric generation suppliers?
A: I have not been able to locate such an entity. However, the PUC encourages consumers to call them if they are having problems. Here is a copy of a recent PUC press release on electric generation suppliers and info about how to contact the PUC about concerns.
August 27, 2013
Anything with a Cord! Electronics Recycling
Speaker: Dave Peterson
ECOvanta
April 30, 2013
Speaker: Dr. Michael Mann
Nobel Prize contributor, author The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars
Download the presentation
March 26, 2013
Robyn Jasko, knowledgeable and fun local-foods activist, community garden starter, author and entrepreneur.
Homesweet Homegrown:
How to Grow, Make and Store Food, No Matter Where You Live
In 2009, Robyn cofounded goindie.com, an organization and website that supports sustainable lifestyles, homesteading, eating well, and living local. Check out
her blog on the site and you’ll see headlines like “save the kales”, a review of “diy-craftyness” in the Kutztown area, and an interview with founder of Victory Garden for Tomorrow.
Phil Jones of EMS Environmental
A Little Light Conversation (Bulbs, Dimmers and Solar LEDs):
a brief historical perspective to put current lighting technology in context and then walked us through lamp technologies (incandescent, fluorescent, CFLs, halogen and LEDs) and their pros and cons.
Download the Presentation
Jason Jennings, Chris Salvestrini and Amy Miller of Lutron
Benefits of lighting control, including why dim?, methods of lighting control, lighting control challenges and applications of lighting control.
Download the Presentation
Don Brown, of Illuminations Inc., present a case study (with good pictures!) of a project recently completed at Kutztown University that uses solar LED lighting for a remote commuter parking lot.
Download the Presentation
January 29, 2013
Trash Talking: Allentown's exemplary efforts in recycling
Speaker: Ann Saurman
Recycling & Solid Waste for the City of Allentown
Ann Saurman, Manager of the award-winning Bureau of Recycling & Solid Waste for the City of Allentown, gave an excellent and well-attended talk.
Thanks Ann, we loved it!
During her talk, Ann also mentioned a few very useful links and she kindly offered to let us make her presentation available.
- Earth911.com Just enter your location to find where and how to recycle near you, works great!
- Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center works to develop and expand recycling markets in Pennsylvania, site is packed with terrific resources