Engineering Goes Green on March 17
Engineering Unplugged, the premier and first-of-its-kind green conference in Hampton Roads, will be held Tuesday, March 17 at Old Dominion University.
Presented by ODU's Professional Development Center, the conference will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Ted Constant Convocation Center on the ODU Norfolk Campus.
Expected to draw more than 500 attendees, Engineering Unplugged is a state-wide effort to inform business and industry about green methodologies that provide a return on investment and sustain our environment.
Stephen Walz, Director of the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, states, "This conference is in direct alignment with Governor Kaine's yearlong initiative, Renew Virginia. We applaud the leadership of the PDC in organizing this important day and the generosity of its many sponsors in making it possible. The Commonwealth is determined to remain among our nation's top sustainable energy states and home to legions of forward-thinking individuals and enterprises that believe in the power of going green."
Designed to enlighten newcomers as well as engage those with an advanced understanding of green principles as applied to Building, Manufacturing and Research, the day offers a comprehensive curriculum of lectures from industry experts, tours, demonstrations, case studies and networking opportunities. Visit www.EngineeringUnplugged.com for the agenda.
Clair Dorsey, director of the PDC, says, "Engineering Unplugged is structured around three educational tracts - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Energy Conservation and Future Initiatives - and will present information appealing to a variety of audiences - architects, engineers, designers, construction specialists, manufacturers, facility managers, military personnel, researchers and other professionals."
Educational opportunities range from The Basics of LEED, to sustainable engineering and Energy Star Basics to results of the Virginia Climate Change Commission's Study.
Speakers include experts from The Green Building Council - the regulators of
LEED Certification, The American Society of Heating, the United States
Department of Energy; the Hampton Roads Green Building Council; the
Department of Environmental Quality; and professors from ODU and the University of Virginia.
Tours of two LEED Certified buildings - ODU's Engineering and Computational Sciences Building and Norfolk State's Robinson Technology Building (retrofitted) - will demonstrate real-world applications on how green practices can be used in new construction and in existing structures.
Additionally, Engineering Unplugged will provide green building/ manufacturing/research professionals new tools to:
-Audit existing structures and identify ways to improve the overall "envelope" to reduce potential waste through energy loss and save money.
-Understand how going green will influence the footprint of how every building in the future will be designed and built.
-Examine additional avenues for future energy opportunities in fields such as biodiesel technology.
-Identify areas where unknown energy and consumption wastes cost companies big money in existing structures.
- Provide visionaries information about the growth opportunities of adding green to the mix of products and services offered by mainstream businesses.
- Prepare for changes in professional standards and building practices.
-Supply half of the professional development hours needed to renew a Professional Engineering License in 2010, (8 CEU's earned).
-Understand the full impact of "green" and how it is now often mandated by law.
-Learn about real-world, how-to approaches to "going green" and saving green in business today and how to embrace future initiatives.
"We're not only hoping to educate, but to create a business environment where attendees can build a network of like-minded professionals to generate ideas on creating cutting-edge innovation that will be good for the economy of Virginia and beneficial to the environment as a whole," says Dorsey.
Engineering Unplugged is $195 from now until March 3rd, $295 after March 3rd, and $495 the day of the event. Group discounts for three or more are available. To register go to www.engineeringunplugged or call 757-683-5479.
The Professional Development Center is the continuing education arm of the Frank Batten College of Engineering and Technology at Old Dominion University, providing non-credit classes and exam prep courses for engineers; programs such as Lean Six Sigma for manufacturing and industry; and architecture and design courses through outside vendors. Visit www.vatpdc.com/pdc and www.EngineeringUnplugged.com for more information.
Old Dominion University is Virginia's forward-focused, public doctoral research university. Its entrepreneurial approach to problem-solving drives cutting-edge research, eminent scholarship, and strategic partnerships with government, business, industry, organizations, and the arts. Visit www.odu.edu.