Presentations

Please note that all presentations (including those that were provided on the USB) are provided below.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Federal Partnerships for Sustainability

This session will include several examples of tribes working with Federal and other partners to extend their ability to implement long-term, comprehensive community sustainability. Winners of HUD community challenge planning grant and regional planning grants describe their efforts create regional, community sustainability plans that will give voice to community needs and wishes over the coming generations. Organizations offering examples include the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation and the Oyate Omniciye - Oglala Lakota Plan, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians and Antithesis Research, among others.

Federal Panel Discussion on Financing Energy Efficiency and Alternative Energy Projects

This panel brings together US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of the Interior (DOI), in a discussion of available funding sources for renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives for tribes and tribal organizations. Types of programs and funding may include, but not be limited to, HUD's Sustainable Housing and Communities programs, HUD Energy Innovation fund, Title VI Loan Guarantee, Energy Star bulk equipment purchasing, HUD Section 3 program, renewable energy certificates, DOI Indian Loan Guarantee program and grant program to evaluate energy and mineral potential, and USDA Rural Development programs and Electric and Business Programs.

Best Practices

The session features the 2011 Greener Homes National Summit award winners describing their sustainable projects. Citizen Potawatomi Nation is housing elders in 10 new duplex units featuring geothermal heating, solar panels, and Energy Star appliances. The Cook Inlet Housing Authority has found that housing investment has been a catalyst for change in Anchorage's Mountain View neighborhood. The Kalispel Tribe of Indians describes the six new LEED certified homes in the Honeysuckle neighborhood. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi is implementing a comprehensive master plan which builds sustainability into each element. Isleta Pueblo is not only building energy efficient housing, but manufacturing the alternative building materials - Lava Blocks - too! The Sicangu Wicoti Awanyakapi (Rosebud) Tribe has renovated 100 housing units to capture the free energy of the sun with solar panels.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Alternative Building Strategies

Alternative methods of construction can provide a greener option for housing than conventional systems can. These methods can include advanced framing for wood frame, Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS), aerated concrete, Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), adobe, and straw bale. These kinds of systems can provide much greater energy efficiencies, greater durability, and, depending on the region, be locally sourced. Not all methods are new; sustainability can also be enhanced by incorporating cultural traditions. In the context of crises in climate, energy, housing, and unemployment, our sustainability will depend on our ability to find forwardthinking solutions; we can no longer support a one-size-fit-all approach. Speakers from Alaska’s Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCRHC), Intertribal Council on Utility Policy (Intertribal COUP) with GreenWeaver, Inc., and Navajo FlexCrete will offer examples.

Biomass & Geothermal

This session will offer an overview of biomass and geothermal as heat or renewable energy sources. Biomass—a range of renewable organic matter (agricultural crops and residue, animal waste, aquatic plants and elements of municipal and industrial wastes, and wood and wood waste)—accounts for the majority of the renewable energy used in the United States. Geothermal refers to either harnessing heat from the earth for use as a heat source, or at high temperatures, creating electricity. Attendees will learn how their tribe can explore their own potential in these two areas and hear about tribal examples.

    No PowerPoint available

Developing Sustainable Tribal Communities

Sustainability can mean different things to different communities. Examples in this session will highlight how tribal communities are successfully pursuing their own visions of sustainability. The Puyallup Tribe will provide an overview of their energy efficiency and conservation strategy, followed by the presentation of the sustainable construction methodologies of the NE Longhouse project, on target to be LEEDTM Platinum certified. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi will discuss their master plan which includes energy efficiency and conservation in housing unit design and appliances, sustainable water management and landscaping, and incorporation of cultural traditions. Tagiugmiullu Nunamiullu Housing Authority will describe some of its extremely energy-, cost- and fuel-efficient prototype housing, designed with input of community members.

Economic Development and Green Collar Training/Employment

Even in this weak economic period, there are reports that residential solar installations are up. Tribes that can train their members in renewable energy careers can take advantage of this new field. Tribes that can generate their own renewable energy can ride out energy cost volatility or even sell energy back to local grids.

Energy Efficiency Improvements in Existing Buildings

Existing buildings represent our greatest untapped opportunity for reducing energy use and the carbon footprint. Retrofits can include upgrading of old energy inefficient equipment, appliances, lighting; and searching out and sealing leaky building envelopes.

Funding Sources

Speakers from the USDA, DOE, and a local power utility will provide additional ideas on grants, loans, and other strategies for funding renewable energy, sustainable construction, or renewable energy job training programs.


Green Building Standards

Trying to make sense of LEEDTM, NGBSTM, Energy Star, and Green Communities? This session will cover the pros and cons of each of these residential green building programs as it relates to the potential energy efficiency and program management. It will also have an informative discussion to help participants have a clearer distinction of the various choices available for doing a green residential project. The session will include a tribal case study.

Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality brought on by smoke or smoking, radon, mold and moisture conditions, poor ventilation, and other means can harm health, decrease comfort, and cause building materials to deteriorate. This session features an overview of activities and initiatives that support tribes and tribal capability development in HUD’s Office of Healthy and Lead Free Homes and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. The Alaska Healthy Homes Initiative provides a State and tribal perspective.

Leveraged Financing for Green Development

Whether building a single family home or a multiunit development, a single funding source isn’t enough to get it done. Jeff Judd with the Cook Inlet Housing Authority and Monica Hunger from the Sicangu Wicoti Awanyakapi Corporation will discuss the importance of using grant funds to leverage additional resources—perhaps as much as nine times over—and offer real-life examples. Learn why, for certain projects, some sources of funds may be worth the chase and others not.

Net Zero Energy Buildings and Passivhaus

To help mitigate climate change and high fossil fuel energy consumption and costs, incremental approaches to energy savings are not enough. Net zero energy and Passivhaus buildings offer a viable approach to reduce energy consumption and costs. Equinox House is a net zero solar energy harvested home. (Equinox House is grid tied and does pull some electricity from the grid). The presentation will describe building design characteristics and energy required; comfort, indoor air quality, energy usage, and renewable energy supply findings; and building, installation, and operational costs. The Passivhaus (passive house) approach is the world’s most aggressive, proven method to radical energy reduction, durability, superior indoor air quality, and thermal comfort by design. This session will highlight the requirements of the Passivhaus standard and show examples of both new and retrofit projects in the North American context.

Non-Governmental Organization Panel: Developing Sustainable Communities and Alternative Energy Projects

Speakers will describe types of training, technical assistance, and funding resources and strategies available through non-governmental avenues for tribes and tribal organizations to develop sustainable communities and alternative energy projects.

Sustainable Water Management Systems

Appropriate conservation and management of water is key to any sustainable development effort. How can this be done cost effectively? What are the long- and short-term benefits of different strategies? How do strategies vary at the unit, building and site, and community level? This session will discuss water use reduction, rainwater and grey water capture/storage and reuse, and storm water management using strategies such as low-water fixtures, grey water re-use for toilet flushing, rain gardens, pervious paving options, storm water recapture and recharge of the water table, green roofs, rainwater storage and reuse systems, xeriscaping, and drip irrigation. Attendees will also learn about the EPA’s WaterSense program: It is both a label for products and services, and an information resource to help people use water more efficiently. WaterSense labeled homes can save a family of four as much as 50,000 gallons of water per year and up to $600 annually on utility bills compared to a typical home.

Tribal Colleges Sustainable Design and Development

The session will be a panel discussion of tribal college and university administrators and faculty who have been leaders in the development of community facilities utilizing sustainable design, technologies, and materials. The session will focus on design and development of the campus of the Turtle Mountain College in North Dakota; the analysis of the carbon footprint and remedial strategies of the College of Menominee Nation in Wisconsin; and the delivery of building trades curriculum promoting sustainable principles at Leech Lake Tribal College in Minnesota.

Tribal Focus Group: What's Keeping You from Going Green?

The sustainable construction in Native communities initiative invites tribes to discuss obstacles that stop tribes from building sustainability into their construction or retrofit projects, and communities. Share your story or perspective.

Tribal Weatherization Programs and Opportunities & Energy Audits

The greatest opportunities for inexpensively increasing comfort and energy efficiency lie in weatherization projects. Energy audits, often subsidized by utility companies, can help determine some of the most effective fixes or to test improved efficiency after weatherization. This session features the State of Alaska Weatherization Program as administered by tribally designated housing entities, including the Aleutian Housing Authority.

Wind & Solar Energy

Many tribes are located in regions that have abundant wind and sun. These renewable energy technologies work well to minimally impact the environment, harmonize well with nature, and can complement Native American traditional values. The DOE and Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) - Tribal Energy Program, and Intertribal COUP will provide an overview of current tribal renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Learn about current tribal solar and wind residential installations.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Alternative Building Strategies

Alternative methods of construction can provide a greener option for housing than conventional systems can. These methods can include advanced framing for wood frame, Structural Insulated Panel Systems (SIPS), aerated concrete, Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), adobe, and straw bale. These kinds of systems can provide much greater energy efficiencies, greater durability, and, depending on the region, be locally sourced. Not all methods are new; sustainability can also be enhanced by incorporating cultural traditions. In the context of crises in climate, energy, housing, and unemployment, our sustainability will depend on our ability to find forwardthinking solutions; we can no longer support a one-size-fit-all approach. Speakers from Alaska’s CCRHC, Intertribal COUP with GreenWeaver, Inc., and Navajo FlexCrete will offer examples.

Alternative Housing or Community Facilities

The challenge to create more sustainable housing in Native communities requires moving beyond greener materials for traditional developments; new paradigms, new typologies, and new approaches are needed that are a better fit with the culture, climate, and specific needs of communities. This session will begin to explore some of these alternatives, including supportive housing models, multi-generational housing/communities, mixed-use and mixed-income housing, and culturally-specific housing types. Alternatives to the single-family, single-use subdivisions will be presented and discussed.

Determining the Cost Effectiveness of Residential Energy Efficiency, Energy Conservation, and Renewable Energy

This workshop will instruct participants on simulation modeling of residential energy. A spreadsheet model (Excel) will be distributed to participants. Impact of wall and roof insulation, infiltration, windows, foundations, solar energy collection, and other factors will be examined. Participants should bring laptop computers and in order to develop house models, and examine the impact of building features on energy and cost.

Disaster Mitigation

This session will discuss planning steps that tribal communities can take to lessen the often devastating effects of natural disasters.



For more information contact Emily Sprawls of FirstPic, Inc.
at 202.393.6400 or esprawls@firstpic.org

Department of Housing and Urban Development
Office of Native American Programs

© 2010 FirstPic, Inc.