Living & Building Green Expo

Expo Teaches Green Living

By:  Liz Yokubison

We all need to live a little greener to breathe greener.  But for many people, it’s hard to know where to start.  Sure, we can recycle at home, ride to work whenever possible and take our own bags to the grocery store.  But what else can we do?

To help solve this dilemma, Recycle Utah and the Park City Board of Realtors are sponsoring the second annual Living and Building Green Expo.  The expo, which is open to the public and includes over sixty vendors and nonprofits, will be held at the Canyons Grand Summit Hotel on October 17^th from 10am-3pm.

An outgrowth of Build Green Utah’s community outreach, the event is designed for “local builders, contractors, architects and people who want to be green and learn more.  It is very helpful for anyone who is thinking that energy conservation is a good idea or is looking for healthier living options,” says Insa Riepen, Executive Director of Recycle Utah.

For a minimal entry fee of $2 (children are free), attendees can learn about everything from geothermal heating and cooling systems to organic clothing and drought tolerant landscaping.  According to Chairperson, Tom Ward, “This is the showpiece of Park City’s Green Month.  With such a variety of vendors and nonprofits, it certainly is worth the price of admission.”

The event creates a venue for people to look, listen and talk to exhibitors, thereby educating themselves on how to be more earth-friendly.  “Green living means the personal choices that you make on a daily basis such as taking public transportation or using a low flow showerhead to conserve water,” says Ward.

A number of green living exhibitors will be available to answer questions and provide guidance.  Utah Moms for Clean Air will help address concerns about air quality and Mountain Trails Foundation will promote Park City’s trail system as a means to reduce our carbon footprint.  For a healthier environment inside the home, Five Step Carpet Care will showcase residue-free carpet and upholstery cleaning that uses a biodegradable process safe for kids and pets.  Thermwise and Energy Star will show how energy audits and ratings can help reduce gas and electric costs with a few simple strategies.  They will also educate consumers on tax credits and rebates when implementing green solutions.

While many assume green building refers only to new construction, green living and green building are very much interrelated.  According to Ward, “Green building is not only about how you build it, but it is also about choices made when remodeling to reduce energy consumption within your home.”  He promises that all aspects of living and building green will be represented at the expo.

One such example is Nielco Roofing, which sells roofing material that reduces air conditioning use by thirty percent and heat costs by ten percent.  The sustainable metal product, which lasts thirty to fifty years, replaces traditional shingles.  Dennis Duce of Nielco Roofing, says, “There is a perception that green means more expensive, but a lot of things are far more efficient and outlast previously used methods.  The green movement is a very real force in our economy and it makes financial sense just as much as it makes environmental sense.”

In addition, suppliers of tankless water heaters, reclaimed and sustainable hardwood flooring and low VOC paints will also be displaying their products.  Certified Green Professionals, general contractors or trades people certified from the National Association of Home Builders, will be on hand to answer questions.  And of course, solar thermal and solar electric suppliers will be in attendance.

Aside from educating themselves on how to reduce energy consumption in their own homes, expo attendees will also learn about what Park City Municipal is doing for the community as a whole.  Mayor Dana Williams will give a brief presentation on Park City’s sustainability efforts and its use of alternative fuel vehicles.

“Last year’s expo was a really good event and this year it’s going to be even better.  People are more conscious of conservation issues and are more willing to step forward and say:  ‘This is my responsibility.  What can I do about it?’  This is just the venue in which they can find out,” says Riepen.

For more information visit www.recycleutah.org or contact Tom Ward at 435-647-3727.