Past Workshops and Events

Past Workshops and Events

ENERGY EXPO 2021

Presented by the Cornish & Plainfield Energy Committees

Saturday, September 11, 2021, 11am-3pm (Rain or Shine)

Plainfield Elementary School, 92 Bonner Rd., Plainfield, NH

Learn more about

Solar Energy

Weatherizing your home

Heat pumps

Energy efficiency incentives from NHSaves

Community Power

Low interest energy loans

Electric vehicles and charging stations

See the new all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E!

Take an e-bike for a ride! There will be more than 12 different e-bike models to try

Learn how to build your own ebike!

Talk with EV owners and see their cars

And more!!!

A partial list of presentations, demonstrations, exhibitors and experts include

Solaflect Energy - solar trackers

Catamount Solar – Residential PV Systems

Ted Stiles, Yankee Thermal Imaging - Button-Up home energy conservation

Karl Kemnitzer & Bill Cable will assemble an electric mountain bike

Henry Herndon, Community Power Coalition of NH (CPCNH)

Phil LaMoreaux, NHEC for NHSaves

Sarah Brock, Vital Communities

Hanover Adventure Tours

Mascoma Bank

Lebanon Ford

This event will be our largest and most comprehensive showcase of energy savings ideas, systems and techniques. There will be plenty to see and do and many energy experts will be available to answer all your questions.

Click here for the presentation schedule.

FREE ELECTRIC BICYCLE LENDING PROGRAM FOR PLAINFIELD AND CORNISH RESIDENTS

LoanerBike

In partnership with Local Motion and the Upper Valley E-Bike Lending Library, the Plainfield and Cornish Energy Committees will have 3 e-bikes available for loan between August 11 and August 26 for Plainfield and Cornish residents. (You must be 18 years old or over to participate.) You can borrow a bike for a 3 or 4 day stint, or sign up for one of our demo days (Aug 15 and Aug 22) to do a 45-minute ride.

The pick-up and drop-off for multi-day loans will be done from Jen Lenz’s shed at 115 Main Street Meriden NH across from the Meriden Town Hall. The Aug 15 Demo Day will be held at the Cornish Town Hall at the Cornish Fair Grounds and the Aug 22 Demo Day will be held at the Philip Read Memorial Library parking lot in Plainfield.

The e-bikes are being hosted by Energy Committee volunteers and will be cleaned by the volunteers after each use. If you have more questions after reading the information below or any difficulties with the registration process, please contact one of the Plainfield or Cornish Volunteers – Jen Lenz (jennifer.a.lenz@gmail.com ) or Ron Eberhardt (rceberhardt@gmail.com ) or Bill Cable (billxcable@gmail.com ). . .

GO HERE FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THE BIKES AND FOR MORE INFORMATION:
http://www.cornishnh.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Electric-Bike-Loaner-Program_August-2020.pdf


Weatherize Plainfield Cornish 2020 Kick Off Presentation and Sign Up

Electricity 101
Learn the Fundamentals of Electricity

THE ELECTRIC TOOL SHOWCASE
Tools & Devices that Don't Pollute
Learn about the Latest & Greatest Models for Indoors & Out

THE ELECTRIC GRID: LOOKING TOWARDS A FUTURE WITH RENEWABLES
How the Grid Works, and What Needs to Change to Incorporate Renewable Energy

Wednesday April 24, 2019 7-8:30pm
Philip Read Memorial Library
1088 Rte. 12A, Plainfield, NH

Heat Pumps ~ A Practical Perspective
Sensible information from owners and an experienced installer

Wednesday, January 30, 2019 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Philip Read Memorial Library
1088 NH 12-A, Plainfield NH 03781

Learn about air sourced heat pumps which can both heat and cool your home. The technology is quickly evolving and some of your neighbors are already using them! Hear from your neighbors about how the heat pumps work in our climate. We have also invited an experienced installer, Nathan Moore, who can answer your questions. As we search for ways to reduce our carbon emissions, heat pumps will likely be part of the solution.

View the video
Download the handout

Celebrate Weatherize Upper Valley
Weatherize Celebration and Prize Drawing
Friday, September 7, 5:30-7pm (prize drawing at 6:30)
Cornish Town Hall (294 Town House Rd)

The Cornish and Plainfield Energy Committees launched our 2018 Weatherize campaign in January with a goal of helping 15 families save money and stay warm by weatherizing their homes. We blew that goal out of the water... 24 Cornish and Plainfield neighbors are weatherizing their homes this year!

Our casual celebration on September 7 is open to all - those who participated in Weatherize, friends and supporters of our two energy committees, and neighbors who are curious about weatherizing their home in the future.

Drop by anytime between 5:30 and 7. At 6:30 we’ll draw the winner of our $500 Weatherize prize from among the 24 homes who are in the process of weatherizing this year. You don’t have to be there to win, but it will be so much more fun if you are!

Our volunteers are bringing light snacks and refreshments, potluck style. We welcome you to bring a little something to share! Or just bring yourself, that’s fine too!

Mascoma Valley Energy and Sustainability Expo Sept 29, Saturday, 10am-3pm, Mascoma Valley Regional High School Three tracks of educational classes in energy efficiency, solar PV, net-zero homes, heat pumps, living off-grid, and much more! Please click here for more information.

Kearsarge Region Electric Vehicle Expo Sept 9, Saturday, 12pm-4pm New London Historical Society As part of the National Drive Electric month, come experience electric vehicles, lawn mowers, bikes, and more! Click here for more info.

Electric Bicycle Workshop
Saturday June 9, 2018 10am - 12noon
Cornish Town Hall (Fairgrounds) 294 Town House Road, Cornish, NH 03745: A bicycle is the most energy efficient mode of transportation, but perhaps you can’t handle our hills? Convert your own bicycle to an electric bicycle for about 1/3 the cost of buying one.

Bill Cable will assemble an electric bicycle during the workshop and give advice on where you can buy components to do it yourself. Then you can try it out!

Clean Disruption of Energy & Transportation
Thursday, Feb 15, 2018
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Cornish Elementary School Cafeteria
274 Town House Rd, Cornish: This film will show how exponentially improving technologies such as solar, energy storage, electric vehicles, and self-driving cars will change the energy and transportation industries as we know it. It is a very interesting video that I’m sure will give you a lot to think about.

Tony Seba argues that electric vehicle, battery storage, and solar power, along with autonomous vehicles, are a perfect example of a 10x exponential process which will wipe fossil fuels off the market in about a decade.

Seba is a Stanford University futurist who spent the last decades studying technological disruptions. He is the author of several books, including most recently Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation: How Silicon Valley Will Make Oil, Nuclear, Natural Gas, Coal, Electric Utilities and Conventional Cars Obsolete by 2030, and Solar Trillions: 7 Market and Investment Opportunities in the Emerging Clean-Energy Economy.

He spoke in Boulder, Colorado, where he was awarded the 2017 Sunshine Award by Clean Energy Action (cleanenergyaction.org). Filmed and edited by Martin Voelker with the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (cres-energy.org)

TonySeba.com – RethinkX.com

Launch Event
Wednesday Jan 24, 2018 7pm - 8:30pm
Plainfield Elementary School Music Room: Plainfield and Cornish are teaming up with Vital Communities, NH Saves, and home energy contractors to help you save money and stay warm by weatherizing your home.

What is Weatherize Upper Valley?
Cost-effective weatherization projects include air sealing & insulation. NH Saves estimates that installing efficiency upgrades can save 20% or more on annual energy costs.

$100 Energy Audits for all participants. Receive a professional home energy audit and quote from a qualified contractor. Homeowners typically pay $400 or more for a home energy audit before receiving a quote.

Experienced Contractors. Our partner contractors are certified by the Building Performance Institute and qualified with the NHSaves Home Performance with Energy Star program. Meet our selected contractors at the kick-off meeting.

NHSaves Rebates are available for the leakiest homes. We’ll help you figure out whether your home qualifies for extra assistance.

Imagine what Plainfield would look like powered completely by renewable energy...
Why should our town commit to 100% renewable energy by the year 2050?
Find out what that would mean for you. Come to the public presentation on
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2017
7:00pm - 9:000pm
Plainfield Town Hall
Rt 12A, Plainfield: Bring your questions, concerns and ideas.
THIS WILL BE A PROPOSED WARRANT ARTICLE AT TOWN MEETING

For more information click here

Did you know that driving on electricity is about 5 times cheaper than fueling with gasoline? Electric vehicles have 100x fewer moving parts than gasoline-powered cars, which means much lower maintenance costs. No more thrown belts or blown gaskets. No more oil changes! This is just one example of why it just makes sense to adopt renewable energy.

Battery Power! What can it do for you?
Monday, Oct 16, 2017
7:00pm - 9:000pm
Cornish Elementary School Cafeteria
274 Town House Rd, Cornish, NH

* How can renewable energy be stored when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing?
* Learn about existing and emerging technologies for battery backup power
* How smart batteries like Tesla Powerwall and Sonnen do so much more than just store energy
* Whole home battery systems
* Utility scale battery systems

Join us for an informative discussion presented by Kim Quirk of Enfield Energy Emporium and Bill Bender of Solaflect

Button Up Weatherization Program
Tuesday, Sept 19, 2017
7:00pm - 9:000pm
Plainfield Elementary School Music Room

Button Up workshops are designed to provide homeowners with information and techniques to help them save money on home energy use. The presentation is conducted by an independent certified energy professional. Participants will learn basic building science concepts and learn the basics about air sealing, insulating, and conservation measures that reduce fuel and electricity use.

Presented as part of the Plainfield and Cornish Energy Committees' Renewable Energy Educational Series

Upper Valley Electric Vehicle Expo
Saturday, Sept 9, 2017
12:00noon - 4:000pm
Dothan Brook School
2300 Christian St (US 5) White River Junction, VT

Step into the future of sustainable transportation.
Experience the thrill of riding or driving an electric car or bicycle.
Drive a Chevy Bolt, Tesla Model S or X, Nissan Leaf, or BMW i3.
Learn how to charge your car with free electricity from solar panels.
Meet with enthusiastic electric car owners and local olar installers.
Checkout the indoor exhibits and listen to informative presentations on EV efficiency and affordability.

Free admission. Free refreshements. Free raffle for registered attendees.
Sign up at UVEVexpo.com or for more information call 802.291.3939 or email WhyPumpGas@gmail.com

You may never pump gas again!

The 2017 Upper Valley Electric Expo is a joint effort of Vital Communities, Upper Valley Sierra Club, and local Town Energy committees including the Plainfield and Cornish Energy Committees.

The Messenger
Wednesday, June 14, 2017
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Philip Read Memorial Library, 1088 NH-12A, Plainfield, NH 03781

The Plainfield & Cornish Energy Committees’ RENEWABLE ENERGY EDUCATIONAL SERIES teams up with The Meriden Bird Club and with co-sponsorship by Hanover Conservancy to present the film

The Messenger

“The Messenger is particularly effective at sounding the alarm because it makes the issue highly personal. With exclusive footage, and high-tech cinematography, the movie offers an intimate look at the plight of the songbird. Stunning flight sequences...are conveyed in slow motion, making the complexities of wing movement, control, and rhythm visible to the human eye.” – The New York Times

Heating without Oil: Affordable home heating with renewable energy
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Philip Read Memorial Library, 1088 NH-12A, Plainfield, NH 03781

64% of Home Energy is used for heating

Hear from local area experts about the latest developments in
 Heating and Cooling ideas
 Energy Efficiency
 Heat Pumps
 Geothermal Systems
Followed by Q&A

Speakers and Topics:
• Ian Pahl (Revision Energy) Cold Climate Heat Pumps for heating and cooling
• Kim Quirk (Energy Emporium and Owner of a Net Zero home) Using solar thermal, geothermal & modern wood heat
• Bill Knight (Plainfield Elementary School) Energy Conservation in older structures & efficient heating systems
• Bill Cable (Early renewable adopter) DIY Heat pump installation

Community Solar Workshop
Thursday, April 27, 2017
6:00pm - 7:30pm
at the Richmond Middle School in Hanover

Sustainable Hanover will present Opportunities for Community Solar in New Hampshire

Learn about community solar in New Hampshire and group net metering, legal aspects and funding opportunities for landowners, non-profits and businesses. The presentation and workshop will include a panel discussion and Q&A, with time to meet vendors before and after the presentation.

Co-sponsored by the Plainfield Energy Committee
Click here for more information.

Solar Expo 2017
Saturday, April 1, 2017
2:00pm - 4:00pm
at the Kilton Public Library, West Lebanon

Act now before Net Metering Tariffs change (and PV Solar electricity becomes more expensive)
· Find out more about PV solar installation options
· Talk with members from area Energy Committees
· Have your questions answered by experts from local solar installation companies
· Sign up for site visits
· Learn about DIY options

Co-sponsored by the Cornish, Lebanon and Enfield Energy Committees

Whats the Big Deal About Carbon? Why should we be interested in where it goes?
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Plainfield Elementary School Music Room

The first presentation of the Renewable Energy Educational Series
Presented by the Plainfield and Cornish Energy Committees

Tom Lord explains how our use of fossil fuels has disrupted the natural carbon cycle. Fossil fuels which are carbon-rich and were deposited into the ground millions of years ago are now being withdrawn as coal, oil, and natural gas. These are turned into energy and then released into the environment. We only have so much carbon we can spend before it throws the whole natural carbon cycle off kilter. In addition, it raises the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere. This will warm the planet with important consequences to the climate. Why should we be interested? Let’s learn more and what we can do about it.

There will be a question & answer period following the talk and refreshments! Bring your friends and family. Spread the word!

Tom Lord has 25 years of teaching experience, currently teaching courses in Environmental Chemistry and Inquiry to Science at Kimball Union Academy. He obtained a BA from Dartmouth College and JD from the University of Maryland. He worked as an attorney for the State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources and went on to practice in the Upper Valley working with companies and nonprofits on environmental compliance issues. He also taught at Dartmouth College and coached lacrosse at Hanover High.

Feb 18 2015 Are You Ready For Solar

An informational seminar on what you need to know to decide if a solar electric system is right for you. on Thurs, Feb 18 at 7pm at the Phillip Read Memorial (Plainfield) Library.

March 17, 2015 Solar Installers Expo

at the Plainfield school.

Nov 2014 Community Solar Seminar

An introductory seminar on Community Solar was help on Tuesday, Nov 11. The keynote speaker wass Eric Shenholm, who talked about his experience setting up a 28kW collective solar PV electric system in Saxtons River, VT. The generated power is shared by participating residents of Saxtons River employing group net metering and the installation was done by the residents themselves.

Vermont is way ahead of New Hampshire in that they have established regulations, economic incentives and a supportive legal structures governing alternate energy generation. The rules and regulations governing group net metering are in the process of being revised by the Public Utilities Commission and NH Legislature, and the way community solar may be implemented in NH will very likely be different than in Vermont.

This was one perspective on how collective solar can be accomplished, and touched upon topics such as organizing community project efforts, DIY ground mount installations, and net metering. The goal was to provide informtion so that we are prepared for when community solar arrives in NH.

As a follow up to the Vital Community's Solarize Cornish-Plainfield initiative, our Energy Committees will focus on community solar activities that will take advantage of our own resources to share knowledge about alternative PV installation options, to lower costs of installation, and provide more solar options to more people in our two towns.

May 2014 Wooden Window Restoration

Many of us in Plainfield live in old houses with wooden windows that have become leaky and ill-fitting over the centuries. Frustrated with the draftiness and aware that fuel bill dollars are flying out these cracks, many of us become resigned to the idea that our windows must be replaced. Surprisingly, wood window restoration is an appealing alternative; in terms of durability, energy efficiency, cost savings, environmental benefits and preservation of historical character and craft, wood window restoration with the addition of energy-efficient storm windows may be a more sustainable option.

Several window restorers will be coming to Plainfield during the month of February to evaluate and provide estimates on our Town Hall windows in Meriden. If you would like to arrange a site visit at the same time, or would like to discuss the restoration process, contact a member of the Energy Committee.

For your information, here is a list of window restoration contractors and a list of resources about restoration.