PRE-WORKSHOP TECHNICAL TOURS & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Our optional technical tours, on Sunday, August 5, allow participants to learn about current sustainable initiatives and projects within the local area.  This is an ideal opportunity to interact with your colleagues, while at the same time gain a practical and educational experience.  This year we have added something new to our optional tour offerings– the opportunity to assist New Orleans in its efforts to recover, renew and rebuild through participation in a community volunteer project.

Tours

Tour No. 1
TULANE UNIVERSITY GREEN CAMPUS TOUR

9:00-12:00 PM
Price: $35 per person

The energy-smart water wall at the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life is made of stainless steel mesh.

Several facilities on the campus of Tulane University are the subject of this technical tour.  Begin the visit with a tour of the Lavin-Bernick Center designed by Vincent James and Associate Architects with Wayne Troyer, whose firm served as an associate architect for the project.  This newly-opened university center has innovative daylighting, solar chimneys, water walls (cooling system, as seen in the picture on the opposite page), and the capability to be opened to the outdoors when heat and humidity are low.  Continue with a visit to the campus cogeneration facility, a 5mw natural gas fired turbine-generator which is equipped with a Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG).  During Hurricane Katrina, the turbine remained in operation until flooding forced the evacuation of the power plant facilities. Since the storm, the turbine has been raised to provide for continued operation even if local flooding should occur.  Conclude your visit with a presentation of the ENERGY STAR® Showcase Dorm Room, an energy efficiency education program developed by Tulane students.

Tour No. 2
EMO ENERGY SOLUTIONS AND KATRINA "BEHIND THE SCENES" TOUR

1:00-4:30 PM
Price: $35 per person

This technical tour combines a visit to the EMO Energy Solutions zero-net energy office building and an excursion to Katrina-affected localities of New Orleans.  At the EMO zero-net energy building, participants will have the opportunity to learn about how zero-net energy is achieved, the energy savings, and long-term positive environmental effects.  From here, participants will be given the chance to personally experience the city's "Scenes behind the Scenes."  This portion of the tour will show areas of levee breach, lower Ninth Ward destruction, and results of reconstruction efforts.  This technical tour will provide unique sustainable design information, but will also give participants insight into the New Orleans local community challenges and rebuilding effort.

Tour No. 3
SHELL/MOTIVA NORCO REFINERY AND CHEMICAL PLANT

	Shell's Norco Plant received the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) "National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) Achievement Award" in 2005.

1:30-4:00 PM
Price: $35 per person

Visit the Shell/Motiva Norco Refinery and Chemical Plant, and discover how crude oil is turned into petroleum products and consumer goods, and then personally tour the plant itself.  Energy intensity is very high in these industrial processes, so energy efficiency is certainly an issue addressed by plant operators.  In addition to a tour of the plant, participants will be able to visit an actual operator's station, which is where the plant is monitored and controlled.  You will have the opportunity to learn about the measures and monitoring undertaken by the plant to assure safe and environmentally-compliant operation.

Volunteer Opportunities

Join the New Orleans rebuilding efforts by lending your time and labor to a local community project.  GovEnergy (Energy 2007) is proudly teaming up with two organizations working to rebuild Katrina-affected local communities of New Orleans.  Our rebuilding association partners are eager for any volunteer support you can provide.  Come lend a helping hand!  You'll be glad you did.

Tour No. 4
Zion City Neighborhood Improvement Association

9:00-12:00 PM
Price: Free

GovEnergy is teaming up with the Alliance for Affordable Energy and other nonprofit groups to provide volunteer manual labor for the installation of energy conservation toolkits in the Zion City neighborhood.  Since Hurricane Katrina, the neighborhood has declined significantly and local citizens are in need of basic community support services.  Our GovEnergy volunteers will form small teams to install energy efficient solutions (shower heads, door weatherstripping, compact flourescents) inside selected homes which have been recently renovated or repaired.

	Broadmoor volunteers help to improve New Orleans.

Tour No. 5  
Broadmoor Improvement Association

1:00-4:00PM
Price: Free

GovEnergy is teaming up with the Global Green to provide manual labor for the installation of energy conservation toolkits in the Broadmoor neighborhood.  Our GovEnergy volunteers will form small teams to install energy efficient solutions (shower heads, door weatherstripping, compact fluorescents) inside selected homes which have been recently renovated or repaired.

Energy 2007