Climate change and declining oil production are two of the main threats we must now boldly and creatively face. In all debates on future energy policy, the question is what are the challenges of change and how we move from one means of generating energy to another.
The Sustainable Energy Solutions course, marking the launch of CIFAL Findhorn- the first UN Training Centre in Northern Europe, will offer
a comprehensive introduction to renewable energy technologies
an outline of the basic principles of solar electricity, solar water heating, wind power, micro-hydro, biomass and other options and their application in urban and rural environments
a learning environment to explore how to achieve the right balance between waste minimisation and energy use
If you are in a position to influence long-term investment decisions, you need to understand the broad picture of alternative energy sources. The Sustainable Energy Solutions course is aimed at those in the business, non-profit, public and academic sectors who are wishing to
install renewable energy systems in both urban or rural settings
make their contribution to reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency and use of sustainable energy sources
It is likely to be most relevant to those with a planning and/or sustainability remit.
Participants will have the opportunity to
discuss your own projects
visit a Wind Park
visit a solar panel factory
explore new solutions
compare techniques
discover new ideas
Place your own ideas, plans and initiatives in the context of the global effort to minimise anthropogenic climate change while locally providing for our energy needs and those of our children. Given the proximity of peak oil, and the dangers of climate change, can we afford to wait for it? This is an invitation for you to be part of the solution, reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency and the use of sustainable energy sources.
Location:
Findhorn Ecovillage, Moray, Scotland recipient of Best Practice designation from the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements in 1998.
and
Moray College UHI, a leading partner in the UHI Millennium Institute supporting teaching and research into many facets of sustainable systems including the social, technological and ecological with a particular focus in the Highlands and Island of Scotland.
Lecturers:
Gary Campbell is a lecturer at Moray College UHI where he teaches Landscape Ecology, Geographical Information Systems and Permaculture (www.uhi.ac.uk/sshad). He has carried out research in ecological modeling (plant reactions to climate change), forest nutrition in relation to long term pollution and the modeling of the emission of greenhouse gas nitrous oxide across Europe.
Alex Walker is a social entrepreneur who is involved in a variety of renewable energy and sustainable development projects in the UK. In the Findhorn Ecovillage he is a director of Findhorn Wind Park Ltd and chairman of Ekopia Ltd, a community owned cooperative with investments in a number of local sustainability projects. As a director of Development Trusts Association Scotland, he also has an involvement with a number of community-led initiatives throughout the country.
Michael Shaw’s field is ecological design. He is a founding member of The Ecovillage Institute at Findhorn. An engineer by training, he has been involved in all phases of the development and implementation of natural wastewater treatment and bioremediation systems including Restorers since 1989, with Ocean Arks International (OAI). With Dr John Todd, founder of OAI, he is the author of two wastewater treatment patents.
CIFAL Findhorn is part of a global network of 12 UNITAR International Training Centres that operate as a hub for training and capacity-building through the exchange of practices between UN agencies and local actors, such as local authorities, public and private enterprises, civil society and educators. The training centers are located in: Atlanta (USA), Barcelona (Spain), Bilbao (Spain), Curitiba (Brazil), Divonne-Lyon (France), Durban (South Africa), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Plock (Poland), Shanghai (China), Tallinn (Estonia), Findhorn (Scotland).
For bookings: bookingsfindhorn.org
For information: cifalfindhornfindhorn.org
CIFAL Findhorn website: www.cifalfindhorn.org
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