Energy

Meeting explores how permaculture can solve water shortage issues in the future.

Panel discussion on hydraulic fracturing or fracking with Ed Ireland, executive director of the the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, and Terry Welch, a Dallas attorney who advises local governments on natural gas drilling. Hosted by Mountain View College's Office of Student Life Sustainability Committee.

Speakers to discuss the state of Texas' energy. Speakers include: Mark Armentrout, Former ERCOT chairman, CEO of Texas Technology Partners; Maria Richards, SMU Geothermal Lab Coordinator; Al Armendariz, PhD, Former Region 6 EPA Administrator, Sierra Club Texas Campaign Director; James Smith, PhD, Maguire Chair, Oil & Gas Management; and Jim Duncan, Solar Design Specialist, North Texas Renewable Energy Group. Sponsored by the Memnosyne Foundation, SMU and the Sierra Club.

Learn about professional home energy audits, energy retrofits and renewable energy. Tour the Environmental Ed. Center, Plano's only LEED platinum-certified building. Free.

Get answers to questions about renewable energy -- from solar panels to wind turbines to geothermal heating. Free.

Learn what happens during a home energy audit from auditors. Hear what homeowners say about their energy audits. Learn about rebates for energy efficient retrofits. Free.

Learn techniques for making your home more energy efficient. Plano residents receive an energy efficiency tool kit. Free.

Learn techniques for making your home more energy efficient. Plano residents receive an energy efficiency tool kit. Free.

Course held eight weekends Nov. 17 - March 3, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Topics include community, green building, growing food and food forest, homesteading, sustainable living, permaculture, renewable energy, soils and water. Most classes held in Greenville. Outside projects held in Hunt County, Rockwall, East Dallas and Collin County. Cost: $275/in advance for all 16 days; $50/weekend; $30/day. Five scholarships will be given to young farmers who don't have access to land yet.

DFW Ecovillage hosts a Sustainability Think Tank at 2:30 p.m. Participants are also encouraged to join the all-you-can-eat buffet from 11:30 to 2 p.m. for $10.