TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

'Green' Festival Runs Today At Agri-Civic Center

ADVERTISEMENT

By JIM KONKOLY

Highlands Today

Published: September 6, 2008

SEBRING - About 20 "green" businesses and agencies, from around Highlands County and around the state, will have exhibits at today's daylong workshop at the Agri-Civic Center entitled, "Home Owners: Think Green and Save Money."

The event, put on by the Highlands County Extension Office's Sustainability Committee, runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A series of presentations by eight speakers on environmentally positive home building, yard maintenance and daily living starts at 9 a.m.

Topics will run the gamut from "Energy Options in Florida's Heartland" to "Turning 'Green' Into Gold," water conservation options, energy-savings devices, "Going Solar in Florida," and building homes with environmentally beneficial concrete forms and insulation.

Exhibitors, who will be giving away free "goodies," vary from energy efficient and alternative-fueled cars to homebuilders and makers of various home and yard products.

John Alleyne, director of the county extension office, said interest was so great by exhibitors that more than a half dozen had to be turned away, because there was no more room for exhibits either inside or outside the Agri-Civic Center auditorium.
Alleyne said the speakers and exhibitors will focus on how to build or live in an environmentally positive way while saving money at the same time.

The ultimate goal of the event, Alleyne said, is to encourage people "to think as a citizen who is impacted by the world around you." Presentations and exhibits, he said, will provide practical information to "let people know how they can help save the environment around them and save money at the same time."

The extension office's six-person sustainability committee is planning two similar, daylong workshops in the future, tentatively in October and another late December.

In some of the presentations, Alleyne said, people will be challenged to take on a "green" project of their choosing.

"This is just the first in a series of seminars on the whole issue of sustainability and what it means to individuals living here in Highlands County," Alleyne said.

Sponsors of the event are: Building Designs, Inc., Steve's Sprinkler Systems, Sunshine Nursery, West Coast Insulation, and T.E. James Custom Homes and Remodeling.

Exhibitors will include: Eldridge Pollard Sales, Progress Energy, Adaptive Builders, Upland Homes, Wells Motor Company, Alay Jay Automotive Network, GHC Motor Sports, Highlands County Master Gardeners, Robbins Nursery, Inc., Solar Connect, Scosta Corporation, Greenblock Worldwide, Highlands County Water and Soil Conservation District, Keep Highlands County Beautiful, and Highlands County Recycling.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT