GreenFest aims for ‘edutainment’ by the Bay By Erin Crowell Earth Day may have come and gone this year, but there’s still an opportunity to think “green” at the second annual GreenFest, which invites residents and a rea visitors to learn more about environ-mental products, services and projects at Traverse City’s Clinch Park, on May 8, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. “We like to call it edutainment,” says Kim Pontius, executive vice president of the Traverse Area Association of Realtors (TAAR), one of the GreenFest sponsors. “The event combines educational resources with entertainment. If people aren’t having fun, they’re just not interested.” Part of the fun will include kids activities. There will be a kite building contest using recyclable materials at the open space, as well as a coloring contest for the younger crowd, and an essay contest for grades K-12 that answers the question, “What do I want my green job to be when I grow up?’ The marina will bring the Northwestern Michigan College Underwater Studies exhibit, featuring an amphibious vehicle and other underwater mechanisms.
HYDROGEN CAR It may not go underwater, but the BAT 11dk Alfa Romeo-style Bertone will be on display in Clinch Park. This car’s design originated in Traverse City and was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2008. It is currently a concept car with plans for a limited production of a hybrid or hydrogen powered engine. There will also be two free movies showing at the State Theater that day: “Ice Age 2,” at 10 a.m.; and “Greensburg: A Story of Community Rebuilding,” produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, at 8 p.m. Vendors include The Grand Vision, Michigan Windpower, Grand Traverse Watershed Center, Cherryland Electric Cooperative, Michigan Land Use Institute, American Waste and many more. The event also features several guest speakers, including Joel Diotte and architect Eric Hughes for the first LEED Certified home in Grand Traverse County at noon; and “Reducing Home Energy Costs” with TJ Ewing at 2:30 p.m. Don’t miss “The Green Dream” with featured speaker John B. Carnett, photographer and inventor for Popular Science Magazine. Carnett will discuss his latest project—building a “green” family home using leading edge technology—at the Con Foster Building in Clinch Park, at 1 p.m. “I’ve got a subscription to Popular Science and have been following Carnett’s green home building story; but as he says – he’s not green, it’s just because he’s really cheap,” Pontius laughs. Cheap is just one advantage of going green, both in the home and beyond.
NOT JUST FOR HOMEBUYERS The event is presented by Green Solutions 4—a collaboration between TAAR, the Home Builders Association of Grand Traverse Area (HBAGTA) and the Michigan Green Consortium. Pontius adds that the association is learning more all the time about “being green,” so educating the public, as well, seemed like a logical step. Recently, TAAR added searchable green building program certifications, ratings and green building features to its Multiple Listing Service with technological support from the Home Builders Association – a major step in bringing green building into the mainstream. So is this event for homebuyers and builders only? “Absolutely not,” says Matt Dakoske of RE/MAX Bayshore Properties and TAAR president. “We’re about educating the public on various ‘greening’ issues. It’s not about selling houses.” Dakoske and Pontius say they hope the location of the event and time of year will bring in large numbers. “We learned that people just want to be outdoors this time of year,” says Pontius. The last GreenFest event took place in fall of 2008, and although it drew up to 500 people to the Hagerty Center, Pontius says the event could have drawn more. “It’s spring, and people usually think green in the spring,” he says, “and they’re thinking about home projects. “Our motto is ‘Where Green Meets Blue’ because we realize nothing can be done by going ‘green’ if you don’t think about blue. The watershed is a vital part of our environment and community. Having (GreenFest) near the water just made sense.”
For more information on GreenFest and Green Solutions 4, visit www.greensolutions4.com. More information on green certified homes and buildings available in Northern Michigan may be found at www.TAAR.com .
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