News & Events

INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY
TECH 1015-01
Liberal Arts Core Course - Category 4: Natural Science and Technology
TuTh: 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Instructor: Bill Stigliani

Solutions Oriented Course. Topics covered: systems thinking, climate change (science and policy responses), biodiversity and ecosystem services. Opportunities for sustainable solutions: new sustainable energy systems, energy stabilization wedge game, sustainable corporations, technological innovation and biomimicry, sustainable cities/communities, sustainable agriculture. The CEEE is currently seeking approval for a Certificate in Sustainability. View the full course flier (pdf) for more information.

Contact Bill Stigliani with questions (william.stigliani@uni.edu; 319-273-7150).

COLLEGE HILL FARMERS MARKET
Thursdays through October 31; 4:00-6:00 p.m.
2205 College Street, Cedar Falls (map)

Visit the brand new College Hill Farmers Market, open every Thursday (4-6 p.m.) through October 31. This year, enjoy a wide variety of vegetables, sweet corn, strawberries & raspberries, eggs, apples, artisan baked goods, popcorn, locally roasted coffee beans, apparel & jewelry, nursery stock & bedding plants, and cut flowers.

View the 2013 market flyer here (includes public parking map).
 

SOLAR CARS & the YWCA OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY
Thursday, August 1

The FREE (Free Resources for Energy Education) program will host the YWCA's Wize Girls. Girls grades 6-8 will visit the CEEE to build solar cars.

To learn how the CEEE might host your group, contact Pat Higby, Energy Education Outreach Coordinator (patricia.higby@uni.edu or 319-273-6012).
 

ENERGY EDUCATION at HOOVER HOMETOWN DAYS
Saturday, August 3; West Branch, Iowa

CEEE energy educators will travel to West Branch, Iowa to share about energy efficiency and renewable energy at the Hoover Hometown Days.
 

CEEE at the IOWA STATE FAIR
Saturday, August 10 & Sunday, August 18; Des Moines, Iowa

Find CEEE energy educators promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in the 4-H building in partnership with Iowa State Extension on Saturday, August 10. Then on Sunday, August 18, the team will present as part of the statewide STEM initiative (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
 

GREEN IOWA AMERICORPS receives MAJOR FUNDING

The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service awarded Green Iowa AmeriCorps $330,250 to support 25 full-time members serving five Iowa counties in 2013-14. Green Iowa AmeriCorps will continue serving Black Hawk, Linn, Dubuque, and Winneshiek counties while opening a new site in Polk County in collaboration with MidAmerican Energy and the Center on Sustainable Communities. The CEEE is excited to continue helping Iowans become more energy efficient through Green Iowa AmeriCorps "boots on the ground" services.
 

CEDAR FALLS UTILITIES ENERGY FAIR
Saturday, August 24

CEEE energy educators will host family energy activities at the CFU Energy Fair. Stop by to learn more about renewable energy and energy efficiency.
 

TASTE IOWA: Celebrating Agriculture & Locally Grown Food in Iowa
Saturday, August 24; 8:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Conrad, Iowa (GNB Conrad Bank)

Celebrate locally grown Iowa foods! The day's activities include: Iowa Grown Food Expo, live entertainment, free all-Iowa breakfast, All-Iowa BBQ Showdown (celebrity judges), Taste Iowa Bike Tour, tasting expo, award-winning Iowa chef cooking demo, and seminars on healthy living.

To learn more, view the event brochure and visit the Taste Iowa Facebook page.

UNI FAMILY WEEKEND - Energy Explorations
Saturday, September 7; 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; CEEE lobby (map)

The CEEE will host Energy Explorations, an event featuring the Energy Bike and model solar cars and turbines for families with children ages 5 and up as part of UNI Family Weekend.

2013 FARM CRAWL
Sunday, September 8; 1:00-5:00 p.m. (locations TBA)

The UNI Local Food Program presents another self-guided tour of Cedar Valley farms! Learn how local farmers in Black Hawk and surrounding couties grow your food and manage their farms. You'll even find fun activities for kids and local food to buy and cook up for dinner! Join us afterward for the Farm Crawl finale at our list of participating local establishments serving local foods on their menus.

Open to the public, no registration necessary. Read more about participating farms, download the printable Farm Crawl guide, and access the Google map.

Contact Rachel Wobeter for more information (rachel.wobeter@uni.edu or 319-273-7883).

Webinar Series:
RECLAIM YOUR HOLIDAYS / GREEN CELEBRATIONS (Part I)
Tuesday, September 10; 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Learn how to inspire your audiences to make their celebrations more joyful and environmentally friendly right from your office or home! Through this free webinar series, you will:

• learn about ready-to-use education tools, designed for you and free of charge,
• gain a  deeper understanding of the ecological impacts of consumption,
• find out about current research on life satisfaction as it relates to "stuff," and
• discover ways to use the materials to reach new audiences.

Join us for Part I (Tuesday, September 10), Part II (Tuesday, September 17) and Part III (Tuesday, September 24) from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Click here to register online. It's free!
 

Field day with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) -
HARVESTING ENERGY: WIND AND SOLAR POWER
Saturday, September 14; 2-5 p.m.; Fairfield, IA (map)

Meet Francis and Susan Thicke at Radiance Dairy to explore how this dairy farm "harvests" alternative energy with a 40 kW wind turbine, solar-thermal hot water heating in the dairy, solar-powered pumping system for livestock watering, and a geothermal heating and cooling system. (Co-sponsored by the Farm Energy Working Group)

Learn more on PFI's website.
 

Webinar Series:
RECLAIM YOUR HOLIDAYS / GREEN CELEBRATIONS (Part II)
Tuesday, September 17; 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Learn how to inspire your audiences to make their celebrations more joyful and environmentally friendly right from your office or home! Through this free webinar series, you will:

• learn about ready-to-use education tools, designed for you and free of charge,
• gain a  deeper understanding of the ecological impacts of consumption,
• find out about current research on life satisfaction as it relates to "stuff," and
• discover ways to use the materials to reach new audiences.

Join us for Part I (Tuesday, September 10) and Part III (Tuesday, September 24) from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Click here to register online. It's free!

Field day with Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI) - 
ON-FARM ENERGY AND SEASON EXTENSION
Sunday, September 22; 3-6 p.m.; Van Horne, IA (map)

Visit Eric and Ann Franzenburg at Pheasant Run Farm where they generate wintertime sub-soil heat in their greenhouse by using their own corn kernels in a boiler system. They are working to improve the efficiency of their CoolBot-controlled walk-in cooler, and they are extending the season of ever-bearing strawberries from May to December. Generate your own energy with PFI's Energy Generation and Conservation demonstration. (Co-sponsored by the Farm Energy Working Group)

Learn more on PFI's website.

Supper will be served after this field day! Please RSVP to Lauren Zastrow (lauren@practicalfarmers.org or 515-232-5661) by Thursday, September 19.
 

Webinar Series:
RECLAIM YOUR HOLIDAYS / GREEN CELEBRATIONS (Part III)
Tuesday, September 24; 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Learn how to inspire your audiences to make their celebrations more joyful and environmentally friendly right from your office or home! Through this free webinar series, you will:

• learn about ready-to-use education tools, designed for you and free of charge,
• gain a  deeper understanding of the ecological impacts of consumption,
• find out about current research on life satisfaction as it relates to "stuff," and
• discover ways to use the materials to reach new audiences.

Join us for Part I (Tuesday, September 10) and Part II (Tuesday, September 17) from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Click here to register online. It's free!

GAP FOOD SAFETY WORKSHOPS: Level I Course - KNOW
Thursday, September 26; (time TBA)
Hawkeye Community College, Tama Hall (campus map)

Level I Course - KNOW
Farmers who provide food direct to consumers will be trained in good agriculture best practices and market considerations. Workshops is six hours.

Level II Course - SHOW will be held Thursday, October 17 (see below).

For more information about registering, contact Rachel Wobeter (rachel.wobeter@uni.edu or 319-273-7883).

OCTOBER 2013

GAP FOOD SAFETY WORKSHOPS: Level II Course - SHOW
Thursday, October 17; (time TBA)
Hawkeye Community College, Tama Hall (campus map)

Level II Course - SHOW
For farmers considering sales to retail food services, such as grocers, restaurants, hospitals, and other institutions. Also for those interested in adding value to fresh produce and selling products in a convenience form.

Level I Course - KNOW will be held Thursday, September 26 (see above).

For more information about registering, contact Rachel Wobeter (rachel.wobeter@uni.edu or 319-273-7883).
 

NOVEMBER 2013