Workshops
Pathways to Success: Reinventing Your Community’s Future
Many experts believe that these forces, coupled with the ever-present threat of terrorism, our heavy reliance on declining oil and natural gas supplies, and rising fuel prices could undermine our nation’s long-term future – threatening our economic prosperity and our national security.
In this one-day seminar, Dr. Dan Chiras, a noted expert on renewable energy, green building, and sustainable community design, outlines many of the most pressing threats to America’s long-term economic strength. He also offers a wealth of timely, innovative ideas that citizens, businesses, and city officials can use to help build stronger communities, healthier local and regional economies, and a brighter future for all.
These community-, home-, and business-based solutions address immediate economic threats such as the rising cost of gasoline and home heating fuel. They also address long-term environmental trends – and the ever-escalating threat of terrorism caused by our addiction to oil.
The fresh and exciting ideas presented in this one-day workshop could serve as the foundation of your community’s plan to achieve vital social, economic, and environmental goals that contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future.
Each program is custom tailored to your community.
For more information contact Dr. Chiras at danchiras@msn.com
Earthen Plasters
These one-to-five day hands-on workshops teach
participants the basic theory behind earthen plasters, where they work
and where they don't, and then offers training in analyzing subsoil for
plaster mixes, testing potential earthen plasters, mixing plasters, and
applying plasters by hand and trowel. Workshop attendees get plenty of experience on all phases of plastering.
Workshops have been offered privately (at my
home) and also through a number of organizations and institutions of higher
learning, including the Colorado Straw Bale Association, Colorado College,
the Solar Living Institute, the University of Colorado, and the Lama Foundation.
I am happy to organize workshops for private residential structures, too.
For information on upcoming events, please see my Upcoming Lectures and Workshop schedule.
Passive Solar Heating and Cooling
One and two-day workshops on passive solar heating
and cooling. These workshops cover basic principles of passive solar design
in detail, discuss common mistakes and how to avoid them, as well as tools
for improving the performance of passive solar designs, including energy
analysis software.
Workshops have been taught through The Solar Living Institute and the Denver Chapter of the Green Building Council.
Green Building and Ecological
Design
I offer one-day, two-day, and week-long workshops
based on my three most popular building books, The Natural House, The
Solar House, and The New Ecological Home.
These workshops cover all aspects of green building,
in varying depth depending on the time frame.
Subjects include proper site selection, site
protection during construction, energy and water efficiency, wise wood
use, passive solar heating and cooling, solar electricity, wind energy,
the use of green building materials, maintenance of indoor air quality,
use of recycled materials in construction, waste recycling, earth-sheltered
design, natural building, accessibility, ergonomics, adaptable architecture,
rainwater catchment, gray water systems, black water systems, composting
toilets, environmental landscaping.
I offer workshops for nonprofit organizations
such as the Solar Living Institute, the Omega Institute, and the Colorado
Energy Science Center. If your organization or company would like to sponsor
a workshop, please feel free to contact me directly for fees and scheduling.
See my Upcoming Lectures and Workshops schedule.
For more information contact Dr. Chiras at danchiras@msn.com
