By CRAIG CROSBY
Staff Writer Friday, March 30, 2007

Staff Writer

UNITY-- Not everyone is ready to erect a wind mill or install solar panels, but saving energy means saving money, and, as far as George Callas is concerned, that gives Saturday's Inside/Out High-Performance Building Seminar universal appeal.

"It's an economic issue that everyone's on the same side of," Callas said. "Also, it's about comfort."

Callas, a founder of the Newforest Institute, which is partnering with Unity College to offer the seminar, is bringing together from across the state those on the cutting edge of high-performance building, renewable power generation and energy efficiency.

Callas, who is nearing completion of an underground home that thrives though off the electrical grid, discovered while building his home a vast wealth of contractors and other professionals with experience building sustainable homes.

"We said, 'Let's get these people together in one place, in one day, and provide this package for builders and designers.," Callas said.

The day-long seminar, which begins at 8 a.m. at Waldo County Technical Center in Waldo, will offer private homeowners and building professionals a range of approaches to evaluating and improving energy efficiency in new or existing structures, Callas said. The seminar includes expert advice on topics such as air sealing and ventilation, house modeling, insulated slab foundations, renewable energy heating systems and super-insulation and weatherization.

For those really looking to cut their energy costs, there will discussions on alternative power, designed for homes on and off the electrical grid.

There will even be information on financing to help pay for those more efficient homes.

"Regardless of what kind of homes people live in, the content of this conference, they're going to get something," Callas promised. "They're going to get something for 25 bucks that is going to save them hundreds."

Callas helped launch the Newforest Institute, in partnership with Unity College, in hopes of increasing sustainable practices in a variety of areas.

"We realized there was a real lack of information and incentive for builders to start incorporating green practices," Callas said.

Implementing sustainability, he said, can lead to greater profits in the homes contractors build and can save home owners thousands of dollars.

Those who have registered to attend Saturday's seminar represent a 50-50 split between homeowners and builders, Callas said.

The seminar will perhaps teach people to look at their homes as systems where there are continuous energy transformations, from light, to electricity to body heat.

"Home's are not boxes we fill up, they are dynamic systems," Callas said. "It's not about getting by with less, it's about getting more out of your house."

Registration is $25 in advance or $35 at the door. Registration the day of the seminar begins at 77:30 a.m.

For more information, call 722-3639 or log on to NewforestInstitute.org.

Craig Crosby -- 861-9253

ccrosby@centralmaine.com