Have you been wondering what the green building craze is all about and how it can help you? The Lower Potomac Tributary Team is partnering with the Green Building Institute to offer Green Building Classes at the Charlotte Hall Library throughout 2009. Participants will learn about: creating efficient and healthy buildings that provide comfort and save money, planting a rain garden, using solar for hot water and electricity, composting kitchen scraps to create rich soil for a garden and completing your own green renovation. Beginning in January, the classes will be offered every other month. All classes will be held in the Meeting Room of the Charlotte Hall Branch Library, 37600 New Market Road, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622. Presentations start at 6:30 pm and last approximately 2 hours.

Registration information is available online at: greenbuildinginstitute.org. A fee will be charged for each class to cover the cost of providing instructors and class materials. Participants who complete all 6 classes will be recognized by the Tributary Team and receive a “Green tool kit” courtesy of Mirant Power and local venders of green products.

The Green Building Institute is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization. Maryland’s Tributary Strategies Program is a citizen and government partnership working to reduce pollution and preserve and restore habitat throughout the state’s Chesapeake Bay watersheds. Using both regulatory and voluntary means, ten individual Tributary Teams provide innovative public outreach to Maryland’s major Bay sub-watersheds.

January 15, 2009
How to Be Green (part 1)
Efficient and healthy buildings

• Why do we need to be sensitive to the environment?
• What are typical “green” terms and what do they mean?
• What is the mindset of going “green” and what are the steps to take?
• What methods are there to evaluate your home?

Includes a review of ways to make green your home and upgrades you can make.

March 19, 2009
How to build a rain garden

• Installing a Rain Barrel
• Selecting the proper Rain Garden Location
• Soils and Drainage on your Property
• Sizing of Your Rain Garden
• Rain Garden Construction
• Maintaining your Rain Garden

May 21, 2009
How to Be Green (part 2)
Solar hot water and electric for your home

July 16, 2009
Home Energy Efficiency

• Basic principles of energy conservation
• What are the most common, easily fixed home energy leaks?
• How does improving energy efficiency also improve comfort and health?
• What should I know about energy improvements when renovating my home?

September 17, 2009
Composting at Home

• What is compost?
• How do I make compost?
• And what do I do with it when I’m done?

November 19, 2009 -
Principles of “Green” Home Renovations

• Deconstruction
• Reuse of materials
• “Green” products
• Existing considerations

Registration:
$40 – Green Building Institute Member*
$55 – Adult Registration
$80 – Individual Membership & Class

Students (High School or Undergrad):
$20 – Green Building Institute Student Member*
$28 – Non-Member Student
$40 – Student Membership & Class