Green Building Slam

Online Ticket Sales for this event have ended.
A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the door.

Friday, December 13, 2024
5:30–9:00 PM @ the wild buffalo

Green Building Slam 2024
10 slides, 10 minutes, tons of fun!

The Green Building Slam has been a community favorite for years, and it’s back again this winter! Join us on December 13th at the Wild Buffalo. The Slam is a fast-paced presentation style event that is known for the incredible networking opportunities with local green building experts and enthusiasts.

The Slam attracts local architects, builders, homeowners, energy efficiency experts, real estate professionals, interior designers, and green building enthusiasts like yourself. No matter how involved and interested you are in the green building industry, this event will inspire, educate, and spark productive conversations about how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our communities.

Your ticket will include admission to the Slam, dinner, and the opportunity to network with presenters and other green building enthusiasts. Please note that all ticket holders must be at least 21 years old. Follow @SustainableConnections on Instagram to get all the latest updates on this event and more!

Learn more

Presenters

Suneeta Eisenberg M.Ed and Michael Toomes

Decarbonized & Decolonized Housing

Suneeta Eisenberg M.Ed identifies as an “intersectional environmentalist.” She is founder, player & executive director of Whatcom Waves, a women’s empowerment organization. Their mission is to seek climate, racial & social justice through sports. Whatcom Waves’ “vision” created an educational platform for hempcrete building through a shared equity model in Washington state using a “just transition” framework, called “North West Living & Learning Community Collaborative (NWLLCC). Currently, Suneeta actively participates as the newest Planning Commissioner to Whatcom County, and teaches at WWU in the Human Service Department.

Michael Toomes has dual degrees in Electrical & Computer Engineering from NC State University. He has worked various jobs in the construction industry in addition to being a brewer & operations manager for Chuckanut brewery. Michael is now focusing on regenerative agriculture & energy efficient carbon negative natural building. He received his Permaculture Design Certification in 2020 from Oregon State University and completed the Hemp Build School by the US Hemp Building Association this past year.

Together, Suneeta & Michael are honorable mention winners for their house build with TC Legend Homes for the U.S Department of Energy’s 2018 “Innovation” award for their affordable passive solar SIP house. Suneeta & Michael held a hempcrete building workshop constructing a passive solar greenhouse at their home in Bellingham this past summer. They are land stewards of an acre lot using regenerative & permaculture practices near Lummi traditional-unceded lands.

Joshua Williams, Silfab Solar

Common Strawmen of the Solar Industry: Facts and Figures to Put Misinformation in its Place

Joshua Williams holds a Ph.D. in materials science engineering with a focus on photovoltaics from Arizona State University, awarded in 2016. Since 2021, he has worked at Silfab Solar as the R&D Program Manager, focusing on the development of future solar technologies. His major areas of interest include automation, laser processing, reduction of toxic materials, materials physics, increased module efficiency, solar equipment life cycle assessment, and recycling.

Joshua has lived in Bellingham since 2022. He is passionate about solar energy, from its fundamental astrophysics to the regulatory framework and financial innovations that drive deployment, with a deep interest in all aspects of the field.

Joshua will cover common misconceptions, misinformation, and reasonable concerns about the solar industry. Joshua will focus on the supply chain, reliability, equipment end-of-life, and how that affects the costs to consumers,.

Alex Wynstra, AJW Builders

In the Be-green-ing

Alex Wynstra, founder of AJW Builders, is a life-long Whatcom County resident who is passionate about the green building industry and supporting local businesses. For over 25 years, he has dedicated his career to building healthier, more efficient housing that is also affordable.

In 2015, AJW Builders was awarded Built Green Builder of the Year by the Building Industry Association of Whatcom County (BIAWC) after partnering with Caitac USA where Alex and his team have been steadily working to build one of Washington’s largest green-built, solar powered communities: Larrabee Springs.

A core principle of Alex’s philosophy is to hire as many local contractors and source as many local materials as possible. As such, you’ll find AJW Builders working with 56 or more contractors and vendors. Not only does supporting local help our economy and reduce the carbon footprint of Larrabee Springs, but it has resulted in the production of high-quality, affordable homes for Whatcom County residents.

Martha Rose, Martha Rose Construction

The Struggle is Real….but Solvable

Martha’s specialty has been building high-performance homes for the speculative market. She enjoys the challenge of paying for those extras with simple design and basic finishes within the home. Voluntary simplicity is her mantra. It’s an important aspect of how we must build, and live our lives. After 51 years of immersion in the construction industry, she is now a consultant – offering a wide variety of construction services from building design, materials, and equipment suggestions, to low impact development strategies and implementation.

This is the story of a dream that came true after decades, despite numerous obstacles. She planted a seed so that her forever home can be a small community, serving several income levels and lifestyle choices. Truly a home for all ages.

Markus Virta, Cascadia Renewables

Building Resilient Communities

Markus Virta is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Cascadia Renewables, where he leads efforts to design and implement community-owned clean energy solutions across the Pacific Northwest. With expertise in microgrid optimization, solar and storage project development, and clean energy policy, Markus is committed to advancing equitable and resilient energy infrastructure. His work aligns with the Justice40 Initiative, ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach the most vulnerable communities. His approach addresses the intersection of climate hazard mitigation, emergency management, clean energy development, and ethical business practices, empowering communities to become more independent and resilient.

As climate risks grow and energy demands shift, the need for resilient energy systems becomes more pressing—particularly in our most vulnerable communities. In this presentation, Markus Virta will explore the critical role of technical assistance in fostering resilience-focused clean energy development by and for communities. Highlighting the success of Cascadia Renewables’ Lighthouse Mission Ministries microgrid project in Bellingham, WA, Markus will share actionable strategies for leveraging state and local support to empower communities. Learn how Washington can lead in adopting clean energy solutions that not only meet today’s energy challenges but also ensure equity and resilience for all.

Alex Ramel, Washington State Representative

Thermal Energy Networks Are So Hot Right Now

Rep. Alex Ramel was appointed to the legislature in January of 2020. In 2022, he was elected by his colleagues to the leadership role of Majority Whip & was re-elected to Whip again for 2024.

In the previous sessions, Rep. Ramel led on legislation to:

Increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution caused by public buildings.
Coordinate planning for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Modernize driver’s licensing procedures.
Advance deployment of green electrolytic hydrogen.
Enable public electric utilities to help their customers switch to clean electric appliances.
Create a planned, predictable and just transition away from the use of fossil fuels in buildings.
Increase the affordability of homes built using the state’s multi-family tax exemption.
End tax subsidies for fossil fuels.

Rep. Ramel, a single parent to his son, Alden, was called to public service to help address the climate and housing crises facing current and future generations. He has served as President of the Kulshan Community Land Trust which helps build and preserve affordable housing and he led development of the Community Energy Challenge which brings businesses, utilities, non-profits, and government together to help conserve energy, reduce costs, and create good paying jobs.

Raised near Denver, Colorado, Rep. Ramel has called Bellingham home for over 20 years. He is a graduate of Western Washington University’s College of the Environment with a B.A. in Environmental Policy and Planning.

Can’t wait? Get excited by viewing last year’s Green Building Slam, courtesy of BTV.

Watch the Recording

The Wild Buffalo is an accessible venue. Please contact claracs@sustainableconnections.org if you have questions about these or other accommodations.

By attending a Sustainable Connections event, you are agreeing to our Events Code of Conduct.