ECOFAIR360

¬FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAKING GREEN HAPPEN AT ECOFAIR360

Lake Geneva, Wis. (June 29, 2011) – Interested in electric vehicles? Want to know more about cost saving lighting options, alternative energy choices and conservation landscaping? These topics and many more will be presented at the second annual EcoFair360, coming July 8-10 to the Walworth County Fairgrounds in Elkhorn, Wis., just eight miles from beautiful Lake Geneva.

With 200+ exhibitors, speakers and demonstrations, each day will offer a variety of learning and exploring opportunities.

Opening day, Friday, July 8
State Senator Neal Kedzie, R-Elkhorn, chairman of the Wisconsin Natural Resources and Environment Committee, will speak at 4 p.m., addressing legislative issues related to the environment and its impact on the community.

Every day of the Fair will offer a green buffet of choices; there will be solar, wind and geothermal exhibits, information on eco-friendly cleaning solutions and alternative health choices. Visitors can see alternative fuel vehicles on display, learn how to install LED outdoor lighting on patios and outbuildings, find handcrafted outdoor furniture built from sustainable and recycled materials, and much more.

There will be a daily assortment of presentations on a variety of topics, plus a special daily focus area:

• Friday, July 8: “Greening our economy: making sense (and dollars) of green.”
Learn how to develop a sustainable plan for your community. Discover how investing in green can save money, while helping the environment. Presentations on everything from conservation landscaping to how to create a sustainable community and earn ‘green points’ for free solar, wind or electric car charging stations at the same time.

• Saturday, July 9: “Greening our land and homes: alternative energy and smart building.”
Rural landowners can start the day off with donuts and coffee as they listen to four hours of presentations tailored specifically to their needs; Making solar Energy profitable for farmers, Future of biogas on Wisconsin farms—making anaerobic digesters possible, Cover crops as a conservation method, Wind Turbines and Farms, and more throughout the day.

Homeowners will find information on a variety of topics covering everything from how to save money by building an energy efficient home or retro fitting your current residence to green laundry options and how to minimize the clutter in your home and life.

• Sunday, July 10: “Greening our table: smart local choices in produce and meats.”
From cooking demonstrations with local produce to getting your kids to eat right, attendees will learn the pleasures of eating with local, seasonal food. Chef Rick Starr from Kirsch’s Restaurant will do a cooking demonstration, using local produce and teaching attendees how to organize a pantry for best results. Charles Crave of Crave Brothers Farm and Farmstead Cheese will talk about the value of artesian cheese production, and Wendy Staller of Staller Estate Vineyard and Winery will speak about local wine making as well.

The Kids Zone will provide children with activities throughout the day.

• Friday – The Science Alliance will present “WorldWorks!,” an environmental program, entertaining children on the issues of recycling, composting, the water cycle and acid rain through the use of visual demonstrations and active participation.

• Saturday – Seno Woodland Education Center offers a variety of one-hour based activities, centering around recycled paper, pond peeking, Wild Life in Learning Design (Project WILD), and Learning Tree Activities.
• Sunday – Tim Glander, of Walworth County’s Public Education program will present ‘Trash Time, the Magic of Going Green.’
• “The Comfy Chair” will provide children with a place to gather round and listen to stories with Sara Soukup, hear the music of Joe Fred and participate in Reader’s Theatre with Chris Brookes.

EcoFair360 Film Festival
Films will be shown in a unique structure, built specifically for this year’s Fair – a 16' diameter geodesic dome equipped with a home theater system; designed, built and donated by Bill Sokoloskis of AV Systems.

The screenings will include:
• Friday – Green Fire; Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for our Time
• Saturday – Dirt, A Story with Heart and Soil
• Sunday – How to Boil a Frog; Make friends, Make fun, Make trouble.

E85 Flex Fuel Special
The American Lung Association has a special EcoFair360 offer for Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFV). From 4-6pm on Friday, July 8, FFV’s can help the clean air efforts by purchasing E85 for $0.85 a gallon at Daniels Sentry Foods, 681 Kenosha St. Walworth, WI. Customers will receive a free parking pass for EcoFair360 when they take advantage of the E85 promotion. The American Lung Association will also be on hand at the Fair to provide information and answer questions on the clean air benefits of using E85.

Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center

EcoFair360 is brought to you by Eco-Vision SLC, a Wisconsin Not-for-Profit corporation, promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable living through education and demonstration. Their goals are to promote and develop scalable solutions for renewable energy and sustainable development, support renewable energy projects though the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), and as a community, find new ways and build new models to make renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and sustainable living an integral part of American life.

Contacts:

Wen-D Kersten
Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center
262-248-0970
wend@ecovisionslc.org

Catherine McQueen
Eco-Vision Sustainable Learning Center
262-248-0970
catherine@ecofair360.com
www.ecofair360.com