Alison Page of the ABC’s New Inventors will be the master of ceremonies. Several guest speakers are travelling from interstate and a number of local experts will be sharing their knowledge.

Highlights in the speakers program include:

David Howard, past president of ABSA (Association of Building Sustainability Assessors), who will outline some simple ways to make your home more energy efficient, specifically targeting insulation and glazing.

Social scientist, Anne-Maree Dowd is the Project Manager for the CSIRO’s Energymark nation-wide community based program. It highlights the role that individuals can play in moving towards a new energy future. This program adopts a “kitchen-table” approach and participants have been averaging a 37% reduced carbon footprint. Anne-Maree has recently returned from Copenhagen where she presented at the International Climate Change Congress.

Jade Woodhouse, author, educator and owner of Simply Natural Organic Farm in Dorrigo, will be presenting on a number of gardening topics, including ‘Carbon Friendly Gardening’ and ‘Living a Self-Reliant Lifestyle’. A number of other gardening gurus will be available to provide advice on soil regeneration, water conservation and recycling, and composting.

If mechanics are more your thing than gardening, come along and hear Peter Pudney from the University of South Australia talk about Electric Vehicles in Australia. Peter has been racing solar cars with Aurora Vehicles since 1993, and helped lead the University of South Australia teams that built two solar racing cars, winning the 1999 World Solar Challenge.

Nathan Bolton of the Armidale Electric Vehicle Association will also be talking about electric conversions for cars. Transport generally will be well-covered and includes exhibitions of ‘re-birthed’ electric cars, hybrids, fuel efficient diesels, a range of bicycles (including electric-assisted) and even a bicycle-driven lawn mower!