Wild Center hosts experts on green building

By KIM SMITH DEDAM

TUPPER LAKE -- Talk of new construction turned all shades of green at the Wild Center recently.

Builders here talked solar-gain glass, wood heat and contra-rotating wind turbines.

Dozens of earth-friendly ideas drifted through the museum's corridors at the sold-out educational conference "Building a Greener Adirondacks."

Chris Rdzanek, facilities director for the Wild Center, organized the event to blend new ideas with old, drawing attention from contractors and scientists alike.

ENCOURAGING GREEN

Building trades are responsible for almost half of the energy used in America today, he said.

"From the museum's inception, we've always had in mind to build as green as possible. We have an obligation to bring this forth to the public, and we have the resources to draw these people here."

Tables in a vendors' tent included technical contractors, solar-energy specialists, wind engineers and building-control-system designers working with new energy-smart plans.

Mark Smith, president of Tri-Tech from Latham, said green solutions are cutting-edge industry.

He said they are "crushed" by the current workload, even with six companies of similar size competing in the Albany area amid a grim economy.

Finding ways to get the nation off oil is good business.

WOOD CHIPS

With 172 green builders talking shop, two presentations every hour drew a focused crowd. By 2 p.m., when Jeff Forward discussed wood-chip fuel systems, the auditorium was full.