The 18th Annual Energy Design Conference & Expo, held Feb. 26-27 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, drew about 1,270 attendees – and approximately 90 exhibitors participated, as well.

Twenty years ago, this event debuted as a modest, one-day builder’s conference attracting about 45 people. Since then, good word-of-mouth comments from participants, a wider array of workshops and presentations, and more sponsors have increased the Expo’s appeal.

Minnesota Power hosts and co-sponsors the Expo every year. Other sponsors are Superior Water, Light & Power, Great River Energy, Cities for Climate Protection, the Construction Specification Institute, the City of Duluth’s ComfortSystems utilities, Arrowhead Builders Association, American Institute of Architects-Minnesota, Minnesota Green Communities, U.S. Green Building Council-Mississippi Headwaters Chapter and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Program (CIP) Administrator Tina Koecher said one clear reason for the Expo’s success is the concerted effort to provide high-quality seminars and workshops on a wide variety of energy-related topics – and to offer new topics every year appealing to the diverse nature of participants.

The event delivers a wide selection of quality seminars and workshops to a variety of building, housing and environmental professionals, as well as business owners, educators, students, homeowners and others. Participants enjoy a unique opportunity to meet and network with companies, organizations and individuals while learning more about the wise use of energy and resources.

The Expo offered a host of topics, from CIP-standardized energy efficiency savings, “green building” concepts, reducing home energy usage and safety for small contractors to insulation, air sealing, retrofitting buildings for energy efficiency, building diagnostics, remodeling solutions to ensure building accessibility for an aging population, landscape management and renewable energy technologies. It also provides exhibitors a great opportunity to demonstrate and promote their products and services.

“We also created a new Web site for the Expo this year that’s much more user friendly and interactive,” Koecher said. “We really strive to improve the Expo each and every year, based on feedback from those who attend. And we encourage exhibitors to attend, since it’s a good venue for them.”

New this year were pre-conference workshops offered Feb. 25, said CIP Program Specialist Dean Talbott.

“The new half-and full-day pre-conference workshops -- which focused on changes in the CIP and on new energy legislation -- were designed to be more intensive and in-depth,” Talbott said. “There was a high turnout at these sessions by electric and gas utility representatives, as well as officials from government agencies. A half-day session was offered on CIP and on the new Minnesota Green Star program for new and existing homes.”

Talbott explained that a coalition of builders, remodelers and environmentalists introduced the voluntary Minnesota GreenStar home certification program, sponsored in part by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. GreenStar’s aim is to transform the building industry into one where healthy and sustainable building practices are understood, economically advantageous and socially desirable. It provides standards for designing and building better homes while promoting a socio-economic environment that makes such methods attainable to everyone.

A full-day workshop was also offered about energy efficiency and high-performance building and green building options for the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – known as LEED. In total, about 220 people attended Monday’s pre-conferences. MP promoted its Triple E New Construction program, which is based on the concept of a “house as a system” and promotes energy- efficient construction and design through specific thermal and performance standards.

MP promoted its CIP programs and services, as well. Talbott also served on a panel of presenters, which included representatives of two other electric and gas utility companies. They discussed utility programs and services, and how utilities collaborate with each other to achieve energy savings goals through CIP.

“This year, there was a focus on increasing energy efficiency in existing homes, due to the drop in new home construction and the slump in home sales,” Talbott said. “The goal of Expo planners is to be adaptive and focus on what’s going on in current markets. Builders tell us they’re doing a lot more retro-fitting of existing homes, and we want to be responsive to the demographic trends for Expo participation. Our regional demographics are becoming more diverse every year.”

These representatives of the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Office of Energy Security (which oversees the state-mandated CIP) also attended: Jeff Haase, Stacy Miller, Chris Gilchrist, Joe Plummer, Janet Streff, Marilou Cheple, Bruce Nelson, Phil Smith, Terry Webster and David Miller.

“The Energy Design Conference was one of the best ever – another great venue!” said Dave Lake, an energy analysis auditor with Northern Energetics.

Thanks to these key individuals for their work in making the event a success: Koecher, Talbott, Kim Tessier, Paulette Barnard, Amanda Oja, Debbie Buczynski, Teresa Gilchrist, Cindy Madill, Al Lian, Hank Mosier, Tim Gallagher, Holly Klund, Patty Young, Deb Knoll, Pat Stabs, Randy Tate and Cindy McLean.