MAINE / NEW HAMPSHIRE CHAPTER CSI
JANUARY DINNER MEETING
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
PROGRAM TOPIC: 2010-2020: ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
- Engineers are applied scientists who take information from research scientists and their own experience to design products, projects, or processes which solve a real-world problem.
- A vast majority of the research scientists of the world say we have a real-world problem to solve with climate change.
- Specifically, what changes to climate are expected for Maine and New Hampshire?
- What changes in climate are already being observed here? Local photos & news accounts
- So, the engineers of the world need to get to work on this, and fulfill the role that we serve in society.
- There are OPPORTUNITIES for the design and construction industries here. Yet, there is also URGENCY; we need to be engaging them sooner rather than later.
- SOLUTIONS to climate change take on four different forms: there are mitigation strategies, adaptation strategies, more research, and a huge need for education.
- How are design & construction professionals changing their practice already? Vertical Infrastructure (buildings-facilities), Horizontal Infrastructure (transportation, water, wastewater, storm water) USGBC, LEED, Asset Management, Liquid Assets documentary film, etc.
- What still needs to change: Design Standards & basis data for calculating precipitation probabilities (100-year storm, etc.)
Three Action Items:- We need to be telling our elected officials (and our customers) that climate change is real, and all the solutions need to be aggressively engaged early in this new decade.
- We need to ENVISION a sustainable future: Civilization 3.0 ...a discussion of what "sustainability" means exactly, and, How society will accomplish it.
- We each need to ensure we are personally a part of the solution, in managing our projects, businesses, AND in managing our homes.
SPEAKER: Ray Sirois, Wright Pierce Engineers
Ray lives in Harrison Maine with his wife Shelly and son Nick who
is a sophomore in high school. Together they enjoy lots of boating, skiing,
and now SCUBA diving!
As a volunteer for TheClimateProject.org, Ray has been speaking to
schools, universities, business and civic groups on the science
and solutions of climate change. Ray is one of 1000 individuals
in this country who was trained by Al Gore and the scientists of
The Climate Project. He has also attended follow-up training
conducted by the Union of Concerned Scientists here in New
England. He has presented to over 50 audiences, large and small.
For his day job, Ray is Sr. Associate and IT Director at Wright-Pierce,
a consulting engineering firm of 160 employees with offices throughout
New England. They specialize in civil infrastructure, water,
and wastewater treatment. By leveraging the expertise
of his co-workers and his connections in the climate research community,
Ray has been actively pursuing updated, more sustainable,
engineering calculation methods for the design of tomorrow's infrastructure.
He also serves on the Maine DEP Climate Adaptation Stakeholder's
Group which is preparing a report for that state's legislature and
municipal policy makers on the adaptation strategies to be considered
moving forward.
LUs/PDHs: 1.0 AIA/CES HSW (SD) Learning Units
Where: Kennebunk Inn, 45 Main Street, Kennebunk, Maine . Rooms are available at reduced rates - Adams Room with queen size bed at $72 and Jefferson Room with King size bed at $81. Please call 207-985-3351 for reservations and mention you are with CSI.
AGENDA:
5:00 PM Social (cash bar)
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Presentation
DINNER : Choice of stuffed apple chutney pork, broiled haddock, or grilled balsamic chicken breast served with side salad, starch and vegetable, hot rolls and butter, and a hot fudge sundae.
DINNER COST: CSI members - $35; Non-members - $40; CSI member spouses and guests may register at member rate.
Use Paypal dropdown menu to register as member/non-member
Questions: Contact Wayne Wheeler at 603-271-5185 or at info@nhcsi.org
