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By Lisa Heller
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 16, 1996
People interested in learning about the design of homes suitable for desert dwelling can attend a free seminar tonight at University Medical Center."Innovative Homes and Sustainable Communities" will feature a panel discussion of 10 Tucson speakers who specialize in the fields of architecture, engineering, economic development and energy conservation.
Nader Chalfoun, architecture professor, said the purpose of the seminar is to prepare participants for the Tucson Innovative Home Tour, which is Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tour includes 17 homes that feature energy-efficient ways to live in the Tucson desert.
Tickets for the tour are $10 and can be purchased through the College of Architecture. Student tickets are half price.
Chalfoun, who has been studying energy conservation for 17 years, is also speaking at the seminar tonight.
He said energy consumption has been steadily increasing at a rate of 4.5 percent in Arizona every year.
"That's really scary," he said.
Paul Huddy, former director of the UA solar energy and research facility, agreed with Chalfoun. He said the community needs to start taking environmental energy problems seriously.
"We are trying to avoid an environmental and social disaster of mega proportions," Huddy said. "Part of the solution is making our current society more sustainable to live in."
The seminar will deal with topics to help people understand the environmental benefits to alternative heating and cooling with solar panels, said Chalfoun. He said that in addition to the seminar's speakers, displays will be set up by various builders and manufacturers of new energy-efficient products.
Tonight's seminar will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in University Medical Center's DuVal Auditorium.
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