What To Expect
Breakout Sessions Built Around the Climate Action Plan
Earthrise 815 breaks the day into focused sessions so you can go deep on the topics that matter most to you, from home energy upgrades to funding and policy for local businesses. Each session is led by a subject matter expert and grouped into tracks you can follow throughout the day.
Browse the schedule below by time block, then open a session to see the room, presenters, and what you’ll walk away with. Expect more details as the conference day approaches.
Schedule at a Glance
Sessions are grouped by time so you can plan your day. Select a track below to see the full description, learning objectives, and presenters for that session.
Breakout Sessions - Group 1
Electricity & Grid
What is going on with our electric grid and electricity prices? The impacts of data centers, solar and wind energy, electric vehicles, home, commercial and industrial electrification on our grid and on our electricity bills.
Presenters:
- TBD
Natural Lands
The vital role of natural lands: Our connection to nature, biodiversity, carbon dioxide sequestration, water management and human health.
Presenters:
- TBD
Energy Efficiency - Commercial/Industrial
Every business pays attention to its bottom line and these days it’s more important than ever to keep expenses down – especially energy costs. Learn how energy efficiency and solar energy can do just that and help us meet our goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, too.
Presenters:
- TBD
Climate Change Science
We can’t change the weather but we can and are impacting the climate. The science is well established and really quite interesting. All seven of the Rockford Region Climate Action Plan are based on climate change science – take a deeper dive into it.
Presenters:
- TBD
Waste Reduction - Composting
Everyone can compost their kitchen scraps. Come and see a demonstration of several ways you can do it and reduce greenhouse gases from the landfill and improve your garden’s soil.
Presenters:
- TBD
Social Equity
There are important linkages between climate change, public health and social equity. Learn why front-line communities so often feel the impacts first and what resources there are to help.
Presenters:
- TBD
Built Environment
Housing costs are higher than ever – and we are all paying more to operate, maintain and insure them. Hear about the sustainable ways that work to address all these housing challenges.
Presenters:
- TBD
Breakout Sessions - Group 2
Built Environment
How we build our homes, businesses and communities sets the stage for how we live. As we learn to live more sustainably, we are changing and redesigning the built environment to align with our net-zero, low-waste, healthy, and equity goals. It’s exciting to see all that is happening and what the future may hold.
Presenters:
- TBD
Water
Water: it is so easy to take it for granted – until its in short supply or polluted. What are the facts about our water supply and who is doing what to keep our water safe and abundant
Presenters:
- TBD
Energy Efficiency - Residential
The cheapest energy you can get is the energy you don’t use! Energy efficiency at home can save you money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the same time! Also learn about your solar energy options and how anyone can get solar.
Presenters:
- TBD
Plants
As our climate changes so do the stresses on the plants around us – the plants that add such beauty and function to the whole world. Plants clean our air, purify our water, preserve our soil and give us joy. Learn more about how we can be better plant stewards in our homes, neighborhoods and communities.
Presenters:
- TBD
Waste Reduction - Lifestyle
We all know that we waste too much. Fortunately, there are many proven strategies to help us take meaningful action to waste less in nearly all aspects of our households and it all adds up to benefits we sometimes overlook.
Presenters:
- TBD
Economic Development
Illinois is a national leader in clean and renewable energy. Not only that but our state is growing the CE/RE jobs needed to keep these sectors strong and growing – and doing so by programs designed to focus the jobs growth in frontline communities.
Presenters:
- TBD
Air
Ours is a highly mobile culture with fossil-fueled vehicles at the center of it. We are making steady progress to employ alternatives: electric vehicles of all kinds along with biking and walking continue to transform how we move people and materials.
Presenters:
- TBD
Breakout Sessions - Group 3
Solar Energy
Everyone can ‘get solar!’ Illinois is one of the best states in the nation for getting solar affordably – regardless of your income. If you don’t have solar, learn how to get it – for your home, business, church, institution or government buildings. If you do have solar, learn how to encourage others to do so.
Presenters:
- TBD
Waste Reduction
Landfills: Reducing emissions, conserving capacity and the impact of recycling. The Winnebago County Landfill is the largest in the state and it is projected to reach its capacity in just 12 years. Learn what that means for us all.
Presenters:
- TBD
Sustainable Businesses
How businesses are becoming more energy efficient, using clean energy, reducing material waste recycling and water conservation.
Presenters:
- TBD
Water
Down the drain – and gone. It is easy to ignore the critical role of waste water treatment and how we are doing it more sustainably for the environment and for the health of us all.
Presenters:
- TBD
Sustainable Agriculture
We all have to eat so farmers and farming have to be a top priority for us all. Hundreds of years of working the soil have taught us invaluable lessons in conserving the soil that grows our food. Come and hear how sustainable soil and land management practices are changing and improving.
Presenters:
- TBD
Emergency Preparedness
We know that extreme weather and extreme weather events are on the rise. Even in the Midwest we are not immune. Preparation is essential and there are many experts providing ways to do that – in our homes, our businesses, our neighborhoods and communities.
Presenters:
- TBD
Sustainable Identity
We already are a community that is sustainable in more ways than most of us know. Learn many of those ways and how we could celebrate them publically and proudly!
Presenters:
- TBD
Reserve Your Spot
Help Secure Our Future
Join your neighbors, sustainability experts, and local leaders for a full day of action-focused breakout sessions. This event is open to the public.
