Garbage Warrior & Kilowatt Ours (NR)

Running Time : 2 hours, minutes
Directed by
Starring

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Synopsis:

At the conclusion of the valley’s first ever inter-governmental Energy Summit and the eve of High Country Citizen Alliance's (HCCA) 9th annual Sustainable Communities Symposium, several Gunnison County locals, inspired by their community-wide movement towards reducing the Gunnison Valley’s energy footprint through the creation of energy action plans and the Office for Resource Efficiency’s (ORE) mission, "to empower the Gunnison Valley to lower utility costs, develop renewable energy sources, decrease carbon emissions, and build a more sustainable self-sufficient economy", wish to share this powerful story to promote more collaboration among homeowners, builders, planning departments, and energy providers so all generations will have a more sustainable self-sufficient community.


Eric Krawczyk, a school counselor in Gunnison, and Bruce VanBuskirk, founder of Authentic Energy and Earthship homeowner, have been consulting on how to build the first Earthship home in Gunnison County. Eric and his wife, Casey, have researched and practiced these low-tech construction methods with the architect, Michael Reynolds, who is featured in the film. With their summer breaks from working in public education, Eric and Casey plan to build their Earthship home over the next 2 years. They hope this event can support the dialogue necessary to continue the growth of sustainable building methods in Gunnison County.

Garbage Warrior:
What do beer cans, car tires and water bottles have in common? Not much unless you're renegade architect Michael Reynolds, in which case they are tools of choice for producing thermal mass and energy-independent housing. For 30 years New Mexico-based Reynolds and his green disciples have devoted their time to advancing the art of "Earthship Biotecture" by building self-sufficient, off-the-grid communities where design and function converge in eco-harmony. However, these experimental structures that defy state standards create conflict between Reynolds and the authorities, who are backed by big business. Frustrated by antiquated legislation, Reynolds lobbies for the right to create a sustainable living test site. While politicians hum and ha, Mother Nature strikes, leaving communities devastated by tsunamis and hurricanes. Reynolds and his crew seize the opportunity to lend their pioneering skills to those who need it most. Shot over three years and in four countries, Garbage Warrior is a timely portrait of a determined visionary, a hero of the 21st century.

Earthship n. 1. passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials 2. thermal mass construction for temperature stabilization. 3. renewable energy & integrated water systems make the Earthship an off-grid home with little to no utility bills.

Biotecture n. 1. the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their sustainability. 2. A combination of biology and architecture.

Kilowatt Hours:
Kilowatt Ours is a film designed to educate the general public regarding where electricity comes from, why it is important that we reduce the amount of electricity we use, and practical steps we can take as individuals, families and organizations to cut our electrical use. Examples of significant energy savings are drawn from the filmmaker' s own apartment, from other homeowners, from school districts, cities, and large businesses. This film was produced by Jeff Barrie and Southern Energy Conservation Initiative. The film suggests connections between an average homeowner's electrical energy use and adverse health and environmental impacts, including mountain top removal coal mining, global warming, and asthma. The film shows the actions that homeowners, businesses and communities can take to save money by saving energy and reducing their demand for energy.