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Cleantech Commons’ “New Frontiers” Speaker Series Launches

Cleantech Commons launched our “New Frontiers” speaker series on August 22 in Peterborough.

From L to R: Greg Livings, Eco Innovations Inc.; Cleantech Commons executive director, Martin Yuill; Mathew McKay, Eco Innovations, Inc.; guest speaker Keith Deweyof Zigloo Studio.

The inaugural event was presented in partnership with Eco Innovations Inc., and featured a talk by Keith Dewey, the owner of British Columbia-based Zigloo Studio Inc.

Keith’s talk was titled: “Container Housing: Thinking Inside the Box”.

Our “New Frontiers” Speaker Series is designed to both explore and showcase the latest cleantech research; the newest green, low-carbon, environmental and climate technology innovations; and the most influential innovators and entrepreneurs that are moving the world towards a new, low-pollution model built on clean innovation through energy efficiency improvements; the sustainable use of resources; and environmental protection activities.

For Keith, sustainability is the cornerstone of all design and client criteria are balanced with the environmental impact of the building and the required regulations.

The combination of these elements results, Keith believes, in a design and building that serves the needs of the client, the environment AND the future.

A full house: so great to see so many who came out to listen, learn and engage on the critical issue of housing in Peterborough

With Peterborough currently experiencing a housing crisis, this was the ideal time to confront the challenges of affordable housing – while also considering the various innovations that will make clean, green and sustainable housing a reality.

In building design, the attributes of sustainability are measured in aspects such as cost-to-construct, resource impact and enduring relevance.

ABOUT KEITH – OUR GUEST SPEAKER

Keith has made a name for himself as a result of his pioneering approach to “building with a conscience”: finding ways to bring new life to old materials, reducing the need for energy by reducing size, and promoting recycled and renewable materials when resources are required.

Guest speaker, Keith Dewey of Zigloo Studio, Inc.

The up-cycling and adaptive re-use of shipping containers is his most recognizable trademark building material, but Keith also promotes structural solutions, insulation options and finishing materials with smaller carbon footprints than the standards promoted by other designers and builders.

Keith’s shipping container structures have garnered multiple accolades from the environmental community. He has been featured on Radio, TV and print media all over the world. Websites such as INHABITAT, HOUSEPORN and HUFFINGTON POST have featured Zigloo Studio’s work.

ABOUT CLEANTECH COMMONS

At Cleantech Commons, Canada’s Cleantech Research & Technology Park, we are all about building Canadian leadership to solve global energy, environmental, sustainability and climate challenges – all while supporting Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the global low-carbon & green economy.

It was really wonderful to see the participation and camaraderie of so many of the local political parties, candidates, City Councillors & policy folks who attended.

The vision for Cleantech Commons is to become Canada’s premier clean, green and low-carbon technology research, innovation, entrepreneurship and commercialization location, and the center of a cluster of established cleantech companies, growth enterprises, startup ventures and associated value-adding professional service providers, investors, incubators and accelerators focused on clean technology, water technology, environmental services, advanced material sciences, biotechnology, medical and health products, agri-food and agri-business, and information and communications technologies.

Cleantech Commons will provide startups and scale-up ventures with specialized research laboratories, experimental facilities, technology assessment zones, value-added services, business support & a collaborative ecosystem to drive cleantech innovation & job creation.

Cleantech Commons is a partnership between Trent University and the City of Peterborough.

***The views expressed on any Cleantech Commons platform, or at any Cleantech Commons event, are not those of Cleantech Commons or its shareholders, stakeholders, partners, tenants or clients, but are those of the speaker/s alone and the organizations they represent***