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“DECARBONIZATION – MEDICINE FOR EARTH’S FEVER”

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

This land of antiquities that is the location for this conference highlights the urgency of this matter. The earth’s temperature has increased more in the author’s lifetime than it increased from the time these ancient lands were being used until his birth. Our planet has a fever. The case for humans causing this warming is strong. Examples of the impacts from this warming that are significant to human systems are presented. Buildings and construction are heavyweights when it comes to impacting climate change. An overview of several groups of possible high-level solutions are presented so the built environment can serve as a medicine for earth’s fever.

“CURRICULUM VITAE”

Donald Colliver is Professor in the Biosystems Engineering Department at the University of Kentucky. He has conducted and managed research in energy usage in buildings and industrial facilities, solar energy, air infiltration and ventilation, building codes, and the analysis of climatological data for determination of building design weather conditions. Don has lectured in 20 countries with his teaching emphasis in solar PV systems design; indoor environmental control; industrial energy auditing; building energy modeling and analysis; decarbonization; and sustainable design.

Dr. Colliver was the ASHRAE Society President in 2002-2003 with a theme of “Building a Better World”. As a result of his initiatives and leadership ASHRAE partnered with AIA/USGBC/IES/US-DOE in the development of the Advanced Energy Design Guide series. These AEDGs provide guidance on designing and constructing buildings that lead toward net-zero-energy buildings. He subsequently served as Chairman of the AEDG Steering Committee for ten years. In 2021 he was named the initial Co-Chair of the ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization and is currently Vice-Chair.

Dr. Colliver has served as Director of the KY Industrial Assessment Center and participated in over 85 energy assessments in industrial facilities that have resulted in implemented recommendations that save on average $110,000 per year per plant. In 2019 he designed and installed a photovoltaic system for his house which has resulted in a near net-zero electric bill. He was awarded a doctorate from Purdue University; and is a licensed professional engineer, a hiker, viticulturist, and retired soccer referee.

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