The Fifth U.S. Conference on Peak Oil and Community Solutions: Tours

All tours will include guided group transportation and meal.

Tour of Willows Earth Education Center, Lapeer, Michigan ($10)
(includes pizza lunch)
Friday, October 31, 3-6pm

Please join us for a tour of the Willows Earth Education Center, the first commercial strawbale building in the state of Michigan, approximately 30 miles from Oakland University. The Willows is a 5000 sq.ft. passive solar building which incorporates numerous elements of ecological design including a living roof, a 3 kw photovoltaic array, solar hot water, earthen plasters, and 100 percent daylighting.

Our tour will also include two traditional Great Lakes native bark houses, gardens, and pizza from the mud oven.

Tour of Mind Body & Spirits, Michigan's First Sustainable Restaurant ($20)
(includes organic/local gourmet lunch)
Mind Body & Spirits, Rochester, MI
Saturday, November 1, 12-2pm

Mind Body & Spirits, in the heart of downtown Rochester, is an extraordinary new dining concept offering great tasting, healthy meals made with the highest quality natural, organic and local products available... all while minimizing the negative impact on our environment.

Housed in a newly renovated century old two-story building on Main Street, Mind Body & Spirits is working to become Michigan's first sustainable restaurant and is expecting to receive Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. When designing the space, the restaurant implemented every feasible green option before completing the project. Upon entering the restaurant you are taken on a green-building journey. The fresh and airy interior is furnished with environmentally friendly materials from the bamboo and cork flooring to the VOC-free painted walls to the solar panels on the rooftop.

Mind Body & Spirits' commitment to environmental stewardship is also evident through its partnerships with certified organic local farmers and eco-conscious suppliers as well as a continual assessment of its own sustainable efforts. "We recognize that there will always be more things we can do," said Plesz. "We hope to create an environment that inspires our guests to learn about healthy options and sustainability as well as share their knowledge with us so that we can continue to grow in a responsible manner. Ultimately, by practicing sustainability, our goal is to leave the world in better condition than we found it."

Tour of Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center, Oxford, MI ($10)
(includes lunch)
Sunday, November 2, 12-1:30pm

Located in rural Oxford, the Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center is a one-of-a-kind facility that demonstrates many examples of renewable energy, energy-efficiency and ecological design principles in action. Cliff Scholz, UHEAC's Education Outreach Coordinator, will guide the tour. He has designed many of UHEAC's materials and presentations, and is a gifted educator, able to make energy and ecological issues simple, relevant and fun for all ages.

Join us for a quick tour, guided bus transportation, and a healthy buffet lunch.

Top of Page

For more information, email info@plancconference.org.

Download the conference brochure and registration form.


	Tours All tours will include guided group transportation and meal. Tour of Willows Earth Education Center, Lapeer, Michigan ($10) (includes pizza lunch) Friday, October 31, 3-6pm Please join us for a tour of the Willows Earth Education Center, the first commercial strawbale building in the state of Michigan, approximately 30 miles from Oakland University. The Willows is a 5000 sq.ft. passive solar building which incorporates numerous elements of ecological design including a living roof, a 3 kw photovoltaic array, solar hot water, earthen plasters, and 100 percent daylighting. Our tour will also include two traditional Great Lakes native bark houses, gardens, and pizza from the mud oven. Tour of Mind Body & Spirits, Michigan's First Sustainable Restaurant ($20) (includes organic/local gourmet lunch) Mind Body & Spirits, Rochester, MI Saturday, November 1, 12-2pm Mind Body & Spirits, in the heart of downtown Rochester, is an extraordinary new dining concept offering great tasting, healthy meals made with the highest quality natural, organic and local products available... all while minimizing the negative impact on our environment. Housed in a newly renovated century old two-story building on Main Street, Mind Body & Spirits is working to become Michigan's first sustainable restaurant and is expecting to receive Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. When designing the space, the restaurant implemented every feasible green option before completing the project. Upon entering the restaurant you are taken on a green-building journey. The fresh and airy interior is furnished with environmentally friendly materials from the bamboo and cork flooring to the VOC-free painted walls to the solar panels on the rooftop. Mind Body & Spirits' commitment to environmental stewardship is also evident through its partnerships with certified organic local farmers and eco-conscious suppliers as well as a continual assessment of its own sustainable efforts. "We recognize that there will always be more things we can do," said Plesz. "We hope to create an environment that inspires our guests to learn about healthy options and sustainability as well as share their knowledge with us so that we can continue to grow in a responsible manner. Ultimately, by practicing sustainability, our goal is to leave the world in better condition than we found it." Tour of Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center, Oxford, MI ($10) (includes lunch) Sunday, November 2, 12-1:30pm Located in rural Oxford, the Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center is a one-of-a-kind facility that demonstrates many examples of renewable energy, energy-efficiency and ecological design principles in action. Cliff Scholz, UHEAC's Education Outreach Coordinator, will guide the tour. He has designed many of UHEAC's materials and presentations, and is a gifted educator, able to make energy and ecological issues simple, relevant and fun for all ages. Join us for a quick tour, guided bus transportation, and a healthy buffet lunch. Top of Page For more information, email info@plancconference.org. Download the conference brochure and registration form.