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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rich Harris, 860-299-6237
August 17, 2008 rich.harris@ct.gov
OneThing Expo: ‘Home of a Million OneThings’ at Connecticut Convention Center, October 10-12, 2008
Spectacular Three-Day Event to Celebrate Energy Conservation
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the Connecticut Convention Center will host a dazzling, three-day event, the OneThing Expo: Home of a Million OneThings, on October 10-12. The expo will highlight the endless variety of OneThings that schools, businesses and residents can do to save energy and protect the environment.
“The OneThing Expo is a story, and it will tell the evolving tale of energy conservation in Connecticut and the country,” Governor Rell said. “There has never been an event quite like this – organized by an impressive legion of volunteers from Connecticut’s arts, business, education, government and hospitality communities – to teach and inspire visitors about the role that they can play in energy conservation.
“With the prices of energy, especially heating and gasoline, at or near all-time highs, the need to save money and conserve resources has never been greater,” the Governor said. “Every corner of this exposition will be filled with ideas for saving money and preserving our environment. There are exciting ideas and fun events for people of all ages, all backgrounds and all interests. This event will truly have something for everyone.”
Conceived as a “World’s Fair of Energy Conservation,” and part of Governor Rell’s OneThing campaign, the OneThing Expo will be an engaging exploration of energy topics and an unforgettable celebration of conservation. The story will be told in bright detail by hundreds of individuals and organizations across the state – and the country – representing a myriad of industries and topics, including agriculture, recreation, transportation, building technology, the arts and education, alternative energy, consumer products and much more. More than 250 exhibitors and thousands of visitors from Maine to Maryland are expected to take part.
Governor Rell’s OneThing campaign leverages the momentum that can be achieved if everyone in the state did one thing every day to save on their energy bills and make a positive contribution to the environment. If each of the state’s 3.5 million residents did OneThing a day, every day, for a year that would be more than 1.2 billion OneThings – more than enough to make a real difference on issues such as consumption, conservation and the use of clean and renewable energy.
This campaign is an extension of Governor Rell's Connecticut Energy Vision for a Cleaner, Greener State. The Governor’s energy vision was unveiled in late 2006 to create measurable ways to reduce the cost of energy for consumers and businesses, strengthen state energy policy over the long- and short-term and reaffirm Connecticut’s position as a leader in renewable energy.
Among the Expo highlights:
Friday, October 10: A Day for Schools and Businesses
- What’s the Deal ... OneThing
This focused business-to-business event and trade show in the Grand Ballroom/Upper Level of the Connecticut Convention Center is designed as Connecticut’s largest business energy conference. The day will feature more than 40 exhibitors, 600+ attendees, and a series of panel discussions and keynote speaker presentations from some of the region’s most well-known energy/business industry experts. The event is presented by the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, the Connecticut Power and Energy Society and the Office of Policy and Management.
Education Day
More than 1,000 students and teachers in grades 3 through 6 will engage in numerous learning opportunities, guided tours and performances to inspire imaginations, expand minds and motivate students to take a greater interest in important energy topics – by showing how each and every one of them plays a role in a cleaner, greener future.
Saturday, October 11, 2008 and Sunday, October 12, 2008
Throughout the weekend, people of all ages can tour OneThing-Palooza!, a 24,000 square foot interactive area featuring Stepping Stones Museum for Children’s new “Conservation Quest” exhibit, an invention area and an energy-themed maze. The Palooza! also will showcase dozens of statewide community partners, special energy conservation programming and performances, and short films on conservation and climate change at the Connecticut Science Center Climate Change Theater. The OneThing Palooza! is being designed by the Connecticut Science Center and Norwalk-based Stepping Stones Museum for Children. The Palooza! will be open throughout the three-day Expo.
Throughout the weekend, as a complement to the 250-plus exhibits, there will be hourly speaker presentations as part of the Expo’s symposium track. From “tips for winterizing your home” to “commuting trends” to “eco-friendly food preparation tips,” this track promises something for everyone.
Powerful Collaboration
On Saturday, October 10, the ING Hartford Marathon takes place throughout downtown Hartford and its surrounding communities. To capitalize on the momentum and energy of both events, organizers of the marathon and Expo have teamed up on cross-promotional and logistical initiatives, including a foot trail leading Marathon spectators and participants from Bushnell Park to the OneThing Expo, and OneThing conservation tips, which will be posted along the race route.
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