The University of Wyoming/Casper College's annual free public lecture series will continue at 7 p.m. Thursday with a discussion on making housing in Wyoming affordable by using energy efficient materials and alternative sources of power.

The discussion will take place in the Wheeler Auditorium, Room 103 of the Wold Physical Science Center at Casper College.

Speakers will include Mark Wooley, a developer of a new housing project in Rawlins, and Scott Kane, a representative from Creative Energies of Lander.

Wooley will discuss the importance of developing housing that will remain cost-efficient through energy efficiency. He advocates use of construction technologies that, while sometimes expensive to install, keep homeowner energy bills lower and more affordable.

Kane, whose energy firm specializes in innovative alternative energy sources for houses and commercial buildings, will discuss saving money on energy by using solar design, better insulation and more efficient appliances.

The discussion series, titled "Climate Change in Carbon Central - Developing Strategies in Wyoming," is scheduled for every other Thursday through Nov. 20.

Each of the discussions will take place at the same time and place, and will be available for download at outreach.uwyo.edu/ocp/podcasting.asp.

The series is sponsored by UW's Helga and Otto Haub School and William Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, the UW/CC Center, and the UW Outreach School.

For more information, call the UW/CC Center at (307) 268-2713 or (877) 264-9930; or visit www.uwyo.edu/uwcc.

Series slate

The series schedule asks the question "What does climate change have to do with …?" for the following topics:

* Wyoming Cities and Towns, led by Rocky Anderson and Mark Barron, Sept. 11.

* Work Force Housing, led by Mark Wooley, developer of a project in Rawlins; and Scott Kane, owner of Creative Energies renewable energy company in Lander; Thursday.

* Hunting and Fishing, led by Jim Posewitz, director of Orion: The Hunter's Institute; and Steve Jackson, UW botany professor; Oct. 9.

* Paying the Bills, led by Howard Geller, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project; and Mary Byrnes, member of the Wyoming Public Service Commission; Oct. 23.

* Kids, led by Scott Beall, seventh-grade science teacher from New York; and Craig Sorenson, superintendent of Sweetwater County School District No. 2; Nov. 6.

* State Finances, led by Gov. Dave Freudenthal (schedule permitting), Nov. 20.

Each of the discussions will take place at 7 p.m. in the Wheeler Auditorium at Casper College, and will be available for download at outreach.uwyo.edu/ocp/podcasting.asp.