By DAVID BERTOLA
dbertola@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1621

Daemen College professor Brenda Young says the seventh annual Western New York Environmental Summit scheduled for Sept. 24 has evolved over the years.

"We've shifted from talking about environmental issues with the environmental community to talking with the public about it," said Young, coordinator of the event and director of the college's local and global sustainability programent. "We used to bring the environmental community together to have a conversation, and now we are trying to get the public to come and learn about what various environmental groups and businesses are doing."

As of late August, eight companies were scheduled to exhibit at the event, which will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the Daemen campus at 4380 Main St. in Amherst.

Workshops and exhibits will cover a range of environmental topics, including:

• Green jobs

• Do-it-yourself home weatherization

• How to make your own green cleaning supplies

• Using social media within your organization

• Lead and radon in your home

• Greening your congregation

"We're doing a lot more education about things companies can proactively do that affects their bottom lines," said Young, who mentioned printing less paper and seeking energy-efficiency opportunities as ways companies can save money.

The summit is sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement at Daemen College, Western New York Apollo Alliance, The Knoer Group and the Erie County Environmental Education Institute.

Admission is free and open to the public. To inquire about exhibiting, contact Brenda Young at byoung@daemen.edu or (716) 839-8366. More information is available atdaemen.edu/summit.