EcoBits by EcoBrandi July 17th – Formula Sun, Green by Design, Smart Energy, Clean Water Rules, 10-1 Eco Plans, 0 GHG, 10,000!

Thursday, July 17, 2014


EcoBits by Brandi



Entries form 2013 Formula Sun Grand PrixFor the second time, Austin will host the Formula Sun Grand Prix out at the Circuit of the Americas track. This year 23 college teams from around the world (some heavily sponsored by the auto industry) are competing in this three-day solar-powered endurance race. The vehicles are designed and built by the students and "fueled" entirely by the sun.  The public is invited ou for the final day of the race on Saturday, from 8:30am – 5pm.
Solar-powered RC-vehicles as well as solar car kits for children to build and race will be available as well. It's all day Saturday July 19th out at COTA.

UT Solar race car for Formula Sun Grand PrixSee Scott Burton's blog about the UT car and the race track and rules here >>
Read more about the racehere >>
And get event details and directions here >>
 


Green By Design Workshop SeriesBack, by popular demand, in anew format…the consistent crowd-pleaser, the informative and even funny course that usually sells out known asGreen By Design. Taught over the course of three evenings (versus all daySaturday) by the pros from the Austin Energy Green Building Program will show you how to build, remodel or buy green homes that improve energy and water efficiency, increase comfort, and reduce maintenance. 
The workshop is now designed to provide a choice of topics based on your green building needs. Sessions are paired with Austin Energy Green Building team members who are available to provide insight and experience on sustainable building practices.

 
Green By Design Workshop Session 1: Planning and Designing a Green Home
Tuesday, July 29th from 7-9pm at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Rd
  • Identifying home design priorities with sustainability concepts in mind
  • Understanding how sustainability applies to home design
  • Learning how location, site and climate affect the design of a sustainable home
  • Exploring zero-energy capable home features and strategies
Green By Design Workshop Session 2: Green Materials, Products and Landscaping
Tuesday, August 5th from 7-9pm at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Rd
  • Designing homes that are material and resource efficient
  • Selecting material choices that are healthier and safer
  • Making informed decisions when choosing materials
  • Understanding responsible landscaping features and strategies
Green By Design Workshop Session 3: Green Home Systems
Tuesday, August 12th from 7-9pm at Town Lake Center, 721 Barton Springs Rd
  • Designing and right-sizing mechanical systems for comfort and efficiency
  • Understanding the role of mechanical performance in humidity control and indoor air quality
  • Comparing high efficiency lighting and appliances
  • Selecting venting, water heating, and plumbing systems
Attend one session or all for only $25.  Advance registration is required. Deadline is Friday, July 25, 2014. Please register as early as possible in order to guarantee your seat in this popular workshop.  Register here>>

 


Update on Smart energy from SPEERJust today the South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER) released a report titled, “An Update on Smart Energy in Texas.”  The report examines the promise and potential of smart energy in Texas. It highlights how the state is leading on smart energy with seven million smart meters in use, a common portal (Smart Meter Texas) for four of the largest utilities in the state, and 15 minute data available to customers. However, it also underscores the need for Texas to take further steps to maintain this position of leadershipRead the report to learn about achievements, shortcomings and next steps for efforts to increase smarter energy use.>>
 


EPA's Gilinsky on Clean Water Act rulesYesterday there was yet another press conference with Mayor Leffingwell and EPA officials, this time to publicly demonstrate Austin's support for the draft EPA rules that would clarify the "Waters of the United States" that get protection from the Clean Water Act. When finalized, the proposal will restore protections to headwater and small streams and wetlands, including streams that only flow seasonally or after storms. These types of water sources supply drinking water to over 117 million Americans, including 11.5 million Texans and 864,00 people in Travis County. 

Clean Water Action delivers over 1000 letters & 1000 postcards from members who want the Clean Water Act to protect all streams

Clean Water Action delivered a huge stack of 1000+ hand-written letters and a tote-bag full of 1000+ postcardsfrom CWA members who support this move by the EPA. Everyone speaking agreed that the metaphor of protecting the health of the capillaries to impact the health of the veins was a fitting metaphor since, Ellen Gilinsky of the EPA said, "Rivers are only as clean as the tributaries and streams that feed them."  More info in the press release >>
Want to add your opinion? Learn more and tell the EPA what you think here >>
Also, use the hashtag #ProtectCleanWater on social media.
 


2014 Austin Election Help GuideAfter an initial planning meeting a group of us have come up with a multi-pronged approach to making sure enviro issues are well represented in the upcoming local 10-1 election season. Our suggestions take into account the fact that we have some track record with forums and questionnaires AND we have 11 simultaneous races, no paid staff, and some cool opportunities to build on other efforts. The plan is:

  1. Compile a great list of questions on a wide range of environmental and broader sustainability themes. 
  2. Submit some questions to the League of Women Voters which is not only publishing their voter guide but collaborating with the City of Austin to produce a series of 7 candidate forums for all ten districts and the mayor's race.
  3. Distribute a multi-sustainability-issue questionnaire to all candidates and publish their responses on Austin EcoNetwork, the forthcoming Imagine One Austin and perhaps promote via the Austin Chronicle.
  4. Book a series of video recording sessiondays where we invite all the candidates for all races to come to a location to be recorded answering questions on sustainability subjects, perhaps following up on some of their questionnaire answers. Publish those on YouTube and hopefully ATXN in a way that it's easy to see all the candidates for one race sequentially.
  5. Hold a Mayoral candidate forum covering multiple environmental issues. 
  6. Hold candidate forums during the run-offs for the remaining candidates. 
I/we welcome your feedback. It's also not too late to get involved!

Individuals and groups interested in planning, co-sponsoring, and financially supporting these efforts can email me.

Read more about the other resources available for getting on top of local elections in my 2014 Local Election Help Guide>>
 


Working to reach Net Zero GHG by 2050The Austin City Council's passage of the Net Zero Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Emissionshas set into motion a bunch of groups working to figure out how exactly we might actually do that. There is a steering committee and four Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) evaluating strategies and targets in the areas of Energy, Transportation, Waste and Industrial Processes. The Industrial Processes is a small group of folks from the local semiconductor industry that are the only local users of certain potent GHGs. The Energy Group will no doubt build on the recent work by the Energy Generation Planning Task Force. I am serving on two TAGs and within the last week have participated in the first meetings of the Transportation and Waste/Materials Management/Stuff (we haven't picked a name yet). It's clear we need and will have briefings on things like GHG measurement protocols and reviews of other cities' plans, as well as sometechnology scans and systems diagramming to help us figure out all the levers for change in these complicated systems. It's also clear that defining ourscope/boundaries is important, as are conversations with surrounding communities to bring them along as much as possible.
I will happily serve as a conduit of messages to any of the committees. If you have suggestions in any of the areas just email me. I have mentally put myself "back in college" to study up on all this material so together we can make some ground-breaking plans. Stay tuned!
 


The Imagine One Austin information series will be held on Mondays throughout the summer.The next two Monday evening Imagine One Austin information series are focused on conservation, environment and recreation(July 21) and then land use and transportation (onJuly 28th). Groups that want to table during the optional hour from 8-9pm should RSVP. They will be provide a table and two chairs, for free.
 


Austin EcoNetwork has more than 10.000 subscribers and followers!FYI – Our EcoCommunity is reaching a critical mass. Austin EcoNetwork is now reaching over 10,000 caring and concerned Austin-area folks each week with the EcoNews and our social media followers (and even more via ouronline content!)
Last week we crossed the threshold of 7000+ email subscribers and we have continued to maintain an above-average open rate as we have grown. We now have 1741 in our facebook community and 1300Twitter followers for a grand total of 10,041! If you add in my personal facebook and twitter (granted not all local folks) that adds another 3500+.

We have been getting better at gaining re-tweets and other engagement measures, thanks to Amy Stansbury. If each of you reading would invite two other people to subscribe to the EcoNews we could grow our subscribers and impact by another 25% this week! And if you are not yet doing so, please Follow us on twitter and Like our facebook page. There is often time-sensitive stuff in those places that can't wait till the next EcoNews.  
Thank you for being readers. Thank you for caring about Austin and the environment.  
I love you!

 


Have you seen the PBS spot on local green business Compost Pedallers? It's scheduled to air one more time locally on KLRU-Q this Friday morning at 9:30am or you can just watch it here >>
Compost Pedallers on TV

 

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