EcoBits for the Week of August 7 – August 14, 2014

Austin Environmental Democrats hosted their first endorsement meeting yesterday for District 9 and the Mayor's race. Earning the club's endorsement requires the support of 60% of their voting members. Since none of the five contenders met that threshold, no endorsements were issued
District 9 (referred to as some as a "Power District") encompasses parts of downtown, West Campus, North Campus and East Austin. In the District 9 forum, Kathie Tovo and Chris Riley were pretty evenly matched (he got 6 more votes than her) though distinctions in their visions for Austin's development patterns became clearer. Note the third candidate in 9, Erin McGann, had voted in multiple recent Republican primaries which conflicted with her consideration for the Democratic club's endorsement.

  • Riley had a few more eco-merit badges with his car-free lifestyle, Austin 4-Star AEGB-rated green home remodel. He also has a strong record of environmental policy leadership on climate change planning, alternative transportationincluding bikes and CapMetro, grey waterpilots, and a progressive commercial landscaping ordinance. He emphasizedsmaller, closer and driving less and hewants CodeNEXT to be less car-centric. He recognizes that the goals of density can challenge the status quo, including values held by neighborhoods and even environmentalists.
  • Tovo, who drives a low-emissions vehicle, has native landscaping and recycles, touted her sponsorship of the recent Austin Water Resource Planning Task Forceand the Austin [Energy] Generation Resource Planning Task Force which did important strategic planning for Austin's future. She also emphasized her stance on the Project Duration issue (the goal is to hold developers to newer standards rather than let them use rules that are up to 14 year-old.) She expressed concerns about proposed (by Riley) code changes happening outside the comprehensive planning process that could waive requirements for parking, building separations, impervious cover limits and flooding controls. She emphasizedappropriate places for density and infill within neighborhood plans, core transit corridors and the Imagine Austin plan.

In the AED Mayor's forum Steve Adler got the most votes (47.5%), with Mike Martinez in second (38.75%) and Sheryl Cole a distant third (10%). Again, no endorsement was issued. Stay tuned, next week we will run a writeup of their intros and answers to feisty audience's Q&A.
 


Green Frame for 2014 ElectionThis fall's first-ever 10-1 Austin City Council election will be, in effect, a giant re-set button on Austin's leadership. At most, two of Austin's current council members will be among the 11 serving on the Council dais at the beginning of next year.
Austin EcoNetwork is working hard gathering input from environmental group leaders and citizensand make sure our priorities are known by the candidates and that we have an election that pulls for leaders willing to move Austin forward in an sustainable way.
Plans are in the works for a multi-eco issuequestionnairevideo taped and publishedinterviews, and a mayoral candidate forum. We also anticipate hosting candidate forums for the runoff elections (which are likely in many races).

More than 60 people have filled out this quick survey with their environmental priorities for their district as well as for the whole city. It's not too late to fill it out!
PLEASE TAKE THIS 4 QUESTION SURVEY
Your answers will help to shape the questions we ask on candidate questionnaires, interviews, and forums so what you say matters!

If you are willing to volunteer or make a financial contribution to producing these activities pleaseemail Brandi.

 


The Bijansky's net zero home was recently featured in a KUT radio story. In Case You Missed It:Austin residents and EcoNews readers Steve and Devon Bijansky were recently featured in a KUT news story about net zero homes. Not only is their three-bedroom house a net zero energy consumer, but the Bijansky's Allendale home has actually managed to put 32 kilowatt hours of energy back onto the grid!That's because they have integrated both energy efficiency measures and renewable generation into their house with the help of solar panels, insulation, and a geothermal cooling/heating systemListen to the full story here>>

Want to learn more about green building? Attend the Green by Design workshop next Tuesday from 7-9pmMore info>>
 


Austin Energy is expanding its downtown chiller project.Austin Energy is expanding its innovative downtown chiller project. A new temporary chilling unit was recently installed behind the Gables Park Tower development, to serve any immediate needs until a permanent plant is completed in the fall of 2017. 


This new unit is part of the larger downtown district cooling system that helps to keep 10 million square feet of space cool during the hottest parts of the day. It works like this – using thermal storage technology, Austin Energy creates ice at night, when electricity demand and prices are low and then distributes the resulting cold water through a system of underground pipes during the day when demand and prices are high. In 2012 alone, this system shifted 15 megawatts of peak power from the most to least expensive time of day, saving money for the utility and its customers. Learn more>>
 


Professor Dumpster is upgrading his home.Speaking of chilling,Professor Dumpster is enjoying the latest upgrade to his trash can digs, which now includes an air conditioning unit. The Huston-Tillotson professor who has been living in a 36-square foot dumpster for the past six months is transitioning into the second phase of his sustainable living project, even installing an air conditioning unit in his tiny home. He is calling this his Studio Dumpster phase, which basically means that he is beginning to plug into the grid and use normal appliances. Eventually, Professor Dumpster plans to upgrade yet again into an Uber Dumpster phase, which could involve adding a composting toilet and outdoor solar heated shower. To learn more about this innovative design project, be sure to watch this KVUE interview with the trash-can dweller himself, available here>>

 


Foundation Communities just received $30 million in state funding for affordable housing.Congratulations to Foundation Communities!This amazing nonprofit was recently awarded $30 million in state funding to build three new affordable housing communities in Austin. The new communities will provide 293 affordable homes for thousands of families in the years ahead. Of course, none of this would be possible without you, the voter, who helped to approve the $5.75 million in housing bonds committed by the City of Austin last year. According to Foundation Communities, this local investment was crucial in securing the larger state funding. Cheers to local, affordable housing! 

 

Tom Steyer will be speaking at SXSW Eco this year. Mega investor and climate activist Tom Steyer will be speaking at SXSW Eco this year. Since stepping down from his big time job at Farallon Capital in 2013, this hedge fund billionaire has made fighting climate change his full time career. He has pledged millions to candidates across the country who take climate change seriously and has been a leader of the crusade against the Keystone XL pipeline. Steyer will be discussing all of this and more at SXSW Eco with his talk, entitled, "Climate Change on the Ballot." Learn more>>

 

Two articles in the Austin American Statesman this week focus on the debate over renewable energy.The Austin American-Statesman came out with two interesting articles this week that are definitely worth a read and are sure to generate a lot of discussion: 

  • Austin Energy criticizes renewable goals' costs – This article quotes Austin Energy staff who say that they are worried that the city is advancing its renewable goals too quickly. They continued on to express theirdiscontent with the report put together by the Austin Generation Resource Planning Task Force and said that they will be presenting their own generation plan to city council in September. Read more here>>
  • GreenChoice rates tied to wind cost no longer – This story dives into the debate over Austin Energy's new GreenChoiceprogram, which just launched this year. It reveals some statistics about this new program, including the fact that it has drawn in a record number of subscribers, despite the fact that it is no longer the most fiscally prudent choice for consumers.Read more here>>
 

Roundup deadlines are tomorrow!The speaker application deadline for the Renewable Energy 

Roundup & Sustainable Living Expo is tomorrow,Friday, August 8th Share your expertise and enthusiasm with a crowd hungry for guidance toward a more self-sufficient, healthy, and sustainable lifestyle. The deadline for the early-bird exhibitor discount is also tomorrow, so be sure to get your applications in right now! More info>>

 

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