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Member Bulletin Board
Feel-Good Fun Coming to Austin This Fall
Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair
September 26-28, 2008
The popular event is heading into it's 9th year in Fredericksburg, Texas. Your best bet for enjoying this event? Be a part of it: Volunteer to work at the Fair and receive free admission! You can even choose your day, time and area.
Speaker Sneak-Peek
The Roundup always has great speakers and this year is no exception. Don't miss Mary McLeod, AEGB Residential Program Coordinator, speaking on Saturday at noon. Plus AEGB staff person, Dick Peterson, is giving his famous Rainwater Harvesting talk on Saturday at 3 pm. And be sure to see Jake Stewart's presentation entitled "Big Problems, Localized Solutions", a topic he has lots of experience with as a Program Manager with Austin's Climate Protection Program. Rounding out the weekend is Austin Energy staff, Mark Kapner, who will update us with The Latest on Plug-In Cars (with Dan Petit).
Other Green Building-related speakers include Effie Brunson, who is giving an overview of the Rays of Hope project - a non-profit providing solar PV systems to low-income homeowners. Thinking about going solar yourself? We recommend "Solar Electric Design and Installation for the Home" by Hunter Berry of Meridian Energy Systems.
Local green builder Robert Zirkel of Shelter Design & Construction will compare several houses he's built using various green systems including ICFs, Rastra, and SIPs. Wayne Jeansonne of Solluna Builders will cover "Greenbuilding in the Real World." You might have seen Wayne recently on a new Discovery channel show, Greenovate, which followed Solluna Builders on a 5-star green building rated home in Austin.
Long-time green architect, LaVerne Williams, AIA, LEED® AP, of Environment Associates, will talk about his experience with Texas's first LEED Platinum home. This hill-country home was very popular on this years' Cool House Tour. Get your seat early as this talk is sure to be a highlight of the weekend. The Sunday keynote speaker is local architect Peter Pfeiffer, FAIA, who's talk is titled "Green Building by Design--Not by Device."
Check the Roundup schedule for exact, up-to-date dates and times.
The Sustainable Living Roadshow
October 11-12, 2008
This event is getting a lot of buzz around town! Locally organized by Heidi Little Neuhaus, the SLR is a caravan of educators and entertainers touring the county (in renewable fuel vehicles, of course!) as an off-the-grid eco-carnival.
Bring the kids to the Conscious Carnival Midway for fun and educational games. The Clean Energy Showcase, the Eco-Info Zone, a series of Workshops and Speakers are just a few of the elements festival-goers can look forward to.
The SLR will be held at The Hundred Acre Woods, 20 miles east of Austin in Manor. Camping is available.
PARK(ing) Day 2008
September 19, 2008
Organized by Austin Green Art, Austin joins cities all over the world to participate in this one-day event that transforms parking spaces in to parks (at least until the meters run out). The event calls attention to the importance of parks, playgrounds and other natural places in urban areas. More than 70% of many cities' downtown outdoor space is dedicated to the private vehicle, while only a fraction of that space is allocated to the public realm. Streets are by far the largest component of publicly-owned space in a city, yet they are given over almost exclusively to vehicle movement and parking spots. PARK(ing) Day seeks to create community by creating spaces for people to talk, laugh, and connect. Look for a PARK(ing) space near you, or create a PARK(ing) space of your own!
More PARK(ing) Information
2006 PARK(ing) Day
The Daily Green PARK(ing) Day Slide Show
PARK(ing) Day NYC
Sustainable Shopper's Ball
December 2008
It's just not Christmas without the Ball! After taking a well-deserved break, the all-volunteer SSB team is preparing once again to create some green holiday magic. Stay tuned and check the SSB web site for more information.
2008 Pollution Prevention Workshops
State-Wide Workshops
The Zero Waste Network, in partnership with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, will be conducting a series of workshops to teach companies how to save money by reducing pollution. Presenters from both organizations will provide strategies on how to improve efficiency while decreasing or eliminating pollution. Experts in pollution prevention (P2), environmental management systems (EMS), environmental regulations, and energy efficiency conduct these interactive workshops with classroom exercises that will help you use P2 strategies to improve your bottom line.
The workshop will help facilities comply with the Texas Waste
Reduction Policy Act (WRPA) which requires pollution prevention planning for some facilities. Through a series of hands-on exercises
participants will learn how to make a P2 plan succeed by engaging management and employees to indentify practical solutions.
Who Should Attend?
The workshops will benefit individuals from large and small facilities. They are geared towards anyone who has an interest in cost effective environmental health and safety, including:
- Environmental, Health, and Safety Managers
- Plant Managers
- Production Personnel
- Engineers or Related Professionals
2008 Workshop Schedule
- Austin: Sept 16-17, 2008
- Houston: Oct 2-3, 2008
- Corpus Christi: Oct 15-16, 2008
- Dallas/Fort Worth: Nov. 5-6, 2008
About The Zero Waste Network
The Zero Waste Network is a group of environmental professionals dedicated to finding money-saving options for conserving natural resources. As a collaborative project of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the University of Texas, and regional environmental agencies, the Network works to identify pollution prevention (P2) options for large and small businesses as well as consumers.
Resources
Zero Waste Network
P2 Workshop Registration Information
City of Austin Zero Waste Plan
Gary Liss' Zero Waste Links
Austin's Green District
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