Jul

29th

Austin Energy Solar for Schools Program


Through the highly successful Solar for Schools Program, Austin Energy has set an ambitious goal of completing nearly 50 solar installations at schools in the Austin Energy service area by the end of 2010. The utility recently home-imgcompleted an additional six schools, bringing the total number to 28. The estimated savings for those 28 schools is 120,744 kWh annually and is expected to reduce Austin Energy’s peak demand by 17 kW. Another 20 solar systems are expected to be installed at schools throughout the year.

Read the full article here: 

http://www.austinenergy.com/About%20Us/Newsroom/Press%20Releases/2010/solarSchools.htm

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Jul

28th

HEB Supports Local Farmers in Drippin’


The community of Dripping Springs is excited about the opening of the new HEB there this month, and the Stanberry Green Team is so proud of many of HEB’s great decisions in the process.  They listened to locals asking for more organic choices, and expanded that department.  They met with local farmers and producers, tasted wares and made purchasing commitments with Pure Luck Dairy in Dripping Springs for goat cheese, potted plants from Klepac Greenhouses in Blanco; fresh flowers from Arnosky Farms in Blanco; lettuce from Bella Verdi Farms in Dripping Springs; wine from 01farmermarket2Wimberley Valley Winery and Texas Hills Vineyards in Johnson City.

Buying locally produced foods is important for superior nutrition, environmental reasons (no fossil fuel based shipping), and because it keeps important dollars in the local economy.  Congratulations to HEB for being an excellent civic and environmental citizen!

See our Live-Eat-Buy Local section for a list of local vendors for fresh foods, farmers markets, and restaurants offering locally sourced fare.

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Jul

28th

LEEDing the Way to a Greener Future


AUSTIN (Austin Business Journal) – The number of LEED-certified, high-performance buildings in Central Texas has more than tripled in two years, from 24 in 2008 to 76 in 2010, according to the Central Texas Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).greenbuilding-150x150

Buildings that acquire LEED certification demonstrate high standards in construction, operations, maintenance and have an environmentally conscious design.

“The fact that this growth in green building is occurring during an economic downturn indicated both that green building has become mainstream and that owners and developers are seeing it as a way to compete in the new marketplace,” said James Andrews, chairman of the USGBC’s local chapter. “It appears to reflect growing recognition by owners, operators, contractors and the community at large of the return on investment, both financially and environmentally, that green building and sustainable development brings to a region.”

The benefits of constructing under the LEED guidelines are found in buildings such as the Advanced Micro Devices campus, which has yielded annual savings of 20 percent on energy use campuswide.

The most recent buildings to achieve LEED certification in the Texas capital are the Livestrong headquarters in east Austin and the Department of Veteran Affairs Financial Services Center. Within Central Texas, Austin leads the way with 44 LEED-certified buildings and more than 190 properties awaiting certification.

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Jul

6th

2 Minutes: Green Return on Investment


It’s becoming increasingly apparent that building to greener standards saves energy costs, increases health, and adds value to real estate.  Here is a great two minute video showing how building to LEED standards benefitted this commercial building with energy and water savings. 

This is a 2 minute version of the full 12 minute Green Building Education Film produced and directed for Stiles Corporation’s Lake Shore Plaza II project. This film earned 1 Innovation and Design Point for LEED Certification.

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Jul

4th

Stay Cool for Less:Programmable Thermostat


Here’s a great little how-to video for a simple home improvement that can reap big benefits.  A programmable thermostat can cost you $30-$100 to install, and pay for itself very quickly.  The EPA says homeowners typicallythermostat spend 20% of their energy bill on cooling in the summer- and it Texas it’s probably well above that average!  We installed these in our Stanberry Westlake office, and are saving about $200 a month on our electric bill!  http://tinyurl.com/2fd2cpn

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Jul

4th

Vertical Hillside Home Wins LEED Platinum


Marin County architect Scott Lee bought a 1/10 acre, nearly vertical, “unbuildable” lot, and turned it into a showcase green home.5hillsidex-inset-community

The four-level home, bunkered into a hill, won the top or platinum rating in March from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.

It’s a great story in a weekly feature at usatoday.com that showcases a green house each week.

Read more and see the photos/floorplan at http://tinyurl.com/323dv9v

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Jun

1st

Green Jobs Rise as Sustainable Building Increases


resized_green_construction_sustainable_buildingIn the Energy Policy Examiner, Clifford Bryan writes about the many green jobs that are showing up as sustainable building practices increase demand for green construction workers.

The factors that differentiate “green” construction derive from a new set of expectations relating to structures and their function. Green buildings aim to maximize efficiency in their use of water, energy and other resources, to minimize waste, pollution, or other contributions to environmental degradation, and to create environments that contribute to health and productivity.

The Green Jobs Guidebook (Environmental Defense Fund 2008), thought by many to be the definitive green jobs report to date, lists 41 job classifications directly related to green building. Among them: Green Building Project Design and Development; Green Building Design and Engineering; Green Building Operations; Energy Efficiency Services and Installation. Other green jobs that relate to construction include: Solar Power Installation; Maintenance, Development and Manufacturing; Wind Power Installation; Geothermal Operation and Development; Plant Environmental; Health and Safety Facility Positions; Environmental Consulting; Municipal Waste Treatment and Recycling.

In addition to new methods and materials, the culture of the green construction site can be different. According to Bill Stough, “maximizing energy efficiency and material efficiency so there is less waste being generated on a construction site – the waste that is generated on the construction site is reused to the maximum extent possible.” For example, deconstructing a building in preparation for new construction is another aspect of high performance building standards that requires special training. Recycling of building materials and debris left over from clearing the site earns points for green building certification through programs such as the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. In addition, secondary jobs are created in the marketing of the refuse – jobs for processing the material and making it ready for use in other, less valuable products, called “downcycling”

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May

30th

Cool House Tour June 6-TX Solar Energy Society


It’s a wonderful, unique opportunity to see some of  the way’s that Austinites have made their homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.  You’ll be inspired and impressed, and have fun in the process.

Sponsored by the Texas Solar Energy Society and Austin Energy Green Building, the annual Cool House Tour is coming this weekend, June 6.  Go here for details and ticket instructions:  http://www.txses.org/solar/content/cool-house-tour

cool house tourOne of your stops will be this renovated 1917 cottage at 607 Deep Eddy Avenue featuring sustainable materials such as renewable eucalyptus cabinetry and recycled paper countertops.

 

 

AD Stenger Cool House TourOr how about this updated AD Stenger home at 440 Ridgewood Drive? 

Get your guidebook/ticket at any Central Market, and google map your favorites!  Hope to see you there!

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May

28th

Memorial Day:Red, White, Blue, AND Green!


flagMemorial Day was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.  It was originally known as Decoration Day, and it is a day of remembrance for those who have given their lives in our nation’s service. 

This holiday weekend typically involves outdoor get togethers and campouts with families, friends, BBQ and beer.  You can serve your nation this weekend by reducing your environmental impact through your consumer choices, and here are some suggestions:

Stay local: Camp closer, drive less.  We’re blessed with wonderful camping locations in Central Texas. Check this list of camping locations: http://tinyurl.com/32nder6

Spend local:  Keeping more of your money local benefits our economy and environment in many ways.  We have great local beers lager(www.liveoakbrewing.com, www.independencebrewing.com) , wines, cheeses (www.pureluckdairy.com), organic produce…

Up the veggies, dial back the meat:  The meat industry consumes more than a third of the fossil fuels in the US and contributes 18% of greenhouse gases, which is even more than the transportation industry!  More veggies is good for your health and the planet.  Try local, grass fed choices for your meat like Betsy Ross Beef (www.rossfarm.com) available at Peoples Pharmacy. 

products_hardwoodCut down on chemicals:  Greener grilling?  Choose your heat source carefully; make sure it’s 100% wood based, like wood briquettes or natural organic charcoal. Either of these choices will leave your food without the burning of coal, petroleum products, sawdust, or limestone, which are all toxic.  Choose a plant based (pyrethrum) spray to keep away mosquitoes, and wear light colored clothing. 

recycle symbolPack out, Recycle, handle trash responsibly: Make sure guests and campers have an EASY way to recycle.  Be the leader, set a tone of respect for not generating more waste than neccessary. 

Honor our fallen heroes by respecting and protecting the nation they loved enough to give their lives for.  You’ll make a hundred choices about celebrating this weekend; make them environmentally sensitive choices; and have a HAPPY and GREEN Memorial Day weekend.

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May

23rd

President’s Cancer Report Urges Caution w/Chemicals


In a great NY Times Op Ed piece by Nickola Kristof, we get a preview of the findings from the President’s Cancer Report.  The report calls on Americans to rethink the way we confront cancer, and to include support of rigorous legislation of chemical use as a prevention tool. 

“Traditionally, we reduce cancer risks through regular doctor visits, self-examinations and screenings such as mammograms. The President’s Cancer Panel suggests other eye-opening steps as well, such as giving preference to organic food, checking radon levels in the home and microwaving food in glass containers rather than plastic.” says Kristof in the article. 

“Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000 chemicals in use in the United States have been tested for safety,” the report says. It adds: “Many known or suspected carcinogens are completely unregulated.”

Read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/06/opinion/06kristof.html?scp=2&sq=kristof&st=cse

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