Green Team Houston

Contained by Design

2011-05-20T08:35:00.004-05:00

via http://www.peelgallery.org/

View some of the work HERE

Home Repairs for Spring

2011-04-07T13:38:00.003-05:00

VIA DAILYWORTH

1) You know to clean out the gutters, but make sure the downspouts are clear and drain several feet from your house to prevent foundation damage. Estimated cost: up to $200. “If you can do it, fine, but don’t be a Tim Allen and hurt yourself,” says Kurt Solomon, president of the American Association of Home Inspectors.

2) Hire a pro to tune up your air conditioning system and furnace. “If you don’t,” says Bill Shaw, a contractor in Houston, TX, “you’re wasting electricity and putting more wear and tear on those units.” Estimated cost: $100-$150.

3)Hire a pro to seal your roof. “They’ll catch the insidious things, like the flashing on your vent stacks and the other protrusions on the roof,” says Shaw. Estimated cost: $150-$200 for minor repairs.

Last, consider doing a short, yearly review with a contractor or home inspector who can spot looming problems. In some cases the service is free, or the fee you pay will count toward any work they do.

300 Years of Fossil Fuels in 300 Seconds

2011-03-28T12:30:00.002-05:00

This weeks video presents a visual of our dependence on fossil fuels and poses the question, "where are we heading?"

P.S. Today was world water day

2011-03-22T21:17:00.003-05:00

The international observance of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro.

Chris Perry who worked for Pixar just aired this short video just for today titled "The Incident at Tower 37"
ENJOY!

Sustainable Landscapes

2011-03-22T21:11:00.001-05:00

Via American Society of Landscape Architects

'According to a report from the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, one inch of rainwater hitting one acre of asphalt over an hour yields 27,000 gallons of water.

Green roofs, bioswales, bioretention ponds, and permeable pavements are a few key examples of local green infrastructure, and all work by turning hard asphalt surfaces into green, absorbent ones. For example, Green roofs can retain 40-60 percent of stormwater hitting rooftops."

Watch the video to learn more.

Solar Decathalon Coming soon!

2011-03-04T09:43:00.003-05:00

Every two years since U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition takes place in Washington DC, showcasing an array energy innovation.

By the way, this year the solar decathalon will not be held on the national mall but in West Potomac Park.
I'm starting to see a lot of projects previews and thought I would share a few that looked interesting to me. Click on the pictures and titles to learn more about each project.

First Light House - New Zealand

Water Shed - University of Maryland

Team Hawaii

List of Teams:

Pretty Cool- Oil-Cleaning Robot Army

2010-08-26T09:45:00.003-05:00

If only BP had been prepared... or everyone for that matter. Well it seems that the BP oil disaster has caused others to become better prepared for such tragedies and possible future problems with our oil dependence.

Check out this robot created by by MIT's Sensable City Lab.
Check out the video of the "seaswarm" bot.

Tip of the Week: Plant some fresh air

2010-08-03T12:58:00.004-05:00

Thought I would start posting weekly... as we've slacked a little on our blog.
Hope to keep this habit which would be good... and hoping that posting about other good habits would help all around. ENJOY!

PLANT SOME FRESH AIR:

Instead of buying an air purifier, try a bamboo palm, peace lily or English ivy in stead. These plants act as natural air filters in a room, removing up to 87% of VOC's (volitile organic compounds).

Going Vertical

2010-08-03T12:50:00.003-05:00

via Treehugger

Jargon Watch: Vertical Gardens vs Vertical Farms vs Living Walls vs Green Façades
"..vertical farms, designed for food production, were a very different thing from living walls, which I thought Alex incorrectly called a vertical garden. But he is not alone; we did it in Madrid Gets a Vertical Garden Too and Ugly Cooling Tower Gets Vertical Garden Makeover in Spain. (Interestingly, all Spanish projects) ".

LIVING WALLS:
Randy Sharp explains in Azure:
"Green walls come in two main varieties, according to Vancouver landscape architect Randy Sharp. His firm, Sharp & Diamond, designed the Vancouver Aquarium's 50-square-metre green wall of polypropylene modules filled with wildflowers, ferns and ground covers. A leading expert on "vegetated building envelope systems," Sharp divides these installations into green facades, where a structure fastened to the wall provides a trellis for vines and climbers planted in the ground or in containers; and the newer living walls, where a modular grid of wall panels - complete with live plants, a conventional soil or layered-felt growing medium, an irrigation and nutrient-delivery system, and a support structure - is attached to the building."...

read the whole post on Treehugger.com

Workshop Opportunity at Rice Gallery

2010-05-07T08:46:00.002-05:00

No Experience Required!
$75 gets you materials, parking and refreshments.
Contact Anna Foret : azf1@rice.edu or 713.348.5770

Easy Green Wall Project

2010-03-14T14:29:00.005-05:00

Thought this was pretty neat and simple. We've had several posts on the aesthetics and benefits of green walls before... Seemed like this product fit right in to this topic.

Check out this short video on the use of woolypocket to quickly add a green wall to your living space.

Woolly Pocket from Woolly Pocket on Vimeo.

LIFE

2010-03-09T20:15:00.009-05:00

Be sure to watch Discovery Channel's upcoming LIFE series, premier on Sunday, March 21st, 8PM e/p.

If you haven't watched their previous series -PLANET EARTH- you should. It's truely AMAZING!

(from the press release) "The earth is home to more than 30 million different animals and plants – every single one in its own fight for survival.From the makers of PLANET EARTH and narrated by global media leader and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey, the epic television series LIFE is the definitive exploration of our planet’s living things and their spectacular, bizarre and fascinating behaviors. A BBC and Discovery Channel co-production, the 11-part natural history series airs on Discovery Channel on Sundays from March 21 through April 18, 2010, with two episodes at 8-10PM ET/PT each night, and The Making of LIFE at 10PM on April 18."

Watch the Trailer

Nuclear?

2010-02-19T12:32:00.004-05:00

President Obama's recent endorsement of nuclear produced a lot of concern for me....What are your thoughts?
I agree with the following: (be sure to check out the full post)

via Grist
" The lesser of two evils?
When it comes to the question, “Which is better—nuclear or coal?”, the answer really just is “neither.” It’s a false dichotomy that lends legitimacy to a false scenario in which we as a region, country, or world are forced to chose coal or nukes and have no access to developing other energy sources. It is a worst-case, stuck-in-the-corner, fake match-up. On a daily individual level, most people have little choice as to which power source we support with our monthly electric bill. If we do have choices, we should first buy renewable energy or even hydroelectric power. (Find out if you have alternative choices by searching EERE’s Green Power map.) Nuclear and coal are not our only two options; let’s not
pretend that they are."

Freeway transformed into a river

2010-02-18T18:26:00.002-05:00

Via treehugger.com

"In Seoul, South Korea city planners paved right over a natural stream to put in a road. It stayed that way for decades, becoming a freeway and adding to the traffic congestion in the burgeoning metropolis. But Fast Company reports that recently, city officials decided to return the road to its natural roots. Here's FC's video of how, and why, they transformed the freeway back into a stream."

Green Tip: e-cycling

2010-02-11T08:27:00.003-05:00

Best Buy e-cycles!
They'll accept almost any electronic gadget, working or broken, no matter who made it, at any of their stores.

From their site- "You can bring in up to two items a day, per household, and most things are absolutely free. However, there is a $10 charge for TVs 32" and under, CRTs, monitors and laptops — but we'll give you a $10 Best Buy gift card to offset that cost. It's just a little e-incarnation appreciation."

Read More about their e-cycle program.

Food for Throught

2010-02-07T11:58:00.003-05:00

via Good.is/Good blog

"Back in 2007, everyone was talking about the "pain at the pump." But did that change what people drive? This infographic by Chris Svetlik looks at whether high gas prices get people to buy more fuel efficient cars."

Rice Gallery Opening

2010-01-26T11:37:00.001-05:00

CAP and TRADE...a Racket?

2009-12-01T10:28:00.002-05:00

A short video's take on cap and trade.
(via treehugger.com)

The Story of Cap & Trade from Story of Stuff Project

IF you can't see video in your email click on links.

Visual Acoustics

2009-11-05T20:47:00.003-05:00

Photographer Julius Shulman passed away this past summer at the age of 98. Shulman's work played a major role in making modernist architecture familiar and aesthetically accessible to mainstream America by capturing the work of nearly every modern and progressive architect since the 1930s( including Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner and Frank Gehry).

Bricker's film, Visual Acoustics narrated by Dustin Hoffman, is both a biography and a survey of Shulman's career.

Official Website

WINDFARMS AND STARBUCKS

2009-10-16T12:31:00.003-05:00

World's largest, 781.5 megawatt wind farm, located in West Texas USA.
Ranchers in west Texas are resorting to leasing their land to energy companies to "break even". To some though, "selling out" causes upset.

Personally, I love the idea that wind farms can revitalize a community and help maintain an old mainstay industry and culture of ranching and cowboys. The wild west is staying wild by accepting something modern.
On the other hand it definitely does change the landscape a bit. Thoughts?

Read more about the "Starbucks Rule" for siting wind farms.

-via Treehugger
Business Week-
"Turns out there's something called the Starbucks Rule when it comes to siting wind farms. He said Suzlon and its rivals plot where Starbucks are in the general area and then make sure their project is at least 30 miles away. Any closer and there'd be too many NIMBYs (not in my backyarders) who'd object to having their views spoiled by a cluster of 265-foot-tall wind towers."

Video credit:Sunday Morning Show

Dish Sale Fundraiser

2009-10-14T13:42:00.001-05:00

Glenbrook Valley Dish Sale Fundraiser
via Houston Mod
The Glenbrook Valley preservation committee is holding a sale of fine china to support its efforts to be designated Texas' first post-World War II historic district. The neighborhood includes numerous architecturally-significant mid-century houses including some detailed in Houston Mod's on-line database.

According to organizers, the sale will include "100's of pieces, prices starting at 50 cents. Great Christmas gifts, traditional pieces to more mod pieces like Russell Wright."

Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday. The sale will be held at 8206 Glencrest at the corner of Glencrest and Montglen.

CRUDE

2009-09-27T11:13:00.003-05:00

A documentary on the true price of crude.
"Three years in the making, this cinéma-vérité feature from acclaimed filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Brother’s Keeper, Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster) is the epic story of one of the largest and most controversial environmental lawsuits on the planet. The inside story of the infamous “Amazon Chernobyl” case"...The landmark case takes place in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador, pitting 30,000 indigenous and colonial rainforest dwellers against the U.S. oil giant Chevron. The plaintiffs claim that Texaco – which merged with Chevron in 2001 – spent three decades systematically contaminating one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, poisoning the water, air and land. The plaintiffs allege that the pollution has created a “death zone” in an area the size of the Rhode Island, resulting in increased rates of cancer, leukemia, birth defects, and a multiplicity of other health ailments."

Find out where it's showing near you and Stay Updated. Sign Up to receive occasional updates about the movie’s release, special screenings and events, the ongoing legal case against Chevron and more.
Check it out.

PNC greenwall

2009-09-23T11:41:00.003-05:00

PNC UNVEILS LARGEST GREEN WALL IN NORTH AMERICA- PITTSBURGH, PA

"The 2,380 sq. ft., soil-based wall - similar in size to a doubles tennis court - features a variety of regional plants grown into living art on the south-facing wall of One PNC Plaza at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Wood Street in downtown Pittsburgh.

It is estimated that each of the 602 panels, with 24 plants in each 2x2 sq. ft. space, will offset the carbon footprint of one person. The vertical garden, similar to a green roof, will help to cool the 30-story building. Preliminary studies show the south-facing living wall will be 25 percent cooler behind the wall than ambient temperatures. "The wall is a fitting reminder that PNC is the world leader in green building," said PNC Director of Corporate Real Estate Gary Saulson. "City sidewalks are cooler and quieter thanks to shade and sound absorption by green walls and urban planting."

Watch the video below: (or if you if you're viewing this in your email- click on post to view online)
Read More

The Cove

2009-09-16T12:54:00.004-05:00

TRAILER: (If you can't see trailer click here)

Taiji, Japan-
"In a remote, glistening cove, surrounded by barbed wire and “Keep Out” signs, lies a dark reality. It is here, under cover of night, that the fishermen of Taiji, driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and an underhanded market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, engage in an unseen hunt. The nature of what they do is so chilling -- and the consequences are so dangerous to human health -- they will go to great lengths to halt anyone from seeing it...

O’Barry joins forces with filmmaker Louis Psihoyos and the Oceanic Preservation Society to get to the truth of what’s really going on in the cove and why it matters to everyone in the world...The result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery that adds up to an urgent plea for hope."

Toxic Ocean

2009-08-21T10:02:00.006-05:00

These guys traveled to the middle of nowhere to document the seriousness of the plastic pollution that ends up in the ocean. It's not the "island of trash" they expected... but worse. Tiny particulates that are impossible to ever extract completely, that get eaten and re-absorbed ...

"it's the composition of the ocean...we've without realizing it consigned ourselves to eating our own sh*t"

It's completely disheartening.
I've posted links to videos 1 and 3 of this series... they're a little long and the people documenting it can get a bit annoying. Still worth a watch.

Part I:

Part III:

6 Acre Living Roof

2009-08-06T11:10:00.003-05:00

Vancouver's 6 Acre Living Roof from Dave Budge on Vimeo.

The roof of the Vancouver BC Convention Centre is covered with over 2.5 hectares (6 acres) of native grassland.

Tour and interview with the landscape architect of the project, Bruce Hemstock.

(via Archinect.com)

TOWN HALL MEETING

2009-06-17T12:57:00.004-05:00

... on Climate Change and Green Jobs
Moderated by: Gene Norman
Chief Meteorologist, KHOU Channel 11

WHERE Communications Workers of America, Local 6222
1730 Jefferson Street, Houston, TX 77003

WHEN Wednesday, June 17, 2009 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Registration will open at 5:30 p.m. and refreshments will be
provided.

INFO For more information, contact:
Dallas Jones or Brandon Dudley
Office of Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis
713-236-0306
Dallas.Jones@senate.state.tx.us
or
Royce Brooks
Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
202-789-3528
rbrooks@jointcenter.org

Co-Sponsors: Congressman Al Green, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, State Sen. Mario Gallegos, Rep. Garnet Coleman, Rep. Sylvester Turner, Rep. Ana Hernandez, Rep. Alma Allen, Rep. Carol Alvarado, City Councilmember Ronald Green, City Councilmember Jolanda Jones, NAACP - Houston Branch, American Association of Blacks in Energy- Houston Chapter, Houston Citizen's Chamber of Commerce, Houston Area Urban League, Public Citizen, Environment Texas, Defense Fund, Sierra Club, Houston ACORN

Last chance to see 'Tapumes' at Rice Gallery!‏

2009-05-11T12:44:00.002-05:00

Save the Rainforests

2009-05-06T14:47:00.004-05:00

Featuring a very green frog....and a prince or two ;)
Thought i would share this cute video i saw via- treehugger.com

If you can't see this video in your email click here

The Green House of the Future

2009-04-28T22:13:00.003-05:00

Via - Wall Street Journal - APRIL 27, 2009 - CONSUMERS- By ALEX FRANGOS

"....A fresh look may be long overdue, given the amount of damage that homes can do to the environment. It's easy to envision a power plant spewing pollution or a highway full of cars burning billions of gallons of petroleum. But buildings -- silent and unmoving -- are the quiet users of much of our energy, through electricity, heating and water consumption. The U.S. Energy Department estimates buildings are responsible for 39% of our energy consumption and a similar percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions."

Read more...

Living Green SA

2009-04-23T13:50:00.005-05:00

For those living in the San Antoino/Hill Country area, there's a great new website dedicated to living green! Browse through it and you'll find an events calender full with green events, tip of the week, local and national green stories/news, forums and lots more.

Earth Day Houston

2009-04-06T19:02:00.003-05:00

EARTH DAY HOUSTON

Start celebrating Earth Day, which falls on April 22

Where: Discovery Green, downtown, near McKinney and Crawford

When: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; an Earth Day 5K run begins at 8 a.m.

Information: For more on the event and 5K, go to www.earthdayhouston.org

All the events are free. Most of the activities will be divided into zones:

• Air Zone includes smelly scavenger hunts for hidden air-pollution sources and a find-it-and-fix-it leak-detection test.

•Land Zone offers activities to help people with the four R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle and respect the Earth.

•Water Zone involves interactive activities, a look at a pile of trash gathered from Houston’s bayous, games and puzzles.

•Renewable Energy Zone has solar ovens, displays and a microwave powered by solar and wind energy.

• Environmental Education Zone houses 30 local green nonprofits.

• Kids Energy Zone includes inflatables, recycled art and the Discovery Green playground.

Solar America Cities

2009-04-02T15:16:00.005-05:00

The 2nd annual meeting for the Department of Energy’s Solar America Cities is taking place right now in the Alamo City, March 31 through April 2. City leaders from across the nation will talk about the best ways to promote solar energy use and how to use solar energy for a cleaner more secure energy future. This year Houston and San Antonio were the only Texas cities to be named Solar America Cities and joins Austin which became a Solar City in 2008. For more information visit Solar America Cities.

H-E-B, Eva Longoria Parker are encouraging people to go ‘green’

2009-03-31T22:41:00.002-05:00

From our friends at the San Antonio Biz Journal:

HEB and Eva Longoria Parker have teamed up to produce a 30 second commercial for Earth day promoting environmental awareness. The commericial will debut on April 1 and continue throughout the month. During this time, you'll be able to purchase a limited-edition reusable grocery bag for under $1.50. It looks cute!
According to the article, our local HEB stores are trying to do their part in contributing to a better environmnet. For example, they allow customers to recycle plastic bags at store bins and also recycle aluminum, steel, paper etc at their company. Very soon HEB will start recycling their own tires into mulch to be sold in several stores in Texas.

Easy DIY Greywater Recycling System: Sloan Aqus

2009-03-31T21:56:00.003-05:00

Great article from our friends at Inhabitat:

"Who says plumbing is boring? The forward thinking folks at Sloan Valve Company have come up with a compact greywater system for your bathroom that is easy to install and works with the existing fixtures. The Sloan® AQUS® Greywater System filters the water that goes down your sink drain and then uses it to flush your toilet, potentially saving a household up to 5,000 gallons of potable water each year."

Homes Tour

2009-03-24T13:22:00.003-05:00

Choose one of two tour times: 10AM or 2PM on Saturday, April 25.

RSVP by April 17
Order tickets by mail from Houston Mod at P.O. Box 541353, Houston, TX 77254 or
reserve tickets for pickup the day of the tour by e-mailing: info@houstonmod.org

Tours depart the Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Street. Browse the 20th Century Modern Market before or after the tour (10A-5P).

Both tours have limited space, so reserve early. Priority extended to current or renewing members of Houston Mod.

Tour Price, Members of Houston Mod: $20
Tour Price, Non-Members: $30
Mod Enthusiast Package: Tour, Membership and Guidebook: $60

Your reservation will be reconfirmed ahead of the tour by e-mail.

Tapumes Invite

2009-03-24T13:15:00.002-05:00

Gulf Coast Green 2009 Symposium & Houston Green Expo

2009-03-16T11:47:00.003-05:00

WHEN: April 16-17, Symposium
April 18-19, Consumer Expo

WHERE: Reliant Park, Houston

www.gulfcoastgreen.org

The Houston Green Expo is free and open to the public on Saturday and Sunday April 18 and 19 at Reliant Park. It is the largest green product expo in the city, offering the latest in green companies and their products for living a green life. The Expo will also offer educational presentations targeted to homeowners and interactive programs for children and young adults. The Houston Green Expo is free and open to the public, and requires no advance registration.

The Houston Green Expo is conducted as a green event. Your attendance promotes responsible use of materials and resources.

Visit www.gulfcoastgreen.org for more information.

Henrique Oliveira at Rice Gallery

2009-03-12T09:13:00.012-05:00

March 26th - May 9th, 2009
Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira’s “tridimensionals” installations will be exhibited at the Rice Gallery.

More reused IKE wood? ;)

Kidding aside,(although not a bad idea in my opinion) Oliveira's work is pretty amazing. My favorites from the images are the ones where the wall seems to morph into a crashing wave or a maelstrom.

I find the bulging blobs a little disturbing, like a growth that needs to be operated on. Yet,considering that they are "blobs", it manages to be a pretty dynamic composition ...as if they're still growing.

"Oliveira uses tapumes, which in Portuguese can mean “fencing,” “boarding,” or “enclosure,” as a title for many of his large-scale installations. The term makes reference to the temporary wooden construction fences seen throughout the city of São Paulo where Oliveira lives. It also refers to the weathered wood Oliveira uses as the primary material in his installations."

Read more about his work by visiting Henrique Oliveira’s website - here.
Visit the Rice Gallery’s website - here.

Solar Containers in Houston

2009-02-02T09:08:00.005-05:00

On the corner of Waugh and Hyde Park in Houston, Texas a typical 20 foot shipping container has been adapted into a sustainable "green" design for the offices of Mirabeau B. Condominiums.

Powered by the solar panels, their last energy bill was NEGATIVE $193.

Their proposed development boasts an array of sustainable design components from green screens and roofs to energy efficient HVAC systems and a water retention system.

Watch the video

Local events

2009-01-28T13:43:00.004-05:00

January 29- March 2009

February 19, 2009

First member meeting of 2009 will be held on February 19, 2009.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend a special evening event to be held in a fantastic mid-century home designed by one of Houston's finest architects. We'll come together for refreshments, conversation and an update on Houston Mod's plans for 2009, including the April home tour and August exhibit.

Learn how you can participate in Houston Mod by helping with these events and our efforts to document, protect and preserve Houston's modern legacy.

We welcome all current Houston Mod members, plus current and prospective volunteers.

Dallas Design Charette

2008-12-05T15:33:00.000-05:00

The City of Dallas will host a full-day “Design Charrette” this Friday to examine the necessary framework and community impact of what will become the first fully sustainable, urban square block in the United States. The Charrette, attended by community design and urban planning experts from across the nation, will be held at City Hall from 8:30 am until 5:30 pm. The outcome of the day will include a series of recommendations which will in turn structure an international design competition to create the actual block. That competition, which kicks off in January 2009, will invite architects and planners from around the world to translate the needs of the Dallas Community into structural designs for the future city block.
“The goal is to create the first fully sustainable block downtown,” said Brent Brown, Dallas architect and founder of the building community WORKSHOP . “And by sustainable, we mean a place that is socially, economically and environmentally healthy. We’ll take the first step in that effort on Friday.”

Hosted by the City of Dallas, San Francisco-based Urban Re:Vision and Dallas’ building community WORKSHOP, the Charrette will look at the common city block in an uncommon way, examining the impact of this particular city block’s development on the City of Dallas and its surrounding area. In rethinking the city block, experts will re-assess the potential value of available resources like water, waste, and air and how to strike the delicate balance between economy and equality.

“Our job on December 5th is to explore how pivotal the city block is in the urban landscape, and how it can be used as a catalyst for a whole new way of living,” said Stacey Frost , Founder of Urban Re:Vision. “This process is one that puts real people first and promotes sustainability.”

Potential requirements, barriers, and changes will be examined in an effort to pave the way for the implementation of the proposed site. This examination will also serve to aid both site-specific, and regional decision-making. Topics will include: energy systems, transportation, the natural and developed environment, community, the economy and technology.

Additional groups involved include Downtown Dallas, The Real Estate Council, Central Dallas Ministries, The Institute for Urban Policy Planning, Dallas Institute for Humanities and Culture, Enterprise Foundation, Fannie Mae Foundation, Vision North Texas and others. Participants from outside the Dallas area include representatives of the Biomimicry Institute, Architecture for Humanity, ARUP, Organic Architect, United States Green Building Council, and others.

Media attendance will be strictly limited, RSVP required
Location: Dallas City Hall
Date: December 5, 2008

Timeline:
8:30 - 10:30:Registration, Discussion & Mayor’s Welcome
12:00 - 1:30: Lunch / Interviews
4:00 - 5:30: Presentation of Regional Plans / Question and Analysis

another one for ike...

2008-11-17T14:25:00.000-05:00

Just had to share this last piece composed of a pine slab wish simple and clean glass shelves by design lush

Ike Trees

2008-11-15T11:07:00.004-05:00

After Hurricane Ike's passing I'm sure we all witnessed the demise of so many beautiful oaks among many other trees that lined our streets and yards.

The city of Houston proposed a contest- Recycle Ike - for the best idea of what to do with all these fallen trees (aside from converting it to mulch).
The site said it was "looking for ideas that are creative, practical, sustainable, adaptable, and make a big impact. Ideas should also address green house gas reductions, economic issues (benefit/cost ratio), and sustained creation of enterprise. The wood debris consists of branches, limbs, natural wood, woody prunings, stumps, trunks, and other woody vegetation."

Although the deadline has passed and the winners are yet to be announced, it seems like everywhere i look i see ideas. These are a few I'm quite fond of:

Simple stools or drink tables at a lounge in D.C.

These mutli-purpose tables/stools are dried in a solar-powered kiln and painted with VOC-free milk paint. According to the Pfeifer Studio site, the paint is made with the "same basic ingredients used during the Colonial era—milk protein, lime, and earthly pigments."
Custom teak coffee table:
I can't imagine how heavy this piece is but beautiful none the less.

Log Bowls from Loyal Loot. Made from reclaimed wood logs and water-based glossy finish

New York based Shimna has created some new natural pieces of furniture for 2008. They are the ‘Log’ table made from a walnut tree trunk with a 12″ round glass inset and the Susquehanna Coffee Table made from solid walnut with an individually carved seat. As an added bonus the coffee table has hidden storage.

Side table made out of glass and wood branches from fallen trees - vivaterra.com

In The News

2008-10-10T17:57:00.000-05:00

+ Texas Architect Magazine recently covered UofH Design Exploration Building in which Green Team Houston members were credited! yay!
"Faced with the imminent demolition of a World War II-vintage structure adjacent to the University of Houston’s College of Architecture, school officials devised a metamorphosis that not only honors the original building’s utilitarian design but also enhances scholarship on the urban campus."

+ Wall Street Journal Covers Green Roofs- "Even without the incentives, the extra cost of building a green roof -- a 30% to 50% premium, compared with a conventional roof -- can be recouped within about five years, says Ed McMahon, senior resident fellow for sustainable development at the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C." See Video Below:

+ Forbes.com also had an interesting story on America's Hottest Green Job Markets:
"...the green economy could soon become the nation's fastest-growing job segment, accounting for roughly 10% of new jobs over the next 20 years. The report forecasts that by 2038, renewable electricity production will create 1.23 million jobs; alternative transportation fuels, 1.5 million jobs; engineering, legal, research and consulting positions will be more than 1.4 million; and commercial and residential retrofits at 81,000 jobs, for a total of 4.2 million.

Where will they be? The country's big cities, like Houston."

Rice Gallery Opening

2008-09-17T23:16:00.000-05:00

Free Energy Modeling

2008-09-17T13:35:00.000-05:00

via Inhabitat

Hope everyone is doing ok after Ike.
I figured a free-b could help lift some spirits.

Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES) is offering a free plug-in for Google SketchUp that will energy modeling on projects.

Kirby trees

2008-07-29T15:33:00.000-05:00

Some of the live oak trees that lined Kirby Drive were removed overnight as part of a controversial reconstruction project between Westheimer and Richmond.
Video by Jason Witmer. July 29, 2008

SAFE Green Toys

2008-07-29T11:40:00.003-05:00

Green Toys uses recycled milk containers as the main ingredient in creating their toys. Next, the milk containers are reprocessed into super clean fresh plastic. The plastic material we use is called high-density polyethylene (or HDPE). This material is considered one of the safest, cleanest plastics around.

Made in California, USA: Less Transportation, Less Energy

All Green Toys products are 100% made in the USA. To be more specific, they
are produced in California, a state known for strict toy safety and environmental laws...
The raw materials and toys aren't shipped from overseas, which saves a lot of energy and reduces greenhouse gasses.

Environmental Packaging
All Green Toys products are packaged in recycled corrugated boxes with no plastics, cellophane or
twist-ties, and are 100% recyclable.

ABC news on "deconstruction"

2008-07-18T14:43:00.001-05:00

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- "Are you building a home or remodeling one? There may be a way to save some cash and help the environment."

Watch their video as they tour the Habitat for humanity storage facility and talk to several Houstonians about the benefits of reclaiming goods for their construction projects.

" The benefits of deconstruction are many. First off, it cost consumers less and preserves old architecture.... Also, it more importantly keeps the Earth a little cleaner."

If you'd like to get involved with Habitat For Humanity, click here, or use this link to find out more about Historic Houston.

Green Living Home

$$ saving chart

2008-07-11T10:37:00.004-05:00

Via Cookie

Green as Sexy

2008-07-02T07:19:00.002-05:00

I don't think this is the first merger of consumer energy price angst with Madision Avenue marketing suave, and it probably won't be the last. Personally, I'm glad green is sexy and mainstream (it's long overdue). watch the video ;)

Greening with Moss

2008-06-27T00:57:00.000-05:00

I just love moss... the color, the softness... its persistance. I recently dug out some clumps from my sidewalk and have it in a dish... sometimes I forget it's there and it doesn't look too great... but I spray it and it comes back to life in no time.

Since they obtain all their nutrients from the air (moss has no true roots), moss plants require nothing more than shade, acidic soil, and adequate moisture to flourish. Moss also seems to prefer poor quality soils with low nutrient levels. SCORE!

Below are some "designed" examples using moss for inspiration.

-Home by Japanese firm NENDO

Moistscape - This is a cool moss installationinstallation using moss by frcll in NYC - "spatial configuration of these verdant planes - they vary in size, height and proximity to the visitor - creates a range of possible encounters."

Moss Covered Solar Powered Vending Machine-
Fuji Electric's solar powered vending machine, where the panels supply sufficient energy to heat and cool the beverages, while the moss covering "helps improve insulation.

Moss Installation and graffiti by Edina Tokodi

-A prototype green wall installation for the 2008 AIA convention in Boston in May - aims to transform a blank brick wall into ‘a lush green environment’, both bringing attention to underutilized sites in Boston and providing a green solution to improve public space in the city.

Actually i think these are sedum but i can easily see how it could be moss. :)

TIP: Before utilizing moss as part of your shade gardening plans, the soil bed for the moss plants should first be tested to ensure that the pH is between 5.0 and 6.0 (lower is o.k. - 6.5 is max., but not ideal).

LINKS:
+ Wall Greening System Using Moss
+Moss Acres on HGTV
+Moss Gardening: Including Lichens, Liverworts and Other Miniatures [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

+ Recipe for Moss Graffiti

Green Choices

2008-06-26T07:53:00.001-05:00

How to Choose Green
Here are some factors to consider when choosing for maximum sustainability:

Product Weight:

Products that weigh less require less raw materials to create and consume fewer natural resources than comparable, heavier products. The energy and fuel required to transport products can also be reduced by lighter-weight products.

Number of Parts:

Products designed for both maximum function and simplicity will, by their very nature, require as few parts as possible. Fewer parts mean fewer manufacturing processes, less shipping, and less packaging, all of which save energy and carbon emissions.

Recycled and Recyclable Content:

While recyclability is often a hallmark of a green product, use of recycled materials is a better sign of an earth-conscious manufacturer. Select products that contain both recycled and recyclable content for maximum sustainability.

Ease of Disassembly and Upgradeability:

Products designed for quick and simple disassembly are more likely to be recycled than those that are difficult to take apart. And products that can be easily upgraded in the field-for instance, the replacement of spent cushions on task seating-enable longer product life. This, in turn, limits the waste that could be generated by the disposal of used products as well as the resources that would be required to replace products in their entirety.

Aluminum Components:

The use of lightweight aluminum signifies quality as well as green characterisitcs. Aluminum never degrades, so it can be recycled infinitely, and because recyclers are paid a premium for aluminum scrap, the likelihood that a product containing aluminum will be recycled is higher than products made of less valuable components like recyclable plastic.

Distribution Practices:

Products and packaging designed to use the fewest and smallest boxes possible not only reduce waste, but allow more items to fit on delivery trucks to cut back on emissions and fossil fuels. Packaging should be eliminated entirely whenever feasible.

Quality and Durability:

Quality counts when it comes to sustainability. Long-lasting, high performance products require replacement less frequently than lower quality choices, reducing the impact of disposal and replacement.

Additional Green Practices:

Manufacturers can lead by example by utilizing green vendors themselves-such as using printers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to create marketing materials-and by supporting environmental causes and reputable organizations.

~ Good design achieves more with less--especially when it comes to our Earth's limited resources. At Humanscale, environmental sustainability is integral to every step of product development to complement function, quality, and aesthetics for tools that provide maximum ergonomic comfort with minimal environmental stress.
For more information about Humanscale products contact us at (713) 871-8686 or by visiting the website

CAIXA FORUM MADRID

2008-06-24T07:16:00.000-05:00

CAIXA FORUM

MADRID

JUST OPENEDA FEW WEEKS AGO WITH A LUSH GREEN WALL AND LASER CUT

OXIDIZED 'LACE' SCREEN ON THE UPPER DECK CAFE. THE BUILDING OCCUPIES THE SITE OF A 19TH CENTURY WAREHOUSE THAT WAS GUTTED AND RE-INVENTED AS ANOTHER ONE OF LA CAIXA'S EXTRAORDINARY CIVIC FREE SPACES FOR CONTEMPORARY ART.

LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE PRADO AND DOWN THE STREET FROM LA REINA SOFIA WHERE PICASSO'S 'GUERNICA' IS VISITED BY THOUSANDS DAILY.

LA CAIXA FORUM: OPEN 12 MONTHS A YEAR, EVERY DAY, FREE.

Distinguished Speaker Series

2008-06-18T13:42:00.000-05:00

"The combined costs of housing and transportation are most affordable in areas well-served by public transit."
- Scott Bernstein

Thursday, June 26, 7 pm United Way

Nobody has spent more time studying the relationship of transporation and housing in America than Scott Bernstein, who will give a lecture in Houston on Thursday, June 26, 7 pm, at the United Way Community Resource Center, 50 Waugh Drive. Admission is free.

Bernstein will be hosted by the Gulf Coast Institute, as the first in the Distinguished Speaker Series, funded by the Anchorage Foundation of Texas.
The title of Bernstein's talk is "Flying blind? Or fully aware? - How smarter use of scarce resources can fuel economic success"

Third Ward TX

2008-06-16T13:57:00.000-05:00

http://www.thirdwardtx.com/

3rd Ward, TX is a 57-minute-long documentary on a community planning initiative in Houston, Texas’ third ward as depicted by filmmaker Andrew Garrison. As quoted from the website:

Project Row Houses is the unexpected home of cutting-edge art and visionary thinking about inner-city renewal…When deep-pocket developers arrive, art, life, and real estate collide and Project Row Houses must offer new thinking about livable communities.

Watch the trailer on the blog:

You can purchase the documentary HERE.

Watch TV

2008-06-03T16:36:00.002-05:00

....Tomorrow, June 4th at 6pm to see the launch of Planet Green, the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network.

They're weekly schedule will remind you of shows you're interested in watching such as Wa$ted...style over substance on Thursday or Solar Showdown on Sunday.

Their site also has a lot of fun and useful info such as green guides for cars, pets, computers and even womens jeans.

Go to their Channel finder to find out what channel you can watch it on...anywhere.

$aving...

2008-06-02T13:33:00.000-05:00

and "Green"....?
My sister recently sent me a link to finding cheap gas in my area....i think CNN recently did a story on it's accuracy... which got me thinking about other ways to $ave....and apparently a lot of other people as well from congressional offices to my husband are thinking this way.

According to these energy saving techniques you can save $60/yr using CFL's, $150/year using a programmable thermostat, $274 per year caulking and weatherstripping windows.

That's a saving of almost $500/yr just with THREE things. Imagine if you did a couple of more things:

GAS: Carpooling, driving the speed limit... switching to a fuel efficient vehicle?
Last month we went to San Francisco and rented a hybrid. We drove for 4 days from S.F. to various areas in Oakland and Contra Costa county in California traffic and back. Our surprise came at the pump when we went to fill up. $20 (about 5 gallons!) THAT'S IT!?!!? I was so impressed because it costs $50 just to fill up my Mini!

WATER: Saving water with low flow faucet and bathroom fixtures or using aerators, Xeroscaping with Natives, Rain barrels to capture and reuse rainwater...(from hurricane season??? :|) Also use energy star efficient appliances such as your dish washer or clothes washer.

Buying local: such as farmers markets supports your local economy, healthier, and actually is saving on gas by not buying grapes that have to be transported from chile.

Re-using: Shopping bags, containers...(I was thinking of this the other day in the shower as I used a sample bottle of shampoo... why do i keep buying travel sizes... i could just reuse one of the travel sizes refill with my big bottle of shampoo and also avoid using the hotels travel sizes...which i realized i have a whole drawer full of old hotel travel shampoos... lots to trash and what a waste of space !)

And of course Recycling. You can recycle just about anything these days from your cell phone and ink cartridges via the USPS to large appliances by listing them free on freecycle, craigslist, or donating to .... you can even check out the Steel Recycling Institute to find out where the closest place you can recycle your steel appliances such as that old fridge sitting in your garage.

I can't help to think that perhaps this crisis has spurred some positive personal responsibility in all of us out of the desire/need to save money... not that the high gas and food prices are a good thing...but perhaps this train of thought will persist.

If you have any other suggestions or other resources on how to "$ave" please feel free to comment and share the knowledge. HAPPY MONDAY!

The story of Stuff

2008-05-13T11:10:00.002-05:00

For those of you who haven't seen this....Great story of production, consumption and disposal...and as a result a little long... but definiltey worth a watch and some thought. Enjoy.
via http://www.storyofstuff.com/

UH Green roof + Metropolis

2008-05-07T12:50:00.000-05:00

Last month Metropolis Magazine published the University of Houston's green roof on the Burdette Keeland design exploration center. Very cool! ( Click on the images to get a better read/look. )

Books and other News

2008-04-29T16:46:00.002-05:00

Seeing as how posts have been sparse... and I apologize... i thought i would make a post of a few of the things i've been tagging as interesting.

On Guerrilla gardening—making vacant, neglected public lands green and flower.

Green Roof - A Case Study by Christian Werthmann - a book chronicling [in depth] the design and construction of a green roof for the American Society of Landscape Architects‘ headquarters in D.C. The ASLA hired Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, in collaboration with the Conservation Design Forum, to design the green roof ‘hybrid’ - meaning that it would be both a ‘green roof’ and a ‘roof garden’ [a distinction made clear in the case study]. The 3,300 square foot completed roof meets all the sustainable + aesthetic criteria mentioned above, and provides a rooftop hangout for the ASLA.

Home Depot introduces a no VOC paint option. The Freshaire tinting system uses pre-measured packets of dry tint that color the paint without adding any VOCs to the paint. This zero VOC system is an industry first. No other tint system for paint can make this claim.
Click HERE get 3 free samples.

A different kind of green wall- Via architecture.MNP

The project - a prototype green wall installation for the 2008 AIA convention
that will be in Boston in May - aims to transform a blank brick wall
into ‘a lush green environment’, both bringing attention to
underutilized sites in Boston and providing a green solution to improve
public space in the city.

Urban Farm- Garden Canopy

2008-03-13T11:56:00.001-05:00

MoMA PS1 in Queens, NYC, has a Young Architects competition every year that invites architects to propose a temporary structure for the Museum’s courtyard to serve as background/ ambiance for its popular summer music program, Warm-Up.

This year’s winner, differs from previous urban beach themes. Architects Dan Wood and Amale Andraos, the husband and wife team that head the New York-based WORK ac, proposed a novel scheme of a farmer’s market. The structure will be constructed of cardboard tubes containing a variety of vegetables and plants. The colorful "terrestrial" structure is a complimenting contrast with P.S. 1’s angular concrete and gravel courtyard.

The program has a farmer's market, swings, kids "grotto" and even a solar powered cellphone charging station.

The project, to cost US$70,000, is to be built this summer.

(click on images to enlarge)

More on PS1 Young architects Program

4 Story biofilter - A Living Wall, University of Guelph-Humber

2008-02-25T00:36:00.002-05:00

Sources:

Business Edge
Mission Green

This wall looks amazing! Four stories of ferns, potato vines, English ivy, and the tropical tradescantia vine. ... umbrella and spider plants, the leathery-leafed silver vase, shiny crotons, hibiscus and benjamin fig.

Orchids and other flowers bloom randomly throughout the year "giving off a feel-good effect of texture, scent and vibrant colour even as the wind howls and the snow swirls outside."

The wall installation was the idea of architect Birgit Siber of Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc., who also designed the building that houses classrooms, offices, labs and an Internet cafe. This was a joint venture with the University of Guelph and Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning.

As with most innovative ventures...a major selling points of the wall is the potential to save money. "Most buildings maintain indoor air quality by bringing in fresh air from the outside through ventilation systems. In the winter, outdoor air must be heated to room temperature, and in the summer it needs cooling....A biofilter can substantially reduce the need to bring in fresh air by generating clean air indoors. If it is used to its fullest capacity, Darlington estimates it can save 0.3 to 3.5 kilowatts per person in the height of summer and winter."

Another benefit of course is the positive psychological effect of green plants.... Studies from Washington State University found that greening indoor space can reduce absenteeism by 10 per cent and increase productivity by 12 per cent.

The wall requires pruning and trimming so that it doesn't get weighed down so the student at guelph college maintain the wall on a weekly basis. Also, because this is a continuous living research project the student study the plants and filters.

MORE INFO:
Capital costs: $500,000 for the design & installation
$21,000 annually for maintenance.

Air Quality Solutions has installed smaller biofilters at Queen's University in Kingston, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority head office, and an office building in downtown Toronto, but the Guelph-Humber system is the largest so far.
More reads:
+ http://www.naturaire.com/library5.html

+ University of Guelph

+ Back to Nature- the biowall returns clean air to commercial spaces

RECYCLE YOUR CORKS

2008-02-22T16:19:00.001-05:00

Korks 4 Kids is a not-for-profit program, organized
through Recycle Cork USA, LLC. to raise funds from the recycling of
cork for Children's Charities.

You can make a difference - your corks combined with others can help in finding a cure for many childhood maladies.

Once you have a sizable amount. Send your corks to :

Korks 4 Kids Program
c/o RECYCLE CORK USA, LLC.
510 Wynwood Road
York, Pennsylvania 17402

Korks 4 Kids is also interested in partnering with restuarants, taverns or wine distributers...
Read more here.

Upcoming Houston EVENTS

2008-02-19T12:00:00.000-05:00
CLEAN is featuring Manufactured Landscapes as part of our 2008 Environmental Film Series.

Manufactured Landscapes is the portrait of one man’s voyage as it follows celebrated still photographer Edward Burtynsky on a tour of Asia. Burtynsky takes large-format stills of industrial landscapes: factory workers lined up in infinity, giant ships eviscerated, massive recycling dumps, expansive strip mines. His goal is to portray humanity’s relationship to nature as we pursue progress. When Burtynsky speaks, he neither celebrates or condemns but simply explores who were are in relation to our planet. We extract things from the environment to survive, and that is damaging the world.

When: February 20th @ 7 pm
Where: Rice Media Center, Rice University (Entrance #8 located at Stockton and University Blvd.)
Fee: None, however, donations will be accepted at the door.

**View Trailer**

More on upcoming film screenings

Land Use in Houston:The Gulf Coast Institute, Blueprint Houston, Houstonians for Responsible Growth, and the Greater Houston Partnership will sponsor a free public forum about land use issues in the City of Houston.
Listen, learn, and help decide Houston’s future.

WHEN: February 26th from 5:30-7 pm
WHERE: George R. Brown Convention Center.
For More information, see invitation

Houston and Nuclear

2008-02-15T15:22:00.000-05:00
To follow on a recent GTH post on Nucluear energy I thought I would draw attention to a recent article in CLEAN (The Citizens League for Environmental Action Now):

The Dirt on Nuclear Power
by Vicki Wolf, February 2008

....NRG Energy, Inc. (NRG) has applied for the licensing of two new nuclear reactors for the South Texas Project in Matagorda County, near Bay City. Seven more new reactors are proposed for Texas. But these plants don’t need to be built. According to Arjun Makhijani, Ph.D., an electrical engineer, specialized in controlled nuclear fusion, there is no need to rely on the dirty energy of nuclear, fossil fuel or biofuels made from food crops for future energy needs. He has systematically analyzed the energy situation and found it is quite possible to have a clean energy future, relying on efficiency, conservation and clean, renewable technology.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE
comments/editorial: Pause for Precaution...

UTNE Magazine had a great article with the pros and cons of nuclear worth a read titled ATOMIC DREAMS.
I thought it was pretty thorough.

Ashby Highrise Concerns

2008-02-15T14:07:00.002-05:00
This post has been long and late in coming. What is going on with the Ashby Highrise?
From stopashbyhighrise.org

The Buckhead developers ,Kevin Kirton and Matthew Morgan, requested a meeting with representatives of the Stop Ashby High Rise Task Force to discuss alternatives to the construction of the 23-story commercial/residential building at 1717 Ashby that they originally proposed.

Apparently they're willing to negotiate a deal where:
They'll Reduce the height of the structure to 19 stories by building fewer, bigger condominium units, but they reserved the right to build as many units as originally proposed if they could not sell enough of the larger units.
If they received a cash payment of $2.65 million, they would build a 6 story building consisting of two floors or parking and four floors of apartments.
As of this morning the Council approved a motion by Council Member Clutterbuck to delay consideration of the high density ordinance for two more weeks. The Buckhead developers have also agreed to delay any permitting on the Ashby High Rise for this same two week period.

My 2 cents (i have to):
Some have tried to argue that people should not fight change. I agree some change is inevitable and allows us to progress as a community....

but somehow i don't think that this is the case....as with a lot of development in Houston, the main focus is usually on $$ to be made... of course... but shouldn't there be some consideration and thought taken on how they might also improve or add to a neighborhood....thus making such a development even more desirable? Thoughtful design is good design. There's nothing that says that developers and residents couldn't have a mutually beneficial relationship.

Well, just in case you have my same sentiments maybe you'll want to sign the petition to stop the ashby 23 storey highrise. ;)

Have a great weekend!

Other reads:

+ Ashby highrise ordinance delayed again
+Houston Strategies
+Recent Houston Chronicle Article

Nuclear vs. Coal

2008-01-16T14:06:00.001-05:00
In case you are not as clear as I am on the arguments for or against nuclear or coal....Grist (Environmental News and Commentary) posted and interesting question and answer about these two evils which I believe is worth a read.

The best answer being neither. Yet when forced to choose what are the pro's and cons of each?

A few facts to consider:

NUCLEAR POWER :
" is a potential Xtreme disaster waiting to happen both in terms of operation and of "homeland security," cannot save us from our immediate crisis, and is a completely unresolved toxic-waste issue that we are handing down to the next hundred generations."

"not be capable of solving the global warming problem in the requisite time frame, nor can the billions of dollars required be justified since the same money, if applied to wind energy and efficiency, would reduce our reliance on fossil fuels far more quickly. Furthermore, nukes only provide electricity (about 20% of our TOTAL electric demand), whereas our major problem lies in the field of liquid fuels, which are used for industry, transportation and home and commercial heating."

"ecological footprint... nukes take up relatively little space to create relatively large amounts of power (100s of megawatts on few acres)"

COAL:
"...is and will increasingly be a major contributor to air pollution and climate change, not to mention what its extraction does to the ground and nearby residents."

"the coal industry is in a rush to build as many new plants as possible before pollution safeguards are in place."

"In mountaintop removal mining, a coal company literally blasts apart the tops of mountains to reach thin seams of coal buried below. Common in places like Appalachia, this destructive mining puts communities at risk by contaminating drinking water supplies, destroying streams, and permanently reshaping and damaging the ecosystem and landscape."

SEE ALSO Sierra Club's anti-coal site.

ANSWER:
We should first buy renewable energy or even hydroelectric power. Discover your alternatives by searching the EERE's Green Power map. Demand and support the development of sustainable power sources and conservation measures.

RDA LECTURE SERIES-30N 60S: Latin American Architecture Revisited

2008-01-16T13:48:00.001-05:00

Lectures will focus on transformations of and within Latin American
economies, politics, and society in the last decade and highlight the
currently flourishing moment of Latin American architectural innovation.

Tuesday, January 22
Alejandro Aravena
ELEMENTAL
Santiago, Chile
Wednesday, January 30
Rafael Iglesia
Rosario, Argentina
Wednesday, February 6
Daniel Bonilla Arquitectos
Bogota, Colombia
Wednesday, February 13
estudio teddy cruz
San Diego, California
Series Tickets: $25 - RDA, MFAH members
$20 - Senior citizens 65 and older
$10 - Students with identification
$40 – Others
Single Tickets (upon availability): $7 - RDA, MFAH members;
Senior citizens 65 and older; Students with identification
$10 – Others
WHEN: 7 pm
WHERE: Brown Auditorium at the MFAH, 1001 Bissonnet Street.
There will also be a short reception held just before each lecture at 6pm.
For other information visit the RDA's website or call 713-348-4876

Sustainable Energy and Green Building Consumer Expo

2007-11-02T14:45:00.000-05:00
Gulf Coast Green and the City of Houston are proud to inaugurate the first Sustainable Energy and Green Building Consumer Expo exclusively featuring certified green products and building materials, renewable energy, energy efficiency tips, and green vehicles. It will be free and open to the public on April 5 and 6, 2008 at Reliant Park. Gulf Coast Green is the leading green building conference on the Texas Gulf Coast.

An estimated 15,000 consumers from Houston and the Gulf Coast Region are expected to take advantage of the opportunity to learn about green, energy efficient products and services in a hands-on atmosphere free of green misinformation. An innovative set of Green Guidelines will govern the types of products and services exhibited at the event.
With rising energy costs and global climate concerns, we have the opportunity to make a real difference, both financially and environmentally, for ourselves, our families, and our city. The City of Houston has taken aggressive steps towards a greener, more energy efficient region including the purchase of 30MW to date of renewable energy, partnering with the Clinton Climate Initiative to retrofit city facilities, and replacing traffic lights with energy efficient LEDs. “We want to make Houston not only the energy capital of the world but also the energy conservation capital” says Mayor Bill White. “This event gives each of us the opportunity to take steps to make a difference” adds the Mayor.

The Sustainable Energy and Green Building Consumer Expo will anchor several civic expressions of the importance of sustainable growth. Declared Gulf Coast Green week by the City of Houston, the 2008 Gulf Coast Green Symposium will kick off the festivities with two days of lectures targeted to design and construction professionals, green building tours, and a student competition on Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4 at Reliant Park. Mayor Bill White, Pulitzer Prize author Jared Diamond, internationally renowned architect Dr. Ken Yeang, and Clinton Climate Initiative chair Ira Magaziner will deliver keynote addresses at the event. On Saturday, April 5, Mayor Bill White will launch the Sustainable Energy and Green Building Consumer Expo with a plenary session, promoting opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energy already available in the Gulf Coast region.
The expo will feature four topic areas showcasing product booths, government and non-profit initiatives, and educational presentations running throughout the two-day event. The Expo’s focus areas – renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, and alternative transportation – address strategies and technologies critical to Houston’s and the Gulf Coast region’s future.
A youth event will offer a glimpse of Houston’s future as a sustainable community. Students from across the metropolitan region will exhibit their vision of Houston in 2030.
Gulf Coast Green is organized by the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment. The City of Houston Sustainable Energy initiative is a project of the Mayor’s Office.

For more information about Gulf Coast Green and the Sustainable Energy and Green Building Consumer Expo, please visit http://www.gulfcoastgreen.org

The pollution next door

2007-10-24T12:04:00.000-05:00
VIA CNN.COM

"A mother wonders if hazardous chemicals in the air in her neighborhood contributed to her son's contracting leukemia.

A Rice University study released in 2006 showed that Houston has a higher concentration of benzene and 1-3 butadiene than anywhere else in the United States. The annual average of 1-3 butadiene, a carcinogen, was at least 20 times higher than any other city in America.

Tom McGarity, a professor of environmental law at the University of Texas, believes such conditions are allowed to persist because 90 percent of the people who call the ship channel home are Hispanic and many of them are poor."

***Watch Video***

Read More

LIVABLE HOUSTON INITIATIVE- OCT 24

2007-10-17T14:26:00.000-05:00
Next meeting: Wednesday, October 24

Growing Cooler-The evidence on urban development and climate change
Speaker: David Goldberg, Communications Director, Smart Growth America

In "Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change," a comprehensive review of dozens of studies, published by the Urban Land Institute, the researchers conclude that urban development is both a key contributor to climate change and an essential factor in combating it. The researchers document how key changes in land development patterns could help reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. They warn that if sprawling development continues to fuel growth in driving, the projected 59 percent increase in the total miles driven between 2005 and 2030 will overwhelm expected gains from vehicle efficiency and low-carbon fuels. Even with projected efficiency improvements, vehicle emissions of carbon dioxide would be 41 percent above today’s levels, rather than well below 1990 levels as required for climate stabilization by 2050, according to Growing Cooler. “The research shows that one of the best ways to reduce vehicle travel is to build places where people can accomplish more with less driving,” says lead author Reid Ewing.

The report is available at http://smartgrowthamerica.org/gcindex.html

The meeting is at noon on Wednesday, October 24, at the Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmons, second floor. Bring your lunch. For more information call 713-523-5757. The Gulf Coast Institute and the Houston-Galveston Area Council host Livable Houston/Smart Growth bring-your-own-lunch meetings that are open to the public on the fourth Wednesday of every month. http://www.gulfcoastinstitute.org

Please RSVP to crossley@gulfcoastideas.org

ABC news featuring UH green roof

2007-10-15T16:20:00.000-05:00

Click on video to Play

ABC news reported on green roofs and global warming and how UH's Green roof is the first slanted green roof....Just like residential roofs.

"I think this is a new system, particularly for residential use," said Mashburn. "I think it will become more popular as people realize the enormous cost of utilities."

Read More

VOTE NO! to change of Zoning

2007-10-04T14:11:00.000-05:00
click on images to enlarge
This online petition is in regard to the Galveston City Council's vote to change the Zoning of approximately 1,100 acres of Beach to Bay property, potentially, the largest developed tract on the Texas Gulf Coast from single family to recreational.

If the change of zoning is approved for the Marquette development, ironically called "The Preserve", it will mean the developers will circumvent the process of the city's planning department and have an open ticket to do what they want with the property without the City's oversight.

A bevy of attorneys are working on a development agreement that should 'iron out' all the inconviences for the city and 'hold the developer's feet to the fire', but the truth is the City of Galveston is giving up a huge chunk of their little remaining opening space to a group that has
never developed south of Chicago and thinks the planning process is too contentious and will drag things out.

Please sign the online petition and forward to others that are opposed to changing from single-family zoning to recreational zoning by going online:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION

Reasons for Voting “No” to Recreational Zoning regarding Marquette Dev.

* If city council allows re-zoning, citizens of Galveston will NOT have the ability to preserve and maintain the quality of life within their single-family neighborhoods

* Family residences could be living next door to retail businesses of unknown origin

* The island and the type of lifestyle we have become accustomed to could be completely controlled by developers with no way for citizens to have a choice in the type of community in which they want to live – except to move to the mainland

* Recreational zoning does NOT require the city’s approval regarding future development projects

* A very dangerous precedent will be in place that could affect the whole island if recreational zoning is allowed

* If the largest parcel of land to be developed on the island can be zoned for recreational use, it is a strong possibility that city council could approve recreational zoning for other parts of the island as well

That is why VOTING NO for Recreational Zoning by our City Council is Crucial!!!

Our government is based on citizens’ input. We elect leaders to protect and serve with our best interests in mind. Constituents’ welfare is being denied if City Council votes for changing a single-family zoning area to recreational zoning in order to accommodate Marquette Development.

LINKS:
* Beach to bay preserve

* See who's signed the Petition

*http://www.savegalvestonisland.com

Upper Kirby

2007-09-25T17:27:00.000-05:00
As Kirby Drive -between US 59 and Westheimer- is torn up for new stormwater drains, a plan to rebuild it as a wider street also means a smaller pedestrian realm.

This widening necessitates removing about 200 trees. Many citizens at an Upper Kirby District TIRZ meeting wanting to save the trees were also vehement about wanting better and safer walkability - and slower cars.
No one opposed construction of a 72-inch storm sewer under Kirby to improve area drainage.

The concerns centered on plans to add a 14-foot median and widen the three lanes of Kirby, now about 9 1/2 feet wide, to 11 feet to comply with city of Houston requirements.

The result — narrower sidewalks and fewer mature trees on both sides of the street — met strong opposition.
Mack Fowler, president of the board of Trees for Houston, maintained that the drainage project could be accomplished without widening Kirby.

City Councilman Peter Brown, who attended Saturday's meeting, said he supports the latest efforts to improve drainage along Kirby.

Before leaving home for the meeting, however, Brown said his granddaughter told him: "You have to do something to save the trees."
Read more:
*Houston Strategies
* Houston Chronicle
*Citizens Transportation Commission
* Upper Kirby District

UH Greenroof Updates!

2007-09-19T11:34:00.000-05:00
(click on images to enlarge)

SEPTEMBER 19, 2007

Last Friday, the data collection equipment for monitoring the green roof was handed to Alex Alexander, Director of Plant Operations. The equipment was purchased with a generous RDA grant for students to track humidity levels, temperature and rainfall on the green roof, with continued opportunities for sustainable research in architecture.

There is a small portion of remaining grant funds for the purchase of more plants, if our time has not expired for using the funds. The Mexican Feathergrass that arrived last week from the Big Thicket was purchased also with the RDA funds. It really is going to be a fine addition to the Keeland Building.

Mr Alexander said his office would look over the installation plans of the data collectors and get with Geoffe Brune to discuss placement and installation.

equipment is for the East 3 bays, only.

RDA LECTURE - Wed. September 19

2007-09-18T11:50:00.001-05:00
The second lecture of the fall lecture series, Design Activism: Agents of Change, this Wednesday, September 19th at 7 pm in the Brown Auditorium at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

In addition, thanks to our generous underwriter Debner + Company,
please join us upstairs in the museum lobby for a pre-lecture wine
reception from 6 pm to 6:45 pm.

Bryan Bell is the director of Design Corps, out of Raleigh, NC and
author of Good Deeds, Good Design (which will be available on
Wednesday evening for purchase and for a brief booksigning following
the lecture).

For more information about this series and our upcoming programming, please visit http://rda.rice.edu/index.php

To purchase tickets in advance, please call 713-348-4876. There is no guaranteed seating after 7 pm.

Series Tickets:
$25 - RDA, MFAH members
$20 - Senior citizens 65 and older
$10 - Students with identification
$40 - Others

Single Tickets (upon availability):
$7 - RDA, MFAH members; Senior citizens 65 and older; Students with identification
$10 - Others

No Mow Grasses

2007-09-10T11:42:00.000-05:00
Did you know that a lawn mower running for one hour emits the same amount of pollution as 40 new automobiles running for one hour?

Did you know that over 13 million gallons (49,210,353.4 litres) are spilled annually when filling up lawn mowers, trimmers and other landscaping power tools? That is 2 million gallons (7,570,9823.6 litres) more than was spilled from the Exxon Valdez!

Low-growing grasses such as fescue turf grasses save gas, water and fertilizer. "No Mow" grasses are usually a specially designed blend of slow-growing, fine fescue turf grasses that will: -grow to form a dense turf, -thrive in full sun or partial shade, -require little, if any, watering or fertilizing, -choke out weeds, once turf is established, -reduce mowing to once or twice a year.

There seem to be quite a few companies that sell varying "mixes" of no mow or low growing grasses. Below are a few where you can read more about their products and even order on line.

* NO MOW GRASS

* Prairy Nursuries

* Wild Flower Farm

Other sources:
- http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr52/agr52.htm

- OC register

UH Green roof begins Plantings!

2007-09-08T11:55:00.000-05:00
Hallelujah!

Slow Home

2007-08-29T14:18:00.001-05:00
Neat Idea. (watch video)
Created as an alternative to instant neighborhoods and cookie cutter homes,
Slow Home derrived its name from the Slow Food movement and encourages to become involved in improving our lives and taking control of the places in which we live.

From their site:
"These big businesses build for profit instead of people. The result is a standardized cookie cutter world that is boring, wasteful and, all too often, just plain ugly. We have become a land of home buyers instead of home makers and we find ourselves trapped in a situation that seems to have no escape. Marketing images promise us a place that will meet our broader emotional and social expectations of home. The reality, however, is only a shallow version of the original sales pitch. This dissatisfaction breeds desire and before too long we are once again trying to quench our deep yearning for a real home with the purchase of yet another, albeit larger and fancier, commodified house.
"

See also their interviews with architects and designers and their designs such as:

Kevin Angstad's Chiskey House

and
Evergreen Gardens by Drew Mandell

Galveston Texas: In harms Way?

2007-08-23T12:45:00.001-05:00
MSNBC Nightly news Aug. 20:
"With low elevation, high erosion and just one way off the island, Galveston, Texas, is vulnerable to big storms, and yet it is among the nation's hottest real estate markets for vacation homes."

An "interesting" quote from Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas, referring to building on the eroding beaches and bays on Galveston Island:

"They understand the risks and they build very expensive houses here and they're well insured. The people, that's the way they want it, and we're happy to help them get it."

View video

Rice University to chop down live oaks

2007-08-14T09:58:00.001-05:00
Via KHOU - 11 news
17 live oaks have already been cut down....:(
I don't understand how that other treeless lot was "too far away"...Other dorms are farther and they get free shuttles.

Click to Watch the Video

Product Sample Recycling

2007-08-09T15:25:00.001-05:00

On April 18^th - 20^th of this year AIA Houston COTE held a product sample recycling collection. Samples were dropped off at the Houston AIA office and at McCOY Workplace Solutions by local architectural firms and product venders. From these firms we collected:

Approximately 280 Cubic Feet and 3,000 Pounds of product samples that were diverted from landfills and provided free art materials for local students and children.

These materials were picked up by Houston ISD, Galena Park ISD, Houston Children’s Museum, and the Glassell School of Art.

Thanks to AIA Houston and McCOY for the use of their facilities as collection points, Anchor Box Company for their donation of collection boxes, A&E The Graphics Complex for picking up donations, and Satterfield & Pontikes as our distribution location.
Our next recycling event will be September 12^th through the 14^th.
Start saving those samples.
Details to Follow.

www.aiahouston.org/cote

CALL FOR PRESENTERS

2007-08-07T10:53:00.000-05:00
Gulf Coast Green 2008 Symposium -

Presentation Proposal Deadline September 17, 2007
Notification of Selection Status November 15, 2007
Presenter Acceptance Deadline November 29, 2007
Presentation Submittal Deadline March 19, 2008
Conference April 3-6, 2008 - Reliant Park, Houston, Texas

Conference Theme - Innovations in Building for Hot and Humid Climates.
This conference is geared toward attendees with an intermediate to high level of knowledge about building sustainability issues. We seek presentations relevant to the session tracks listed below and to hot/humid climates that focus on high and low tech innovative building systems, recent technologies, cutting-edge research, or case studies.
To submit proposals, review proposal guidelines and read thorough track descriptions go to www.gulfcoastgreen.org and follow speaker link. Meeting the Carbon Neutral Challenge: This track will address the topic of energy efficiency in hot-humid climates through the lens of the AIA 2030
Challenge targeting carbon-neutrality for all new construction by 2030.

Ecological Design: This track will focus on low-tech, low cost solutions to green building design challenges. Sustainable Land Use and Development: This track will explore the opportunities and challenges associated with urban planning and land use along the Gulf Coast.

Innovations in Sustainable Design: This track will highlight the latest breakthrough developments in green building.

With over 600 attendees in 2006 and 800+ predicted for 2008, the Gulf Coast Green Symposium has proven to be the leading green building conference along the Gulf Coast region. In 2008 a two-day symposium on sustainable building targeted toward design and construction professionals will precede a two-day consumer Expo inaugurating Texas' first green building consumer expo featuring certified green building
products & materials.

Registration for attendees opens in September of 2007. Visit www.gulfcoastgreen.org to sign up for our newsletter or email info@gulfcoastgreen.org for more information on sponsorship or
exhibiting your certified product.

Environmental Friendly Staple-less

2007-08-03T10:57:00.001-05:00

Actually, according to ecofabulous, we would save 120 tons of steel if every office worker used one less staple a day for a year.
They come in a variety of colors and only cost $7.95. Put a few papers in the slot - not diagonally, but horizontally - mash on the top, and the gadget will cut and fold a tidy tab that will secure your papers as well as a staple.

Amazon.com for all the details.

Energy Conservation Happy Hour- TODAY

2007-08-02T15:08:00.000-05:00
"Energy Fans,

Where does electricity come from? If you live in Oak Ridge North, a small just north of Houston, it comes from chickens. For the last few months, biodiesel generators there have been producing up to five an hour of chicken-fired power for the city, and what they don't use to the rest of us.

Yes, biodiesel is more famously made from vegetable oils, but around here fats are far more plentiful. It takes about 2230 chickens to a megawatt-hour of electricity from the Oak Ridge North plant.
That's 2230 x 5MW x 24hrs = 267,600 chickens a day. Of course, biodiesel uses the chicken fat. The rest of the (now presumably very lean) is still used for food.

How much of this chicken energy do we use in Houston? That's hard to say. But one way to avoid doing so is to make smarter use of air during peak-usage hours, late on summer afternoons. Instead of rushing home after work each day to your own private of (possibly chicken fired) cool air, why not stop on your way spend some time with friends, where there's plenty of shared -- and therefore cheaper -- cool air to go around?

That's the idea behind our get-together this Thursday, August 2nd, at the Onion Creek Coffee House, 3106 White Oak -- just off Studemont, a block north of I-10. We'll be there from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., meeting and making friends, and discussing the energy demands of our own days in a safe, friendly, mostly poultry-free environment. Please join us. Do it for the chickens."

-Larry Albert

Architectural Exhibition

2007-08-01T15:56:00.001-05:00

Houston Mod's third annual architectural exhibition:

"Hugo V. Neuhaus, Jr.: Residential Architecture, 1948-1966"

Opening reception, Thursday August 2, 5:30-7:30 PM

Architecture Center, Houston, 315 Capitol, Suite 120

Free and open to the public, refreshments will be served.

We hope to see you there.

2007 NEW ZEALAND ARCHITECTURE MASTER CLASS

2007-07-31T16:37:00.001-05:00
16-22 SEPTEMBER

Dear 2007 Master Classers,

Time is creeping on and bookings are filling up for the third New Zealand Architecture Master Class at the beautiful Awaroa Lodge with Ian Athfield,Richard Leplastrier and Peter Stutchbury.

'The Warren Trust' has agreed to become the major sponsor.

Details and application form on the web at www.ozetecture.org

Dates - 16-22 September (missing the school holidays and crucial World Cup rugby matches)

Fee - NZ$2,950 (AUS2,700) for 5 share lodge accommodation
and $3,300 (AUS$3,000) for twin share.

PLEASE FILL UP AN APPLICATION FORM fromTHE WEB SITE

Inquiries to: info@ozetecture.org

SolCool- cooling with pv's

2007-07-16T14:26:00.001-05:00
via inhabitat.com

"The basic SolCool system
has the same output capacity to a two ton air conditioning system but uses 85% less energy than equivalent high efficiency air conditioners;
and the dual battery/solar powered system enables the unit to run 24 hours a day, even during the most overcast of days or when blackouts occur.
One of the most unique attributes of the Millennia 4.0
is that it’s powered on a direct current (DC) which allows for the most efficient use of solar energy. The use of DC also allows the Millennia 4.0 to have integrated attachments such as water purification systems,
lights, and even ceiling fans. The latest version can also heat a room. All of which SolCool believes will help make-up for the $20,000 to $40,000 cost (before subsidies) of installing solar panels on the average household’s roof. SolCool’s unit is a way of stepping into the solar powered world without committing all at once, by integrating solar power efficiently forsmaller applications."

EcoVantage Energy Inc.

Contact: Samuel Little

Phone: (817) 304-0661

Email: contact@ecovantageenergy.com

Weatherford, TX 76087
Service Area: Texas

RDA Civic Forum: EcoCities, July 11, 7pm

2007-07-06T22:32:00.000-05:00
Everybody in Houston is talking "green". But what, exactly, does this mean? What is an EcoCity? Does the European Union's EcoCity Project set the global standards? Are there exemplary local projects and initiatives, or does the term EcoCity only serve to point to Houston's role as a leading U.S. carbon producer? Many Houstonians express a passionate interest in preserving and even increasing their city's green space. Are the strategies that seem to be productive in Europe and Asia, where many nations are working together to plan a sustainable future, applicable for us? On Wednesday, July 11, 2007 at 7 p.m., the Rice Design Alliance (RDA) will hold a forum to begin to answer these questions. Brown Auditorium, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 1001 Bissonnet (Enter via the Main Street door) Admission is free and open to the public.

Gulf Coast Green- Symposium on Building

2007-07-05T10:52:00.000-05:00
SAVE THE DATE
The Houston Chapter of AIA's Committee on the Environment (COTE) third green building symposium and expo will take place April 3-6, 2008 at Reliant Park, Houston, Texas.

This year, GCG 2008 will focus on both professionals and the public: Four educational tracks offering various skill levels for the
design and construction professional will be offered at the two-day seminar, while we will all be encouraged to become familiar with the
latest in certified green building products and innovations at the Consumer Expo, new to GCG this year.

The theme of the 2008 conference is Innovations in Building for Hot and Humid Climates. The conference's specific focus is green or sustainable building along the Gulf Coast Region, but the content includes broader issues such as sustainable land use and global warming.
Educational tracks will be: Meeting the Carbon Neutral Challenge; Ecological Design; Sustainable Land Use & Development; and Innovations in Sustainable Design.

The Houston chapter of the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment (AIA COTE) hosts Gulf Coast Green 2008 in partnership with the Greater Houston Area Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Houston District Council of The Urban Land Institute
(ULI).

Call for Proposals opens August 2007.
Registration for attendees opens in September of 2007.
Visit www.gulfcoastgreen.org to sign up for our newsletter or email info@gulfcoastgreen.org for more information on sponsorship,exhibiting your certified product, or speaking at the event.

The Formation and Future of the Upper Texas Coast

2007-07-02T10:29:00.000-05:00
Letter-to-the-editor from Professor John Anderson (RICE U.), author of the very latest May 2007 book by Texas A & M Press:
(Click on images to enlarge)

"I was one of the three authors of the Geohazards Map that has raised so much attention in recent months. I am bit miffed by the apparent misunderstanding of the map by Galveston City officials. It is really not that complicated. It is based on island elevation, existing habitats and future habitats. The first two are fairly simple, the elevation of the island controls storm impact, the distribution of modern habitats and the rate at which these habitats will change as sea level rises and the land surface subsides. The third ingredient sounds complicated, but it is based on careful monitoring of the rate of Gulf shoreline and bay shoreline migration over the past several decades. If anything these rates will increase in the next several decades, so beaches, dunes and wetlands will need to have room to migrate landward.

The Geohazards map is color coded, with red designating areas that are of imminent geohazard potential and orange designating areas with high geohazard potential. Existing wetlands fall within the red zone and areas that will become wetlands in the next few decades occur within the orange zone. The proposed Marguette Development has significant overlap with both red and orange areas. It is estimated that 75 acres of wetlands will be lost.

During the June 19 meeting of the Galveston Planning Commission, Commissioner Listowski stated that he was not concerned about the wetlands because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will serve as the watchdog agency to assure that the wetlands are protected. Mr. Listowski clearly misunderstands the Corps responsibility and their track record. He needs to drive the far west end of the island to observe how the Corps failed to consider wetlands migration in at the Cintex Development. So, if the Corps of Engineers is not watching out for the wetlands, who is guarding them? When the Geohazards map was submitted to City Council two years ago it was our hope that the City would assume responsibility for safeguarding the island environment. They are the ones who issue the permits for development on the island.

I am not apposed to development on the Island and fully appreciate the city’s desire to raise new tax dollars. But, the attitude of the commission seems to be that wetlands have no economic value, and they clearly are not concerned about the next generation of citizens who will have to clean up after our mistakes. City officials now have the information needed to assess the impact new development will have on the island and its fringing waters over the life span of the project, not just on the day of ground breaking. It is no longer acceptable to simply ignore these impacts are try to assure us that someone else is guarding the hen house. If city officials have problems with the current Geohazards map, we need to work on these problems in order to come up with a map that can be used to preserve the island environment for all of its inhabitants, including those who will inherit it."

Galveston developement threaten wetlands

2007-06-29T13:16:00.000-05:00

"The site of the United States' most deadly natural disaster, the 1900 Hurricane, Galveston Island is one of the most vulnerable targets for a deadly storm strike. The city hangs on the northwest lip of the Gulf of Mexico, with only one major escape route to the mainland and subject to fast-developing cyclones that leave little time for evacuations.
Yet as city planners consider a proposal for the biggest single development of homes, hotels and marinas in the island's history, they are resisting using a $50,000 geological hazard map the city commissioned to help plan safe and sustainable development."
City commission members John Listowski, Kelley Sullivan, Willy Gonzalez and Craig Brown voted to approve a preliminary plat and zone change for the huge new Marquette development project on Galveston’s West End....only three members of the commission — Chula Ross Sanchez, Janice Stanton and Elizabeth Beeton — voted against the project.

On of the members states that "1,000 acres of open ranch land reaching 3 miles down the island from beach to bay, 8 mile road to 11 mile road on Galveston Island is in jeopardy of being smothered in 4,900 units, 2 high rises on the beach, a marina in the wetlands and uplands, a golf course, filling in 74 acres of wetlands for weekend homes. All this in an area cited as a fragile geohazard zone by the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas."

Sources:
Dolph Tillotson, publisher's column sunday June 24

Chronicle editorial, June 11, 2007

Gigacrete- Concrete alternative

2007-06-07T02:02:00.001-05:00
via Treehugger and Materialicious
Gigacrete, which has no portland cement but a "proprietary non-toxic binder" made from "a different cementitious binder consisting of commonly found nontoxic elements available from many locations throughout the world."

Up to 80% of the volume of the material is fillers:These fillers include waste bottom ash from coal fired power generation stations, not just the marketable fly ash currently used in Portland-based concrete. Other potential filler materials that could be implemented include waste paper, recycled cardboard, recycled plastics, recycled polystyrene, agricultural waste fibers, and paper sludge.

All of the above materials become fireproof when mixed with the GigaCrete™ binder and can be made very lightweight with strengths close to, and even exceeding, traditional concrete. The new composites have virtually no shrinking or cracking like concrete and can be demolded within eight hours."

Benefits:
- Less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are produced from the
manufacture of the GigaCrete™ cement binder than compared to the
manufacture of Portland cement.
- Energy savings can be achieved with the GigaCrete™ PanelSystem due
to the high thermal efficiency and insulating value of the panel
material. According to the “Structural Insulated Panel Association in
Partnership with Oakridge National Labs,” structural paneled homes can
achieve energy savings of up to 70%.
- The GigaCrete™ cement binder is 100% nontoxic.

- GigaCrete™ products use approximately two-thirds less water than conventional Portland-based cement products.

- High resistance to mold, mildew, insects, and vermin facilitates cleaner living environments.
- Reduction of waste materials is achieved due to efficient
manufacturing methods and a building system design that reduces
“on-the-job” waste.
-All GigaCrete™ ash-based products are totally noncombustible and all GigaCrete™ sand-based products will not support flame - thereby reducing the potential for hazardous off-gases
associated with structure fires.
- Eco Friendly StuccoMax-E (environmental) contains 80% (by volume)recycled bottom ash filler material - and is the only stucco product on the market that utilizes bottom ash in such high content.

- Eco Friendly GigaFoam utilizes 100% waste ash as a filler material and is the only waste ash foam on the market.

Read more about them on the Gigacrete site

Designer Emulation Kits

2007-05-25T00:14:00.001-05:00
The Designer Emulation Kits (DEK's) by Mark McKenna are a sincere homage to some of the greatest modern designers.

A typical 9 volt cell will power a DEK for well over 160 hours. It is normal for the light to be quite bright when first plugged in, and get progressively dimmer as the battery weakens.
The DEK’s use an LED (Light Emitting Diode) to turn the battery’s energy into visible light. Under normal conditions, it will last about 50,000 hours, or over five and a half years of continuous operation. Naturally, you will go through quite a few batteries in that time.
Available through his website: www.mmckenna.com
or at the Contemporary Art Museum Houston

Matchstick Garden

2007-05-17T12:34:00.001-05:00
Tear out a matcchstick, plant it and voila! You have a flower or herb garden growing. Seeds are mixed on tip of each matchstick. Two styles available- herbs or wild flower mix. Great party favor.

Available at the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum Store

Read more at Matchstickgarden.com

UH Green Roof Updates

2007-05-09T12:44:00.000-05:00
"Here are some photos from up on the Keeland roof at the installation of
the Hydrotech Green roof system. A HUGE crane dropped TONS of engineered
soil in the 7 bays on the south lower roof. So very exciting. After the drainage system and soil were in place, the erosion mat of coconut fibers
was laid down, tucked in and staked with what appeared to be clear plastic stakes, but were made of corn starch that will disentegrate. We have about a 6 week window to plant!"

~Chula

2007 Air Quality Report

2007-05-04T13:00:00.000-05:00
Two types of air pollution are especially dangerous to breathe—ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot). The American Lung Association State of the Air 2007 report grades communities across the nation based on the number of days they have unhealthful levels of air pollution. The grades come from the color-coded alert system called the Air Quality Index, which may be familiar from newspaper, radio, television and on-line weather forecasts.

Read more about Harris County OR Pick another county and see which have the higher air quality scores. (Brewster and Webb counties seem to have the only "A's" in Texas.)

A little "Joule reminder"

2007-05-02T09:26:00.001-05:00

The Home Joule is an energy data display device that tells you how the price of electricity is changing, hour by hour. Plug this neat little device into any outlet and it displays a constang flow of data that includes your power usage, its price and even current weather conditions. The Home Joule is available in NY now, contact them if you're in another city.

HOW IT WORKS:
ConsumerPowerline analyzes energy price and usage data to create signals that are meaningful to consumers, and then sends those signals to Ambient uses its patented technology to match up those signals with particular Home Joule devices and broadcasts the signals on a pager network. Just as messages to specific pagers go only to those users, so do the energy signals find their way to the right Joules.