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[Open House] Friday, Feb. 6th from 5:30pm 

to 7:30pm the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems is having an open house.  The Center designs and tests innovative programs that integrate air, water, food, energy, and material systems to build healthy and sustainable communities. Visitors will tour The Center's demonstration site, which features green building and energy system prototypes.  The open house is free and open to the public. More info>>

*Please note: The date of the Center's open house was incorrectly listed in the last EcoNews. Thecorrect date is Friday, Feb. 6th*
 

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[Block Party] Friday, Feb. 6th from 5pm to 9pm, Austin's own zero-wastegrocery story, in.gredients, is having its First Friday block party. There will be live music, food, drinks, and chair massages. Plus, a percentage of sales will be donated to the Literacy Coalition of Central Texas and all local Texas produce will be on sale. More info>>
 

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[Gardening Class]Saturday, Feb. 7th from10am to 12:30pm theSustainable Food Center is hosting a raised bed construction class. Students will learn how to build different types of raised beds out of reused household items. The course fee is $20 and registration is capped at 25 people, so sign up today! More info>>

 

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[Tree Celebration]Saturday, Feb. 7th from6pm to 11pm TreeFolks is celebrating is millionth tree planted to restore the Lost Pines after the devastating 2011 Bastrop fires. TheMillionth Tree Shindig will be held at Neighbor's Kitchen and Yard inBastrop, where there will be live music and chainsaw carving. More info>>

 

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[Climate Preach Off]
Sunday, Feb. 8th at 4pm is the Second Annual Preach Off on Climate Change atThe Sanctuary on Exposition Boulevard.Religious leaders from Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and Unitarian Universalist communities willshare brief teachings from their traditions that offer wisdom to help us respond to climate change. The entire event will be hosted by the Austin Interfaith Environmental Network and is open to anyone who wants to have a good time learning how to take action on climate.
More info>>

 

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[Water Talk] 
Tuesday, Feb. 10th at6pm the Sierra Club is having its monthly meeting at Scholz Garten. Professional engineer David Venhuizen will be speaking about sustainable water development and his ideas for a fundamentaltransformation of our country's water resources infrastructure model. The event is free and open to the public. More info>>

 

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[Water Symposium]Wednesday, Feb. 11thfrom 8:30am to 3:30pmwater experts will gather in Austin for the Deep Dive Into Water Conservation symposium. Topics of discussion will include demand management, drought tolerant landscapes, commercial water use, and water conservation software. The symposium is $35and will be held at the Seton Administrative Offices. More info>>
 

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[Tree Volunteer]Wednesday, Feb. 11thfrom 9am to 

noon the City of Austin andTreeFolks are teaming up toplant tree seedlings at the Zilker Park Disc Golf course. Volunteers are needed to help plant the seedlings, which will help to lessen water runoff and improve water quality in Austin's creeks. Volunteers will also learn a little about the site's history, the importance of urban forest stewardship and riparian planting and even discover how these plantings will help the waterways of Austin to thrive. More info>>
 

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[Green Building Ed.]
On Wednesday, Feb. 11thfrom 11am to 1pm Austin Energy Green Building is launching the seventh year of its Green Boots Series sustainable building classes. The series is designed for home builders, remodeling contractors, residential architects and designers, interior designers, and residential real estate professionals who want an overview of “green” strategies and who want to learn more about aspects of project development and management. It includes 12 classes on everything from preservation to net zero building strategies and lasts throughout the entire year. More info>>