09 Jul EcoBits July 9th – July 16th, 2015: Google’s Self-Driving Cars, Cheap Solar, and Purple Martin Parties
However, these rapid price drops are making Austin Energy a bit nervous. The Austin Monitor reports that at a recent committee meeting, Austin Energy told city council that they would prefer to contract out 200MW of solar now, and then wait a few years for solar prices to come down even further before purchasing the remaining 400MW. Warning against buyer's remorse, and the higher costs associated with early adoption, Austin Energy promised that 600MW of solar would be built, but urged council not to build it all at once.
[Water] Recent rains in Austin might have you thinking that the
[Transportation] They have arrived. Google's much talked about self-driving cars have officially hit the streets in Austin. Two of Google's self-driving Lexus vehicles (with human safety drivers in tow) have already begun navigating their way around Austin, testing their technology on new terrain. Outside of Google's hometown of Mountain View, California, Austin is the first city to see the self-driving vehicles on its roads.
In an interview with the Austin American-Statesman, a Google representative said that Austin was chosen because of its innovative spirit and growing tech scene.
The arrival of Google's cars has definitely been embraced by the City of Austin. The hope is that someday, these self-driving vehicles can help to take human error out of driving, reducing accidents, traffic, and incidents of drunk driving. Learn more>>
[Transportation] Commute by bike this summer with a free month of Austin B-cycle. With its 375 bikes and 46 stations, B-cycle is a convenient, carbon-free way to get around town. Right now, B-cycle is offering a free month of unlimited bike rides (of up to 30 minutes). If you're interested, visit AustinBcycle.com, click on the "sign up" button, choose Local30 access, and enter promo code BiCYCLE15. The offer ends July 19th. More info>>
[Green Design] Together with Preservation Austin, TreeHouse is hosting a special educational series this month dedicated to educating the public about retrofitting old homes with energy-efficient upgrades. The three-part series is called, "Greening Your Vintage Home," and it covers sustainable design, energy efficiency, and landscaping. The classes will be held on July 11th, 18th, and 25th and cost $15 each. More info>>
[Outdoors] How inspiring! An Austin grandfather's love for the oceans and his desire to save them for his grandchildren has turned into a major public awareness campaign and documentary film. The movie, "Swim For the Reef," tells the story of Paul Ellis, who at age 61 attempted to swim 35 miles across the Yucatan Channel. Not only does the documentary show that amazing accomplishments can be achieved at any age, it also highlights the many threats to the world's coral reefs and urges everyone to take action to combat them.
But, the film won't be effective unless it is widely distributed. That's why the filmmakers have launched a Kickstarter campaign. They need donations so they can share their movie with audiences and film festivals across the country. Learn more>>
[Outdoors] A fight is brewingto remove Central Texas' Golden-cheeked Warbler from the federal endangered species list. An official petition to remove the bird from the list was filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week.
Supported by former Texas Comptroller Susan Combs and current Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush, the effort to remove the songbird from the endangered species list is rooted in the belief that endangered species protections threaten economic development and limit the rights of property owners. The federal government has 90 days to respond to the petition.
At risk is more than just the future of this rare bird. Federal protections for the Golden-cheeked Warbler have been used to create many of the region's beloved nature preserves. Travis Audubon does not feel that the warbler should be removed from the endangered species list and is fighting back with a petition of its own. You can learn more about it here>>
Every Friday and Saturday night at 7:45pm from July 10th to August 1st Travis Audubon will be celebrating the arrival of these amazing birds with free Purple Martin parties at the shopping center. Anyone wishing to attend should bring a lawn chair and some excitement. Travis Audubon says that these parties are better than watching the Congress Avenue bats! More info>>
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