Do you know where the electricity in your house comes from? Coal? Solar? Nuclear? The answer impacts everything from climate change to environmental justice. That’s why we write stories about the local effort to make Austin’s energy supply more sustainable.
Yesterday the Leander Independent School District announced it had received 31 ENERGY STAR awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one award for each of its eligible buildings.
From: Sarah McDonald
Dear Pedernales Electric Co-op members!
The 2009 PEC Elections are winding down but, there is still time to
vote. The deadline for members to cast their ballot online or by mail
is this Friday, June 12 — or you can vote in person at the annual
membership meeting on June 20th.
On May 4th, board candidates attended a presentation and discussion on
energy efficiency and clean renewable energy. In turn, the candidates
were given a questionnaire
(http://www.cleanenergyfortexas.org/pec/downloads/board_candidate_questionaire.pdf)
With the official start of the summer just around the corner, many are looking to simplify their lives and their spending. One easy way to do both is to buy rechargeable batteries.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS – Chemical engineering students are experimenting
with technology that could reduce the cost of a solar array from more
than $20,000 to less than $2,000. View Austin American Statesman article:
http://tinyurl.com/p3g6z8
“If Texas were its own country, it would rank sixth out of 184 countries in the world in total [greenhouse gas] emissions, trailing just China, Russia, Germnay [sic], Japan, and the United Kingdom,” says a Greenpeace report released May 27.
Sigh.
Katherine Gregor reports briefly on this in the Chronicle here,
http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A787172
although it’s oddly inaccurate.
You can read Greenpeace’s own article on the United States and Texas’ disproportionate share of greenhouse gas emissions here:
Hi Everyone,
Paul Hawken’s book The Ecology of Commerce has a description of an industrial park in Denmark where every company’s waste products become inputs for another company, resulting in a zero-waste closed-loop system. Although Hawken never uses the word “permaculture,” the following is an excellent example of how permaculture design principles can (and should) be applied to industry and commerce:
LOCATION: 111 E. 17th Street
WORK HOURS: Grant Funded: Continued employment depends on the availability of federal funding and is otherwise “at-will.” 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 40 hours. Occasional weekend and/or late-evening work may be required. Actual work hours may change based on business need. Must be able to work flexible hours during legislative sessions; and, as needed.
GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION:
Dear Friends,
Carbon Clear, a new green company in Austin, is looking to fill the
position of Business Development Manager. Note, the closing date is May 20,
2009.
Looking very forward to hearing from interested and qualified applicants!
Sincerely,
The Carbon Clear Team
www.carbon-clear.com