Galveston developement threaten wetlands

"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

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

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

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

"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

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"

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.

Green - vegetarian cuisine & coffee

When in San Antonio this week for the AIA Convention 2007 , be sure to visit green vegetarian cuisine & coffee. Located on North Flores street...just a hop from downtown.

The 1896 building, that it occupies, is located in an area of town that is undergoing revitalization. It has an energy efficient thermal roof barrier, offers a recyling dumpster for cardboard, uses biodegradable packaging when possible and lots more. So whether you go for the great coffee/teas, many vegetarian plates or just to hang out...you're bound to love it. Enjoy!!!

AIA Convention 2007

The AIA 2007 National Convention and Design Exposition, held in San Antonio, is the premier event for design and building industry professionals. From thought-provoking education programs to informal meetings with peers, you'll have access to hundreds of opportunities that increase your knowledge, improve your projects, and help you better serve your clients.

This year's convention theme is 'Growing Beyond Green' and spotlights sustainable design—how you can green your projects, educate your clients, and reduce the impact buildings have on the environment.

Solar panels ...

...on a gas station canopy in Lisbon, Portugal. We can do this in Houston, can't we?

Have a great weekend!

METRO goes green.

I'm a little behind on posting this, but for those who weren't aware:

METRO is rolling out 10 new hybrid buses, the first of 30 local buses to take to the streets of Houston. The rest of these environmentally-friendly buses are expected in May.

The 40-foot buses run on diesel and electricity, and are expected to post a fuel savings of 30 percent or more. The hybrid technology reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by more than 50 percent and greatly reduces particulate hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. The buses are also quieter, provide a smoother ride and require less maintenance, reducing METRO’s operating costs.

Read more

Get Crafty

Make your own sun jar. (a solar powered night light of sorts)





Not Martha has a great step by step tutorial based on the Sun Jar design by Tobias Wong.

List of materials:
- Ikea Slom jar, smallest size, about $3
- single Malibu brand solar garden light, about $10, from Lowes (see notes below for pictures of the specific one as there are a few variables)
- glass frosting spray
- some Blue Tak or sticky stuff

Not too crazy about working with electronics? You can also buy a similar version/nightlight from the Geek Gear Store.

They also have great ideas, if your so inclined, for recycling those floppy disks you feel so bad about throwing away.

More News from Charles Tapley

On the UH green roof progress:
Sunday-"...What a team we have! While Bellows was running the show yesterday assembling the metal edges and down hill grates for the beds, today it was all Decherd(sp).
They flashed-in the metal frames, waved me on up the ladder, and then asked if I wanted to see what else they had brought....What they showed me was a delivery of "trays," the cups that receive water below the filter and the growing medium, and bundles of erosion protection fabric through which
the plants will be planted...."

Monday- "Green Roof, full of promise; a meeting is promised with Bellows, Decker, and
myself to talk about the next steps in the evolution of the roof, namely, delivery and installation of the growing media. ...Right now, with the contractors eager to finish and say goodbye, it is becoming our job to inform the College and the University that some big components of having and taking advantage of having a Green Roof are yet to come; managing the roof, recording conditions on the roof and with the plants, planning research projects, planning for seasonal variations, developing academic programs to better knit the roof (and thus the Zone) to the College, creating programs to bring other institutions in to joint venture some of the programs, and visitors and foundations to become better informed about the asset and it's need to be supported.
A lot to rejoice about, a lot to do, and a lot to think about. "
~Chas

Film Screening

As part of CLEAN's film series
THE END OF SUBURBIA: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of The American Dream

Synopsis:
Since World War II North Americans have invested much of their newfound wealth in suburbia. It has promised a sense of space, affordability, family life and upward mobility. As the population of suburban sprawl has exploded in the past 50 years, so too has the suburban way of life become embedded in the American consciousness.

Guest Speaker: Aaron Dunlap, website administrator for peakoil.com

When: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 from 7pm- 9pm

Where: Rice Media Center, Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston, TX 77006 (Rice Cinema is located on the Rice University campus, inside of Entrance No. 8 University Blvd. at Stockton Dr., 2nd building on the right hand side.) Rice University Map

$5 donation however no one will be turned away for lack of funds

The installation has begun.

News from Charles Tapley and Geoffrey Brune on the progress on the new sloped* Green Roof for the College of Architecture at the University of Houston :

"Here it is folks, the opening pages of the real thing. The crews started in a light rain on Friday and were on the roof by 7:30 AM (April 14,2007) today and just leaving at 5:00 PM. Today the weather was dry, cool, and very windy. As you can see the metal surrounding the planting beds is well along and Tony (with Bellows) tells me they will be back tomorrow morning, Sunday.I will, too.
Celebrate! Chas"

Related articles:

GREEN is cool - University of Houston Magazine

Rice Design Alliance

The SciGuy on green roofs - Houston Chronicle

UH Green roof- Updates!

Green Roof by Hydrotech, College of Architecture, Keeland Design Exploration Building

Installation of the green roof components on the south bay of the Keeland Building begins TODAY!!! Planting soon to follow...... Stay tuned....first sloped green roof in town!

~Green Team Houston

Techs and Trainers- Houston

"Techs and Trainers provide technology and skills to people with disablities."

Whether you are looking for economical corporate computer asset disposal or just wish to recycle your used computer equipment (computers, monitors, and used printers are all, generally, accepted), Techs & Trainers is ready to put your tax deductibles to good use.


Contact info:
www.techsandtrainers.org
6020 Jessamine
Houston, TX.
77081
(713) 839-7177
techs1234@yahoo.com

Plastics- FYI

Reusing plastic for food is not always such a good idea. It seems lots of plastic is not food-grade and not food-safe.

When reusing plastic containers this might be helpful.

How to build a home out of shipping containers

Bartlett Park Container Home

via bobvila.com

Bob is back in Bartlett Park in St. Petersburg, Florida, where they are helping to revitalize the neighborhood by building a new home out of four steel shipping containers. Bob recaps the shipping container story from the previous episode and tells how the stem-wall foundation was poured especially to receive these steel building units that are welded in place for maximum connection.

Watch the video

Recycle ink cartridges for $

Did you know?

• On average three quarts of oil are burned to make one new cartridge.

• An estimated 375,000,000 cartridges are thrown away every year.

• Ink cartridges cost more to destroy than to manufacture.

• It takes over 1000 years for each cartridge to decompose.

You will get $1 for each inkjet cartridge and toner cartridge you collect, and they pay the shipping!

All cartridges must not have been remanufactured previously and must be free of damage to be recycled. You must have a minimum of five (5) qualifying inkjet cartridges, or two (2) toner cartridges to receive your payment.

Call 1-888-661-9224 for details on how to receive cash for your cartridges! or send a quick email with the title 'RECYCLING'

Source: www.inkjetcartridges.com