Nuclear vs. Coal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

(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

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

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!

Hallelujah!

Slow Home

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?

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

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

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

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

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

"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

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.