Environment

Eco Build America
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Anaheim Convention Center
800 W. Katella Ave.
Anaheim , CA 92803

Whether you are an Architect, Engineer, Contractor, Facility Manager, Gov't employee, Contractor, Specifier, IT Professional, Building Owner, or just an interested consumer, come learn about the latest products and technologies for green building.

Ecobuild America
Sustainable, Green, and High-Performance Solutions for the Built Environment

Ecobuild America represents your best opportunity to capitalize on the most comprehensive offerings of built environment resources under one roof:

- Explore the latest in sustainability, spanning local to global perspectives
- Uncover best practices in environmental design
- Review new advances in green building products and techniques
- Meet officials representing Building & Construction budgets and projects
- Discover how to apply your expertise to government projects and expand your client base
- See and hear from world-renown and industry experts in Keynote Presentations and in 100+ educational sessions
- Network with product manufacturers and service providers
- Benefit from your whole building team assembling in one location

Eco Build America openly invites all industry organizations, experts and career professionals to provide you and your building team with comprehensive exposure to all aspects of:

Live Interactive webinar & roundtable

March 25, 2008 1 pm ET, Noon CST, 11am MST, 10am PT

Green City Webinar Featuring . . .
Austin's Climate Plan & Energy Solutions . . .
Plus . . . PV Windows - Hydro Energy from Water Pipes -
Solar Thermal Electricity

Join us in a live interactive webinar and roundtable hosted by Challenge International. Just turn on your computer to hear, view and interact during this presentation. Topics include:

Case Study: "Austin Climate Protection Plan & Dell Childrens Hospital's High Tech Energy Systems"

The City of Austin is progressive in leading the Nation in environmental stewardship. Join us to hear Cliff Braddock, Director of Energy Business Development describe the Austin's Climate Protection Plan. Then learn about an innovative on-site energy system that the City's electric utility, Austin Enegy, provided at one of its customer's sites, the new Dell Children's Hospital. Austin Energy and this new healthcare customer, have set a new standard in energy performance and environmental stewardship, with the hosptial on track to be the first LEED Platinum healtcare in the world, thanks in large measure to the Austin Energy on-site energy system.

Presented by Cliff Braddock, Director Energy Business Development, Austin Energy

Green Technology Breakthroughs . . .

§ Hydro Energy from Water Pipelines - Boulder, Colorado has incorporated eight hydroelectric generators with a combined rated capacity of 20.1 megawatts into the city’s municipal water system with minimal environmental impact since the water supply infrastructure was already in place. These small hydro plants convert the water pressure developed within water transmission pipelines as Boulder’s municipal water supplies are delivered down into the city from their source in the mountains high above Boulder. The turbine-generators were installed adjacent to pressure reducing valves that are necessary for proper water supply operations, but that waste this source of energy. The hydro plants generate about 45 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year that is sold to Xcel Energy for about $2 million per year. Presenter: Carol Ellinghouse - Water Resources Coordinator, Boulder Colorado

THERE ARE MANY POSTS I almost make, many I mean to make, and a few that I actually say I will make, but don't get around to. One of the latter category was when a friend of mine (one I made when I first visited Oregon in 2002-ish, let's refer to this friend as "Mariana") actually rescued a sea lion. Here is text from one of Mariana's emails:

so i climb over rocks for about 20 feet through water trying not to get slammed into the wall by waves at the deep part. i get to the sandy part where the waves only occasionally got my feet wet and was at the cove FINALLY. there's the sea lion, looks emaciated and has an almost perfecly round wound on his flipper where you can see tendon and bone exposed (from a cookie cutter shark.) i only had a couple towels on me because the kennel carrier weighs 45lbs and we couldnt trek it all this way from the truck. i had to towel over his head with him trying to bite the towel (or me if i got close enough) until i got it over his head and pinned him down (he tried to get away, i had to grab his tail flippers while a life guard helped get the towel back on him.) so then i pick him up, he's heavier than he looks, about 50-70lbs and compact. i had to then carry him back through the rocks and the water, and manage to climb up the rocks i jumped down in the first place.

This "inside source" of mine works at Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC), an organization dedicated to rescuing and helping marine animals in need. I was speaking to Mariana and got a lot of inside details on this story, for example. That was another post I meant to write up, but didn't get to.

The picture up top is a shot Mariana sent me of the sea lion described in the passage above. And this is the crazy stuff PMMC does on the regular!

I have to say I have mad respect for those people and organizations who are in it for the Good of it. From volunteer fireman to nurses to sea lion rescuers to peace corps members to activists of many stripes to volunteer poll workers... and so on.

As is the case when people are more motivated by a principle than a profit, they often need help from the rest of us, be it monetarily or with a simple online signature or vote. I write here now because PMMC is up for a small grant that will help them do what they do. Requires nothing from us but an electronic vote. No rock-scrambling, no towel wrapping, no sea lion cajoling. If you have the time and the energy, I ask you to please vote for their receiving this grant.

The Sierra Club sent out an email today highlighting the efforts of another environmental organization, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). LCV just put out their annual Congressional Scorecard, and the Sierra Club wants everyone to notice that John McCain received a big fat zero. McCain scored as low as anyone could on environmental issues.

Here is the email from the Sierra Club:

Two weeks ago John McCain was the only Senator to duck a crucial vote on the future of clean energy in America -- dooming to failure the measure that would have helped make renewable energy more affordable and accessible. Now it turns out this missed vote is part of a pattern.

Last week, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released the 2007 National Environmental Scorecard giving Senator McCain a score of ZERO. According to the scorecard, McCain was the only member of Congress to skip all 15 crucial environmental votes scored by LCV.

Can you help spread the word about McCain's 0% environmental voting record and write a letter to the editor? The opinion page is widely read in most communities -- and a well-placed letter can reach a broad audience. We've included sample text to get you started.

Colorado Renewable Energy Conference
"Renewable Energy: Fueling Prosperity"
Weekend, June 6 - 8, 2008
Pueblo Convention Center
320 Central Main St.
Pueblo, CO

With Tracks Focusing on
* Community,
* Technology, and
* Transportation

Keynote Speaker:
Congressman Mark Udall
(CO - 2)

CRES has reserved a block of rooms at the Pueblo Marriott
(110 West First St., connected to the Conference venue)
for a special rate of only $89/night ...
RESERVE YOURS NOW!

For more info, call: 303-806-5317 or email here: info_at_cres-energy.org

Colorado Renewable Energy Conference
"Renewable Energy: Fueling Prosperity"
Weekend, June 6 - 8, 2008
Pueblo Convention Center
320 Central Main St.
Pueblo, CO

With Tracks Focusing on
* Community,
* Technology, and
* Transportation

Keynote Speaker:
Congressman Mark Udall
(CO - 2)

CRES has reserved a block of rooms at the Pueblo Marriott
(110 West First St., connected to the Conference venue)
for a special rate of only $89/night ...
RESERVE YOURS NOW!

For more info, call: 303-806-5317 or email here: info_at_cres-energy.org

Iowa Rivers Revival Festival
3rd Annual Conference
April 4th – 6th, 2008
Iowa Falls, IA

Rediscovering Our Rivers:
GREENBELTS, HABITATS, CLEAN WATER & FUN

Friday: Iowa Rivers Revival Fundraiser
Boat Club, Iowa Falls, IA
Live Entertainment/Silent Auction/Appetizers/Local Wine and Beer

Saturday: 3rd Annual Conference – Ellsworth Community College
Keynote: Kenny Salwey, author The Last River Rat and Tales of a River Rat

Clean Water • Outreach, Engagement, Community Participation, & Advocacy • The Wild Places: Rivers, Greenbelts, and Habitats • Fun: Recreation & Community Enterprise

Sunday: River Tour Options – Experience Iowa Falls and the Iowa River with a guided tour highlighting many of the historic and scenic spots along the river.

¢ Nate Hoogeveen will lead a guided Canoe Tour down the Iowa River
$20/includes canoe and lunch (approx. 4 hr trip)

¢ Rod Scott will lead a guided Motor Coach Tour down the Iowa River
$30/includes lunch (approx. 4 hr trip)

Conference Registration $45
(conference and three meals; including Saturday evening’s annual banquet)

RSVP TODAY: roz.lehman_at_mchsi.com

Lodging information: click here

(Lodging will not be included in registration costs this year.)

Exhibitors: $250 or $100 for non-profits
Click here for registration

Sustainable Mini-Farming Workshop, Willits, California.
February 29-March 2

The weekend workshop will consist of lectures, discussion, and demonstration on soil preparation, sustainable soil fertility, fertilization, compost, compost crops, efficient resource use, crops for full nutrition, and crops for income. Contact: Margo Royer-Miller, Ecology Action, margoroyer-miller@growbiointensive.org, (707) 459-0150.

MREA Annual Fair
Jun 20 – 22 2008
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

The Midwest Renewable Energy Association's annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair is the nation's largest gathering of renewable energy supporters, vendors and presenters.

Join us for the 19th annual Energy Fair June 20-22, 2008. The Fair will be held at the ReNew the Earth Institute. The ReNew the Earth Institute is located at 7558 Deer Road in Custer, WI. See the Travel and Accommodations page for mapquest details and other information.

General Energy Fair Information
Since its inception in 1990, the Energy Fair has shown 190,000 fairgoers how to change the world while having fun. Each summer the Fair transforms rural Custer, Wisconsin into the global hot spot for renewable energy education. The Energy Fair is the world’s largest renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living educational event of its kind. Please join us this year!

The Energy Fair features hundreds of workshops and exhibits all emphasizing clean energy & sustainable living and is fun for the whole family. In 2007, the Energy Fair hosted over 19,500 attendees. We hope to see you in 2008!

More info here: www.the-mrea.org

SEED Mid year conference
Apr 26, 2008
Davenport North High School, Davenport, IA

SEED ( sustainable ecological economic development ) will hold their mid year conference in April in Davenport. To register or for more information contact: richlands@earthlink.net