| The Y2K bug. You’ve heard about it, you’ve seen news articles and Internet
sites, maybe you’ve even reconsidered your New Year’s Eve 1999 plans. What
began forty years ago as a rational, simple means of achieving efficiency
in computer programming is now a catalyst for rethinking how disconnected
we have become, as individuals and a society, from all the resources we
depend on for survival, convenience and luxury. How much of a disruption
the Y2K bug will cause is the center of the debate and the reason you should
learn about it, because no one really knows. The interesting opportunity
of Y2K is a greater awareness of the sustainability, or vulnerability,
of our daily routines and lives, again, as individuals and communities.
This month’s SBC meeting will focus on helping you, as a conscientious citizen, to make better decisions about Y2K, you and your community. We will not be dwelling on doomsday scenarios, or how to become a survivalist, nor will we be offering assurances that everything will be fine and dandy. We will discuss the particular needs of the built environment and how our professional SBC members may be effected by Y2K in the upcoming 11 months. We will also discuss solutions at the home- and community-scale, i.e., offering a range of next steps for you to consider. There will be a Q&A session and handouts. The main things for you to think about are water, food, heat and waste. In these areas Y2K presents some specific concerns in the built environment. These concerns can all be represented by some facet of sustainable design, construction and lifestyle. We’ll discuss concerns and solutions particular to both the residential and commercial building owner/operator. As a primer, during the course of a day, become aware of each instance you use some resource not generated or stored on-site. For instance, electricity for lighting, refrigeration, communications; water for drinking, cooking, the toilet; heat from gas or electricity; food you did not grow, etc. If you are unable to attend this month’s meeting but still want some information on Y2K, or to know about upcoming Y2K related meetings, please contact Jim Walker at the phone below. Jim Walker works with Stanley Architects and Artisans, Inc. and the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems on promoting sustainable building systems and thinking. Resources
INTERNET SITES (almost all have links to other sites) http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/y2k/default.htm The City of Austin is addressing the Year 2000 problem now to prepare our mission critical systems. http://y2k.ci.lubbock.tx.us/
http://www.ci.portland.or.us/y2k/
http://www.lmnc.org
http://www.utexas.edu/y2k/
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http://www.dir.state.tx.us/y2k/index.html
http://www.senate.gov/committee/y2k.html
http://www.y2khumanfactor.com/
http://www.garynorth.com/
http://www.utne.com/y2k/index.html
http://www.redcross.org/y2k.html
http://www.boma.org/year2000/
http://www.y2ktimebomb.com/
http://www.readyfory2k.com/
Y2K Citizen's Action Guide from the Utne Reader. Downloadable at
BOOKS
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| UT Informal Class
Member Paul Breaux is teach a UT Informal Class entitled "Self-Sufficiency for the new Millennium". Class to be held at the UT Student Union on February 24 and March 3 at 6:30pm and a field trip on March 6 to Chez Soleil (a totally self-sufficient house). Cost is $36 general and $28 UT. Call 23-CLASS to register (course 8202.201) or call Paul at 249-1976 for more information. E-mail Subscribing
We would like to encourage you to subscribe to the SBC Newsletter via E-mail. To do this go to the http://www.greenbuilder.com/sbc/ and follow the directions, or To subscribe, send an email to: SBCNews@lists.greenbuilder.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT LINE. We are offering an extra month free on your membership if you switch over to E-mail. Straw Bale Building in China Slide Show
The Straw Bale Association of Texas will host Frank Meyer's slide show from his trip to China on Wednesday, January 20 at 7:00 pm in the Cielo Room at Casa de Luz. Frank, in conjunction with a Washington, DC based relief agency, helped construct what is believed to be China's first strawbale building. Slides of the two-classroom school in Hebei Province, as well as shots of the lush landscape and beautiful people will be viewed. [Having seen a preview, this is a not-to-be-missed slide show! - G.B.] Thanks to Our Volunteers!
The SBC would not exist without the volunteers who so generously give of their services. We would like to welcome Jo Wilhelm of The Home Place as our new Site Visit Coordinator and thank her for the work she has already done for the SBC. And super-volunteer Shellie Reott has agreed to work with Jim Walker on informing other groups and individuals about specific SBC presentation topics that may be of particular interest to them. The more people that know about sustainability, the better. Massomeh Roberts is now coordinating the mailout of our monthly newsletter. Thank you, Massomeh! New Member Directory is Ready!
Thanks to the enormous efforts of Elliot Johnson, the 1999 SBC Member Directory is ready and will be distributed at the January meeting. We also plan to make copies of the Directory available to the general public at events such as the Green Building Conference and Earth Day. We hope you will find the Directory to be a useful resource. Building for Resource Conservation
This 16 week course will be held at ACC – Riverside Campus, beginning January 12th through May 6th. It is an introductory class for building professionals and owner/builders interested in healthier, more efficient materials, and site-sensitive design and construction. It will cover the greater global impact of our choices, how we can improve our existing environments, as well as build more sustainable buildings and communities. Austin Community College – Riverside Campus
Class: BCT 2074 "Building for Resource Conservation" Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7:30 PM Dates: January 12th through May 6th To Enroll: Call Austin Community College at 512-223-6015 Co-taught by Barshia Cohee & Joshua Drews 499-3505. Topics will include:
Fuel Cell Update
SEED has sent out information on fuel cell technology gleaned from one of the Texas Climate Forum events and Atmosphere Alliance (ph. 360-352-1763, email: "atmosphere@olywa.net"). According to the SEED information, the fuel costs for a fuel cell that meets home electricity needs would be about $300 per year. For more information on this factoid, point your web browser to www.plugpower.com/. Enter one of the biggest giants of all time, General Electric. According to the Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter "hfcletter@mhv.net", GE Power Systems is teaming up with startup fuel cell maker, Plug Power of New York to form a joint venture called, "GE Fuel Cell Systems." They expect to start making units available to the public through intermediary utility and other power companies as early as late 2000, two years from now! Power units should sell from between $3000-5000, and produce energy at 7-10 cents per kWh, depending on the cost of the fuel (natural gas, methanol, or propane). |
C.O.A. Green Building Seminars
11:30-1:30 open to Green Builder members. Call ahead to Mary at the City of Austin 499-3541. January 14 Inexpensive Green Building Measures
Thank you, thank you, Ellie and Lars
Eleanor McKinney, our most wonderful landscape architect, and Lars Stanley, our most excellent architect and ironworker, hosted our annual SBC/SBAT holiday celebration this year. The fire was big and warm. The lights sparkled. The food was tastey - and eaten up with relish. The milling and chatting among us filled many needs to connect. Thank you, Ellie and Lars, for holiday hospitality! Look Who's Featured!
Our own Ellie McKinney, consumate landscape architect, was featured in the January 7 issue of the Austin American-Statesman in an interview with Michael Barnes. Ellie, your color photo looked so like you! Your informative message will reach many readers. We salute you! Give 'Till You Win, Big Time!
At our January meeting, you can add "long green" to SBC's coffers by donating a coin or two (one or two dollars is suggested) and buy your own richly informative copy of "The Dirt Cheap Builder's Catalog". Charmaine Taylor, who publishes this excellent collection of 180 hard-to-find books, videos, pamphlets, etc., on sustainable living has sent a bunch of catalogs to us, gratis. SBC wins, and you win! The Winter 1998-99 issue has excellent resources for Y2K, and includes excerpted information from an article, "Individual Preparation for Y2K," by Paloma O'Riley. Workshops and Events Of Interest
May 13-16 Earthen Floors and Natural Wall finishes. $275 in Canelo, AZ. Athena and Bill Steen <absteen@dakotacom.net> or (520) 455-5548. June 6-12 "Build Here Now," A Natural Building and Permaculture Convergence in Taos County, NM, sponsored by Permaculture Drylands Institute, Lama Foundation and The Last Straw Journal. Contact <pdrylands@aol.com> for information on this multi-topic event put together to rebuild Lama after a 1996 fire. Register by April and your cost is $500 which includes three vegetarian meals per day and on-site lodgings. Cobbing
Various small, medium and large cobbing workshops are forming located in far North Austin, Dripping Springs and elsewhere. Call Yvonne Hansen to get on the cob mailing list at 447-0459 or email <geminideas@greenbuilder.com> Organics
TOGA, Texas Organic Growers Association will sponsor a day-long conference on Saturday, January 20 at the Red Lion on marketing organics. The cost is only $25! With lunch, $40. Contact Sue Johnson, Director for information: <suejefi@aol.com>. 887-326-5175 Let's Talk Organics!
Also, a two-day organics charrette, a creative, open approach to exploring ways to get more organics growing and on our tables, will be held February 20 - 21 in East Austin at Patrice Sullivan's Barn! This event is sponsored by the Armadillo Trading Club, Sustainable Food Center and the BioRegional Congress. No admission fee, but bring a dish for the potluck lunches each day you attend. On Saturday watch and listen to live music by some of our fine local musicians. You are invited to dig in for a gardening event Sunday from 8-11 am. The charrette will continue with action planning on Sunday. Call Lyndon Felps at 448-0717 or Doug Lewin at 236-8177 for more information. Bioregional Congress of the Colorado River Watershed
This on-the-mark group meets quarterly to recognize the real boundaries of watersheds, our own watersheds where ever we live. The next meeting, a pot luck around a warming bonfire at Jim O'Briens will be coming up soon. Call Lyndon Felps at 448-0717 for information. Permaculture Courses
Occidental Arts and Ecology will conduct an intensive Permaculture course from February 27- March12: $850-$950. Permaculture courses are given periodically in Central Texas. |