| Why should we think about our energy use? Some interesting notes:
The Associated Press (May 5) reports that solar electric companies nationwide are experiencing a "spike in sales attributed partly to people feeling Y2K jitters." Y2K has conveniently caused many people to research and consider sustainable energy production, without knowing that’s what they were doing. Texas Energy Consumption by End Use: Industrial, 56%; Transportation, 23%; Residential, 12%; Commercial, 10% (World Resources Institute, 1994). One-third of all the electricity used by Texas residential customers is used for air conditioning, compared to 12% nationwide. Cooling, heating and lighting in buildings accounts for 73% of peak electric demand in Texas. Almost half of the electricity consumed in Texas buildings could be saved if efficiency measures were employed (UT Center for Energy Studies and Texas Railroad Commission). Wind energy, solar power, biomass and hydropower could play large roles in Texas’ energy mix. However, at present, Texas derives only about 0.4% of its total energy demand from renewable sources, according to the Texas Environmental Almanac. The Lawrence Berkeley Lab estimates natural daylighting can reduce electrical lighting by 70-90%. In 1993-94, the City Energy Conservation Programs saved over 30 megawatts (City of Austin Sustainable Building Guidelines). Austin building energy consumption for residential, commercial, and institutional use is up 32% per capita over the last 25 years, according to Paul Robbins whose sources were data provided by Austin Energy and Southern Union Gas. For more information on the Energy Conservation Products and Services offered by the City, call Austin Energy at 499-7827. Also check out the latest edition of the Austin Environmental Directory. |
We consume energy in almost every daily activity. The process of making
or using a building is also inherently energy intensive. A building’s energy
use profile can be broken into several categories, most importantly, embodied
energy and operating energy. The embodied energy of a building is based
primarily on materials (source and quantity), building size (see Environmental
Building News, Volume 8, No. 1, January 1999), and design. The operating
energy needs of a building are also based on design, as well as on quality
of construction, mechanical equipment, user habits, light fixtures and
other appliances.
Energy efficiency gains in appliance standards, building code improvements, and even consumer awareness have been offset by increases in per capita square footages in buildings and the seemingly inexorable increase in our need to maintain a high quality of life. The City of Austin has one of the most comprehensive set of programs in the country to help consumers save energy. The City provides technical and financial information and assistance for all types of buildings. However, it all comes down to personal choices to seek out assistance or, even better, to find our own ways of reducing the energy needs of the various buildings we depend on. Determining what is a reasonable level of self-sufficiency in personal or business energy use depends greatly on energy needs. Some energy saving measures are cheap and easy, some require a financial commitment with a long-term payback. Topics covered this month will focus on both residential and commercial buildings and range from energy efficiency options you can incorporate into new or remodel construction work, retrofit options such as augmenting existing power sources with renewables or increasing the efficiency of mechanical heating and cooling equipment, and even down to the level of what type of lights to use in your lamps. This month’s presentation will be a panel discussion with questions
and answers about the various aspects of energy, self-sufficiency and sustainability.
Invited speakers include Paul Breaux of Breaux Consulting to speak to solar
and residential issues, and another speaker TBA to address commercial issues.
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| Earth Day Made Better
A number of most excellent volunteers are to be thanked for devoting time and self to our SBC exhibit on Earth Day. Clifford May, an SBC-exhibit stalwart of many years, provided pick-up assistance on Friday, the day before Earth Day, and showed up promptly on Saturday with materials. Lydia Heard helped design and arrange the exhibit. Gayle Borst, Shellie Reott, Carol Cannon, Elliot Johnson, Eric Anderson and Chuck Watkins made visitors to our booth welcome with their enthusiasm and good information. Frank Meyer supplied some fine straw bales that served as display areas for the SBC. Thank you, team! The Clip Board Lady. Sustainable Phone Survey
I need graduate students (UT only?), ideally, to work anywhere from 20-40 hours a week at $10hr to help us complete a "quality of life" survey as part of the sustainability indicators project. I'll need help initially completing the survey via phone calls, then we'll shift to coding the results so we can analyze and report the results for a June Indicators forum. Contact me directly by paterson@uts.cc.utexas.edu or 512-471-0734. Phone survey work will be from about 4pm to 8pm weekdays // Saturday and Sunday from 12 - 8pm, you choose the days and exact times within that block of hours. We will use phones in Sutton Hall. Then coding will be done in EXCEL. Robert G. Paterson, Assistant Professor
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 30th for $500 which includes three vegetarian meals per day and on-site lodgings otherwise it is $550. Colorado Natural Building Workshop 1999
Join many experienced natrual builders in Rico, Colorado June 24 to June 27, 1999, for this excellent event. $275 per person; $500 couple. Hands-on workshops, lecture, discussion, slide shows, home tour (including Sun Ray Kelley's bus stop!), and more covering your favorite topics: straw bale, lime based paint, healthy homes, earthen construction, solar, rammed earth, wildplant tour. For more information email: Keithl@csn.net Cob Cottage Offering
May 21-24 in Cottage Grove OR: Pyromania! Building Stoves and Fireplaces June 6-19 in Williams OR: Cob and Natural building July 15-18 in Cottage Grove OR: Sancaturay Garden and Cob Courtyard Call Cob Cottage Company for details: 541/942-2005 or check their website www.deatech.com/cobcottage. |
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. May 18 Texas Vernacular Design
Rainwater Collection
Building a Ferrocement Cistern May 15-17, Bisbee AZ Carol Escott & Steve Kemble (520) 624-1673 www.bisbeenet.com/buildnatural In this workshop, we will cover the basics of rooftop rainwater collection, sizing of systems and system options. The bulk of the 3-day workshop will be hands-on, learning to build a cylindrical ferrocement storage cistern with a domed top. Ferrocement tanks, although labor-intensive, can be the lowest cost option and can be site-built in remote locations and situations where it is impractical to transport a large prefabricated tank. Ferrocement, a technique often used in boat building, is a thin-walled and extremely strong form of reinforced concrete made by stuccoing over a lightweight wire cage. The workshop will take place on the developing 10-acre demonstration site of Sustainable Systems Support. Primitive camping is available on-site. A range of hotels and bed-and-breakfasts are available in nearby historic Bisbee. $175/person (some meals included). Register before May 10 to secure a place. Greenpeople is asking for help
The FDA under corporate pressure wants to eliminate ALL food irraditaion labeling. Please help us fight for meaningful labeling so that consumers an make their own food choices. Essentially all food, fruits and vegetables, spices and teas can be legally irradiated in the United States. Please ask that labeling requirements not expire and that the word irradiation be used. Submit written comments to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. YOU MUST INCLUDE: Docket #98N-1038, "Irradiation in the Production, Processing, and Handling of Food." For further information visit www.purefood.org/irradlink.html. Permaculture Basic Design
The Drylands Permaculture Institute will conduct a 7-day design course in Taos NM May 30 - June 5. For registration information: <pdrylands@aol.com> |