Where in the world is the USA? Collected statistics related to the environment compare the USA to other nations.

Often in the midst of conversation, Lee Moore will throw out a cogent statistic or two related to the subject at hand. While some folks make up such statistics, Lee's interests have led him to compile reliable statistics on a wide range of subjects. Here are a number of lists largely related to environmental concerns from his personal collection.


Gasoline Prices: USD per gallon (2005)
Norway 6.2
Britain 6.0
Germany 6.0
Italy 5.9
France 5.7
Poland 5.0
Japan 4.4
Australia 3.7
USA 2.4
(Raw cost is everywhere $2/gal; the difference is tax to discourage consumption and fund mass transit.)

Gasoline Consumption : Gallons per person per year (1997)
USA 459
Germany 140
Japan 113
(Germany is the second largest consumer worldwide, so the USA really stands out.)

Fuel Economy : avg passenger vehicle mpg and average engine size (2005)
Japan 48 mpg
Europe 41 mpg 1.6 (avg engine size in liters)
Australia 32 mpg
Canada 28 mpg
USA 24 mpg 3.4 (avg engine size in liters)

Oil Consumption : barrels per person per year (1999)
USA 25
Japan 16
Europe  14
Latin Amer 4

Oil Reserves
Billions of barrels (2005)  and years remaining at current extraction rates. New fields will of course be found.
Saudi Arabia 260 billion barrels, 66 years at current rate
Iran 140 billion barrels, 93 years at current rate
Iraq 115 billion barrels, 100 years at current rate
Kuwait 100 billion barrels,100 years at current rate
UAE 100 billion barrels, 97 years at current rate
Venezuela 80 billion barrels, 73 years at current rate
Russia 75 billion barrels, 21 years at current rate
Kazakhstan 40 billion barrels, 80 years at current rate
Libya 40 billion barrels, 63 years at current rate
Nigeria 40 billion barrels, 38 years at current rate
USA 35 billion barrels, 12 years at current rate
Canada 20 billion barrels, 15 years at current rate
China 20 billion barrels, 12 years at current rate
Mexico 15 billion barrels, 10 years at current rate

Water Consumption: Cubic meters per person, includes agriculture (2002)
USA 1690
Canada 1430
Australia 940
Japan 720
Germany 710
France 700
Britain 200

CO2 Emissions : Tonnes per person (2002)
USA 20
Singapore 14
Czech Rep. 10
Russia 10
Japan 9
Poland 8
Hungary 6
Mexico 4
China 3
India 1.5

Organic Farmland: % agricultural land certified organic (2004)
Switzerland 10.3
Austria 9.8
Finland 7.1
Italy 7.0
Denmark 6.2
Sweden 6.0
Britain 4.2
Germany 4.1
Australia 2.6
Spain 2.5
Canada 0.9
Japan 0.7
USA 0.2

Environmental Taxes: Taxes on energy use, big cars, etc -- as % of total taxes. (2005)
Denmark 9.5
Holland 9.5
Germany 7.0
Britain 7.0
Japan 6.0
Poland 6.0
Spain 5.5
France 5.0
Canada 3.5
USA 3.0
(As total taxes are lowest in the USA, the actual environmental taxes are very low.)

Miscellaneous  Facts

• In 2000 the Total National Energy Use in average BTUs per person per day was 48 in Europe and 368 in the USA.
• The average American generates over 1600 pounds of garbage per year, more than twice that of the average European.
• The average American consumes nearly 750 pounds of paper per year, by far the most in the world.
• If the world's 6 billion people consumed like the average American, we would need at least 4 more planets to supply the resources and absorb the wastes.
• In 2003 the average American consumed 53 times more resources than a Chinese, and 35 times more than an Indian.
• American use of oil:  66% to all transportation, 40% to auto/truck gasoline.

Sources ‒ OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), US Census Bureau, Office of Economic Development, US Energy Information Adm., US Dept of Health, Justice Policy Institute, Standard and  Poor's, UNICEF, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, National Center for Education Statistics, Eurostat

January Meeting Announcement

We resume our monthly meetings at Whole Foods Market in 2011 by welcoming Joe Alderman from PCM South. Joe contacted me after running across something I had said about one of compressed earth blocks' best attributes, that of being host to a phase change material. In the case of compressed earth block (and likewise adobe, rammed earth, and other earthen construction) the phase change material is water. The earthen material absorbs moisture out of the air overnight and gives it up to evaporation in the heat of the next day. The act of evaporation, phase changing from liquid to gas, requires heat to occur, and draws that heat from the surrounding spaces. Swamp coolers operate in much the same way.

Joe Alderman has a patented process of adding phase change material, in this case specific salts, to cellulose insulation to be used in standard wood stud construction in wall cavities, ceilings, or immediately under roof decking. Instead of fluxing between liquid and gas like water does, the salts flux between solid and liquid phases. All the detail you can burn your brain cells on can be found on Joe Alterman's website, PCM South. So if you are intrigued with the cooling attributes of phase change materials and you don't happen to be fortunate to live in a compressed earth block home (yet), all is not lost. You can benefit from phase change materials in your conventionally-built home. Come to the meeting on the 25th to learn more.

Sustainable Route Optimization seeks to reduce energy use by finding the shortest route from A to B

by Jack Lundee

From algae-based fuel substitutes to solar energy, finding new ways to reduce our carbon footprint comes forms. Numerous 21st-century findings are aimed at long-term viability for increased efficiency, as to contend with oil companies.  For the moment however, who do we have looking into short-term energy challenges?

Municipal fleets, including city transportation (i.e. – buses), use a heavy amount of energy every year. Much like the military however, we’ve seen a steady decline in the rate at which they consume. Reasons for this may include any of the following:

• Fewer people traveling
• People living closer to work
• Hybrid transportation

Nevertheless, I think most would argue that these slowly declining numbers are part of an attempt to increase fuel efficiency through the direct use of technology. One particular means involves fleet route optimization.

The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), a phlilanthropic organization created by Doug J. Band, is one instance of a large number of non-profits, corporations, political figures, and that are helping in the work of route optimization. Route optimization can be distinctly defined as an attempt to find the fastest route from point A to B.   (An easy comparison for the average consumer would be the algorithm found in most modern GPS systems.)

In a partnership with San Francisco, ESRI, and NAVTEQ, the CGI  provides a pledge to add in plans to decrease greenhouse gas emissions from fleets in the San Francisco Bay Area through Fleet Route Optimization Software.

This involves anything from buses to work force vehicles. NAVTEQ actually produces digital maps and content that drive navigation- and location-based services solutions worldwide, including:

• Mobile navigation devices
• Internet-based mapping applications
• Government and business solutions
• Auto navigation systems

Utilizing GIS mapping software, ESRI also helps the user interpret data, further aiding in transportation-based decision-making, reliant on the best information and analysis. Much of this is similar to what the average consumer finds on his/her portable GPS. Furthermore, it’s important to note that this technology has been around and is widely used.

Again, this is comparable to the “alternate routes” feature on most automobile GPS systems. Similarly, Google Maps can simulate different routes with times, distance, etc…

Both ESRI and NAVTEQ hope to provide powerful solutions for technology companies that enforce municipal transportation efforts. Once a seamless integration of communication and navigation has been implemented, transportation will become much more efficient. Again, this is something that has already taken effect and will continue to improve energy efficiency in regards to transportation fuel costs. As we technology progresses and becomes more affordable, individual consumers will begin seeing GPS as longer just an option, but rather a integral part of any vehicle.

  (Jack Lundee is follower of all things green and progressive. Jack has been an involved member of the Green Blogosphere for quite some time now, illustrating his ideas regarding green infrastructure, sustainability, conservation and more.)

Engineered phase change materials (PCM's) an improvement and refinement of the priciples of Thermal Mass in construction

Over the past decades researchers and companies have been working on developing phase change materials (PCM's) that have the potential to regulate temperature within a home.

A phase change is when a material changes from a solid to liquid or from liquid to vapor.  We all are familiar with the cooling that results from sweat evaporating from our skin.  The phase change of evaporation requires energy.  It draws heat energy from your skin thus resulting in cooling.  John J. Morony has documented that a phase change of the moisture in compressed earth and adobe blocks results in significant cooling of rooms enclosed by adobe walls in the heat of the afternoon.

Many green and natural building techniques including cob, adobe, earthships, strawbale and SCIPS make use of thermal mass to stabilize temperatures within a building.  Typically thermal mass is warmed by the sun. The mass radiates heat when the room temperature is lower than the temperature of the thermal mass.  When the mass is cooler, heat flows from the room into the mass as nature tries to equalize the temperature of the two.

Natural thermal mass is very slowly warmed and it cools very slowly as well, so in climates such as south Texas where we have very hot nights during the summer and winter cold snaps mixed with warm days thermal mass can make for uncomfortable rooms as the mass heats rooms that are too hot already or absorbs heat when the room is too cold.

Engineered PCM's may be considered to be improved forms of thermal mass.  Phase changes add and remove much more energy than does the radiation from and into thermal masses such as stone which do not undergo a phase change.  What's more virtually the only natural phase change material is water.  The evaporation and condensation of water is limited to a narrow temperature range while artificial  PCM's can be designed to phase change at a variety of temperatures.

PCM's are frequently used inside cold boxes used for shipping medicines, food and live organs.  In India PCM Energy P. Ltd sells them for use as built in emergency backups to mitigate loss of power to telecommunication facilities that must be kept cool.  Their website "The University of PCM's" has many informative links.

BioPCM of North Carolina has products including mats which can be installed in walls and ceilings.  National Gypsum is working on a drywall substitute called Thermalcore which has BASF's Micronal PCM microcapsules embedded in it.  It was recently promoted at the Greenbuild 2009 conference though it is not yet on the market, so you will likely be hearing about it in the mainstream press.

The engineered PCM's have been tested through thousands of phase change cycles allowing the manufacturers to assure buyers that the materials will function for several decades.

The challenge for any PCM was outlined in a May 2001 brief, Phase Change Drywall from the Department of Energy.  In a heating dominated climate the transition temperature for the PCM must be near standard or suggested room temperatures (65°-72°F) while in a cooling dominated climate the transition must take place between 72°-79°F.  In climates where both heating and cooling is required getting the correct temperature for the transition will be difficult.  In addition manufactures will need to produce many variations of their product for various climates.

This same Department of Energy brief pointed out that residential PCM's could eliminate the need for air conditioning in a mild climate.

UTSA’s Institute for Conventional, Alternative and Renewable Energy hires Les Shephard from Sandia National Laboratories

Here's the UTSA press release:

The University of Texas at San Antonio announced today the appointment of Les Shephard, a nationally recognized expert who often speaks before U.S. Congress on energy and water issues, to head its Institute for Conventional, Alternative and Renewable Energy (ICARE). Shephard will assume his role as director of the UTSA institute effective April 15, 2010.

“Les Shephard is an expert in his field. He is knowledgeable, well-respected and highly sought-after by energy companies across the world,” said UTSA President Ricardo Romo. “We are thrilled that he will be coming here to UTSA, where he will work with our faculty and our collaborative partners to build a world-class energy institute right here in San Antonio.”

Shephard will reside in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering in UTSA’s College of Engineering, where he will hold the USAA Robert F. McDermott Distinguished Chair in Engineering, an endowment which contributed greatly to his recruitment to UTSA.

“I am truly delighted to hear that Dr. Les Shephard is joining I-CARE after many years of very distinguished leadership at Sandia, including his position as vice president for energy and critical global infrastructure,” said David B. Prior, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at The University of Texas System. “I have known Les personally and professionally since his doctoral work at Texas A&M and know that he will undoubtedly contribute very substantially to new directions at ICARE and to the new strengths in energy-related research across the University of Texas System.”

Shephard’s hire comes at a crucial time for UTSA, which is competing with six other Texas universities to reach tier one status. To achieve that goal, UTSA must significantly increase its annual federal research expenditures. Energy research is one of five strategic areas it will focus on to do so.

Under Shephard’s direction, UTSA’s energy institute, ICARE, will bring together representatives from industry, government and academia to explore alternative energy sources. It will also look into new policies and best practices for the energy industry in the region, the state and internationally. The Institute’s research will involve every college at UTSA and the university’s existing Center for Water Research. ICARE will also support the Energy Research Alliance of San Antonio, developed earlier this year by UTSA, Southwest Research Institute, CPS Energy and San Antonio Water System. The Alliance, which is in its infancy, will conceptualize, develop and commercialize technologies to meet San Antonio’s current and future energy challenges.

Shephard joins UTSA from Sandia National Laboratories, which is managed by Lockheed Martin Corporation for the U.S. Department of Energy, where he served for more than 27 years. Most recently, Shephard was vice president of Sandia’s Energy, Security and Defense Technologies Division, a multi-program science-based engineering laboratory located in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Historically, Shephard’s Sandia division has developed, deployed and commercialized technologies and capabilities that address many of our nation’s most pressing national security challenges in energy, water, infrastructure and strategic nuclear materials. The division has also pursued technology breakthroughs that will contribute to alternative transportation fuels, energy efficiency, responsible environmental stewardship and renewable energy options. Today, it works with more than 100 nations around the work, pursuing a principal mission of creating a peaceful and free world through technology.

What could San Antonio and CPS do with 5.2 billion dollars (instead of putting it toward the cost of more nuclear plants)

Disclaimer: As  a group San Antonio Sustainable Living doesn't take policy positions.  Within our membership we have people who are in favor of nuclear expansion for various reasons and folks who oppose it for various reasons. 

Below is information from Energia Mia, a local coalition that opposes nuclear expansion.  A more complete version of this information is available here.

What Could You do with $5.2 billion?
About 2,500 MW of Total Capacity and 1,100 MW of Baseload Power for a lot less

San Antonio does not actually need 1080 MW – 40 percent of the two nuclear plants of nuclear power in 2020. In fact, CPS Energy is now talking about selling half of that power to other utilities. Still, if they did need 1080 MW of power by 2020, they could get it for less than $5.2 billion, In fact, an analysis found that utilizing cost estimates provided by the consultant hired by Austin Energy, CPS Energy could build the equivalent of over 2,500 MW of total energy capacity, and 1,100 MW of guaranteed electricity for less than $5.2 billion.
 
Among the measures that could more cheaply replace the need for any new nuclear power by 2020 include:

·   A more aggressive efficiency program than the 771 MW of energy efficiency they are estimating;
·   Incorporating the gains in energy efficiency they will obtain from the City’s advanced building codes;
·   Fulfilling the Mission Verde goals of a robust on-site solar program to lower energy demand and produce power locally;
·   Greater investments in wind energy, including wind with storage;
·   A significant investment in large-scale concentrated solar plants with energy storage;
·   Taking advantage of geothermal renewable energy in South Texas;
·   Investing in an additional efficient combined cycle natural gas plant;
·   Investing in industrial and institutional combined heat and power facilities;
·   Investing in a medium-scale biomass facility;
·   A more aggressive low-interest loan program for homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient and add solar water heaters and panels;
·   Improving energy efficiency services to those San Antonians least able to afford increased rates to make sure bill impacts stay low;
·   Utilizing the millions of dollars available in stimulus funds to promote energy efficiency and renewable power in San Antonio

What can you get for $5.2 Billion? Why not put our energy eggs into less risky baskets?

Extra 200 MW of Energy Efficiency                              Cost: $100 million
Install 500 MW of wind                                         Cost: $1 billion
Develop a 500 MW Solar on Rooftops Program           Cost: $210 million
Develop 500 MW of Utility-Scale Solar                    Cost: $1 billion
Install 200 MW of Wind Turbines plus Storage          Cost: $550 million
Install 100 MW of geothermal                                        Cost: $400 million
Build a 100 MW Biomass Plant                               Cost: $285 million

An overview prepared by Solar San Antonio of The Rifkin Report “San Antonio: Leading the Way Forward to the Third Industrial Revolution”

The following is an overview of Jeremy Rifken's report “San Antonio: Leading the Way Forward to the Third Industrial Revolution”. This overview was prepared by Solar San Antonio and is available in Word Document form on their website at this link.

THE RIFKIN REPORT – An Overview

The following is an overview of “San Antonio: Leading the Way Forward to the Third Industrial Revolution” prepared by Solar San Antonio. The full report can be read and/or downloaded at http://www.solarsanantonio.org/pdf/A_Vision_for_Sustainability.pdf
The plan incorporates the principles of what Mr. Rifkin calls the Third Industrial Revolution

Prelude: Energy Efficiency and Carbon Reduction.

Pillar One: Renewable Energy – Wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and other renewable energy sources; some centralized and lots of distributed.

Pillar Two: Buildings as Power Plants – After energy efficiency is achieved, then solar, micro-wind, etc. are added to meet part of building’s energy needs and, if possible, make building a net energy provider.

Pillar Three: Hydrogen Storage – Use the hydrogen solution to energy storage to make renewable/hydrogen hybrid the baseload power supply.

Pillar Four: Smart Grid and Plug-in Vehicles – Establish an electric grid that can manage energy consumption and receipt of power from thousands of disbursed energy generators.

The Rifken Report: "San Antonio Leading the Way Forward to the Third Industrial Revolution" --without supplemental material

The following has been transferred from a pdf which is freely available on the web. The authors clearly hope that there work will be influential so I don't think they will object to it being posted here.  I have not included the supplemental information.  Without it the report is 75 pages long.  Some images and tables are missing from this version of the report. 


You can obtain the full 133 page pdf from the Solar San Antonio site: http://www.solarsanantonio.org/pdf/A_Vision_for_Sustainability.pdf 

San Antonio Leading the Way Forward to the Third Industrial Revolution

Table of Contents
Preface
San Antonio: Leading the way forward
The Current Economic Circumstance in San Antonio
Energy Efficiency: A Critical Foundation Principle
First Pillar: Distributed Renewable Energy
Second Pillar: Buildings as Power Plants
Third Pillar: Energy Storage
Fourth Pillar: Smart Grids and Smart Infrastructure
The Distributed Social Vision
Mapping the Transition
Supplemental Information
Recommendations from Third Industrial Revolution Global CEO Business Roundtable participants

San Antonio Environment Meetup / Green Drinks : Do it yourself Home Energy Audit

First, if you are anywhere near San Antonio, right now join the San Antonio Environment Meetup.  It's free and not only will you find out about fun green events but you will be able to go with or meet new friends when you attend them.

Michelle K, the founder of San Antonio Green Drinks and aforementioned meetup has put together an excellent piece on steps to make your home more efficient:

During Green Drinks the other night, we were talking about the Solar Tour and how one of the installers mentioned that the expensive project of installing solar panels should only be undertaken if you've made your house the most efficient possible.  The good news is that making your house efficient is much cheaper (more bang for your buck).  The most obvious is to swap out all of your light bulbs with CFLs. 

The next most frequent suggestion is to locate and fix air leaks.  I didn't quite know how to go about this.  I found a web site that spelled it out for me, plus has more suggestions.

Here is the jest of finding and fixing air leaks...

 - Check to see if the caulking and weather stripping are applied properly, leaving no gaps or cracks, and are in good condition.

 - If you can rattle your doors or windows, movement means possible air leaks. If you can see daylight around a door or window frame, then the door or window leaks. You can usually seal these leaks by caulking or weather stripping them. Check the storm windows to see if they fit and are not broken.

 - To locate indoor leaks, conduct a basic building pressurization test:

1. First, close all exterior doors, windows, and fireplace flues.
2. Turn off all combustion appliances such as gas burning furnaces and water heaters.
3. Then turn on all exhaust fans (generally located in the kitchen and bathrooms) or use a large window fan to suck the air out of the rooms.

This test increases infiltration through cracks and leaks, making them easier to detect. You can use incense sticks or your damp hand to locate these leaks. If you use incense sticks, moving air will cause the smoke to waver, and if you use your damp hand, any drafts will feel cool to your hand.

 - On the outside of your house, inspect all areas where two different building materials meet, including:

• All exterior corners
• Where siding and chimneys meet
• Areas where the foundation and the bottom of exterior brick or siding meet.

You should plug and caulk holes or penetrations for faucets, pipes, electric outlets, and wiring. Look for cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and siding, and seal them with the appropriate material. Check the exterior caulking around doors and windows, and see whether exterior storm doors and primary doors seal tightly.

Can a Mooney Wall save you lots of Money? It can certainly prevent heating and cooling losses due to thermal bridging

Here's the sort of creative solution that carpenters can come up with when they set their minds to it.

A Mooney wall (created by Mike Smith and Tim Mooney and introduced to the world on Tauton Press's "Breaktime" discussion forum) is intended to upgrade 2 x 4 stick construction by reducing energy loss due to thermal bridging. Instead of attaching drywall directly to the studs which creates a thermal bridge all along the stud, drywall is attached to 1 by 2 strapping that is attached to the studs thereby reducing the thermal bridging by 80% or more.

For pictures and a more complete description go to builditsolar.com's Mooney Wall article, or look for the discussion on Tauton Press's Breaktime.

Six summers in San Antonio with a whole house fan

Yes, I survived six summers in San Antonio with a whole house fan as my primary cooling.

A whole house fan is not an attic fan, though it exhausts into the attic. A whole house fan is usually mounted in the ceiling of a hallway. It is very powerful and draws outside air in through open windows and pushes it out through the attic. In doing so it makes the inside as cool as the outside and does the same for your attic.

In my leaky 1920's, clapboard with interior shiplap covered with thin drywall, the fan drew air not just through open windows but also through almost invisible and not so invisible gaps in the wood floors and through the holes around electrical outlets.

The house doesn't have a hallway so I mounted in toward the center of the house.

The fan worked great. San Antonio does actually get a little cooler at night and I slept much better with the gentle cooler breezes seeping and flowing through and heading up into my attic.

My house was very comfortable from bedtime until 10 am well into a typical June and even in August, it was comfortable until at least 9 am. It was much more comfortable than it would have been without the fan.

But, it was extremely noisy. Just the amount of air flowing through is loud but the fan itself makes quite a clamor. A belt drive whole house fan costs more than a direct drive model but the belt drive ones are supposed to be quieter. I had a direct drive one. To talk on the phone I often had to turn it off.

I also had to be sure to turn the fan off before the outside temperature started to rise. If I left it on all day, then the fan would bring all the hot outside air in. But if I turned it off at the correct time I would have a load of slightly cooler air inside to enjoy.

In my case part of the air was coming from beneath my house which was cooler than the outside air. Until about mid-June or July the air passing over the ground in my crawl space was slightly cooled by it. But eventually the air flowing over it warmed that ground too.

The renters of my old house with the whole house fan don't use it. Instead they run a window unit 24 hours a day. It much quieter and they probably have much less dusting to do but it costs them a lot more.

Today so many people try to get by with barely using their central air systems, but if I was trying to do that I would definitely install a whole house fan. I'd use a belt drive model to try to minimize the noise and I'd mount it in a hallway, not a room I intended to use. At bed time or a little earlier, I'd open up the windows and turn it on. In the morning I'd turn it off and shut the windows.

That would give my central air a fighting chance during the rest of the day or if I kept the AC off my inside would be at least as comfortable as the outside would be with a gentle breeze.

I lived for six years with a whole house fan and I'd do it again if we didn't have geothermal or if I found myself single and living in that 1920's house again.

How to make your fridge even more efficient than a chest freezer: Use a chest freezer as a fridge.

Sometimes when you hear a solution to a problem it seems so obvious you wonder why you hadn't thought of it. This is one of those solutions.

Refrigerators either use a lot of energy or like a SunFrost cost a lot of money. Plus in a building that is largely soundproof to outside noise such as buildings built of Compressed Earth Block, SIP, ICF or SCIP the whirling and rattling of a refrigerator can be really irritating and loud.

On the other hand a chest freezer is quiet (because it doesn't need to run very long) , very energy efficient and cheap.

The solution from Tom Chalko of MtBest.net is to use a chest freezer as a chest refrigerator by modifying the chest freezer so that it cools to between 35 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit degrees rather than the 5 degrees Fahrenheit proper for a chest freezer. He even designed and built thermostats to do it and published an article on it in 2005, which was picked up by Treehugger and BuilditSolar.com back then.

Apparently homebrewers and keg drinkers have been modifying chest freezers for their needs for some time, but the idea comes to this blog of Boing Boing which published on it today and linked to the 2005 pdf of an article by Tom Chalko of MtBest.net on builditsolar.com.

On Mt. Best.net Australia you'll find these items by Tom concerning freezer to fridge conversion: Chest Fridge, an essay putting out some reasons that energy saving chest fridges ought to replace uprights, Freezer to Fridge Conversion, which shows a kit for making a freezer to fridge thermostat and assembled thermostats both of which are for sale, a pdf of two articles by Tom Chalko explaining and diagramming his thermostat and a pdf of a parts list for building the Tom Chalko freezer/fridge thermostat. (I don't know enough about electricity to say whether these would work as is on freezers made for the USA market.).

In the USA chest refrigerators are available but since they are made for the commercial market or for patio kitchens they are not cheap.

San Antonio Geothermal Symposium, Saturday September 19, 2009 at Trinity's Chapman Auditorium

Here's a major event that is especially important since geothermal energy is proposed as a viable, steady, reliable and non-radioactive alternative to expansion of the South Texas Nuclear Project.

The San Antonio Geothermal Symposium, is Saturday, September 19, 2009, at Trinity’s Chapman Center Auditorium.

Speakers will discuss the feasibility of residential and commercial geothermal air conditioning and electricity generation. The talks will be geared to the public as well as to energy professionals.

Please join us as we explore this often neglected generation source in which Texas has the potential to be the number one producer. South Texas has a particular feasibility for geothermal air conditioning and electricity generation. Geothermal is a clean, reliable source of energy that uses mature technology and is fuel-free. The cost and payback time for residential and small business geothermal are roughly equivalent to those of solar photovoltaics. The cost for central geothermal in Texas is projected to be lower than elsewhere because previously drilled spent oil and gas wells can be used for geothermal piping.

Registration starts at 8 am. The program runs from 9 am to 12:10 pm and then from 1 pm to 4 pm. Link to pdf of agenda.

Maria Richards , coordinator of Southern Methodist University’s Geothermal Laboratory, Stathis Michaelides, Chairman of the UTSA Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Glenn Kroeger, Chair of the Trinity University Department of Geosciences, will be among several speakers at this event.

The cost is $25 ($12 for students)

Registration includes continental breakfast, lunch and symposium presentations. Registered Professional Engineers will receive a certificate for 4.0 professional development hours.

The registration deadline is September 12. Seating is limited so registrations will be accepted on a first- received basis until the auditorium capacity is reached. Register by submitting the registration form or by calling 210-999-7601. Link to registration form.

The Chapman Center is located on the western edge of the Trinity University campus. Free campus parking is available in any student or faculty lot for this event. However, parking is not allowed on Rosewood Street. Link to map of Trinity University. Location of auditorium on Google Map.

The San Antonio Geothermal Symposium is sponsored by the Trinity University Engineering Science Department in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council Central Texas – Balcones Chapter, San Antonio Environmental Policy Office, San Antonio Clean Technology Forum, and University of Texas at San Antonio Mechanical Engineering Department.

Geothermal Resources of Bexar County

USGBC presents Jerry Yudelson on PassivHaus and other European green building concepts

In his just published book, Green Building Trends: Europe, Jerry Yudelson of Tuscon Arizona explores the German Austrian concept of the PassivHaus or Passive House which is designed to use very little outside energy for heating or cooling, relying on the building and activities within the building to heat itself.

He points out that while in the USA the government has worked to make commercial buildings more efficient, in Europe governments have focused on residential construction.

(Both Europe and the USA face the conundrum of how to make existing housing stock sustainable with the challenge greater in Europe due in part to the greater historic value of dwellings.)

His book also addresses green building in the UK, ecotowns, German sustainable building and takes a look at concepts that are well understood in Europe that need to be understood in the USA.

You can read the first chapter of his book in pdf form here.

Mr. Yudelson will be the featured speaker at a US Green Building Council Balcones Chapter lecture and mixer September 2, 2009 at the San Antonio Central Library from 6:15 to 8:45 pm. Tickets range from $27 for early purchase by USGBC members to $47.50 for purchase after August 24 by non members. Tickets are available from eventbrite, “Looking to Europe for a Greener Tomorrow” .

The Passive House Institute US hosts the 4th annual North American Passive House Conference, October 16 to 18 2009 at the University of Urbana-Champaign.

"Stephen Colley Greens Your Home!" at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, Saturday July 18

On Saturday, July 18 Mitchell Lake Audubon Center presents architect Stephen Colley in a wet workshop they call "Stephen Colley Greens Your Home". Stephen will provide inspiring, often simple ways to live “green” right here in San Antonio. The workshop will focus on water and energy issues, such as efficiency and multiple usage, energy conservation, and water quality.

The workshop which runs from 10 to Noon is free but your RSVP is required to mlac@audubon.org

Stephen Colley, AIA is technical coordinator for Build San Antonio Green, a pioneer of green architecture in San Antonio, an architect in private practice and the long time leader of San Antonio Sustainable Living.

Five things I learned at the June San Antonio Sustainable Living group meeting

Our June meeting featured Stephen Colley sharing information from several recent conferences he attended. Below are several things I learned from his talk and from those of other attendees.

1. George Strait, real famous country music singing star, has a genuine adobe in the Dominion on IH-10. It is visible at a distance, since it is on top of a hill, but of course you can't get in to see it without his permission.
2. However, Adobe Village on Hwy 281 just north of the River Crossing subdivision in Spring Branch has six genuine adobes which are open to the public, in fact they want you to come visit. I think I have seen them for a year or more, but I always suspected that they were only faux-dobe.
3. Ground glass from municipal recycling is piling up awaiting buyers. Tim White of Roman Stucco has found that when it is ground properly it can substitute for coarse sharp sand in stucco.
4. A lime clay plaster finish known as Tadelakt is nearly waterproof and can be used to line showers and for backsplashes.
5. The AIA (American Institute of Architects) is very involved in Architecture 2030, which according to the website is an attempt to "rapidly transform the US and global Building Sector from the major contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to a central part of the solution to the global-warming crisis."

Governor signs Villarreal bill to allow municipal finanancing of investments in energy efficiency

Way back in February, Representative Mike Villarreal introduced the bill requested by San Antonio officials to authorize the city to finance property owner investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. On June 19, the governor the legislation which had passed the Texas House and Senate June 1st. It will go into effect September 1.

This law is part of the plan developed in part by Laurence Doxsey, who with Pliny Fisk is credited with imagining the nation's first municipal green building program in Austin. Doxsey's new plan was advocated by a broad coalition including Environmental Defense Fund, Texas Society of Architects, CPS Energy, Public Citizen, and the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association.

The full text of the law may be found in this June 1, 2009 post:
Mike Villarreal sponsored bill to allow contractural assessments for energy efficiency improvements only awaiting Governor Perry's signature

Former DOE official, Texas Energy Conservation director and CPS general manager to address San Antonio Clean Technology Forum at Witte July 23, 2009

The San Antonio Clean Technology Forum hosts Paul Dickinson, a former top official of the US Department of Energy, Dub Taylor, Director of the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and Steve Bartley is the interim General Manager of CPS Energy on Thursday July 23 at the Witte Museum Pressler Auditorium.

The forum will begin at 11:30 and last until 1:30. Tickets are $16 if purchased in advance or $25 after July 16 and may be obtained through eventbrite.

The purpose of the San Antonio Clean Technology Forum is to builds strong connections and improve collective knowledge to advance sustainability and business growth throughout the San Antonio region.

First Annual Regional Forest Conference

The Alamo Forest Partnership is asking for all people who like trees in San Antonio and surrounding areas to join them in the First Annual Regional Forest Conference. We all know how important trees are to our oxygen supply, temperature relief, and just being great hangouts for our favorite birds and other animal friends. Please come out to 1901 South Alamo, here in SA for a FREE conference (thanks to CPS Energy). It's an early one, from 8:00am- 12:30pm, Friday, July 10th. Even though it's free, you must register first by July 7th. Topics include: Tree inventories, Working with growers to increase tree species diversity, Trees and the San Antonio River Improvement Project, Trees and Energy, and round table discussions on Tree issues important to your community, business, and/or organization. This notice brought to you by the Citizens Tree Coalition. Register by going to www.alamoforestpartnership.org or call 210-207-8053.

17 things I learned at the David Weekly Homes construction class featuring Dr. Joe Lstiburek

Thanks to Joe Barfield, I was able to attend a real estate agent oriented presentation by David Weekly Homes on Wednesday June 24 which included a short talk by Dr. Joe Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation. Here's a list of seventeen things I learned and remember.

1. Dr. Lstiburek was first hired by David Weekly Homes after he addressed a meeting of 150 major builders and told them, "You guys are stupid."

2. Lstiburek definition: "Turd Polishing"- putting photovoltaic panels on a poorly built home.

3. According to Lstiburek vinyl clad windows always conduct less heat than aluminum clad ones. He says, "I know this because we make frying pans out of aluminum."

4. Wood frame windows are not durable but wood is much less temperature conductive than aluminum. The doctor says, "I know this because I have never seen wood wiring." Aluminum is 450 times more conductive of temperature than wood.

5. Jump Ducts increase energy efficiency by moving air between rooms to toward the A/C return.

6. Acceptance of some part of the federal stimulus funds ( I didn't catch the details) require states to adopt the 2009 ICC (International Code Council) construction code.

7. The goal of the US Department of Energy "Building America" project is mass marketed zero energy homes by the year 2030. Half of the gains will have to come from conservation (efficiency).

8. Be sure to enclose all six sides of a hot wall (one with a side in the attic). Because the one in the attic is not usually seen it is often not sheathed on the attic side.

9. All homes that are sold will soon require a HERS test from RESNET, even older homes. (Translation: Home Energy Rating System test from the Residential Energy Systems Networks.)

10. New David Weekly homes are testing out at about 72 HERS and will soon meet the challenge issued by President Bush to reach 70.

11. Current duct leakage in DWH homes is 3%. According to Dr. Lstiburek this is a really big achievement, as in going to the moon and back big but you seldom hear about it.

12. All new David Weekly homes are blower door tested but at Dr. Lstiburek's suggestion they suck air out of the house rather than blowing it in.

13. David Weekly homes are built at a diamond level of the "Environments for Living" program.

14. Zurn brand pex plumbing pipes are guaranteed to last 25 years. The Dow construction tape Weekly uses is very important. It is guaranteed to last 10 years.

15. Weekly uses recycled plastic in their door jambs, to prevent the difficult repair of replacing rotted wooden ones.

16. The last item on Dr. Lstiburek's list of "Top Ten Dumb Things to do in the South" was meant ironically.

17. Finally according to Dr. Lstiburek, "It's a bad idea to get rid of your stuff every ten years, so stay married."