Green Building / Renovation

Learn techniques for making your home more energy efficient. Plano residents receive an energy efficiency tool kit. Free.

Course held eight weekends Nov. 17 - March 3, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Topics include community, green building, growing food and food forest, homesteading, sustainable living, permaculture, renewable energy, soils and water. Most classes held in Greenville. Outside projects held in Hunt County, Rockwall, East Dallas and Collin County. Cost: $275/in advance for all 16 days; $50/weekend; $30/day. Five scholarships will be given to young farmers who don't have access to land yet.

Women in the Environment is hosting is this tour of the only net-zero energy school in Texas and the largest net-zero energy school in the U.S. Meet at Spring Creek Barbeque, 3514 West Airport Freeway, irving, for lunch at 11:45. Meet at the Lady Bird Johnson Middle School, 3601 Pioneer Drive, Irving, at 1:15 p.m. Parking is in the front (south side) of the school. Enter through the main doors on the south side of the building. All visitors must bring valid photo ID (drivers license) to be processed through the school’s security system prior to the tour. For more information, contact Fran Witte at 972-742-2296.

This meeting is hosted by the North Texas Renewable Energy Group. Topic: "Pecan Street, Incorporated."
Presenter: Chris Holcomb, Data Scientist with Pecan Street Inc.

Though this project has an unusual name (after the street on which the homes are located in Austin), it is truly solar energy and energy efficiency related, and of interest to everyone - whether you own or rent. The Pecan Street project is an ongoing study by the University of Texas, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and, Environmental Defense Fund to develop and test an integrated clean energy smart grid of tomorrow in the homes of today. It's an ambitious effort intended to not only "smarten" up the utility grid, but find true benefits that energy customers really want. For more information, see http://www.pecanstreet.org/projects/mueller/

The Texas/Oklahoma Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) will host its annual Leaders Breakfast, featuring Eric Ryan, co-founder and chief brand architect of Method Products, Inc. , maker of environmentally-conscious household products. Deborah Fuller, RID, IIDA, LEED AP will be honored for her 30 years of work in the interior design industry, and particularly for her efforts in the area of sustainability and LEED certification.
Ryan will provide the keynote address, “The Method Method: Seven Obsessions That Helped Our Scrappy Start-Up Turn an Industry Upside Down." Ryan has been named an eco-leader by Vanity Fair, and an eco-revolutionary by Time Magazine.

An off-grid Earthship/Monolithic Dome is being built near Bastrop, Texas. Biotechture Training is hosting a two-day Sustainability Seminar Sept. 29-30 at the build site. This is a your chance to see a build in progress while you learn about sustainability. Also, there are internship opportunities for you to participate in and get hands-on experience.

Exact location and directions will be emailed when you register at:
http://www.biotechturetraining.com/training.html.

Fee is $100. See website for details.

Held on six consecutive Thursdays.
• Get the scoop on green living topics such as water conservation, responsible yard care,
managing household waste, green building and renovation, energy efficiency and air quality.

• Understand how daily decisions impact the environment - for better and for worse.

• Discover simple ways to inspire people in making greener choices.

• Contribute 24 hours of volunteer service, matching your passion for the environment with
new skills and fun opportunities.

By Teresa McUsic
The fourth annual Ecofest Arlington, a free event to promote environmental awareness, will be held Saturday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Founders Plaza, 100 W. Abram St. in downtown Arlington. The event is expected to draw more than 10,000, according to a city official.
The festival will feature more than 40 vendors, who will spotlight their green products and services. Ecofest also will include free demonstrations, classes and kid-centered activities. Live entertainment will feature local bands performing at the outdoor Levitt Pavilion. Tap water will be available for free all day, while food and drinks from local restaurants will be on hand as well.
“This isn’t a city event, this is a regional event,” said Heather Dowell, parks and recreation urban forest land manager for Arlington. “We want everyone in North Texas to come.”
Arlington will give away 1,500 trees in 12 varieties on a first come first serve basis at the festival. Last year, 1,000 trees were gone within the first four hours, Dowell said.
Arlington residents also will be able to sign up for a $10 class in the city chambers for making their own rain barrel.

Over the past 11 years, this community and family oriented Green Living Fair has grown to be the largest “green show” in the South. It occurs at the end of September, every year, in historic Fredericksburg, Texas. You can see the latest in eco-friendly technologies. Learn how to save and create your own energy. Attend informative talks by the experts. Visit with our vendors to see contemporary green living and sustainability practices. Come test drive the next generation in personal transportation. It’s fun, environmentally friendly, and a great place to learn how you can make a difference!

Eileen Birnbaum worked in the legal field for 27 years before begining the World Wear Project, LLC 2 years ago. Through her efforts, this business has been a force not only for landfill diversion, but distribution of clothing resources and fund raising for schools, religious institutions, community organizations and a variety of other nonprofits. Hear her story, get educated about opportunities to further reduce our landfill contributions and grab some lunch from the Texas Harvest Pie Company.