Soil and Green

Please contact the Schimelpfenig Library for more details.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

North Texas Renewable Energy Group monthly meeting
Topic: A Net-Zero Energy Home

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Mustang Park Recreation Center (2223 Kinwest Parkway, Irving, Texas)
Website: http://www.txses.org/NTREG/events.htm
Cost: FREE

Presenters: Chris Miles and William Peck

In response to numerous questions about green building, residential renewable energy, and energy efficiency, our November program focuses on the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Building America” program, and is highlighted by a field trip to see the “Timber Creek Zero Energy Home”.  We’ll meet at the Mustang Park Recreation Center at 10:00 a.m. (as usual), have a very brief meeting for announcements, then carpool to the Timber Creek Home.  Builder Chris Miles and architect William Peck will meet with NTREG attendees for an overview of the Net-Zero Energy Home project, and will provide a guided tour of the house.

The NTREG Executive Committee will meet at the Recreation Center at 9:00 a.m. (before the general meeting). All NTREG participants are welcome to attend.

Our November meeting is part of NTREG’s ongoing series of member-driven presentations, where at each meeting, attendees select topics for future meetings.

Meet Sarah Susanka and tour the TimberCreek Zero Energy House November 12.  Bestselling author, architect and cultural visionary, Susanka is leading a movement that is redefining the American home.  Her “build better, not bigger” approach to residential design has been embraced across the country and her “Not So Big” philosophy has sparked international dialogue.  Susanka’s Not So Big book series is built on the concept of making homes better for owners and better for the environment.  Please visit her website: http://sarahsusanka.com/default.asp.

The Timbercreek Zero Energy House is a project by the team of architect William Peck, AIA, William Peck & Assoc., Inc., and builder Chris Miles of GreenCraft Builders, LLC.  The team is well-known for the highly acclaimed 2007 Bannister High Performance House, and the 2009 Colleyville Eco House.

Susanka’s seminar at the TimberCreek Zero Energy House in Lewisville will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. , followed by a book signing.  The house will open at 4:00 p.m. for tours with hors d’oeuvres.  Tickets are $25.00 and must be purchased in advance.  Visit http://www.timbercreekzeroenergyhouse.com to learn more.  Books will be available for purchase on site.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Modern Victory Gardens: Vegetable Gardening Educational Series

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Texas Discovery Gardens (3601 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, 75210)
Website: http://www.texasdiscoverygardens.org/upcoming_events.shtml
Cost: $20.00 for garden members, $25.00 for non-members.
Registration is required.  Please call (214) 428-7476 ext. 240, or visit https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=9640 to register for this event.

Join a growing trend and learn how to create a bountiful organic community or backyard vegetable garden. We cover hands-on seasonal topics in each class.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Hydrogen 101: An informational series on hydrogen and fuel cells in Texas
Presented by Houston Advanced Research Center and Texas H2 Coalition, in cooperation with  the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: North Central Texas Council of Governments (616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, Texas, 76011)
Website: http://www.nctcog.org/trans/clean/cities/H2Flier.pdf
Cost: FREE.  Lunch included.
Registration: Please email h2101@harc.edu to register for this event.  Please include your contact information.

Texas produces more hydrogen than any other state, enough to fuel over two million cars and trucks.  However, interest and awareness has waned somewhat in recent years, at a time when informed decision making is particularly needed.

More than 130 new hydrogen applications are coming to Texas in 2009, including (more…)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Electric Vehicles North Texas (EVNT) Workshop
Presented by The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) and the Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: NCTCOG Offices – Transportation Council Room (616 Six Flags Drive, Arlington, Texas, 76011)
Website: http://www.nctcog.org/trans/clean/vehicles/news/EVNT/rsvp.asp
Cost: FREE
Registration: RSVP required by October 23rd.  Go to the website above to register.

This workshop begins the initial steps toward the development of a regional collaborative stakeholder group to plan for the transition to electric vehicles.  Guidance from industry leaders, planners, and utilities will be introduced to local governments and businesses to assist in determining the most (more…)

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Plants of North Central Texas: Connections to the Past

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Texas Discovery Gardens (3601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Dallas, Texas, 75210)
Website: http://www.texasdiscoverygardens.org/upcoming_events.shtml
Cost: FREE

How are prairie grasses, pronghorns, horse-apples, and mammoths all part of the story involving native plants? Discover little-known secrets about Texas plants and the surprising and exciting things they tell us about what it was like here in the past.  This is the first in a series by Austin College and Texas Discovery Gardens.  The talk includes a guided tour of the Gardens.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Saving from a Rainy Day – Making a Rain Barrel

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Texas AgriLife Extension Service Pavilion Building (17360 Coit Road, Dallas, Texas, 75252)
Website: http://www.texrca.org/id4.html
Cost: $40.00 per class (This covers the cost of the rain barrel materials.)
Registration: Class size is limited, so register early.  Email Tamaron Hunt at t-hunt@tamu.edu for a registration form.

Learn how to design and install a rainwater harvesting system!  Dr. Dotty Woodson, Extension Program Specialist – Water Resources will be teaching this class and will provide participants the opportunity to construct a 55-gallon rain barrel as well as discuss installing an efficient irrigation system.  The rain barrel is yours to take home!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Sustainable Design from the Material & Resources Perspective

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: American Institute of Architects (AIA) Dallas (1909 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas, 75201)
Website: http://www.aiadallas.affiniscape.com/cde.cfm?event=264532
Cost: $20.00 for members, $15.00 for associate members, and $30.00 for non-members
Registration: Go to the website above to register for this class.
This class is worth 1.5 HSW (SD) continuing education credits.

This is the sixth and final Sustainable class within the Professional Development Series.  If you have already signed up for it (more…)