Title: LEED 201: Core Concepts & Strategies Workshop
Location: 9801 Metric Boulevard, Suite 400 Austin, TX 78758
Link out: Click here
Description: This USGBC course provides essential knowledge of sustainable building concepts that are fundamental to all LEED rating systems. Learn about LEED intents at the credit category level, including common strategies, synergies, metrics and referenced standards; as well as the basics of the LEED certification process. Interactive activities based on real LEED projects reinforce what you’ve learned.
Start Time: 08:30
Date: 2010-12-09
End Time: 17:00

Title: LEED 201: Core Concepts & Strategies Workshop
Location: 9801 Metric Boulevard, Suite 400 Austin, TX 78758
Link out: Click here
Description: This USGBC course provides essential knowledge of sustainable building concepts that are fundamental to all LEED rating systems. Learn about LEED intents at the credit category level, including common strategies, synergies, metrics and referenced standards; as well as the basics of the LEED certification process. Interactive activities based on real LEED projects reinforce what you’ve learned.
Start Time: 08:30
Date: 2010-12-09
End Time: 17:00

Title: Green is Mainstream Workshop
Location: 3300 Main St
Link out: Click here
Description: The ´Green is Mainstream´ workshop is offered by the Energy Systems Laboratory and sponsored by the State Energy Conservation Office in partnership with the Texas Association of Builders. The speakers will cover the best practices in Green residential building and energy efficiency technologies, primarily intended for building officials, builders, suppliers, subcontractors, architects/engineers/residential designers, building trades´ instructors, students, apprentices, bankers, real-estate agents, and the general public. Each participant receives a course book containing more than 200 course slides and related green building information.
Start Time: 09:00
Date: 2010-12-03

Title: 2010 Christmas Cruise with Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Location: Boat landing and pick up location is at downtown’s Sabine Promenade boat launch between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive (150 Sabine Street)
Link out: Click here
Description: 30-minute pontoon boat rides along Buffalo Bayou served up with plenty
of decorations, brightly colored lights, song and cheer! These trips
will be aboard Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s new boat, the Spirit of the
Bayou.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-12-18
End Time: 20:00

Title: 2010 Christmas Cruise with Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Location: Boat landing and pick up location is at downtown’s Sabine Promenade boat launch between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive (150 Sabine Street)
Link out: Click here
Description: 30-minute pontoon boat rides along Buffalo Bayou served up with plenty
of decorations, brightly colored lights, song and cheer! These trips
will be aboard Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s new boat, the Spirit of the
Bayou.
Start Time: 17:00
Date: 2010-12-04
End Time: 20:00

Title: Special Cruise on New Year’s Eve with Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Location: Boat landing and pick up location is at downtown’s Sabine Promenade boat launch between Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive (150 Sabine Street)
Link out: Click here
Description: 30-minute pontoon boat rides along Buffalo Bayou served up with plenty
of decorations, brightly colored lights, song and cheer! These trips
will be aboard Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s new boat, the Spirit of the
Bayou.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2010-12-31
End Time: 20:00

Title: Gingerbread Build-Off
Location: Market Square Park – 300 Milam
Link out: Click here
Description: Architecture Center Houston in partnership with C2 Creative, Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and Houston Downtown Management District presents the 2nd Annual Gingerbread Build-Off.

Take your kids, your ideas, and your sweet-tooth!
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-12-11
End Time: 15:00

Title: Memorial Park Conservancy December Volunteer Opportunity
Location: West Gray Barnes & Noble
Link out: Click here
Description: MPC is going to be gift wrapping at the West Gray Barnes & Noble in December. Volunteers who enjoy wrapping presents and talking to people about the park are welcomed and encouraged to help out. To join, contact allison@memorialparkconservancy.org.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-12-18
End Time: 14:00

Title: Memorial Park Conservancy December Volunteer Opportunity
Location: West Gray Barnes & Noble
Link out: Click here
Description: MPC is going to be gift wrapping at the West Gray Barnes & Noble in December. Volunteers who enjoy wrapping presents and talking to people about the park are welcomed and encouraged to help out. To join, contact allison@memorialparkconservancy.org.
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2010-12-17
End Time: 14:00

Title: Memorial Park Conservancy December Volunteer Opportunity
Location: West Gray Barnes & Noble
Link out: Click here
Description: MPC is going to be gift wrapping at the West Gray Barnes & Noble in December. Volunteers who enjoy wrapping presents and talking to people about the park are welcomed and encouraged to help out. To join, contact allison@memorialparkconservancy.org.
Start Time: 15:30
Date: 2010-12-11
End Time: 22:00

Title: Memorial Park Conservancy December Volunteer Opportunity
Location: West Gray Barnes & Noble
Link out: Click here
Description: MPC is going to be gift wrapping at the West Gray Barnes & Noble in December. Volunteers who enjoy wrapping presents and talking to people about the park are welcomed and encouraged to help out. To join, contact allison@memorialparkconservancy.org.
Start Time: 14:00
Date: 2010-12-02
End Time: 18:00

Title: Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and the Official Tree Lighting
Location: 901 Bagby Street
Link out: Click here
Description: The official holiday tree lighting and celebration will happen on December 3rd at 901 Bagby Street. The 5,000 lights used in the decorations will use less than one dollar a day in energy cost. Also, be sure to bring an unwrapped toy to the Reliant Energy Booth for the toy drive.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2010-12-03

Title: Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and the lighting of the “Official Holiday Tree”
Location: upper plaza at City Hall, 901 Bagby
Link out: Click here
Description: Join The City of Houston on Friday, December 3, 2010 for the Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and the lighting of the “Official Holiday Tree” Sponsored by Reliant Energy!

5,000 LED lights for decoration use less than one dollar a day in energy cost.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2010-03-12

Title: Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and the lighting of the “Official Holiday Tree”
Location: upper plaza at City Hall, 901 Bagby
Link out: Click here
Description: Join The City of Houston on Friday, December 3, 2010 for the Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and the lighting of the “Official Holiday Tree” Sponsored by Reliant Energy!

5,000 LED lights for decoration use less than one dollar a day in energy cost.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2010-03-12

1. Amphibian Watch Trainings at Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center. On the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm to about 8:00 pm, Scott Kiester will hold Amphibian Watch training and other activities related to monitoring the populations of local frogs and toads of our region. Amphibians are indicator species to keep track of environmental health, and the program is sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Learn facts about local amphibians, how to identify their calls, and become participants in monitoring populations – right in your own back yard! This is a free program of the new Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center (opening date TBA), located at 1300 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring 77386. To register for the next Amphibian Watch training event on Tuesday, December 14, 2010, call 281-364-4225 or e-mail terri.macarthur@mctx.org. More at http://www.springcreekgreenway.org/the_latest.htm.
2. Film: Cool It. A film released on November 12 follows Bjorn Lomborg, a lecturer and controversial author of The Skeptical Environmentalist. The film covers solutions to the world’s energy needs, carbon emissions, and other problems in the world. The film’s purpose is to cause the audience to rethink the approach to climate change. COOL IT will be released in Houston on November 19, 2010. To read more about Cool It, visit http://www.avclub.com/articles/cool-it,47584/.
3. National Crayon Recycle Program. The National Crayon Recycle Porgram stops over 57,000 pounds of unwanted crayons from oing into the landfills. To participate, collect crayons instead of throwing them away and send them to the Crayon Recycle Program. For the mailing addresses, visit http://www.crazycrayons.com/recycle_program.html.
4. Texas Sea Grant. Registration has opened for the inaugural Ocean Education: Diversity in Videos (OEDIV) contest. Students in grades 6-12 are encouraged to film and submit videos that educate the public about the ocean. Al applications should be received by December 1st. To learn more about the contest, visit http://texas-sea-grant.tamu.edu/education/video.html.
5. Project FeederWatch. This is a backyard citizen science program of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada. Participants can sign up at any time. FeederWatchers track the numbers and kinds of birds seen at feeders each week and then send the information to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The information they provide helps generate the world’s largest database on feeder-bird populations. The extensive website resources include bird id help, participants’ photos, webcams, and a free science module for homeschoolers. Data Entry is now open for the 2010-1011 season. Counting starts November 13.
6. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.ghasp.org/air-quality-aqi/ or http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html

• November 18: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• Novermber 19: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide. 
• Novermber 20: Green–Good. Moderate winds and low background levels should help to keep air quality in the “Good” range.

Featured

1. Activists Hope to Recycle Texas Bottle Bill (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News, 11/15/2010)
   Even with curbside recycling available to more people, the number of plastic bottles that are thrown into the trash is still increasing.  Texas is now considering a bill that will set up a deposit and refund system for these beverage containers. The bill would hopefully increase the number of containers recycled instead of trashed.
   http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1289598271
2. I-Team: Radiation in Houston’s tap water, long history of contamination (Mark Greenblatt – KHOU News, 11/15/2010)
   Houston’s water supply has tested positive for radioactive elements, such as uranium and radium. Traces of these elements in Houston’s drinking water have been recorded for many years. The problem seems to be isolated in the city’s groundwater wells, for which many citizens solely rely on for their drinking water.
   http://www.khou.com/news/Radiation-in-Houstons-tap-water
3. A ‘delicate dance’ to save coastal lands (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle, 11/13/2010)
   In Galveston, the coastline is changing quickly. The oceans are rising and the beaches are sinking, largely due to human activity. Marshes are disappearing and Texas is losing some of its natural protection against harsh storms as well as the native wildlife in the area.
   http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7293660.html

EcoNotes

• 16 November
  • State kills West End beach restoration project (Ian White – The Galveston County Daily News)
    http://galvestondailynews.com/story/190894
  • EPA Warns Coast States On Ocean Acidification (Phuong Le – Click2Houston)
    http://www.click2houston.com/green-pages/25816275/detail.html
• 15 November
  • I-Team: Radiation in Houston’s tap water, long history of contamination (Mark Greenblatt – KHOU News)
    http://www.khou.com/news/Radiation-in-Houstons-tap-water
  • Activists Hope to Recycle Texas Bottle Bill (Laurie Johnson – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1289598271
  • Millions set to take the pledge on Nov.15 — America Recycles Day (ABC13 News)
    http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2010/11/15
  • Report says green building market grew 50 percent in 2 years (ABC13 News)
    http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2010/11/15
  • West Galveston Island beach project is canceled (Texas General Land Office News)
    http://www.glo.texas.gov/glo_news/press_releases/West-Galveston-Island.html
  • Mayor faults ‘blow to Galveston’ after state halts beach project (Harvey Rice – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/realestate/7295713.html
  • Energy, Economy, & Environment: PBS Houston Have Your Say (Jay Blazek Crossley – Houston Tomorrow)
    http://www.houstontomorrow.org/livability/story/energy-economy-environment
  • Houston drainage fee fight heading to Austin (Gabe Gutierrez – KHOU News)
    http://www.khou.com/news/Houston-drainage-fee-fight-heading-to-Austin-108183859.html
  • Greening your coffee (ABC13 News)
    http://www.greenrightnow.com/ktrk/2010/11/15/greening-your-coffee/
  • OUT WITH THE OLD: Area on board with national recycling push (Alan Nieschwietz – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_7306604a-f078-11df-b5bd-001cc4c002e0.html
• 14 November
  • Walden MUDs plan to purchase share of Huntsville wastewater (Howard Roden – Your Conroe News)
    http://www.hcnonline.com/courier/news/article
  • Sand piles up at Surfside (Alan Nieschwietz – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_220cb28a-ef96-11df-9d56-001cc4c002e0.html
  • Dune boon: High school ‘Bucs’ provide boost to county’s beach grass planting project (Alan Nieschwietz – The Facts Covering Brazoria County)
    http://thefacts.com/news/article_9646c042-ef95-11df-875c-001cc4c002e0.html
• 13 November
  • A ‘delicate dance’ to save coastal lands (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7293660.html
• 12 November
  • Fluoridation Under the Microscope (Michael King – The Austin Chronicle)
    http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A1111605
  • Houston is Running Out of Water…Or is it? (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/houston_public_radio-news-display.php?articles_id=1289603587
  • Texas AgriLife Research – Wireless Sensing (Guidry News)
    http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000030767
• 11 November
  • EPA To Push Efficiency On Big Carbon Emitters (Timothy Gardner – Planet Ark News)
    http://planetark.org/wen/60191
• 10 November
  • I-Team: State ‘lowballs’ radiation scores in drinking water – part 2 (Mark Greenblatt – KHOU News)
    http://www.khou.com/news/local/State-lowballs
  • Drinking water in SL meets federal and state standards (Your Sugarland News)
    http://www.hcnonline.com/sugar_land/news/article_e37b08d8
  • Emission guidelines don’t appear to alter Texas’ defiance on EPA permits (Matthew Tresaugue – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7289194
  • EPA Issues Guidance to States on Greenhouse Gas Permitting (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  • Greater Houston Partnership State of METRO Address (Jim Guidry – Guidry News)
    http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000030708
  • Migratory Bird Report No. 11 (Texas Parks and Wildlife News)
    http://archive.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20101110a
• 9 November
  • Greanias Delivers “State of Metro” Address (Wendy Siegle – KUHF News)
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  • Texas water rights endangered by inefficient water use (Mike Barnett – Texas Agriculture Talks)
    http://www.txfb.org/TxAgTalks/post/2010/11/09/Texas-water
  • Denial of injection well permit recommended (Howard Roden – Your Conroe News)
    http://www.hcnonline.com/courier/
• 6 November
  • System makes haste with waste (Eric Berger – Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/7282119.html
• 1 November
  • Rules needed to protect the bay (Bob Stokes and Scott Jones – The Galveston County Daily News)
    http://galvestondailynews.com/story/187534
• 31 October
  • If our rivers have too little water, Galveston Bay is doomed (Houston Chronicle)
    http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/7272797.html

There will be no CEC newsletter sent on Thursday, November 15, 2010 (Thanksgiving). Events will continue to be posted on the website, which will be updated over the holiday weekend.