Title: Auqaponics Workshop
Location: Emile Street Community Farm
Link out: Click here
Description: This workshop will be a hands on event where we will be focusing on building growbeds for our aquaponics functional art display.We we not be charging for this workshop but we ask that you help us out by providing needed materials:

Per grow bed we need:
1 ft 4in pvc
1 ft 3in pvc
4 ft 1 in pvc
1/2 of a 55 gallon food grade barrel
40# (1 bag) expanded shale

We are also looking for donations of:
55 gal barrels, food grade
Expanded shale

Our future plans for aquponics will include a solar power grid headed up by Mike Mcguire and a siphon system.

Our workshops are a effort to build out community projects by building resources and making contacts. The purpose of these workshops is to learn and share skills in our community.
Start Date: 2011-12-03
Start Time: 09:00
End Date: 2011-12-04
End Time: 15:00

Title: Building Arts Distinguished Lecture Series with Matthew Pelz
Location: The Heritage Society Tea Room located at 1100 Bagby Street Houston, Texas
Link out: Click here
Description: The Heritage Society invites you to the next installment of the Building Arts Distinguished Lecture Series. This lecture is titled “Galveston Historical Foundation’s Green Revival House” and will be given by Matthew Pelz. After Hurican Ike destroyed its foundation, Galveston Historical Foundation’s 1891 Green Revival House was moved 17 blocks to a new lot and restored. The house is the first historic home renovation in the country to earn LEED Platinum certification and was recently awarded a Nation Preservation Honor Award. The project is a shining example of how to successfully pair historic preservation with sustainable design and green technology.

When: November 30, 2011 at 7 p.m.

Where: The Heritage Society Tea Room located at 1100 Bagby Street Houston, Texas

Costs: Free for members and $5 for non-members

RSVP: Please RSVP at 713-655-1912 ext. 112
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-11-30

Title: CEC Roundtable: SH99 Approved
Location: City of Houston Green Building Resource Center, 1002 Washington Avenue
Link out: Click here
Description: TOPIC:
Hwy. 99 Approved -
What is happening? What is next?
Who is affected?

Information and discussion about managing impacts on:
urban planning
flooding and dams
traffic and transportation
wildlife and habitats
air and water quality

*** Update, Educate, Communicate, Collaborate ***
Open agenda, interactive discussion format

CEC Member groups and guests welcome
*Free of charge*

***NEW DATE AND TIME RESET!***
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2011
11:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m.
(Bring Your Own Brown Bag Lunch)
City of Houston Green Building Resource Center
1002 Washington Avenue
Houston, TX 77002
Free parking

Please R.S.V.P. to Katie@cechouston.org for general planning purposes.

As always, carpooling is encouraged—save energy, save the air, and maximize parking spaces!”

Houston Tomorrow encourages biking, walking, and transit use as well.
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-12-07
End Time: 13:00

Title: Public Policy & Human Health Workshop
Location: 3015 Richmond, 1st floor conference room
Link out: Click here
Description: Health Impact Assessment
A health impact assessment (HIA) is a dynamic, multidisciplinary process for explicitly considering health-related issues in decision-making processes. An HIA allows decision-makers to understand how public policy decisions affect health outcomes. An HIA uses multiple forms of evidence, follows a structured design, and is based on a broad definition of health. While HIA has been widely used in Europe, Australia, and other countries since the 1980s, it is a rather new process in the United States.

Background Information
This project is conducted by Texas Southern University, in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Tomorrow, with funding from ―The Health Impact Project”, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. For more detailed information on the entire project and funding see www.healthimpactproject.org

Topics to Be Covered:

Introduction to Health Impact Assessment
What it is – define, brief history, comparison to other assessment tools
Why are HIAs Used?
How are HIAs Conducted
Relationship Between Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and HIAs
Case Study: An HIA of Transportation Oriented Development in the Near Northside
The Future of Health Impact Assessments
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-12-15
End Time: 14:00

Title: Public Policy & Human Health Workshop
Location: 3015 Richmond, 1st floor conference room
Link out: Click here
Description: Health Impact Assessment
A health impact assessment (HIA) is a dynamic, multidisciplinary process for explicitly considering health-related issues in decision-making processes. An HIA allows decision-makers to understand how public policy decisions affect health outcomes. An HIA uses multiple forms of evidence, follows a structured design, and is based on a broad definition of health. While HIA has been widely used in Europe, Australia, and other countries since the 1980s, it is a rather new process in the United States.

Background Information
This project is conducted by Texas Southern University, in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and Houston Tomorrow, with funding from ―The Health Impact Project”, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts. For more detailed information on the entire project and funding see www.healthimpactproject.org

Topics to Be Covered:

Introduction to Health Impact Assessment
What it is – define, brief history, comparison to other assessment tools
Why are HIAs Used?
How are HIAs Conducted
Relationship Between Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and HIAs
Case Study: An HIA of Transportation Oriented Development in the Near Northside
The Future of Health Impact Assessments
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2011-12-15
End Time: 14:00

Title: Galveston Bay Area Sierra Club Houston Meeting
Location: Clear Lake Park – 5002 NASA Parkway Bay Area Community Center (Blue Roof)
Link out: Click here
Description: The presentation will be by Stephanie Darling, an artist. She has been commissioned to paint a mural about endangered Texas animals on a building in the Heights. We will also have a Christmas Party. And we will plant butterfly plants at the Bay Area Museum, adjacent to the meeting location.
Contact: 281-732-1201;
gracemartinez7@earthlink.net.
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2011-12-21
End Time: 20:30

Title: Bike the Heights Holiday Lights
Location: Houston Heights
Link out: Click here
Description: Join us for an evening bike tour of holiday lights through various neighborhoods of the Houston Heights. After the ride participants are invited to stop in at a member Heights home for a hot chocolate. The tour will begin at 7pm and last approximately an hour and a half, taking a leisurely pace. Participants will need to bring a helmet and should have a light for their bike. For meeting point and other details, contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-12-11

Title: Houston Sierra Club – National Wildlife Refuges in Brazoria County
Location: 4700 block of Beechnut near the West Loop South (meeting place)
Link out: Click here
Description: Visit Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges to see what birds have survived our drought. The cooler weather will make the visit very pleasant. We will look for various birds. Bring your daypack, water, lunch, hiking shoes, cameras, bug repellant, sunscreen, field guides, binoculars, and clothes to fit the weather. Long pants are highly recommended! Meet to carpool/caravan at 7:30 am in the parking lot just west of Starbucks (next to Becks Prime) in Meyerland Plaza (4700 block of Beechnut near the West Loop South). Look for a silver-gray Honda Civic with lots of bumper
stickers. Contact Brandt Mannchen at 713-664-5962 or brandtshnfbt@juno.com
Start Time: 07:30
Date: 2011-12-10

Title: Canoe/Kayak the Cypress Wonderland with the Houston Sierra Club
Link out: Click here
Description: Experience the maze of lakes and shaded, winding bayous deep within the
heart of the largest cypress forest on the Texas coast. This is one of the
most scenic paddling destinations in this part of our state, and it is
located only 30 miles east of Houston. Depending on the water and weather
conditions, we will focus on one or more of the areas many features:
wildlife, river processes, Texas history, and the impact of human
interventions. Participants must provide their own canoe or kayak, life
jackets (required), and paddles. The trip leader can help you with advice
regarding gear rentals from Houston area outfitters, if needed. Paddling
time: 4-5 hours, plus breaks for sightseeing and lunch. Difficulty: moderate
to strenuous. Recommended donation to the Houston Sierra Club: $10. Contact
Tom Douglas at baymail@sbcglobal.net
Date: 2011-12-03

Title: Houston Sierra Club Annual Auction and Holiday Party
Location: St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 1805 West Alabama
Link out: Click here
Description: Houston Sierra Club will hold their traditional fundraising live and silent auction and our
holiday gathering at our Thursday, December 8, General Meeting, which is free and open to all members and non-members. Drinks and snacks will be served. This is a great opportunity to support your club and complete your holiday shopping while having fun. Cash, check, and credit cards are accepted. A good variety of items are waiting for your bid: outdoor adventures, camping gear, handmade crafts, pottery and artwork, a variety of books (some autographed) and a whole lot more.

If you have an item to donate or are willing to volunteer, please contact Arlene Diehl at arlenediehl@peoplepc.com
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-12-08

Texas Campaign for the Environment is the state’s largest environmental organization, leading the fight for clean air, clean water and healthier neighborhoods. TCE empowers communities and individuals one by one, bringing them news and information where they live. Texas Campaign for the Environment is looking for community organizers that are committed to protecting public health and the environment. For more information and to download an application, visit http://www.texasenvironment.org/jobs.cfm. To apply, send a resume and application to Alejandro@texasenvironment.org.

Title: Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership
Location: Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center, 1724 Market Street, Baytown, Texas
Link out: Click here
Description: The Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership is a group of local stakeholders from the communities surrounding Cedar Bayou. Our purpose is to seek voluntary ways to restore and protect our local waterway.

Thank you to all of you who have attended our first two meetings, we appreciate you support and enthusiasm!

Couldn’t make it to the first two meetings? It’s not too late to get involved! We are looking for anyone who has an interest in the public health, economy, and environment of the Cedar Bayou watershed, and shaping decisions affecting the water quality in our community.

At the upcoming meeting we will be discussing water quality goals and locating potential sources that cause water quality impairments in the Cedar Bayou watershed. Specific topics that will be covered at the meeting include:

Forming Work Groups
Discussing water quality trends along Cedar Bayou
Setting water quality goals for the project*
Participating in an interactive map exercise to identify sources of contamination.

*If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, and have not already expressed interest, or are interested in service on a Work Group, please visit the project website or call 713-499-6653 for more information.

Please stop by the meeting on 12/1/11 to make your voice heard!
Start Time: 17:30
Date: 2011-12-01
End Time: 20:00

Title: Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership
Location: Eddie V. Gray Wetlands Center, 1724 Market Street, Baytown, Texas
Link out: Click here
Description: The Cedar Bayou Watershed Partnership is a group of local stakeholders from the communities surrounding Cedar Bayou. Our purpose is to seek voluntary ways to restore and protect our local waterway.

Thank you to all of you who have attended our first two meetings, we appreciate you support and enthusiasm!

Couldn’t make it to the first two meetings? It’s not too late to get involved! We are looking for anyone who has an interest in the public health, economy, and environment of the Cedar Bayou watershed, and shaping decisions affecting the water quality in our community.

At the upcoming meeting we will be discussing water quality goals and locating potential sources that cause water quality impairments in the Cedar Bayou watershed. Specific topics that will be covered at the meeting include:

Forming Work Groups
Discussing water quality trends along Cedar Bayou
Setting water quality goals for the project*
Participating in an interactive map exercise to identify sources of contamination.

*If you are interested in serving on the Steering Committee, and have not already expressed interest, or are interested in service on a Work Group, please visit the project website or call 713-499-6653 for more information.

Please stop by the meeting on 12/1/11 to make your voice heard!
Start Time: 17:30
Date: 2011-12-01
End Time: 20:00

Title: Sandhill Cranes Galveston Island Event
Location: Galveston Country Club, 14228 Stewart Road
Link out: Click here
Description: Enjoy a light breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Galveston Country Club, 14228 Stewart Road, and meet Joan Garland of the International Crane Foundation, who will talk about cranes in Texas the organization’s worldwide crane studies and conservation efforts.

Then join a convoy by car to the pastures and sloughs that are hot spots for a bird’s eye view of the visiting Sandhill Cranes. Cars will leave for birding sites immediately after the presentation and return to the County Club at approximately 11 a.m. More than 100 cranes were sighted during last year’s event.

“Looking for Sandhill Cranes is an annual adventure for many of us who live on the west end of the island, and this special presentation and guided tour has become wildly popular. Last year’s breakfast was a sell-out, so I’d encourage everyone to register now,” said Susan Lewis, coordinator and board vice president of education for the event’s sponsor, the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council.
Start Time: 08:00
Date: 2011-12-10

Title: Houston Audubon Membership Meeting
Location: United Way Building
Link out: Click here
Description: Speaker: Jaime González

Topic: Building Prairies for Birds, Bugs, and Bullfrogs

Prairies are hot! There has been a recent surge of interest in building prairies in
our areas. Why? Prairies can help us meet the challenges of the 21st century – they
provide a place to decompress from a stressful world, connect us to our heritage in
an increasingly globalized world, and even provide economic benefits like flood
control and maybe even biofuels. Yet, our communities are also re-embracing prairies
as a way of boosting biodiversity. These grasslands are critical to migratory birds,
dwindling frogs populations, and endemic wildflowers. Learn how you can become
involved in the work of bringing back Houston’s Heartland-the Coastal Prairie- for
the benefit of city dwellers, rural interests, and birdlife.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2011-12-14
End Time: 21:00

1. LEED 2012 What You Need to Know. The third part of a LEED lecture series will take place on November 17th from 6-8pm at Nino’s Restaurant (2817 W Dallas St, Houston, TX 77019). The presentation will provide background on the LEED process, discussions that are ongoing and areas that you need to watch as the comment period continues. It will also include the latest updates on Regionalization Credits and the result of the second comment period. To learn more, visit http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org.
   
2. Blueprint Houston Candidate Forum. Blueprint Houston has invited candidates Helena Brown, Brenda Stardig, Alvin Byrd, Jerry Davis, Andrew Burks, Kristi Thibaut, Jack Christie, and Jolanda Jones in a discussion of the role of a General Plan in Houston. We will look at such questions as: How do we accommodate the expected doubling of population over the next decade? What should be Houston’s contribution to the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning process now underway? How do you see the implementation of ReNew Houston.in planning for Houston’s future infrastructure needs?  Moderating the forum is Mustafa Tameez, Founder and Managing Director of Outreach Strategies, LLC. Thursday, November 17, 2011, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, Upper Kirby District Building, 3015 Richmond at Eastside. www.blueprinthouston.org.
3. 3rd Annual State of the Prairie Conference. The 3rd Annual State of the Prairie Conference will be taking place November 18th-19th at the Houston Zoo’s Brown Education Center. The conference will include presentations and field experiences that focus on prairies and cattle production, landscaping with prairie natives, ecotourism, biodiversity, prairie wetlands and more. It is designed to to spark lively conversations and provide practical, real-world solutions to restore, conserve, and educate about local prairies for multiple uses. More information at http://www.coastalprairie.org/.
4. Houston History Archives Environmental Collections. Houston History Archives at the University of Houston announces the opening of several environmental collections. To view the collection inventories of Sarah and Army Emmott, Hana Ginzbarg, and The Park People, visit http://info.lib.uh.edu and scroll to the bottom left. Note that other environmental collections currently open to the public include Bayou Preservation Association, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, Joseph M. Heiser, Outdoor Nature Club, and Scenic Houston. For more information about these collections contact Dr. Teresa Tomkins-Walsh at 713-743-9991 or tomkinswalsh@uh.edu. An article describing the UH-Houston History Archives is available at http://houstonhistorymagazine.org/.
5. Sundance Theatre Pre-Opening to Benfit Galveston Bay Foundation. Join GBF at an exciting pre-opening event on Tuesday, November 22 at Sundance Cinemas Houston@ Bayou Place, 510 Texas Ave., Houston, TX, 77002 for a 5:30 PM reception and an 8 PM movie you can chose that evening from a broad range of currently running releases. Purchase your tickets at www.galvbay.org.
6. H-GAC Solid Waste Grants. H-GAC will be accepting applications for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Solid Waste Implementation Pass-Through Grants from November 14th to December 22nd. This deadline is for applications for grants for both 2012 and 2013. There will be a grant application workshop on November 18th (rescheduled from November 9) from 9am-12pm at the H-GAC offices. This workshop provides applicants with the opportunity to ask any questions about filling out the application or project ideas. More about the grants and the workshop at http://www.h-gac.com/community/waste/grant/default.aspx.
   
7. Water Is Not an Option: Texas’ Broken Promise to Future Generations. Laura Huffman, The Nature Conservancy of Texas’ State Director will be speaking at the prestigious Baker Institute November 30. The presentation is: Water is Not an Option: Texas’ Broken Promise to Future Generations. Laura Huffman takes the global challenges to a local level, beginning with a unique approach that combines science-based strategies with innovative legislation tools and practical partnerships. RSVP to Gianna Leggio at gleggio@tnc.org or 281-407-3251. Visit http://www.nature.org/ for more information.

1. Facebook: Japhet Creek Restoration Volunteers – Keep it Clean and Green! The Japhet Creek Nature Conservancy now has a Facebook page where it will post updates and links related to volunteering for creek clean-up events. If you already have a Facebook account, please go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/japhetcreekvolunteers/ and “like” the page!
2. 3rd Annual Green Building Components Expo. The 3rd Annual Green Building Components Expo will take place on November 17th from 6-8pm at the University of Houston College of Architecture (Atrium). This expo will feature many green projects, including Sun Stop Solar, Gulf Coast Mod, Botanica Bio-regenerative Air Purifier, Z-Fab Housing, and Parametric Precast Concrete System. To learn more, visit http://www.uhgbc.org/.
3. Proposed Expansion of the North Freeway/I-45 Meeting. There will be a public meeting on November 17th at Aldine High School from 6-8pm for I-45/North Freeway expansion Historic neighborhoods north of downtown in project’s path. As originally planned, the project would widen the North Freeway to 12 lanes. If the original proposals are carried out, the project will have significant impact on several historic neighborhoods, including the Woodland Heights Historic District, Near Northside National Register District and the Grota Homestead addition, which Texas Historical Commission has determined is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. More at http://www.facebook.com/groups/.
4. Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary Website. The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary has added a new page about Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCE) to their website. Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems (MCEs) are defined as light-dependent coral communities that occur in the deepest half of the photic (light-receiving) zone in tropical or sub-tropical waters. They represent about 98% of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary habitat. To learn more, visit the MCE webpage at http://flowergarden.noaa.gov/about/mesophotic.html.
   
5. Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). The EPA has developed a tool for water sector utilities called Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). CREAT is a software tool that assists drinking water and wastewater utility owners and operators in understanding potential climate change threats and in assessing the related risks at their individual utilities. It provides users with access to the most recent national assessment of climate change impacts for use in considering how these changes will impact utility operations and missions. For more information on CREAT, visit http://water.epa.gov/.
   
6. EPA Portfolio Manager. The EPA has an online energy management tool, Portfolio Manager, which enables you to track the progress of energy efficiency efforts and compare the energy use of your buildings to peer buildings across the country. There will be a webinar on November 29th that will review the tool. Participants will learn how to measure and track energy use and carbon dioxide emission reductions to establish baseline energy use, prioritize investments, set goals, and track improvements over time. The webinar will be held from 1-2:15pm. More at https://energystar.webex.com/.
7. The Global Water Experiment. ‘Water: A Chemical Solution’ is a global chemistry experiment open to K-12 students and teachers. Participants explore water quality issues through four activities (pH of the Planet, Salty Waters, Solar Still Challenge, and Water: No Dirt, No Germs), then share their experiment results with the global science community. To learn more about the experiment, visit http://water.chemistry2011.org/web/iyc.
8. Cullinan Park Nature Photo Contest. The Cullinan Park Conservancy is holding a Nature Photo Contest. People are encouraged to enter photographs of landscape, animals, birds, insects, fish, and reptiles who call Cullinan Park at Oyster Creek their home. To enter, send an email, one per image, to cullinanparkconservancy@gmail.com, giving the title of the piece, the name, address, and phone number of the entrant, and attaching the image file. Find out more at http://cullinanparkconservancy.ning.com/.
9. National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program. The Urban and Community Forestry (U&CF) Program will be awarding grants that support urban and community forestry projects on nonfederal public land that have a national or widespread impact and application. There will be innovation grants for the following strategic priority issues: Climate Change, Public Health, and Economic Development. For more information about the grants, visit http://www.govtech.com/grants/.
   
10. DOI WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. The DOI WaterSMART (Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow) Program is accepting applications for grants for projects that projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy and improve energy efficiency, benefit endangered and threatened species, facilitate water markets, or carry out other activities to address climate-related impacts on water or prevent any water-related crisis or conflict. Applications are due on January 19th, 2012. More information at http://www.grants.gov/.
11. Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas. A new Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas is available at http://gulfatlas.noaa.gov/. The atlas, offered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), answers questions about the physical environment, marine resources, and economic activity in the Gulf of Mexico. This initial release of the pilot version of the atlas has 95 map plates in 31 different subject areas with more planned in 2012.
12. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife.Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website. This week’s broadcast will cover:
    • What’s in the Water
    • Lone Star Land Steward: Blue Mountain Peak Ranch
    • Ray Roberts Lake State Park
    • The Flying Photographers
    • Postcard From Texas – Oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico
13. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/monitoring/air/monops/forecast_today.html
• November 17: Green–Good–Moderate winds, cool temperatures, and low background levels should keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• November 18: Green–Good–Moderate winds, cool temperatures, and low background levels should keep air quality in the “Good” range statewide.
• November 19: Green–Good–Moderate to strong winds and low background levels should keep air quality in the “Good” range.