----- Original Message -----

From: Anica Landreneau

To: sustainable-houston@... ; 'HREG'

Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 8:42 AM

Subject: [hreg] October is a green month!

Green Homes 101 - by Cultivate Green and HARC- FREE WORKSHOP
how to create a high performance, green home
Wednesday, October 20 , 2004 - 6pm - 9pm
University of Houston - College of Architecture - room 150 - Houston, TX

Texas Society of Architects Conference- AIA Houston COTE Green Building Materials Display
George R. Brown Convention Center, October 21st - 23rd. Saturday the 23rd, Expo is free to the public.

Houston Renewable Energy Group TOUR
real solar homes and buildings in the Houston area
Saturday, October 24, 2004 - 1pm - 5pm
Houston, TX

USGBC - Houston Chapter - presents DAVID GOTTFRIED
Founder – U.S. and World Green Building Councils
President – WorldBuild
Author – Greed to Green: the transformation of an industry and a life
Monday, October 25, 2004 - 5pm-7pm - $20 - students with ID $10
111 North Post Oak Lane, Houston, Texas 77024 713.680.2626

Visit our website for more information & RSVP or contact Amanda

http://www.aiahouston.org/cote/AIACOTE-calendar.htm

Amanda Tullos, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP

co-Chair

AIA COTE - Houston

American Institute of Architects

Committee on the Environment

http://www.aiahouston.org/cote

 

Heights Venture Architects, LLP
1111 North Loop West, Suite 800
Houston, Texas 77008

V 713-869-1103 ext 169

F 713-869-5573
E amanda.tullos@...

www.heightsventure.com

 

 

DON'T MISS!!
The Education Committee, Greater Houston Area Chapter
US Green Building Council

Presents this FREE Series:
Eco-Interchange Series #6
Learn the answers to these questions and MORE.

What is commissioning?
Who performs commissioning?
What are the costs and benefits of commissioning?
What roll does commissioning play in LEED?

Don't miss this discussion by a group of panelists experienced in these
issues:

  "COMMISSIONING FOR LEED"
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
6:00 PM to 8:00PM at McCoy Specialty Product's Showroom, 6869 Old Katy
Road
This event is sponsored by SSR Cx Facilities Commissioning and Browne
Penland McGregor Stephens Architects.

Free refreshments and AIA Continuing Education Units are available at
all
sessions.
Further details on panelists can be found at
www.usgbc.org/chapters/houston/events.asp

Please RSVP to: ghac_rsvp@...

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Contact Jeff Arnim,
281/257.242

Greetings,

Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments massacre,
but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of a
power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a major
argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie on
the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given me
six months.

I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my farm
going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the farm
up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection to
do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for solar
AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
ready to do this.

I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.

On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to run
SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150 miles]

So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
process and get me to where I need to be?

Bright Blessings,
Kim

-----Original Message-----
From: Kim & Garth Travis [mailto:gartht@...]
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:50 PM
To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hreg] Trees and the Power company

Greetings,

Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments massacre,
but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of a
power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a major
argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie on
the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given me
six months.

I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my farm
going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the farm
up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection to
do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for solar
AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
ready to do this.

I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.

On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to run
SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150 miles]

So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
process and get me to where I need to be?

Bright Blessings,
Kim

You and I both, on making them plant trees.  They just chopped down whole
rows of trees that were still 10 feet below the power lines.  We would have
a new forest for the damage they have done in the last couple of weeks.
Bright Blessings,
Kim

At 09:10 PM 10/19/2004, you wrote:
>If you guys are on the end of the line for the power line, and your not
>yet ready to go off the grid,  you might ant check into seeing what the
>cost would be to have the line buried before it gets to your trees.  This
>woudl allow you to keep the tress and still be on the grid till your ready
>to dis-connect.  If the cost is not too much and you can budget it
>in,  it's a viable option.
>
>Two good reason to be off the grid.  Not having to pay the greedy power
>companies, and saving nice mature tress need to produce fresh clean
>air.  I would love to see a bill get passed making it a law, that for
>every tree that is cut down by an ulility company, shopping center or
>sub-division developer, that they are required to plant 5 trees somewhere else.
>
>Dan S.
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Kim & Garth Travis [mailto:gartht@...]
>Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:50 PM
>To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [hreg] Trees and the Power company
>
>
>Greetings,
>
>Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments massacre,
>but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of a
>power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a major
>argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
>property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie on
>the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given me
>six months.
>
>I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my farm
>going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the farm
>up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection to
>do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
>generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
>maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for solar
>AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
>ready to do this.
>
>I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.
>
>On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to run
>SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
>wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150 miles]
>
>So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
>process and get me to where I need to be?
>
>Bright Blessings,
>Kim
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
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hoogroups.com
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> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>

Kim, do a load analysis, then get the batteries and the controls like charge
controllers, inverters etc... and a generator, you can then add the solar
panels later as the money is available.  Most inverter packages have an
automatic charging switch to turn on generator to recharge batteries.  The
critical thing is to size the battery bank to meet your needs as it is hard
to add to batteries after 6 months,

good luck,

John Miggins
Harvest Solar & Wind Power
"renewable solutions to everyday needs"
www.harvest-energy.com
Phone/Fax 918-743-2299
Cell: 918-521-6223

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim & Garth Travis" <gartht@...>
To: <hreg@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:50 PM
Subject: [hreg] Trees and the Power company


>
>
> Greetings,
>
> Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments
> massacre,
> but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of a
> power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a major
> argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
> property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie on
> the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given me
> six months.
>
> I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my
> farm
> going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the farm
> up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection
> to
> do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
> generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
> maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for solar
> AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
> ready to do this.
>
> I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.
>
> On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to run
> SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
> wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150
> miles]
>
> So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
> process and get me to where I need to be?
>
> Bright Blessings,
> Kim
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi,
My name is Phil DuBose and I am the new member that does conversions to diesel
engines to burn SVO.  If you would like to call me or email me I have some
insite into Bio-diesel and SVO. My phone number is 281-686-3230 and my email is
phil@.... Also I will be at Greg Carriers house this Sunday 1-5pm
with my converted truck. I can convert any diesel engine to burn SVO. Looking
forward to talking with you.
phil

>
> Greetings,
>
>
>
> Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments massacre,
>
> but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of a
>
> power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a major
>
> argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
>
> property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie on
>
> the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given me
>
> six months.
>
>
>
> I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my farm
>
> going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the farm
>
> up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection to
>
> do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
>
> generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
>
> maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for solar
>
> AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
>
> ready to do this.
>
>
>
> I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.
>
>
>
> On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to run
>
> SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
>
> wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150 miles]
>
>
>
> So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
>
> process and get me to where I need to be?
>
>
>
> Bright Blessings,
>
> Kim
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
>
>   ADVERTISEMENT
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hreg/
>  
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> hreg-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>  
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
>




----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

Kim,

I concur with John, it all starts with a load analysis.

For an excellent treatment of this concept I would start with these articles
@ Home Power.  I like, in particular, the second one by Ben Root:

http://www.homepower.com/files/loadcalc.pdf

Most inverters you will likely be looking at will have an automatic
generator start function as well as AC to DC charger with programmable
profile.  So, if you are trying to keep costs down from the get-go, focus on
that ultimate battery you will need and an inverter that will satisfy the
preliminary loads, while making sure that it is compatible with modular
expansion to accommodate future loads.  At this point in the game you don't
need a charge controller.

What you do need is an AC charging source:  Either a temporary grid drop,
perhaps from a neighbor via Romex (a 20 Amp 120 VAC circuit will do quite a
bit for battery maintenance) or, more likely in your case it sounds like, a
good solid, low rev. generator that will last you years.

Let me know if we can help with this project in any way and meanwhile, good
luck with the wood-butchers.


Andrew H. McCalla
Meridian Energy Systems
2300 S. Lamar, Ste. 107
Austin, TX  78704

(512) 448-0055
(512) 448-0045
www.meridiansolar.com

Thank you for the advice, but I don't believe that batteries are part of a
sustainable lifestyle.  About the time they pay for themselves, they need
to be replaced.  I will use a few small solar panels with batteries, for
farm use, but a central battery bank, no way.  The problem is that when one
battery goes bad, the entire bank has to be replaced.  This is not good
planning in my books.  I would rather make lifestyle changes to eliminate
the need for batteries.
Bright Blessings,
Kim

At 08:26 AM 10/20/2004, you wrote:

>Kim, do a load analysis, then get the batteries and the controls like charge
>controllers, inverters etc... and a generator, you can then add the solar
>panels later as the money is available.  Most inverter packages have an
>automatic charging switch to turn on generator to recharge batteries.  The
>critical thing is to size the battery bank to meet your needs as it is hard
>to add to batteries after 6 months,
>
>good luck,
>
>John Miggins
>Harvest Solar & Wind Power
>"renewable solutions to everyday needs"
>www.harvest-energy.com
>Phone/Fax 918-743-2299
>Cell: 918-521-6223
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kim & Garth Travis" <gartht@...>
>To: <hreg@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:50 PM
>Subject: [hreg] Trees and the Power company
>
>
> >
> >
> > Greetings,
> >
> > Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments
> > massacre,
> > but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of a
> > power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a major
> > argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
> > property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie on
> > the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given me
> > six months.
> >
> > I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my
> > farm
> > going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the farm
> > up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection
> > to
> > do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
> > generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
> > maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for solar
> > AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
> > ready to do this.
> >
> > I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.
> >
> > On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to run
> > SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
> > wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150
> > miles]
> >
> > So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
> > process and get me to where I need to be?
> >
> > Bright Blessings,
> > Kim
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Kim,
Kim,

Off grid without a battery?  Well, it's been done for millennia, so it is a
working model. But I think you are right in your forecast for lifestyle
changes.

I suppose you could process your own hydrogen with electrolysis and use fuel
cells; or you could process methane through biodigestion or use
biodiesel/svo for an IC generator.............and then there are Stirling
Engines, Steam Power, Pressurized Air, Stored Water..........

Keep us posted as this proves to be interesting.

Andrew H. McCalla
Meridian Energy Systems
2300 S. Lamar, Ste. 107
Austin, TX  78704

(512) 448-0055
(512) 448-0045
www.meridiansolar.com



-----Original Message-----
From: Kim & Garth Travis [mailto:gartht@...]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 8:36 AM
To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [hreg] Trees and the Power company


Thank you for the advice, but I don't believe that batteries are part of a
sustainable lifestyle.  About the time they pay for themselves, they need
to be replaced.  I will use a few small solar panels with batteries, for
farm use, but a central battery bank, no way.  The problem is that when one
battery goes bad, the entire bank has to be replaced.  This is not good
planning in my books.  I would rather make lifestyle changes to eliminate
the need for batteries.
Bright Blessings,
Kim

At 08:26 AM 10/20/2004, you wrote:

>Kim, do a load analysis, then get the batteries and the controls like
charge
>controllers, inverters etc... and a generator, you can then add the solar
>panels later as the money is available.  Most inverter packages have an
>automatic charging switch to turn on generator to recharge batteries.  The
>critical thing is to size the battery bank to meet your needs as it is hard
>to add to batteries after 6 months,
>
>good luck,
>
>John Miggins
>Harvest Solar & Wind Power
>"renewable solutions to everyday needs"
>www.harvest-energy.com
>Phone/Fax 918-743-2299
>Cell: 918-521-6223
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kim & Garth Travis" <gartht@...>
>To: <hreg@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:50 PM
>Subject: [hreg] Trees and the Power company
>
>
> >
> >
> > Greetings,
> >
> > Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments
> > massacre,
> > but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of
a
> > power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a
major
> > argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
> > property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie
on
> > the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given
me
> > six months.
> >
> > I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my
> > farm
> > going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the
farm
> > up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection
> > to
> > do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
> > generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
> > maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for
solar
> > AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am
not
> > ready to do this.
> >
> > I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.
> >
> > On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to
run
> > SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
> > wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150
> > miles]
> >
> > So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
> > process and get me to where I need to be?
> >
> > Bright Blessings,
> > Kim
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>





Yahoo! Groups Links

This tree issue is close to my heart.

If you have ever spent any time in San Antonio and the Hill Country region
you should know that we have the most beautiful Live Oak trees and the worst
case of Mountain Juniper (Cedar) in the world.  For as long as I can
remember the utilities, developers and builders have been waging war on all
the trees in this area.  It remains common for the developers to take out
all the mature, old trees and plant new landscaping that is not even
compatible with our climate and location.  Of these three offenders City
Public Service (CPS - our electric utility) has the highest kill ratio of
trees.  What is truly criminal about this is they tend to go after the
large, mature trees and leave the young cedars alone.

Most of our local population suffers with allergies from cedar pollen during
the winter months.  Cedar trees are also water pigs and can pull so much
ground water they can drop the local water table.  Cedar trees are not even
native.  They were brought into the area from the west by decades of
ranching and cows.  For years San Antonio has been trying to pass a tree
ordinance with enough teeth in it that it can save mature trees and force
potential development to go around our native landscape.  To this day the
ordinance that we have puts no restraint on City Public Service because it
is a case of the city trying to control the behavior of a city owned
utility.  Today City Public Service is extending their operating area
outside the city, into and outside Bexar County.  They recently won a battle
to take over Fair Oaks Ranch.  As CPS extends their lines they are taking
out wide swaths of trees for high tension power lines and substations.  Most
of the dead tree debris CPS creates is being burned in the field where it is
cut and is not be used or recycled.  The environmental damage from this
annexation is being doubled and tripled.

One of the many reasons City Public Service is a utility we love to hate.

Our new address is:
SBT Designs
25581 IH-10 West
San Antonio, Texas 78257
210-698-7109
FAX: 210-698-7147
www.sbtdesigns.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Kim & Garth Travis" <gartht@...>
To: <hreg@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 7:23 AM
Subject: RE: [hreg] Trees and the Power company


>
> You and I both, on making them plant trees.  They just chopped down whole
> rows of trees that were still 10 feet below the power lines.  We would
have
> a new forest for the damage they have done in the last couple of weeks.
> Bright Blessings,
> Kim
>
> At 09:10 PM 10/19/2004, you wrote:
> >If you guys are on the end of the line for the power line, and your not
> >yet ready to go off the grid,  you might ant check into seeing what the
> >cost would be to have the line buried before it gets to your trees.  This
> >woudl allow you to keep the tress and still be on the grid till your
ready
> >to dis-connect.  If the cost is not too much and you can budget it
> >in,  it's a viable option.
> >
> >Two good reason to be off the grid.  Not having to pay the greedy power
> >companies, and saving nice mature tress need to produce fresh clean
> >air.  I would love to see a bill get passed making it a law, that for
> >every tree that is cut down by an ulility company, shopping center or
> >sub-division developer, that they are required to plant 5 trees somewhere
else.
> >
> >Dan S.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Kim & Garth Travis [mailto:gartht@...]
> >Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:50 PM
> >To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [hreg] Trees and the Power company
> >
> >
> >Greetings,
> >
> >Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments
massacre,
> >but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of
a
> >power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a
major
> >argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
> >property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie
on
> >the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given
me
> >six months.
> >
> >I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my
farm
> >going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the
farm
> >up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection
to
> >do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
> >generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
> >maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for
solar
> >AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
> >ready to do this.
> >
> >I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.
> >
> >On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to
run
> >SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
> >wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150
miles]
> >
> >So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
> >process and get me to where I need to be?
> >
> >Bright Blessings,
> >Kim
> >
> >
> >
> >Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> >ADVERTISEMENT
> >
> >
> >----------
> >Yahoo! Groups Links
> >    * To visit your group on the web, go to:
> >    *
> > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hreg/>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hreg/
> >    *
> >    * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> >    *
> >
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e@yahoogroups.com
> >
> >    *
> >    * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
> > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Terms of Service.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

They do tend to leave the cedar trees, but on my neighbors place, they cut
everything!  I guess I got them in a bad mood.  My girlfriend and I had to
go out because we were getting sick to our stomachs listening to the
destruction.  However, I did pick up 4.5 truckloads of wood from my
neighbors, they are not burning it or letting it rot.  I don't have the
right to pick up any one else's wood, but I did scavenge what I could.  If
I was not so busy, I would clean it all up with my chipper shredder and use
it in my compost.

Bright Blessings,
Kim

At 10:59 AM 10/20/2004, you wrote:

>This tree issue is close to my heart.
>
>If you have ever spent any time in San Antonio and the Hill Country region
>you should know that we have the most beautiful Live Oak trees and the worst
>case of Mountain Juniper (Cedar) in the world.  For as long as I can
>remember the utilities, developers and builders have been waging war on all
>the trees in this area.  It remains common for the developers to take out
>all the mature, old trees and plant new landscaping that is not even
>compatible with our climate and location.  Of these three offenders City
>Public Service (CPS - our electric utility) has the highest kill ratio of
>trees.  What is truly criminal about this is they tend to go after the
>large, mature trees and leave the young cedars alone.
>
>Most of our local population suffers with allergies from cedar pollen during
>the winter months.  Cedar trees are also water pigs and can pull so much
>ground water they can drop the local water table.  Cedar trees are not even
>native.  They were brought into the area from the west by decades of
>ranching and cows.  For years San Antonio has been trying to pass a tree
>ordinance with enough teeth in it that it can save mature trees and force
>potential development to go around our native landscape.  To this day the
>ordinance that we have puts no restraint on City Public Service because it
>is a case of the city trying to control the behavior of a city owned
>utility.  Today City Public Service is extending their operating area
>outside the city, into and outside Bexar County.  They recently won a battle
>to take over Fair Oaks Ranch.  As CPS extends their lines they are taking
>out wide swaths of trees for high tension power lines and substations.  Most
>of the dead tree debris CPS creates is being burned in the field where it is
>cut and is not be used or recycled.  The environmental damage from this
>annexation is being doubled and tripled.
>
>One of the many reasons City Public Service is a utility we love to hate.
>
>Our new address is:
>SBT Designs
>25581 IH-10 West
>San Antonio, Texas 78257
>210-698-7109
>FAX: 210-698-7147
>www.sbtdesigns.com
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Kim & Garth Travis" <gartht@...>
>To: <hreg@yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 7:23 AM
>Subject: RE: [hreg] Trees and the Power company
>
>
> >
> > You and I both, on making them plant trees.  They just chopped down whole
> > rows of trees that were still 10 feet below the power lines.  We would
>have
> > a new forest for the damage they have done in the last couple of weeks.
> > Bright Blessings,
> > Kim
> >
> > At 09:10 PM 10/19/2004, you wrote:
> > >If you guys are on the end of the line for the power line, and your not
> > >yet ready to go off the grid,  you might ant check into seeing what the
> > >cost would be to have the line buried before it gets to your trees.  This
> > >woudl allow you to keep the tress and still be on the grid till your
>ready
> > >to dis-connect.  If the cost is not too much and you can budget it
> > >in,  it's a viable option.
> > >
> > >Two good reason to be off the grid.  Not having to pay the greedy power
> > >companies, and saving nice mature tress need to produce fresh clean
> > >air.  I would love to see a bill get passed making it a law, that for
> > >every tree that is cut down by an ulility company, shopping center or
> > >sub-division developer, that they are required to plant 5 trees somewhere
>else.
> > >
> > >Dan S.
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >From: Kim & Garth Travis [mailto:gartht@...]
> > >Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2004 5:50 PM
> > >To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
> > >Subject: [hreg] Trees and the Power company
> > >
> > >
> > >Greetings,
> > >
> > >Well my trees have managed to survive the Texas Hiway departments
>massacre,
> > >but now the power company is on the rampage.  Any tree within 20 feet of
>a
> > >power line is being cut down, regardless of how tall it is.  I had a
>major
> > >argument with them, as I have a lovely mature tree windscreen between my
> > >property and the hiway in the front of my place.  I am tail end charlie
>on
> > >the line, so if I go off grid, I get to keep my trees.  They have given
>me
> > >six months.
> > >
> > >I have been concentrating on the sustainable farming and on getting my
>farm
> > >going, planning on doing my biofuel thing in a big way when I had the
>farm
> > >up and running.  I do not have the rabbitry set up for manure collection
>to
> > >do methane the way I wanted to.  I had planned on using a separate
> > >generator and drive engines, so I could use my tractor for back up when
> > >maintenance was needed.  I am still looking at the various ideas for
>solar
> > >AC and trying to figure out how much power I can get away with.  I am not
> > >ready to do this.
> > >
> > >I am not willing to part with 20 to 30 year old tress, either.
> > >
> > >On a happy note, we have a new member  that does engine conversions to
>run
> > >SVO .   I will have some help reasonably close at hand.  It will be
> > >wonderful to be able to get my conversions done locally. [within 150
>miles]
> > >
> > >So, I have 6 months to be off grid.  Any ideas of how to stream line the
> > >process and get me to where I need to be?
> > >
> > >Bright Blessings,
> > >Kim
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> > >ADVERTISEMENT
> > >
> > >
> > >----------
> > >Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >    * To visit your group on the web, go to:
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> > >    *
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> > >    *
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>e@yahoogroups.com
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> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Please see the attached announcement.

SBT Designs
25581 IH-10 West
San Antonio, Texas 78257
210-698-7109
FAX: 210-698-7147
www.sbtdesigns.com

I'd like to thank all our solar industry people who have always been very
generous to volunteer information to HREG members.  Next year I would like
to make it a goal for us to help promote them more to the community, in a
fair and even way, of course.

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew McCalla [mailto:andrew@...]
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 11:45 AM
To: hreg@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [hreg] Staying off grid



Kim,

I concur with John, it all starts with a load analysis.

For an excellent treatment of this concept I would start with these articles
@ Home Power.  I like, in particular, the second one by Ben Root:

http://www.homepower.com/files/loadcalc.pdf

Most inverters you will likely be looking at will have an automatic
generator start function as well as AC to DC charger with programmable
profile.  So, if you are trying to keep costs down from the get-go, focus on
that ultimate battery you will need and an inverter that will satisfy the
preliminary loads, while making sure that it is compatible with modular
expansion to accommodate future loads.  At this point in the game you don't
need a charge controller.

What you do need is an AC charging source:  Either a temporary grid drop,
perhaps from a neighbor via Romex (a 20 Amp 120 VAC circuit will do quite a
bit for battery maintenance) or, more likely in your case it sounds like, a
good solid, low rev. generator that will last you years.

Let me know if we can help with this project in any way and meanwhile, good
luck with the wood-butchers.


Andrew H. McCalla
Meridian Energy Systems
2300 S. Lamar, Ste. 107
Austin, TX  78704

(512) 448-0055
(512) 448-0045
www.meridiansolar.com










Yahoo! Groups Links

Hello all!  I hope you don't mind me sending you this
information
but I thought many of you may be interested....especailly for all of you
"weekend warriors"!   - Here is an alternate place to shop for your
home/misc. projects!

	 Habitat for Humanity Building Supply Outlet Grand Opening
Saturday,
October 23rd

	 www.houstonhabitat.org

	 What would be better than taking home big savings on building
supplies and home decorating finds, AND having those purchases help
provide
new, affordable housing for low income Houstonians? It is a rare mix for
a
retail building supply center, but Houston Habitat for Humanity is
offering
that opportunity with the official Grand Opening of its Building Supply
Outlet, scheduled for Oct. 23.


	 The Outlet is located just west of the Gulf Gate retail center
at
6161 South Loop East and South Wayside Drive. It officially opens its
doors
to do-it-yourself remodelers, decorators, contractors and home repair
professionals at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 23, and closes at 4:00
p.m.
Regular business hours after the Grand Opening celebration are 8:00 a.m.
to
6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on
Saturdays.


	 Houston Habitat plans a full day of fun activities for adults
and
children alike, including the Habitat "Answer Team", a group of skilled
trade professionals who will be available to answer technical questions
and
offer advice throughout the day. Shoppers will be able to register for
free
gifts and hourly giveaways. In addition, Houston Habitat apparel and
customized James Avery jewelry items will be available for sale, with
proceeds benefiting Houston Habitat for Humanity.


	 The Building Supply Outlet is stocked with a huge array of new
items, from home and commercial electrical and plumbing supplies to
decorator lighting, and kitchen cabinets. Inventory has either been
donated
by Houston Habitat for Humanity's sponsors and donors, or purchased for
resale at deep discounts. While a few items may be gently used, most are
brand-new, top-quality items that sell for far more at other retail
building
supply stores.


	 The Houston Habitat Building Supply Outlet is part of Houston
Habitat for Humanity, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, which,
with
the support of the community for 16 years, has built more than 475
brand-new
homes for purchase by hard-working Houstonians who would otherwise have
been
unable to qualify for a home mortgage. Net revenues from Outlet sales
benefit Houston Habitat and the families it helps enjoy the American
Dream
of home ownership.


Wholesalers, construction companies or other building supply retail
stores interested in donating surplus materials to the Houston Habitat
Building Supply Outlet should call Alan Priesman at (713) 643-1100, or
email
him at

apriesman@...

Thank you, Mike!  It's my pleasure and privilege to work with you!

For a while there, it seems like we were not going get enough sites for
a tour.  How many fearless leaders do you know who offers his own home
to be on the tour?  Answer:  Mike Ewert.

I echo Mike's thank you to all!

Mike Ewert wrote:

> One last chance to help with the Renewable Energy Tour Sunday.  If
> anyone who is going on the tour has a good digital camera, please take
> some pictures not only of the buildings but of the people on the
> tour.  Then email them to me to post on the HREG website.
>
> Speaking of volunteers, I would like to take this opportunity to thank
> all our tour site hosts and a couple of other volunteers who are
> planning to help out at the sites on Sunday.  I really appreciate them.
>
> I would especially like to thank Lunce Hu for much work in helping
> organize the tour.  She was the first one to volunteer several months
> ago and she has been helping ever since.  For a while, she didn't even
> think she would be able to attend herself.  We would not be having the
> first annual Houston Renewable Energy Tour this year if it were not
> for her.  She is one of our newer members and I hope you all get the
> chance to meet her on Sunday.  Thank you Lunce!
>
> *Yahoo! Groups Sponsor*
> ADVERTISEMENT
>
<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=129gfdfjd/M=295196.4901138.6071305.3001176/D=groups\
/S=1705064177:HM/EXP=1098580792/A=2128215/R=0/SIG=10se96mf6/*http://companion.ya\
hoo.com>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *Yahoo! Groups Links*
>
>     * To visit your group on the web, go to:
>       http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hreg/
>
>     * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
>       hreg-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
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>       Service <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>.
>
>

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION
1612 "K" Street, N.W.; #202-A
Washington, DC 20006
202-293-2898, ext.201; fax: 202-293-5857

News Release

23 BUSINESS AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS URGE PRESIDENT BUSH TO REDUCE OIL AND
GAS DEPENDENCY AND LOWER HIGH OIL PRICES BY RAPIDLY EXPANDING USE OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

For Release: Monday, October 25, 2004

Contact: Ken Bossong 202-293-2898, ext.201

WASHINGTON DC -- In a letter sent to the White House today, 23 business,
environmental, and energy policy organizations called upon President Bush
to "reconsider the nation's energy policies in light of oil prices now
surpassing $50/barrel and natural gas prices at 40-year highs [and to]
instituted an energy policy that moves the nation away from dangerous
over-reliance on petroleum."

The organizations, all member groups of the Sustainable Energy Coalition,
wrote that "the nation's short-term goal should be to begin reducing
overall consumption of oil.  Its mid-term goal should be to further reduce
demand for domestic sources of oil and dramatically curtail, if not
eliminate, most oil imports.  Its long-term goal should be to discontinue
its use of oil for all but a few high-priority purposes (e.g., its use in
chemicals and medicines)."

"A [comprehensive] commitment to energy efficiency improvements offers the
near-term promise of substantial reductions in oil [and natural gas] use
and the potential of eliminating not only oil imports but also oil use
altogether in the longer term. ...  Oil and natural gas consumption not
displaced by cost-effective energy efficiency measures can be further
curbed through expanded use of cleaner, renewable energy technologies to
offset oil-based electricity, liquid fuels, and feedstocks."

Among the policy options they outlined, the groups urged a doubling of fuel
efficiency for automobiles over the next 20 years coupled with a commitment
to meet 25% of remaining transportation fuel needs with biofuels.  They
also argued that oil and natural gas used for space heating could be
slashed from 10-50% over the next two decades and likewise curbed in
industrial and electrical generation uses.

Moreover, "solar thermal systems and geothermal heat-pumps as well as
direct geothermal heating technologies coupled with the cross-section of
renewable electric technologies could displace much of the oil and natural
gas consumed in residential and smaller commercial space heating. ... What
little oil used for electricity that cannot be displaced through energy
efficiency measures can be eliminated through expanded use of biomass,
geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind technologies achieved through a
national Renewable Portfolio/Energy Standard of 20% or higher by 2020."

"Taken together, a mix of informed federal, state, and local policies to
fully tap cost-effective and technically available energy efficiency and
renewable energy technologies could cut oil and natural gas consumption by
at least a third and perhaps by as much as half or more over the next 20-25
years."

The full text of the letter and the list of signers follows.

# # # # # # #

The Sustainable Energy Coalition is a coalition of nearly 100 national and
state business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations
that collectively represent several thousand companies and community-based
groups.  Founded in 1992, the Sustainable Energy Coalition works to promote
increased use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

===============================

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY COALITION
1612 "K" Street, N.W.; #202-A
Washington, DC 20006
202-293-2898, ext.201; fax: 202-293-5857

October 25, 2004

President George Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

The 23 undersigned business, environmental, consumer, and energy policy
organizations are writing to urge you, the members of your Administration,
and the members of the U.S. Congress to reconsider the nation's energy
policies in light of oil prices now surpassing $50/barrel and natural gas
prices at 40-year highs.

The current record-breaking world oil and natural gas prices are the result
of many different factors including continuing instability in key
oil-producing regions (e.g., Nigeria, Iraq, Venezuela), storm damage in the
Gulf of Mexico, the exploding growth in the economies in China and
elsewhere, and declining supplies from lower-cost wells.

While it's uncertain whether or not oil prices will remain at the
$50/barrel level or higher, it is probable that the future average price of
oil and natural gas will stay significantly above that of the past two or
three decades and will continue to increase in the future.

Moreover, if current U.S. energy policies favoring heavy and generally
inefficient oil and natural gas consumption continue, the U.S. will
continue to import an ever-growing share of its petroleum - a share now
already at 57% - and natural gas in the form of LNG.

Such policies are unwise and ultimately unsustainable.

Dependence on high-priced oil will serve to stimulate inflation, increase
the cost of most goods, reduce the buying power of American citizens, cost
American jobs, and make U.S. businesses less competitive.  Moreover, now
costing over $150 billion annually - the highest level in history, oil
imports already are the single biggest component in the nation's trade
deficit.  Further increases in oil and natural gas prices will only worsen
the U.S. trade imbalance.

Continued and growing dependence on oil imports, particularly from
politically unstable regions, is a direct threat to the nation's energy
security and serves to skew American foreign policy, as well as increase
military costs to protect sources of oil and natural gas supplies.

Finally, extensive consumption of oil and natural gas poses a wide array of
environmental problems including oil spills that contaminate water supplies
and endanger wildlife, smog and air pollution, and a worsening of global
climate change.

The option of attempting to curb oil and natural gas prices as well as
imports through increased domestic drilling and production is not a
solution, at least not a long-term solution.  U.S. oil and gas reserves are
limited and dwindling, and those domestic reserves remaining are generally
in deeper and/or more expensive wells, or are located in environmentally
sensitive regions.  It does not make good sense to exploit a finite
resource like U.S. petroleum and natural gas reserves for wasteful
consumption in energy-inefficient cars, homes, and factories.  It is
particularly foolhardy in light of the availability of far better alternatives.

It is well past the time, when the United States should have instituted an
energy policy that moves the nation away from dangerous over-reliance on
petroleum.

The nation's short-term goal should be to begin reducing overall
consumption of oil.  Its mid-term goal should be to further reduce demand
for domestic sources of oil and dramatically curtail, if not eliminate,
most oil imports.  Its long-term goal should be to discontinue its use of
oil for all but a few high-priority purposes (e.g., its use in chemicals
and medicines).

While such goals have been proposed on and off in the past, beginning with
former President Nixon's "Project Independence" program in 1974, and then
not met, they remain technically and economically feasible.  The only thing
lacking is political will and leadership.

Energy Efficiency Options:

A thorough-going commitment to energy efficiency improvements offers the
near-term promise of substantial reductions in oil use and the potential of
eliminating not only oil imports but also oil use altogether in the longer
term.

Major changes in regulatory policy, coupled with public and private
investments in energy efficiency, could curb oil and natural gas use by a
third or more over the next two decades.

It is technically and economically feasible to double fuel efficiency for
cars, SUVs, and light trucks within 20 years without compromising passenger
safety or comfort.  This near-term goal can be accomplished through a
combination of tighter CAFE standards, more stringent government
procurement policies, and tax incentives for businesses and individuals.

Oil use in the transportation sector, which accounts for two-thirds of all
oil consumption in the U.S., can be further reduced significantly by
expanding reliance on mass transit, improving heavy truck fuel economy,
shifting freight transport from truck to rail, supporting construction and
use of bikeways and pedestrian walkways, and better urban and suburban
planning.

Oil and natural gas used in existing homes, businesses, and government
buildings for space heating can be slashed by 10-50% over the next two
decades through a mix of tax incentives, procurement policies, and changes
in local and/or state building codes that encourage investments in better
windows, improved building insulation, and more efficient heating units.
Likewise, oil and natural gas consumption in new structures can be reduced
even further or eliminated altogether.

Oil and natural gas used in industry also can be curtailed dramatically
through mandated or tax-supported investments in more energy-efficient
thermal systems and industrial processes and expanded use of combined heat
& power technologies.  Similar potential exists for oil and natural gas
savings in the agriculture sector.

Though accounting for only a small percentage of oil consumption, oil used
for electricity production - primarily in peaking units - could be largely
eliminated through improvements in air conditioner, lighting, and other
appliance efficiency standards as well as time-of-use pricing,
demand-response, and other regulatory policies.  Such efficiency measures
could also significantly reduce the use of natural gas for electricity
production.

Renewable Energy Options:

Oil and natural gas consumption not displaced by cost-effective energy
efficiency measures can be further curbed through expanded use of cleaner,
renewable energy technologies to offset oil-based electricity, liquid
fuels, and feedstocks.

Renewably-based liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel already account
for roughly 2% of the nation's transportation fuels and are growing
rapidly.  Through a combination of tax incentives and regulatory policies
such as a Renewable Fuels Standard, such fuels could provide as much as 25%
of transportation fuel over the next two decades if combined with
aggressive energy efficiency measures.  In addition, there is a growing
opportunity for the use of renewable electricity in the transportation
sector with hybrid electric "plug in" vehicles, trucks and buses.  Fuel
cells for transportation as well as renewably-based hydrogen also have a
longer-term potential for further reductions.

Solar thermal systems and geothermal heat-pumps as well as direct
geothermal heating technologies coupled with the cross-section of renewable
electric technologies could displace much of the oil and natural gas
consumed in residential and smaller commercial space heating.  Longer-term,
stationary fuel cells could further reduce oil needs.  Again, this
potential could be tapped through a combination of building code changes,
tax incentives for homeowners and landlords, and green power programs.

These, coupled with energy storage technologies, could also reduce oil and
natural gas used for space heating and other uses in larger businesses and
industries.  Biobased products also offer an alternative to at least some
petroleum- and natural gas-based lines of manufacturing.  Similar potential
exists for displacing oil and natural gas in the agriculture sector,
especially when there is such huge potential for producing synthesis gas
and biodiesel from agricultural and biomass wastes, which are produced in
the millions of tons each year in almost all states.

What little oil used for electricity that cannot be displaced through
energy efficiency measures can be eliminated through expanded use of
biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, and wind technologies achieved
through a national Renewable Portfolio/Energy Standard of 20% or higher by
2020.

This also would significantly reduce the need for natural gas in
electricity production.  In addition, distributed small-scale renewable
electric technologies could eliminate the need for most diesel generators
used in remote locations.

Conclusion:

Taken together, a mix of informed federal, state, and local policies to
fully tap cost-effective and technically available energy efficiency and
renewable energy technologies could cut oil and natural gas consumption by
at least a third and perhaps by as much as half or more over the next 20-25
years.

However, realizing this potential requires a major redirection in energy
policy to provide the necessary regulatory, tax, and R&D investment support
needed by sustainable energy technologies.  It also requires changes in
government tax and other policies that encourage continued reliance on oil.
In the place of the latter there should be a mix of measures that
discourage the nation's continued addiction to petroleum and natural gas.

Ultimately, such a policy shift will improve the nation's environment,
public health, energy security, economy, and balance of trade, as well as
create new, high-quality, domestic jobs and businesses.

Now is the time to act - before oil and natural gas prices rise even higher
and/or reliance on petroleum and LNG imports increase further.

Sincerely,

Alliance for Affordable Energy
Alliance to Save Energy
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
American Solar Energy Society
Bob Lawrence & Associates
Breakthrough Technologies Institute
Burlington Electric Department of Burlington
City & County of San Francisco
Colorado Energy Group
Energy Innovations
Environmental & Energy Study Institute
National Environmental Trust
Natural Resources Defense Council
New Community Project
New Uses Council
Potomac Resources, Inc.
Renewable Oil International® LLC
Solar Energy Industries Association
The Stella Group Ltd.
SustainableBusiness.com
Sterling Planet
Union of Concerned Scientists
Waverly Light and Power


cc. DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham
     Senate Leadership
     House of Representatives Leadership

----- Original Message -----

From: Smail1111@...

To: hreg@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:58 AM

Subject: Re: [hreg] Green Homes 101 workshop in Houston

If we missed this workshop...are there others to attend in the near future?

sincerely,

debora smail