Northern California ADPSR Newsletter
http://www.adpsr.org April 15, 2011
If you enjoy these newsletters please support ADPSR and our mission towards Peace, Environment, and Social Justice. Joining is safe and easy at http://www.adpsr.org Members receive discounts on ADPSR events and New Village Press books, as well as discounts on environmental books at Builders Booksource in Berkeley.
ADPSR NEWS
Mark Gorrell, co-founder of NorCal ADPSR
Mark Gorrell (1941-2011) Beloved husband, stepfather, grandfather, architect, teacher and activist, Mark Gorrell passed away, of cancer, on April 6th at sunset, in his home, surrounded by his family and friends. Mark was involved in numerous environmental and social causes, including serving more than 20 years on the Ecology Center Board.
A celebration of his full life will be held on April 30th at the Hillside Club at 2286 Cedar Street in Berkeley. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/13/MNGORRELLM8.DTL#ixzz1Jbfl6TJw
Engaging Our Grounds—International Green Schoolyard Conference
September 16th-18th 2011
Berkeley and San Francisco
Save the Date! The green schoolyard movement is growing rapidly and flourishing around the world. Schools near and far are reimagining their grounds, replacing their extensive paved surfaces with a vibrant mosaic of outdoor learning and play opportunities. Schools in many different countries are leaders in this field, finding innovative ways to weave curricula into their landscapes, diversify their recreational offerings, enhance their local ecology, and reflect their unique location and cultural context.
This conference is co-produced by ADPSR/New Village and the San Francisco Green Schoolyard Alliance. Updates/ website soon!
ADPSR New Look on the Web
We've changed our website, and invite you to take a look at www.adpsr.org. In the upcoming weeks, NorCal is going to revamp its website, and we're happy to have your help. Volunteers please contact listserve@adpsr-norcal.org.
ADPSR NORCAL EVENTS
ADPSR Building Ecology Lecture Series:
Buildings Unplugged: Leveraging Green Performance with Passive Survivability
April 19, 2011 Reception: 6:00pm , Lecture: 6:30 - 9:00pm
AIA San Francisco, 130 Sutter, Suite 600, San Francisco
Recent events in Japan remind us that we’re also vulnerable to power disruptions, and peak power load shedding. In many critical care facilities diesel generators with limited fuel storage provide a small margin of security. What codes might be developed that would require commercial and institutional buildings to switch into low power/ passive operation? And how best to address the regulatory and logistical challenges to the use of natural ventilation?
SPEAKERS
Pauline Souza, Sustainability Director and Joel Baumgardner, Project Architect at WRNS Studio, will be speaking about advanced sustainable strategies employed at St. Joseph’s Lower and Middle School in Atherton.
Hormoz Janssens, PE, Mechanical Principal, Interface Engineering, will be speaking about natural daylighting and ventilation at CCSF’s Joint Use Facility, and the challenges of mixedmode building operation.
Michael Gould is a Senior Designer at HOK, San Francisco. He will be speaking about passive systems utilized in Jurong General Hospital, expected to be completed by early 2014.
$10 Donation; no one turned away for lack of funds.
Purchase tickets at: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/170076
Or RSVP to lecture@adpsr-norcal.org
More information at http://adpsr.org/home/norcal
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Berkeley Bay Festival
Saturday, April 16, 2011
bbf front
The City of Berkeley, Marina Experience Program presents the Bay Festival, at the Berkeley Marina on
Saturday, April 16, 2011
9:00 am - 5:00pm
This has been a community event since 1937! The Festival theme is environmental education and the Bay. This free event is for all ages.
Events include: Shoreline clean-up, Dedication of the Berkeley meadow, Grand opening of the new Shorebird Park Nature Center and tours of their Strawbale Building, numerous talks, demonstrations, and tables from local environmental organizations. There is also food, free sailboat rides, and music throughout the day. This event is free.
Visit http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=62584 for more information.
EcoHouse Tour plus Intro Clinic on Herbal Medicine
Sunday, April 17, 2011, Berkeley
Come get inspired and learn new skills at the EcoHouse with a tour of the site and gardens followed by an introduction to herbal medicine.
Begin at 10am with a tour of the Ecology Center’s EcoHouse demonstration site and learn about simple improvements that can be made to green an urban home. The tour includes: Berkeley’s first city-permitted wetland / greywater system, rainwater cistern and water catchment strategies, a laundry greywater system, a living roof garden, organic permaculture gardening, solar panels, on-demand and solar water heater, natural and recycled building materials, native drought tolerant plants, mushroom cultivation, earthworks raingarden, drip irrigation, and more.
Next, longtime teacher Joshua Muscat presents the Introduction to Herbal Medicine clinic, providing core concepts to learn about and use herbs. He'll cover medicinal uses of plants, gardening, safety and more. Joshua operates the San Francisco Botanical Medicine Clinic.
Notes: Pre-registration ensures a spot. The interior of the home is not included on this tour. Please specify when registering if ASL interpretation is requested, (at least 10 working days in advance).
Time: 10am - 1pm
Location: EcoHouse, 1305 Hopkins St., (enter via garden entrance on Peralta), Berkeley.
Cost: $15 general, $10 EC members, no one turned away for lack of funds.
Info: 510-548-2220 x239, register@ecologycenter.org,
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/166736.
Green MBA Distance Learning -- huge USGBC discount!
The San Francisco Institute of Architecture: Master of Business Administration in Sustainability degree by distance learning.
If you missed our first, early-bird tuition deadline, we have arranged an extremely generous new tuition discount for LEED APs, Associates, and members of the USGBC.
$1,900 full discounted tuition through April 27, 2011. (Refer to code #K0226-Z19 to qualify for the discount.)
The new tuition is far lower than our standard tuition fee of $4,800. (Note: Undergraduate degree may not be required, depending on professional work experience.)
To enroll now, click here: http://www.sfia.net/K0226-Z19.gmba
For many more details see our Frequently Asked Questions: http://sfia.net/faq_gmba.jsp, or read more about the Green MBA at http://www.sfia.net/GreenMBA.jsp
Make Money as an Urban Farmer!
May 1st & 2nd, 2011, 8am - 6pm, Santa Rosa, CA
Presented by the Sustainable Commercial Urban Farm Incubator (SCUFI) program and sponsored by the ShareExchange of Santa Rosa.
A 2-day workshop, with optional Sunday night slumber party campout!
Featured Trainers: Curtis Stone of Green City Acres, and James Kalin of the SCUFI program.
Curtis will share how in 2010 he used SPIN-Farming® to build a multi-lot 1/2 acre urban farm that in its 2010 six month first season grossed $20,000, and is on track to gross $60,000 in his 2011 second season.
James will describe how a SCUFI trains farmers and helps them get money and land to set up their own commercial urban farms. He will also explain how your farm can make extra profits by integrating farm operations into the grounds, structures and systems of nearby buildings and businesses.
Sunday: Indoor lectures and demonstrations
Monday: Outdoor hands-on business and field exercises
For a review of the Feb 19-20 workshop by an attendee visit Lexica's "Boom-de-yadda" blog at: http://lexica510.livejournal.com/189083.html
Early registration: $199. After April 17th: $249.
Sunday night slumber party campout: $25 – Space Limited!
Register: http://www.scufisantarosa.eventbrite.com
Flyer (1-page): http://www.virtuallygreen.com/scufi/sreventflyer.pdf
Brochure (8-pages): http://www.virtuallygreen.com/scufi/sreventbrochure.pdf
Workshop blog: http://virtuallygreen.com/scufis/
Questions? Contact: James Kalin, urbanfarms@virtuallygreen.com
Save the World in 20 Slides
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
PechaKucha Night was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public. Drawing its name from the Japanese term for the sound of "chit chat,” it rests on a presentation format that is based on a simple idea: 20 images x 20 seconds. It's a format that makes presentations concise, and keeps things moving at a rapid pace. We love this idea and will be hosting our version of PechaKucha.
Our Theme: Anything pertaining to Green, Sustainable, and Holistic living!
Presenters: Joe Serrano – TentMakers, Linda Lenore – Green Chi Designs, Jean Cary – Jean Cary Interiors, Jake Mar – Jenna Bayer Garden Design, Inc., Chris Donatelli – Chris Donatelli Builders, Reba Vanderpool – Visionary Edge
Certified Green Building Professional CEU Value: 1.5
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Place: Harrell Remodeling, 1954 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View - Cross Street: Rengstorff.
Registration: Pre-registration is available until 2pm on Tuesday, May 3rd. When preregistering online, folks can pay by credit card or choose to pay at the door with check or credit card. REGISTER ONLINE at http://www.builditgreen.org/en/cev/263 or call 510-590-3360 ext. 116. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation by email.
$10 /Build It Green Members
$15 /Non-Members
Door Price: $15 /Person
Admission includes a light meal; those choosing not to eat still are required to pay the meeting fee.
Innovative Solutions in Heating and Cooling - Using PV, Mini-Splits, Solar Thermal and Hydronic Fancoil Heating
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
John Daley will discuss the relationship between PV and minispit inverter heating and cooling as well as thermal solar and hydronic fancoil heating, and tankless for heating and domestic water. He will also address some of the costs to heating with different fuels.
Topics will include
* Why we hate forced air and how to learn to like well designed systems
* How to prioritize systems improvements during a remodel or when adding an addition
* What are the “best practices” that should be included in our construction specs
* How can we educate and reach out to our HVAC subcontractor and include them in the BuildItGreen Community.
A discussion will follow as time permits on these and other concerns the group may have regard heating and indoor air quality. We encourage folks to invite HVAC contractors that you work with or know to attend as this will be a good opportunity for them to get acquainted with our group and its goals for healthier more efficient projects.
NOTE: Build It Green will comp HVAC contractors as an incentive to attend this meeting. Please contact Michele Brown directly for registration: Guild@BuildItGreen.org or 510-590-3360 ext 105.
Speakers: John Daley , R Johnson and Associates www.rja-ca.com
John Daley is an independent representative who handles sales and service for several equipment manufacturers in Northern California and Nevada. Mr. Daley is a highly knowledgeable expert on modern HVAC systems, with over 30 years experience in field service, wholesale distribution and manufacturing. His product lines include fire protection equipment and residential and commercial HVAC.
Certified Green Building Professional CEU Value: 1.5
Time: 5:30pm- 8:00pm
Place: Truitt & White Conference Room, 1817 Second St., Berkeley - Cross Street: Hearst.
Registration: Pre-registration on our website is available until 2pm on Wednesday, February 2nd. When preregistering online, folks can pay by credit card or choose to pay at the door with check or credit card. REGISTER ONLINE at http://builditgreen.org/en/cev/281 or call 510-590-3360 ext. 105. Once registered, your registration will be confirmed by email.
$10 /Build It Green Members
$15 /Non-Members
Door Price: $15 /Person
Admission includes a light meal; those choosing not to eat still are required to pay the meeting fee
Talking Green - Client Education and Sales (Charette
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
A panel of industry professionals will discuss the conversation going on in the field. Learn what is working, where inroads are being made and where they see the market going. Weather you are looking to attract your ideal client or help the clients you already have make decisions based on green building principles, this discussion will give you a range of perspectives on how to carry on an effective conversation about building in a way that enhances health, comfort and the efficiency of homes.
You will hear from a Residential Marketing Consultant, a Real Estate Specialist, a Site Designer, a Home Performance Professional and a Design/Build Contractor. They will highlight developments in policy that are creating an imperative to move in the direction of sustainable design. Understand the market forces that will increasingly come into play and the role each of us has in making this movement a reality.
Speakers: Kevin Beck – Build It Green, Rachel F. Ginis – ecosophic, Maureen Ladley – Ladley & Associates, Carolyn Robbins – Carolyn Robbins Site Design and Jody Ceniceros – Millennium Premier Group
Certified Green Building Professional CEU Value: 1.5
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
Place: Marin Builders Association, 660 Las Galinas Ave., San Rafael
Registration: Pre-registration is available until 2pm on Wednesday, May 11th. When preregistering online, folks can pay by credit card or choose to pay at the door with check or credit card. REGISTER ONLINE at http://www.builditgreen.org/en/cev/291 or call 510-590-3360 ext. 116. Once registered, your registration will be confirmed by email.
$10 /Build It Green Members
$15 /Non-Members
Door Price: $15 /Person
Admission includes a light meal; those choosing not to eat still are required to pay the meeting fee.
Developing a Green Workforce - How You Can Take Advantage of Local Green Job Training Programs
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
This presentation will provide an overview of local green job training programs, from the perspective of employers seeking qualified employees, and of individuals seeking to enhance their skills. We will hear from a contractor, training provider, and government official who all have worked with these different programs, and discuss how the job market is impacting this sector of training.
Speakers: Wendy Miller, Coordinator of TrainGreen SF, City College of San Francisco; Elena Foshay, GETS Program Manager, Rising Sun Energy Center; Other presenters TBA
Certified Green Building Professional CEU Value: 1.5
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Place: San Francisco Department of the Environment, 11 Grove Street, San Francisco, CA
Registration: Pre-registration is available until 2pm on Wednesday, May 18th. When preregistering online, folks can pay by credit card or choose to pay at the door with check or credit card. REGISTER ONLINE at http://www.builditgreen.org/en/cev/273 or call 510-590-3360 ext. 116. Once registered, your registration will be confirmed by email.
$10 /Build It Green Members
$15 /Non-Members
Door Price: $15 /Person
Admission includes a light meal; those choosing not to eat still are required to pay the meeting fee.
WEBINAR: Vital Resource: Water
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
California currently uses 10% more water than is replaced every year. Water is overused and wasted and yet is the most vital single component required by all known life forms. This presentation will describe the over-use of water in the state of California with a special emphasis on usage patterns in urban and rural communities. Then different methods of water conservation will be discussed, including structured plumbing, recirculation, solar hot water, PEX and greywater systems, with a special emphasis on using mathematics and system design to optimize water conservation based on current and anticipated water usage patterns.
Speaker: David Edwards, Earth Bound Homes
Time: 11:00am -12:30pm
Registration is available until 9am on Wednesday, May 23rd . REGISTER ONLINE at http://builditgreen.org/en/cev/338 or call 510-590-3360 ext. 105. Once registered, your registration will be confirmed by email.
Cost: Free to Build It Green Members and $10/Non-Members
Certified Green Building Professional CEU Value: 1.5
Ecocity 9: Montreal, Canada, 2011
People. Ecology. Urbanity: Moving Towards Ecocities.
Palais de congrès de Montréal, August 22-26
http://www.ecocity2011.com/
Host Organizations: Montréal Urban Ecology Center (MUEC), Opus 3, Inc., Palais de congrès de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal
Interconnecting Themes
The distinctive conference program will build on work of past Ecocity World Summits while adding new conference themes, participatory methods, and projects that will last beyond the life of the conference. Detailed conference content and design will be developed in collaboration with local and international partners, making sure that the particular urban ecological expertise of Montréal is highlighted. Topics include:
* Climate Change and Urban Planning
* Ecomobility, Urban Planning, Public Space
* Governance and Democracy in the Ecocity
* Economics of the Ecocity
* Health and the Built Environment
* Biodiversity and Urban Agriculture
* Youth Leadership and Engagement in the Arts, Culture and Environment
An Ecocity Project… on the Ground!
Design charrettes to “greenstorm” on potential projects to be realized on the ground after the conference will be organized to take advantage of the presence of international experts at Ecocity 2011.
Tracks:
1. Northern climate cities: Ecocity policy, planning and design
2. Re-building better in Haiti and other post-disaster zones
3. Ecocity Montréal
4. Community engagement/citizen and youth participation
5. Measuring ecocity progress: indicators, standards and best practices
News and Information
ACTION ITEM: Support SB 147, the Consumer Choice Fire Safety Act
We need your voice to stop toxic and untested flame retardants in furniture and baby products.
Take action to Support SB 147 - The Consumer Choice Fire Safety Act.
A unique coalition of health advocates, scientists, businesses and manufacturers, environmentalists, fire fighters and fire safety experts have come together in support of California Senator Leno's SB 147. This bill would change an outdated and ineffective regulation, called TB 117, which has become a de facto requirement for adding toxic and untested flame retardant chemicals to furniture and baby products across North America. Many of these chemicals have been linked to cancer, lowered IQ, reproductive problems, thyroid effects, and endocrine disruption. A landmark scientific consensus, the San Antonio Statement, published in the Dec. 2010 Environmental Health Perspectives, highlights health and environmental hazards of many flame retardants, and discusses concern about the persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties of these chemicals.
California is the only jurisdiction in the world that requires bare furniture foam to withstand a 12-second open flame before being sold. TB 117 was created in the 1970s and now needs to be updated to give us fire safety and leave out chemicals that are ineffective for fire safety, and toxic for our health and environment.
Read our letter and sign on today! To make an even bigger impact, place a quick call to a member of the California Senate Business and Professions Committee, where this bill will be heard this month. Your calls to key committee members can help us get SB 147 to the rest of the legislature.
Updates on this bill will be at www.psr-la.org/sb-147.
Please contact Ana Mascareñas, Policy and Communications Coordinator at amascarenas@psr-la.org, 213-689-9170 if you have any questions.
EMPLOYMENT
Americrops VISTA Year of Service at Ecosa
Now Hiring for Outreach Coordinator Position
Dear Friends,
VISTAEcosa Institute has been awarded another year of service by the Yavapai County VISTA Project.
We are seeking a new VISTA member to complete the second term of our Outreach Project, initiated last year by our current VISTA member, Leah Pistorius. For the Outreach Coordinator position, we are seeking applicants with an interest in graphic and web design, social networking, communication, grant writing and creativity. The position will run September 2011 - September 2012 and will offer a living allowance, a housing subsidy, the choice of an education award or cash stipend upon completion of service, health care benefits, a relocation allowance, student loan deferment, and more. Please contact us if you are interested!
Sincerely,
Megan Dixon
Managing Director
Ecosa Institute
info@ecosainstitute.org |