Saturday, June 27, 2009

State GREENLegislation

Governor signed this bill a little over a week ago!
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Senate Bill 1919 by *Johnson, Overbey, Faulk, Marrero B, Finney L. (House Bill 1468 by *Shepard, Gilmore, Cooper B, Hackworth.)

Planning, Public - As introduced, incorporates the use of green building design, sustainable infrastructure, and energy efficiency technologies into the powers authorities are authorized to exercise for redevelopment projects. - Amends TCA Section 13-20-202.

Bill Summary
Present law authorizes a housing authority to establish a redevelopment project and lists the powers the housing authority has to carry out the project, such as:

(1) Installing, constructing, or reconstructing parks, public open spaces, public playgrounds, pedestrian ways, and parking garages in accordance with a redevelopment plan; and(2) Paying expenses for relocation, administrative costs, planning and engineering costs and legal expenses associated with carrying out a redevelopment plan.

This bill clarifies that the housing authority may install, construct, or reconstruct the structures listed above in (1), "regardless of use." This bill further clarifies that in addition to the expenses listed above in (2), the housing authority may pay any energy efficiency costs associated with carrying out a redevelopment plan. This bill adds the following powers a housing authority has to carry out a redevelopment project:

(1) Pay leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) costs, commissioning costs, costs of required documentation to meet LEED or other similar programs, and fees associated with commissioning, as well as greening costs and energy modeling costs for LEED certification or similar programs;
(2) Install, construct, add to, improve or reconstruct public infrastructure; and
(3) Take all other necessary actions designed to further the goals and local objectives articulated in a redevelopment plan.

AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the provision described above in the bill summary in (1) regarding paying costs to specify that the housing authority may pay the design costs, commissioning costs and fees, and costs of required documentation associated with meeting the requirements of LEED, Green Globes or other similar programs as well as greening costs and energy modeling costs for certification by such programs of both new construction, existing buildings and other projects.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

The House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act with an 219 to 212 vote. .

Now is the time to tell your Senator to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act

“The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009,” is comprehensive energy legislation. The legislation will create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America’s energy independence, and cut global warming pollution.
The legislation has four titles:
(1) “Clean energy”: promotes renewable sources of energy and carbon capture and sequestration technologies, low-carbon transportation fuels, clean electric vehicles, and the smart grid and electricity transmission; (2) “Energy efficiency”: increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the economy, including buildings, appliances, transportation, and industry; (3) "Global warming”: places limits on the emissions of heat-trapping pollutants; and (4) "Transitioning”: protects U.S. consumers and industry and promotes green jobs during the transition to a clean energy economy.
Check out a complete summary

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

From: TRANSIT NOW NASHVILLE

Take Action: Transportation bill moving fast!
Congress is about to pour billions of dollars into transportation. But we can't just throw money at the problem the same way we have been - we need smart investments.

The U.S. hasn't had a vision for transportation policy in decades. We've been trying to build our way out of a congested and inefficient system with no accountability and no actual plan to link our roads, trains, busses, bikeways and pedestrian-friendly streets. But the new transportation bill released this week needs to change all that.

Fill out the form at T4America.org to tell your member of Congress to ensure that our country's transportation investments strengthen our economy, our environment and our health.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

3rd Annual Dragon Boat Race and River Festival!


Sign up today for the 3rd Annual Nashville
Dragon Boat Race and River Festival!
On Saturday, August 22nd, the Cumberland River Compact and the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association are hosting the 3rd Annual Dragon Boat Races and River Festival at Riverfront Park, in Downtown Nashville. The purpose of the event is to promote the health of the Cumberland River and raise awareness of the work of these great organizations.

Organize a team!
Put together a competitive team of friends, coworkers, family members, or colleagues and try your hand at paddling a Dragon Boat for 250 meters down the Cumberland River. Each team is made up of 22 members and receives one practice session in the week before the event. To sign-up a team, click here to contact Brooke or give her a call at 615.430.4900. The cost is the same as the last two years: $1250!

The mission of the Cumberland River Compact is to enhance the water quality of the Cumberland River and its tributaries through education and by promoting cooperation among citizens, businesses, and agencies in Kentucky and Tennessee.
http://www.nashvilledragonboat.com/home.html

See YouTube from TeamGreen

Sunday, June 14, 2009

KWB Living Green Expo: August 29, 2009

Be a part of Keep Williamson Beautiful’s Living Green Expo, August 29, 2009. This event is KWB’s endeavor to educate the people of Williamson County as to how companies can contribute to making their lives cleaner and greener.
The event will be held at the Factory at Franklin where hundreds of people shop daily. On Saturday mornings there is a Farmers Market on the grounds of the Factory where environmentally aware shoppers gather for fresh vegetables and more. These same people will be an audience green companies will want to attract. In addition this will be KWB’s Environmental Leader class graduation and our annual volunteer appreciation event. Judge Larry Potter, presiding judge of the Memphis/Shelby County Environmental Court will be the speaker and we expect a large crowd to hear this 2006 Keep America Beautiful Iron Eyes Cody Award recipient.
Read More and be a vendor!
http://www.williamsoncounty-tn.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1599

Emerson Quote

"All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Residential In-Home Energy Evaluation

Middle Tennessee Electric Corporation, MTEMC, in partnership with TVA, offers the In-Home Energy Evaluation. Reduce your power usage and receive cash incentives or financing assistance for installing energy-efficiency improvements.
Participants pay an up-front fee of $150 for the evaluation. If any recommended improvements are made over $150, the fee will be reimbursed. Plus, you will be reimbursed 50% of the installation cost up to $500 (thanks to Miles for reminding me about this).>>More Info

Nashville Electric Service, NES

Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit
Just complete a “do-it-yourself” home energy audit and you’ll receive a free Energy Conservation Kit in the mail!(I've done this!) >>More

Don't Throw that used TV in the landfill

Don't Throw that used TV in the landfill: Recycle it!
* 100% of the materials used to manufacture electronics can be recycled and diverted from land fill.

* Analog TVs contains a picture tube (cathode ray tube) which contains between four and eight pounds of lead.
Williamson County Recycles:
http://www.franklin-gov.com/pdf/tv%20and%20computer%20recycling.pdf

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

House again delays vote on statewide building code

June 9, 2009 NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A vote on Gov. Phil Bredesen's proposal to impose a minimum residential building code around the state has been delayed in the House.
Several lawmakers representing about 60 counties that have no building codes have tried to exempt their districts from the bill.
(see Energy bill needs help below)
>>> More

Go out tonight: Brentwood Environmental Committee Meeting

Tonight's meeting is set aside for public input beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Annex Room at the Brentwood Municipal Center. Everyone should try to be there to listen and give your input.
Survey
Before you go please take a few minutes to answer a survey of your thoughts on Brentwood's environment and sustainablity: Click Here for Survey

Monday, June 8, 2009

Energy bill needs help, Call today!

Today: June 8, 2009: Voting is Tomorrow!!!
The Tennessee Clean Energy Future Act, an initiative of the administration's Energy Task Force, needs our help. Please contact your House members and others who may be appropriate and urge them to vote for the bill without weakening amendments. The bill has passed the Senate comfortably but has run into trouble in the House.
Contact your House member: if you don't know them, go to http://www.capitol.tn.gov/legislators/ and put in your address and it will bring up your house and senate rep. Email and call them. Tell them to vote for the bill and against the amendments that opt out counties for the state building codes.

Some house members oppose the energy code requirements, which call for International Residential Code (IRC) adoption statewide. It will be helpful to stress that a statewide code not only improves energy efficiency, but also sets the minimum level for the Health and Safety of Tennessee homes. I understand that some in the House are reluctant to impose this regulation on counties when in the past, they have always been encouraged to let the counties have a choice in whether or not to participate.
Many of our counties do NOT have any kind of building codes!! This will put minimum codes to all the counties and will protect many home buyers from buying/building houses that could be unsafe and energy 'hogs'! The extra cost of satisfying the codes will be made up quickly by savings on energy bills and if and when they sell, the house will bring considerably more. A no Brainer.

Friday, June 5, 2009

BrentWord Communications LLC

Congratulations on Susan Leathers and Kelly Gilfillan new endeavor: they are now formally "BrentWord Communications LLC" (and I didn't even bring a gift)!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

What does sustainability really mean?

In 1987 publication of Our Common Future by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (also known as the Brundtland commission). The report defined sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Did you ever think that we could over fish our oceans? During the early period of our nation's history, I don't think anyone thought we could cut down our forests like we have. What we do now with our landscape may not effect us but it will leave problems with our children and grandchildren. Some of the cities/counties' actions, or non-actions, have effected us today: uncontrolled sprawl; counties/cities without building codes, etc. Be informed and make sure you are a part of these decisions by your actions and voting!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

10 Things you can do to Prevent Water Pollution



1) Take a soil sample to UT Ag Extension Office to find out how much fertilizer your lawn needs. Too much will end up fertilizing your neighbor's lawn or will wash into the stormwater system and becomes a pollutant and costs you money!
2) Never dump anything down storm drains or in the streams. Anything you put on your driveway can end up in the streams or rivers.
3) Mow the grass clippings into the yard and compost your yard waste.
4) Read the label on all pesticides and herbicides and follow the directions and learn how to prevent pest problems.
5) Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces; consider a rain garden or rain barrels to capture stormwater.
6) Take your car to the car wash or wash them on your lawn instead of in your driveway.
7) Check your car for leaks and recycle your motor oil.
8) Pick up after your pet.
9) Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
10) Keep soil on your site by stabilizing all bare spots. Soil is the state's number one pollutant.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Towne Centre T H E A T R E


You don't have to drive all the way to Nashville or Franklin to see a well done live performance! Go to http://www.townecentretheatre.com/ (turn the volume down when you go there!)
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Environmental Committee reminder: A public input meeting will be held on June 9, 2009 beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Annex Room at the Brentwood Municipal Center. Everyone should try to be there to listen and give your input.
Survey
Please take a few minutes to answer a survey of your thoughts on Brentwood's environment and sustainablity: Click Here for Survey