The Austin Environmental Directory 2013 The Water Edition INSIDE THIS ISSUE... Water & the Environment........................ P. 4 Electric Vehicles....................................... P. 78 Water Conservation................................ P. 24 Locally-Grown Food............................... P. 86 The Edwards Aquifer............................. P. 43 Recycling and Zero Waste...................... P. 90 Clean Energy Programs......................... P. 49 Energy-Efficient Lighting....................... P. 98 Green Building........................................ P. 61 Environmental Groups......................... P. 104 Watershed Protection.............................. P. 74 Early History of Austin Water............. P. 126 1 Strand Brothers Service Experts is now simply 2 The Austin Environmental Directory 2013 Edited and Produced by Paul Robbins Water, Lighting, Environmental Group, & Food Sections by Paul Robbins Gray Water story by Lauren Ross Rainwater story by Paul Robbins and Austin Energy Green Building Save Barton Creek Section by Hanna Morgan, with contributions from Laurie Dries, Nico Hauwert, Brian Hunt, Steve Johnson, Sandy Kelso, and Gail McGlammery Recycling and Reuse Section by Lauren Hammond and David Hogan Green Building Section by Miki Cook, Matthew Crosby, Shems Duval, Molly Emerick, Jessica Galloway, Patricia House, Liana Kallivoka, Heidi Kasper, Richard Morgan, Lisa Nutt, Paul Robbins, Sarah Tober, and John Umphress Clean Energy Section by Sarah Fusco, Jaime Gomez, Elizabeth Kasprowicz, Terry Moore, Fred Yebra, and Austin Energy Marketing Air Quality Page by Deanna Altenhoff Cover Art Painting: © Glenda Green (Glendagreen.com), all rights reserved. Photo of painting by Scott Van Osdol. Special Thanks to Gary Freborg. Artists and Photographers: Art Anderson, Lydia Avila, Ave Bonar, Margaret Campbell Bamberger, Jason Cato, Ron Cobb, Kimberly Davis, Wendy Hale Davis, James Dee, John Dolley, Skeeter Hagler, Tim Jones, Kay Ledbetter, Tom Otterman, Paul Robbins, Deanna Roy, Erdem Selek, Anne Woods Computer Assistance by Bill Christensen, Mohan Rao, and Jeanine Sih Proofreaders and Advisors: Janice Bezanson, Margot Clarke, Claire DeYoung, David Foster, Toye Goodson, Chris Herbert, Kam Magor, Rick Lowerre, Lauren Smitherman, Tony Switzer, Gail Vittori Mail List Assistance: Jeff Smith, Opinion Analysts DISCLAIMER Though great effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in the Austin Environmental Directory, the publication assumes no responsibility and disclaims any injury, damage, or economic loss resulting from the use or effect of any product or information specified within the publication. Information in the Austin Environmental Directory does not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the advertising sponsors. While this publication is meant as a guide for environmental products and services, it cannot be a substitute for product quality assurance by the manufacturers and providers of these products and services; it cannot be a replacement for preferences of individual consumers; and it cannot be an alternative to common sense employed by consumers who use the products and services discussed herein. It is recommended that consumers follow instructions in product and service manuals and on labels to ensure safe use. The Austin Environmental Directory P. O. Box 1374 Austin, TX 78767 Online at www.environmentaldirectory.info © Paul Robbins 2013 - All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, either electronic or mechanical, including recording, photocopying, or by any information retrieval and storage system, without written permission of the copyright holder. Artwork and pictures were produced specifically for the Directory, reprinted with permission, or believed to be in the public domain. 3 Curtis Jordan, BROKER, (512) 402-9300 205 S. Commons Ford Rd., #1, Austin, Texas 78733 Fax: (512) 402-9423 • EMAIL: [email protected] Net: www.integrityrs.com Austin's Largest Used Office Furniture Source Recycling to save you and the environment Three Locations 1300 E. 5th St. 2307 Kramer Lane 512.472.1340 512.833.7777 4300 S Interstate 35 Georgetown 512.864.7141 3 4 CONTENTS DIRECTORY INTRODUCTION ......................................... 2 A Path to Net Zero Homes................................................ 70 Beyond the Green Building Rating.................................. 72 Multifamily Green Building............................................. 76 Electric Vehicle Update..................................................... 78 Electric Vehicle Programs Charge Ahead....................... 80 Social Equity in Green Building....................................... 83 WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT I. Texas: Where the Water Runs Uphill Introduction: Taking It Personally..................................... 4 The Supply System.............................................................. 7 The Texas Water Plan......................................................... 10 Struggles With People....................................................... 12 Struggles With Nature and Resources............................ 16 Struggles With Money....................................................... 20 The Fortune Teller.............................................................. 22 II. Water Conservation Efficient Appliances........................................................... 24 Efficient Plumbing Fixtures.............................................. 27 Rainwater Harvesting....................................................... 31 Gray Water.......................................................................... 34 Reducing Water for Lawns............................................... 36 Watering Trees.................................................................... 40 Documentation................................................................... 41 III. The Edwards Aquifer (Save Barton Creek Assn.)..... 43 IV. Headwaters: An Early History of Austin's Water and Electric Utilities................................................................ 126 WATERSHED PROTECTION ........................................... 74 LOCALLY-GROWN FOOD................................................ 86 Recycling AND REUSE The Zero Waste Master Plan........................................................ 90 Recycling Drop-off Centers.............................................. 96 ENERGY-EFFICIENT HOME LIGHTING....................... 98 Environmental Groups General............................................................................... 104 Building............................................................................. 105 Education.......................................................................... 106 Energy................................................................................ 107 Environmental Justice..................................................... 109 Food................................................................................... 109 Fundraising........................................................................112 Grassroots Organizing......................................................112 Health.................................................................................113 Parks....................................................................................113 Politics.................................................................................115 Recycling............................................................................116 Special Purpose.................................................................117 Transportation.................................................................. 120 Trees & Plants................................................................... 121 Water.................................................................................. 123 Wildlife.............................................................................. 125 AUSTIN'S CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAMS Introduction........................................................................ 49 Commercial Conservation Programs.............................. 50 Residential Conservation Programs................................ 52 Renewable Energy Programs........................................... 56 Multifamily Programs....................................................... 58 GREEN BUILDING Introduction........................................................................ 61 Green Building Classes & Tours...................................... 63 Toxic Chemicals Contained in Building Materials........ 64 Energy and Water Saving Tools....................................... 65 Myth-Busting...................................................................... 66 The Deep Energy Retrofit.................................................. 68 MAGNOLIA CAFES Lee Allbright, Realtor (512) 413-9520 www.leeallbright.com OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY EIGHT DAYS A WEEK 2304 Lake Austin Blvd. 478-8645 1920 So. Congress Ave. 445-0000 Selling Central Austin for 25 Years TIM MAHONEY Attorney-At-Law, P. C. P.O. Box 1544 Austin, Texas 78767-1544 (512) 326-9944 Website: http://www.mahoneylawaustin.com E-mail address: [email protected] 5 DOWNTOWN 525 North Lamar at Sixth St. 476-1206 • GATEWAY 9607 Research at Loop 360 345-5003 6 Individual and ENVIRONMENTAL Group Sponsors Individual Contributors Hill Abell Heinz & Margaret Aeschbach Ken Altes Linda Anderson Mary Arnold Mark Ashworth Lorraine Atherton & Mike Meier Heather Ball Norm Ballard & Cat Brown Barton Creek Farmers' Market Molly Bean Steve Beers Carl Betancourt Nan Blake Gayle Borst Annie Borden & Ric Sternberg Walt & Pat Bronstad Liz Bruns Pat & Dale Bulla Bill Bunch & Sarah Fusco Nancy Byrd & Bill Moore Stephanie Carnes Dale Chenoweth Bill Christensen Colin Clark Jenny Clark & Tim Jones Margot Clark Andrew Clements Jo Clifton & Roger Duncan Mark Coates Becky Cobos Robin Cravey Chris Crosby Celeste Cromack Ian Davis Ron Davis Claire DeYoung Dave Dobbs George Dollis & Ingrid Weigand Andrew Donoho Sarah Eckhardt Charlotte Flynn Don Gardner & Pam Murfin Giant Printing Linda Greene Adam Gregory Bob Gregory Paul Gregory Sam Griswold Stacy Guidry Karen Hadden Sally Jo Hahn Chip Harris Dale Harris Martha Harrison Carol Harwell Donna Hoffman David Hogan Jennifer Hok Earl & Macee Holderness Dudley Houghton George Humphrey Dick Kallerman Paloma Kennedy Michael Kleiman Dick Lavine Chris Lehman Susan Lippman Jere Locke Charlotte Lovett Jon & Diane Luden Mark Lyon David Mahler Melanie Mahoney Ken Manning Ken Martin & Rebecca Melecon Natalie Marquis Mary Gay Maxwell Ann McAfee Melanie McAfee Frank Meyer Kirk Mitchell Deborah Morin Elliott Naishtat Paul Norris Mike Osborne Rusty Osborne Ken & Mary Jude Peterson Rick Piltz JD Porter Beth Pratt Jane Pulaski Karl Rabago Robin Rather Ray Reece Bill & Susan Reid Marc Richmond Joe Riddell Chris Riley Jimmy & Michelle Robertson Brian Rodgers Crispin Ruiz Barbara Rush Bob Russell Diane Saltus Nancy Scanlan Maureen Scanlon Robin Schneider Randi Shade Brigid Shea Lanny Sinkin Steve Smaha Bill Smith Tom Smitty Smith Sue Snyder Helen Spear Steve Speir Dana Sprute Dave Sullivan Tony Switzer Phyllis Thomson Kathy Tovo Patrick Van Haren Gail Vittori Abbe Waldman Jim Walker Kunda Lee Wicce Mark Wieland Bruce Willenzik LaVerne Williams Mariann Wizard Allan & Vivian Wolfe Roger Wood Chuck Wright Ira Yates Environmental Groups Austin Cycling Association Austin Neighborhoods Council Austin Organic Gardeners Austin Sierra Club Austin Youth River Watch Bat Conservation International Camp Fire Campus Environmental Center Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems Clean Water Action Design~Build~Live Ecology Action Environment Texas Environmental Defense Environmental Health League First Unitarian Church of Austin Hill Country Foundation Horned Lizard Society Interfaith Environmental Network Keep Austin Beautiful LBJ Wildflower Center National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Society Nature Conservancy Physicians for Social Responsibility Public Citizen Save Barton Creek Association Save Our Springs Alliance Solar Austin Sustainable Food Center Texas Campaign for the Environment Texas Conservation Corps Texas Environmental Democrats Texas Impact Texas League of Conservation Voters Texas Organic Farmers & Growers Association Texas SEED Coalition Texas Solar Energy Society Treefolks U.S. Green Building Council Useful Wild Plants Vegetarian Network of Austin Westcave Preserve The Environmental Directory is entirely supported by Austin's environmental community. Contributions of any amount will assist in its production and printing. Checks can be mailed to: The Austin Environmental Directory • P.O. Box 1374 • Austin, TX 78767 1 ABOUT THE DIRECTORY The first is about the water situation in Texas. Providing supplies for the 21 million more people over the next 50 years is a daunting challenge. If there is a central message to this article, it is that Texas can no longer provide for the insatiable thirst of all who come here without either large increases in costs or creating a water-efficient economy. The Austin Environmental Directory is meant as a userfriendly guide to readers for learning about environmental issues, for identifying and purchasing environmental products, and for becoming involved in environmental organizations. The print version is distributed free to the Austin area. The Directory is also on the Internet at www. environmentaldirectory.info/. A second story discusses techniques and technologies to save water. Some of these are fairly straight forward, such as appliances that work more efficiently. Others require rethinking why water is used to begin with. For instance, water use for landscapes can be greatly reduced with proper soil levels and plant nutrients. And it can be supplied by gray water or rainwater instead of processed water. The Directory is edited by Paul Robbins, a longtime environmental activist residing in Austin. He wrote about 60% of the issue, with government agencies and non-profit organizations producing sections relevant to their programs. These agencies and organizations received this space at greatly reduced cost. A third story is about the early history of Austin's water and electric utilities. In relative terms, it has not been that long since Austin was severely constrained by limited water supplies. While Austin is not the only major city with a story to tell, recounting this history is a compelling example with which to view both human nature and the growth of American cities in general. Businesses in subjects that the book discusses and local environmental groups are given free listings. However, the book is supported through advertising and contributions from individuals and environmental groups. This Year’s Topics Most of the information in these articles has never been reported by any other Austin publication. The new edition also includes a short section on the Edwards Aquifer by the Save Barton Creek Association, and updated or new sections on recycling, green building, clean energy, locally grown food, and the region's environmental groups. This is the eighth issue of the Directory since 1995. In the shadow of the record drought of 2011, the theme of this edition of the Directory is water. The urgency is keenly fixed in the minds of many Texans. This theme includes three stories. 2 140 141