Coalition Notes 07-23-2012

1. Houston Green Film Series: In Transition. The Houston Green Film Series continues with In Transition 2.0. In Transition 2.0 is an inspirational immersion in the Transition movement, gathering stories from around the world of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. You’ll hear about communities printing their own money, growing food everywhere, localising their economies and setting up community power stations. The film will be shown on July 25th from 6:30-9pm at Rice Media Center (2080 University Blvd). More at http://www.transitionhouston.org/.
2. LEED Certified Green Building Tour – Toyota Center. As one in a series of free tours of green buildings in Houston, you are invited to see the LEED for Existing Buildings Silver Toyota Center, on July 27th, in a series of three guided tour every hour at 11am, 12pm, and 1pm. The Tours will take place at Toyota Center at the Jackson Street Entrance at the intersection of La Branch and Bell, 1510 Polk Street, Houston, Texas 77045. Green buildings save owners and users money with greater energy efficiency. They are better for our environment with more reuse of material. Ultimately, they foster a happier and healthier workplace for employees. Learn more and RSVP at http://usgbctexasgulfcoast.org/.
3. Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens’ Summer Symposium. Mercer Arboretum is excited to announce the Summer Symposium on July 28th. The day-long workshop focuses on hardy and bold tropical-looking plants that flourish in the heat, and includes a specialty plant sale for participants. Plant sale is open to the public at 9 a.m. More at http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/.
4. RDA 2012 Design Charrette. Rice Design Alliance’s 2012 design charrette, “People, Places and Promenades,” will focus on creating a master plan for the Museum Park Super Neighborhood. The charrette will be held Saturday, August 4, 2012 from 8 am to 4 pm. (The pre-charette site visit will be on July 28. A reception where the winning entries will be announced will be held on August 6, 2012 from 6 pm to 8 pm). More information is available at http://ricedesignalliance.org/.
5. Surface Water Quality Public Comment. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is receiving written comments on the Bacteria Implementation Group’s (BIG) draft implementation plan to reduce bacteria in specified waterbodies across the H-GAC region. Written comments should be submitted to Chip Morris, Water Quality Planning Division, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, MC 203, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas, 78711-3087 or faxed to 512-239-1414. Comments may be submitted electronically to www5.tceq. texas.gov/rules/ecomments by midnight on Monday, July 30, and should reference the  Implementation Plan for Seventy-Two Total Maximum Daily Loads for Bacteria in the Houston-Galveston Region. After the public comment period, the BIG may revise the draft implementation plan, if appropriate. The TCEQ will then consider the final plan for approval. More information about the BIG project is available at www.h-gac.com/BIG.
6. TAEP Call for Papers. The Texas Association of Environmental Professionals Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference: Gulf Coast 2012 (ECIC12) Committee is seeking abstracts for sessions and workshops should be submitted to conference@taep.org before July 31, 2012.
7. 2012 Bike Around the Bay. Registration is now open for Bike Around the Bay. It is a fun, fully supported 2-day, 180-mile bicycle ride that will take place October 13th-14th. All levels of riders are welcome and encouraged to register. Start a team, join a team, or register as an individual. Regular registration is open through September 28th ($30 + $150 donations) and late registration is open from September 29th – October 10th ($30 + $170 donations). Learn more and register at http://gbf.convio.net/. For more information or assistance in establishing a team, contact Jessica Curran at jcurran@galvbay.org.
8. Save the Date: RDA Gala. Rice Design Alliance’s annual gala, honoring Stephen Klineberg and celebrating its 40th anniversary and the Rice School of Architecture’s 100th anniversary, will be held Sunday, October 14, 2012, at Rice University. More information is available at http://ricedesignalliance.org.