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August 6, 2013

ECONOTES 2013-08-06: Environmental Headlines for the Houston Region

Featured

  1. Armand Bayou Nature Center Receives 50th Solar Energy Donation from Green Mountain Energyâ„¢ Sun Clubâ„¢ (PR Web, 7/31/2013)
    Green Mountain Energy™ Sun Club™ has dedicated its 50th solar energy system to Houston area non-profit nature preserve, Armand Bayou Nature Center. The nature preserve received a donation that added three solar arrays to its campus. The rooftop installations on its boat house, admissions pavilion and education building now use renewable energy to help power its educational tours and exhibits. Armand Bayou Nature Center now hosts 29 solar panels on its grounds, powering the center’s various educational programs with 8,500 kilowatt-hours of pollution-free energy and avoiding about 9,900 pounds of CO2 each year. That’s enough CO2 to fill 802,500 hard hats! An additional solar installation on the Nature Center’s boat house will charge the electric pontoon boat, the “Bayou Ranger,” used for weekend bayou tours, so visitors can explore the wetlands with the power of the sun.
    http://www.prweb.com/
  2. Construction Starts To Turn Eleanor Tinsley Park Into Buffalo Bayou’s Signature Green Space (Florian Martin – KUHF News, 8/5/2013)
    As part of the continuing Buffalo Bayou development, Eleanor Tinsley Park is now undergoing some significant changes. Old shelters, playground equipment, and certain trees will be removed. Other trees will be planted, the parking lot remodeled, a big pavilion added and the garden expanded. The special upgrades for the park are possible thanks to a $2 million donation by local beer distributor Silver Eagle. In addition, the park renovation, including hike-and-bike trail improvements, is part of the $58 million Buffalo Bayou revitalization project. As Houston grows, so does the importance of having more green space.
    http://app1.kuhf.org/
  3. Experts offer advice on saving Texas prairie (Alex Macon, Galveston County Daily News – My SA News, 7/29/2013)
    The coastal prairie once stretched across 9 million acres from Southeast Texas to Southwestern Louisiana. Years of urbanization and agricultural range improvement have led to almost 99 percent of the habitat being wiped out, according to the National Wetlands Research Center, but the prairie is attempting a comeback. It just needs a little help. The Galveston County Daily News reports more than 30 farmers, ranchers, conservationists and volunteers recently studied techniques for restoring and preserving prairie at the Texas City Prairie Preserve.
    http://www.mysanantonio.com/

EcoNotes