Be an AmeriCorps Volunteer & Help Make Houses More Energy Efficient!

Come join the William J. Clinton Foundation and the State of Arkansas by serving in their innovative residential energy efficiency retrofit program in Little Rock!!

In addition to creating unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions, families living in high-energy-use homes are forced to spend more on utility bills, often diverting resources from basic living expenses. HEAL AR is designed to decrease the cost of utilities for Low to Moderate Income (LMI) people by providing residential energy efficient audits. Once audits are performed, AmeriCorps members in service will retrofit the homes to be more energy efficient.

In addition to receiving AmeriCorps basic training, you will learn–(both on the job and in the classroom) basic building science; skills and theory of energy efficient retrofits and operation of specialized equipment (blower doors, duct blasters, etc.). Project specific training will satisfy all OSHA, EPA and HUD requirements for health (Lead, asbestos, mold and combustion), job site (personal protective equipment, stairways and ladders, scaffolds, fall protection, electrical and fire prevention), and tool safety. Additionally, Standard First Aid and CPR training will be provided, along with applicable “green” training/certifications throughout the project year. HEAL AR will promote a diverse work environment for all of its members.

For the HEAL AR project, your living allowance is $950 per month. In addition, HEAL AR AmeriCorps members may be eligible to receive health insurance, and members who complete a full-time term of service will receive an AmeriCorps Education Award currently valued at $4,725. The education award may be used to pay for schools you currently attend, as well as past loans or future enrollment. Additionally, if you currently have student loans, you may qualify for postponement, or forbearance, of the repayment of your student loans during your term of service.

To apply, go to www.americorps.gov, click on ‘Advanced Opportunity Search’ and search for HEAL AR under ‘Program Name’. If you have any questions, please contact Tammy Agard at tammy@healar.org or Johnnie LaCaze at johnnie@healar.org. Deadline for applications is December 18, 2009.

Monday To-Do: Lecture by Founder of U.S. Green Building Council

Richard Fedrizzi is CEO and founding chairman of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization committed to fostering a sustainable future for America through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. Under Fedrizzi’s leadership, the USGBC expanded its influence through the internationally recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, which recognizes sustainability in new and existing structures.

WHEN: Monday, November 23 – 12-1 p.m.

WHERE: University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service – Sturgis Hall

Reserve your seats by emailing publicprograms@clintonschool.uasys.edu or calling (501)683-5239.

Thursday To-Do: U.S. Green Building Council – Central Branch Monthly Meeting

The U.S. Green Building Council – Central Branch will hold its monthly meeting, today between 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Next Level Event (1400 W. Markham) in Little Rock. Danielle Shafer and Tom Hanlon with TME will discuss LEED commissioning for existing buildings.  Members $18, Guests $20. For more information, contact Linda Smith at usgbcar@yahoo.com.

Saturday To-Do: Little Rock 350 Climate Action Rally & Concert

1Sky, Audubon Arkansas, Sierra Club, and Village Commons will host Little Rock 350 Climate Action Rally & Concert, Saturday, October 24, 2009, from 2-5 pm at MacArthur Park in Little Rock. Rally will feature local musicians, speakers and educational booths.

State Representative Kathy Webb will be the keynote speaker. She will give us an update on the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming. Glen Hooks, Regional Director, Sierra Club, will talk about coal and climate change. Thompson Murray, Senior Pastor, Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, will talk about creation care.

The following organizations will have a booth at the event: Audubon Arkansas, Green Faith Alliance, Greenway, Keep Little Rock Beautiful, The Root Cafe, Sustainable Business Network of Central Arkansas, and Village Commons.

Juggernaut Glitch will play, and there will be drumming by Thompson Murray.

Join millions of people across the world in celebrating International Day of Climate Action! Come to Little Rock 350 Climate Action Rally & Concert!

For more information about 350 or the International Day of Climate Action, visit www.350.org. For more information about the event or to RSVP, visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=316846080007&index=1.

Thursday To-Do: U.S. Green Building Council – Central Branch Monthly Meeting

The U.S. Green Building Council – Central Branch will hold its monthly meeting, today between 11″30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Next Level Event (1400 W. Markham) in Little Rock. Dr. Nick Brown, Executive Assistant for Sustainability and Adjunct Professor for Geosciences, University of Arkansas, will give a presentation, “Carbon Emissions Management: LEED and Beyond It.”

Carbon emissions reduction, mitigation, displacement and offset are integral to successful 21st century design and management. Means for approaching zero emissions design will be discussed, along with a discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of LEED in achieving these goals.

Members $18, Guests $20. For more information, contact Linda Smith at usgbcar@yahoo.com.

Tuesday To-Do: GREEN is the New Primary Color

Bethel Middle School

Dr. Richard Abernathy, superintendent of the Bryant School District, and Dr. Deborah Bruick, assistant superintendent of the Bryant School District, will discuss their journey through building the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) school in the district and state. Hurricane Creek Elementary and Bethel Middle School are the first in Arkansas to achieve LEED certification, an earned designation awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council. The district is now constructing its third green building on the high school campus. Dr. Abernathy and Dr. Bruick will also discuss how the Bryant community learned to support the green mission of the district and adopt many of the same philosophies.

WHAT: GREEN is the New Primary Color: LEED School for Arkansas

WHEN: Tuesday, October 6 – Reception: 5:30 p.m., Lecture: 6 p.m.

WHERE: Arkansas Arts Center – Lecture Hall (9th & Commerce, Little Rock, 72202)

COST: Free

For more information, contact June Freeman at (501)664-6496.

Saturday To-Do: U of A ASLA Fall Plant Sale

The University of Arkansas’ chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) will have a plant sale this Saturday, October 1 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market. ASLA uses the proceeds to fund community service projects. It helps educate the public during the sale about the ecological value of native and locally grown plants.

This fall, ASLA has the following:

• Paperbark Maple – $15
• Japanese Maple – $5
• Shantung Maple – $8
• Bottlebrush Buckeye – $5
• Pawpaw – $8
• Butterfly Bush – $10
• Beautyberry – $10
• Carolina Allspice – $8
• Katsura Tree – $15
• Desert Willow – $5
• White Fringe Tree – $10
• Chitalpa – $5
• Yellowwood – $5
• American Smoketree – $8
• Witch Alder – $10
• Chinese Coffee Tree – $8
• Silverbell – $8
• Virginia Sweetspire – $5
• Star Magnolia – $5
• Blackgum – $5
• Sourwood – $15
• Persian Ironwood – $8
• Mock Orange – $5
• Swamp White Oak – $5
• Japanese Apricot – $10
• Chestnut Oak – $15
• Salvia – $10
• Fragrant Snowbell – $15
• Leyland Cypress – $5

For more information, contact Billy Fleming at (479)414-1367 or wflemin@uark.edu.

Tuesday To-Do: U of A Sustainability Council Meeting

Join students, leaders of the Applied Sustainability Center, leaders from Facilities Management, and others to discuss and make decisions on the pressing sustainability issues on the University of Arkansas campus.

WHAT: University of Arkansas Sustainability Council Meeting

WHEN: Tuesday, September 29 – 3:30-5 p.m.

WHERE: University of Arkansas, Walton College of Business – J. Willard Walker Hall

For more information, contact Billy Fleming at (479)414-1367 or wflemin@uark.edu.

Weekend To-Do: Little Rock Sustainability Summit

The first annual Little Rock Sustainability Summit, a free and open to the public event on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th, 2009, will take place at the Statehouse Convention Center in downtown Little Rock. Friday’s sessions are scheduled from 1-5 p.m, with the Exhibitor Hall open from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday’s sessions starts at 9 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m., with the Little Rock Green Drinks Happy Hour capping off the Summit from 3:30-5:30 p.m.

The purpose of the Summit is to encourage and educate city leaders and citizens from both big and small cities across Arkansas to take action to sustain our communities, our economy and our environment.

This Summit hopes to provide a variety of informative sessions about how to initiate and encourage sustainability actions. These include: recycling, land use/planning, green building, energy efficiency, water quality, green economy, transportation, faith, food, etc. These sessions will offer a variety of local and national speakers and provide concurrent sessions for any level of understanding, and some will be interactive, like a LEED certified building tour on Friday.

For more information, please contact John McClure at LRSustainabilitySummit@gmail.com or (501)993-7502.

Thursday To-Do: U.S. Green Building Council Residential Green Discussion Group

Interested in building or renovating your home using green design and materials? Then, join this new discussion group hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council – Arkansas Chapter, tomorrow between noon to 1 p.m. at the Arkansas Studies Institute in downtown Little Rock. This month’s topic is water conservation.

The USGBC Residential Green Discussion Group meets on the 4th Thursday of each month. No reservation necessary for this free event. Bring your own lunch. For more information, contact Anncha Briggs at anncha1@aol.com.

Guest Post: Eddy Moore – AR Rural Electric Cooperatives’ Coal-Fired Power Plant

While all sides wait for the Arkansas Supreme Court decision on whether the state wrongfully approved a permit to build the John W. Turk coal fired power plant in Hempstead County, press attention has focused almost completely on Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO). But there are other major business partners in the project. The Arkansas rural electric cooperatives own the second-largest share of the plant, but have managed to escape almost any questioning or scrutiny. Last week, the cooperatives asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to allow it to enter the case and argue as a “friend of the court.”

Usually, such “amicus curiae” arguments are brought by a person or group with broader public interests in the outcome, who bring a different perspective from the party already seeking review. Here, the co-ops are actually co-owners with identical interests. Indeed, if they had something to say, it is surprising they didn’t enter the case from the start.

Maybe the co-ops have avoided attention because they are, for the first time ever, seeking a rate increase under a new, emergency procedure. Their proposed changes in the law authorizing the new procedure shot through the Arkansas legislature earlier this year with hardly a comment. The one comment was from Nucor Steel, by far the co-ops’ largest ($100+ million per year) customer: roughly translated, it asked for a few days to find out what the heck was going on, since even it had been given very short notice.

Back to the new co-op argument to the Supreme Court. Here, the co-ops mention that they have spent $100 million so far on the coal plant! Maybe that is part of why they need a rate increase. The press, or even customers, may begin to ask if it was prudent for the cooperatives to buy into the plant based on projections of very high future growth in electricity sales.

Here is where the broad public interest actually comes in. About thirty years ago, the cooperatives bought into another huge coal-fired power plant based on aggressive future sales projections—that one with Entergy. Even today, Entergy has excess baseload (coal and nuclear) generation, and pollution upgrades to the plant will cost over $1 billion.

Some will argue that, in retrospect, these plants produce cheap power, but the question must be asked. Have Arkansans been talked too early into risky, multi-billion-dollar power generation investments? What is the time value of customer money spent on power plants to serve needs that do not arise, even in a thirty-year timeframe? Investing instead in conservation might streamline our economy for competition, avoiding early capital costs and yielding greater, more diverse economic benefits. Unfortunately, this public benefit argument is unlikely to be raised by the “friend” currently wooing the court.

Friday To-Do: Repower America Made in America Town Hall Event in Fayetteville

Come join the state’s political, corporate and institutional leaders to discuss their clean energy and sustainability intiatives! Repower America and the University of Arkansas Associated Student Government will host Made in America Town Hall Event, today between 3-8:30 pm at between U of A Law School Auditorium. The panelists include:

• Steve Walker – Director of Development, Phoenix Renewable Energy
• Kevin Igli – Senior Vice President and Chief Environmental, Health, and Safety Officer, Tyson Foods
• Nicholas Brown – Executive Assistant for Sustainability, University of Arkansas
• John Coleman – Sustainability Coordinator, City of Fayetteville
• Abel Tomlinson – 2008 Congressional Candidate and University of Arkansas graduate student
• Christopher Charlton – Wind Specialist, Greenway Renewable Energy

The Forum begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Law School Auditorium, but come out to the Union Mall at 3 p.m. and listen to some free music courtesy of Opal Fly! Local advocacy and community interest groups will have tables at the Union Mall from 3-6 p.m., so meet concerned students and citizens while you listen to Opal Fly.

For more information, contact Billy Fleming at (479)414-1367 or wflemin@uark.edu.