Mayor Julián Castro to Open Mission Verde Center on January 25

Mayor Julián Castro will be on hand to assist with the opening of the Mission Verde Center at the former Cooper Middle School (1700 Tampico St.), in the heart of San Antonio’s West Side.

The announcement will take place on January 25 at 1 p.m. and will feature brief remarks from the lead partners. It will be followed by student-led tours of the facility featuring Green Jobs classrooms and workshops as well as an opportunity to view the SU CASA (Sustainable Urban Center for the Advancement of San Antonio) solar demonstration house, which is in the process of being set up on the Mission Verde Center campus.

The Mission Verde Center is a multi-purpose sustainability and training facility. Its objectives are:

1. The accelerated development and deployment of existing and new renewable energy and sustainable water technologies;
2. Creation of new business and job opportunities centered on renewable energy and sustainability; and
3. Facilitation of private/public investment to build new economic generators driving job growth.

By providing funding to seed Center’s infrastructure upgrades, the City of San Antonio will leverage these physical and organizational assets to create the premier regional Center for education, training, demonstration, and validation in renewable and energy efficient technologies, smart grid and advanced metering technologies, efficient irrigation, and distributed water collection and treatment technologies.

In addition to the City of San Antonio, managing partners of the Center include:

• San Antonio Independent School District
• Alamo Colleges
• Texas Engineering Experiment Station (a state agency under the Texas A&M University System)
• San Antonio Youth Centers
• SAWS
• CPS Energy

Key supporters include the Texas A&M University School of Architecture, Solar San Antonio, Workforce Solutions Alamo, and the University of Texas at San Antonio School of Architecture.

OEP and COSA News

Interactive Bicycle Mapping Website Launched

The Office of Environmental Policy (OEP) in conjunction with the City's Information Technology Services Department has developed an interactive mapping website that shows area bicycle lanes, routes, and paths in relation to city streets and landmarks. This is the latest initiative of OEP's new program San Antonio Bikes whose mission is to increase the level of bicycling for daily travel as well as improve bicycle safety.

Users can log onto https://gis.sanantonio.gov/OEP/Bike/index.html to view a web application that allows users to view all GIS (geographic information system) mapped bicycle facilities citywide as well as suggested bike rides in the downtown tourist district. In addition, the website allows users to view off-road trails, including the Mission Trail and newly constructed segments of the Linear Creekway system, along the Leon and Salado Creeks and the Medina River. A measuring tool is included to estimate distances.

Additionally, users can search for an address or intersection as well as view the location of downtown bicycle parking options; parks (including trail markers within some city parks); libraries; schools, colleges and universities; the San Antonio River; and San Antonio Missions. After customizing a view, the user can print it on a formatted template.

For more information about the tool, call or email Julia Diana, Senior Management Analyst for Sustainable Transportation, Office of Environmental Policy at 210-207-6321.

Electric Vehicle Stakeholders Tour Dell Solar Shaded Parking Structure

In December, members of the Electric Vehicles (EV) Stakeholders Group traveled to Round Rock to tour a solar shaded parking structure at Dell headquarters. The tour was given by Eric Graham, Dell’s Global Energy and Sustainability Manager.

Dell installed a configuration of 8 Envision Solar Trees that are designed to produce more than 130kW of solar power, helping avoid 145,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year. The project transforms heat-absorbing parking areas into efficient solar power plants. Additionally, the project has two Coulomb electric vehicle charging stations located under these trees with the capacity to add more as needed.

The solar array is not grid tied, but is used to provide about 65% of the lighting in a 350,000 sq ft bldg with about 2,000 employees when the energy is not needed for vehicle recharging. The installation had a rough estimate of approximately $704,000, but after rebates and incentives, the system only cost Dell $179,000. The installation time was approximately 2 months and the overall project has received positive feedback from all of the employees.

With the success of this project, Dell plans to install similar structures at other facilities worldwide. Along with photovoltaic, Dell has also successfully installed solar hot water heating systems in Morocco and Brazil.

The Office of Environmental Policy is leading the effort to ensure San Antonio residents and businesses are prepared to take advantage of the potential benefits electric vehicle offer to certain users. For more information about OEP's electric vehicle initiatives, please visit:
http://www.sanantonio.gov/oep/SAEV.asp

2010 Census: Coming This March

The 2010 Census is fast approaching. The Census questionnaire will arrive in your mail box in March.

It’s Important. A complete and accurate Census count means more funding for valuable community services which leads to a better quality of life for everyone in our community. Federal funding is distributed to cities and towns based on population. By completing the 2010 census questionnaire, you ensure that tax dollars are returned to San Antonio for critical city services including immunization programs, seniors services, neighborhood improvements, transportation needs, homeless services, housing programs, and much more. Additionally, you determine your voice in congress, state and local government.

It’s Safe and Confidential. Federal law protects your identity and the information that you share during the census. Census Bureau employees risk jail terms, fines, or both for revealing any information that could identify a person or household.

It’s Easy. The census questionnaire takes only a few minutes to answer and return by mail. It’s in Our Hands. If you are not counted, you and our community will lose funding for important services or the next 10 years.

For more information about the Census in San Antonio visit www.sanantonio.gov/census/. Remember to look for the Census questionnaire in your mail box this March!

Rebate Programs

Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

The State of Texas will use approximately $23 million in federal stimulus funds for a rebate program for the purchase of eligible Energy Star appliances that replace a functional old appliance. The program will also offer an incentive to recycle old appliances. Flat rebates will be given on Energy Star certified refrigerators, freezers, room air conditioners, central air conditioners, heat pumps, water heaters, clothes washers and dishwashers and an additional $75 recycling rebate will go to consumers who buy an eligible appliance and recycle the same type of functional old appliance.

The mail-in rebates will apply to eligible appliances purchased between April 16 and April 25, 2010. The 10-day period will coincide with Earth Day.

Rebates will focus on the appliances that will save the most energy and water for Texas and range from $45 for room air conditioners up to $1,000 for highly efficient central air conditioners. Consumers will have an opportunity to reserve an appliance rebate by calling a toll-free number or registering online approximately two weeks prior to April 16, 2010. After the reserved mail-in rebates are awarded, any remaining funds will be rebated to consumers on a first-come, first-served basis. Shoppers will be limited to two appliance rebates and two recycling rebates per household.

Further information on the rebate program will be announced as details are finalized. Consumers can sign up for e-mail updates on the rebate program at www.secostimulus.org/rebate.