Saturday, August 26, 2006

Sierra Club Chronicles

from
http://www.sierraclubtv.org/

Dear Sierra Club Supporter,

Daryl HannahWhen I signed up to be part of the Sierra Club's new TV series, I did so because I believe -- as you do -- that we need to protect our clean air, water, and open space for future generations.

As host of Sierra Club Chronicles, I learned of inspiring stories of every-day heroes who are fighting David vs. Goliath battles against big polluters -- and winning.

I began to wonder -- why aren't we hearing about these stories more often? There has never been a more urgent time for us to share stories of hope and inspiration with our friends and neighbors so that we are reminded of our core value: every person can make a difference. There are those out there who want us to feel like saving our environment is a lost cause, so that we won't try to protect our communities. Will you help me prove them wrong?

If you sign up to host a house-party to screen Chronicles for your friends, we'll send you a free copy of the 30-minute episode of your choice so that you can help share these inspiring stories. Or, you can order the entire first-season on DVD. And check out our website for tools to help you take action.

Sierra Club Chronicles shows us heroes who are making a difference in their communities. You can too. It's easy. Help us spread the word today.

Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah


Sierra Club Chronicles logo

Sierra Club Chronicles is a monthly TV series capturing seven David vs. Goliath stories: the dramatic efforts of committed individuals across the country working to protect the health of their environment and communities. The series is hosted by Daryl Hannah. Read more...

The seven episode Sierra Club Chronicles series is broadcast the second Thursday of each month, January through July 2006, on Link TV (DIRECTV channel 375 and Dish Network channel 9410). Each 30-minute program airs after The ACLU Freedom Files series.


Three ways to watch...
Buy the complete first season, all seven episodes, on one DVD.
Visit our download center, where we've got short clips, full episodes, and iPod downloads ready and waiting.
Throw a house party, and we'll send you a DVD for free!
House party promo clip:
High bandwidth (350kb)
Low Bandwidth(60kb)

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Novato Transit Changes

for more info

New Route 52 (was served by Route 57 and Route 59)

With new Routes 49, 51, and 52, weekday connections between Route 51 and Route 49 and the weekend connection between Route 52 and Route 49 ensure that Novato residents only need to take one bus to access to key community destinations including Kaiser Hospital (both Terra Linda and Novato campuses), Northgate Mall, Marin Civic Center, as well as the San Rafael Transit Center for connections to other routes.

Local Route 49: Route 49 serves Hamilton and areas of Northern San Rafael including Kaiser, Northgate Mall, Civic Center, Dominican University, Grand Avenue and the San Rafael Transit Center. Route 49 increases service to Hamilton with weekday service that includes 15 northbound and 15 southbound trips to Hamilton, Saturday service that includes 13 northbound and 13 southbound trips to Hamilton and Sunday/Holiday service that includes 12 northbound and 12 southbound trips with buses operating every 60 minutes.

Local Route 51 (replaces Route 53 and Route 55): Route 51 will operate weekday service only every 60 minutes, between approximately 7 am and 9 pm, as a local circulator covering much of Novato and connecting San Marin, Downtown Novato, Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, Indian Valley College, and Hamilton. From the Ignacio Highway 101 bus pads, it will serve Ignacio Blvd, Indian Valley College, Sunset Blvd, Rowland Blvd, Vintage Oaks, Sutter Novato Medical Center, and South Novato Blvd to downtown Novato and San Marin. Service will no longer be provided to Bel Marin Keys. South of Ignacio, Route 51 becomes Route 49 and continues to serve Hamilton and areas of Northern San Rafael including Kaiser, Northgate Mall, Civic Center, Dominican University, Grand Avenue and the San Rafael Transit Center. New Route 51 will operate hourly on weekdays between approximately 7 am and 8 pm.

Highlights of Route 51

Increased evening service to San Marin is provided on new Route 51 with the addition of 2 northbound weekday trips and 3 new southbound weekday trips to San Marin resulting in service that operates up to approximately 9 pm, or 3 hours later than the current service.

Increased service to Indian Valley College

is provided with 4 afternoon and evening trips to Indian Valley College.

Less frequent service to Vintage Oaks

with weekday service frequencies changing from half-hourly service to hourly service.

There will be no service to Bel Marin Keys.

New Marin County Transit Local Route 52:
New Route 52 will provide direct service between Ignacio and an important bus transfer point at Redwood & Grant with buses operating every 30 minutes on weekdays and 60 minute on weekends. New Route 52 will operate between approximately 6 am to 8 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 8 pm on weekends.

Weekday Route 52

New Route 52 will include service on Redwood Blvd north to Olive Ave where it will serve the new Trader Joe’s. To the south from Ignacio (Enfrente & Salvatore), new Route 52 will extend along Alameda del Prado and Nave Drive to provide service to a portion of former Route 59.

Weekends/Holidays Only Route 52

New Route 52 will be extended to Vintage Oaks Shopping Center with 14 trips on Saturdays and 12 trips on Sundays/Holidays. On weekends, Route 52 is connected to Route 49 which continues south from Ignacio to serve Hamilton and areas of Northern San Rafael including Kaiser, Northgate Mall, Civic Center, Dominican University, Grand Avenue, and the San Rafael Transit Center.

"An InconvenientTruth" Training

Aloha,
I have a bit of news I wanted to share with
you: 1) How you can be trained to give the
presentation featured in "An Inconvenient Truth"
___________________________________________

Spread the message of "An Inconvenient Truth" to local
communities.

Help Al Gore and a team of renowned climate change
scientists and educators train 1,000 people to give a version

of his presentation that was featured in the film.
The two-day program will consist of live trainings to be

given seven times in Nashville, Tennessee this Fall.
The training is free, trip to Nashville not included,
however.
To apply, visit the Climate Change Project website:
http://clicks.aweber.com/z/ct/?vrdDzQh33hs9Sb6WBzEWiA

Use the link on that page to apply for one of the 1,000 slots.

Aloha,
James Jacobson

President
Maui Media, LLC



Wednesday, August 16, 2006

More on Walmart

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Wal-Mart: Greening or Greenwashing

I was listening to Eco Talk over a week ago, and Betsy Rosenberg was positively gushing about how environmentally conscious Wal-Mart was becoming.
Andy Ruben, their VP of Sustainability, impressed me. Are we being bamboozled. Or will we see Richlite and Skyside Studios in the big boxes? Let me count the moments. . . until that happens.

To hear to what he and others had to say on the show go to-- http://www.airamerica.com/ecotalk/node/188


Sunday, August 13, 2006

Novato's Green Building Ordinance

RESIDENTIAL GREEN BUILDING ORDINANCE
INFORMATION SHEET
Effective date of Ordinance No. 1503 is October 26, 2005
Summary of Section 4-13 Novato Municipal Code.
Read Ordinance No. 1503 (pdf file)
COVERED PROJECTS:
1. New residential buildings, does not include multi family, assisted living facilities, senior housing or commercial facilities where rooms are rented for transient occupancy.
2. Major Renovations to existing residential buildings that:
a. Increases the square footage by 50 percent or greater or;
b. Removal of over 50 percent of the existing interior wall and or ceiling coverings to relocate or modify the existing floor plan.
STANDARD FOR COMPLIANCE:

New residential construction to meet a minimum of 50 Green Building Points with a minimum of 10 points in each category (Resources, Energy, Indoor Air Quality/Health) in the design and construction.
Major renovations to meet a minimum of 30 Green Building Points with a minimum of 5 points in each category (Resources, Energy, Indoor Air Quality/Health) in the design and construction.
SUBMISSION OF DOCUMENTATION:
Form Required: A completed, City of Novato “New Homes Green Point Calculator” form showing the required number of Green Building Points.
(Download the Excel form & read instructions for completing the form.)
To Planning Division:
Submit completed “New Homes Green Point Calculator” form with applications for Design Review or any other planning approval.
To Building Division:
Submit completed “New Homes Green Point Calculator” form with first building permit plan set.
All building plans shall indicate in the general notes or on individual detail drawings, where feasible, the green point measures to be used to obtain the required points in each category.

HOW TO USE
NEW HOMES GREEN POINT CALCULATOR
FOR AUTO CALCULATION
You need EXCEL on your computer to fully use the New Homes Green Point Calculator.
1.
SAVE the New Homes Green Point Calculator to your computer - you must have Excel software to use the calculator.
2. Read the description of work/materials on left column
3. In the INPUT column, enter the number that corresponds with your projects description in the left column if it meets the criteria. NOTE: There are only 7 places for numbers to be inserted, the rest are “yes” answers.
4. In the INPUT column, enter “Y” for yes only if your project meets the criteria described in the left column.
5. The auto calculation feature will credit the correct category (Resources, Energy, Indoor Air Quality/Health) and provide a total on last page.
6. Submit the form with your application.
FOR MANUAL CALCULATION
1.
Display and PRINT the New Homes Green Point Calculator from the web site (pdf file).
2. Read the description of work/materials on left column
3. In the INPUT column, enter the number that corresponds with your projects description in the left column if it meets the criteria. NOTE: There are only 7 places for numbers to be inserted, the rest are “yes” answers.
4. In the INPUT column, enter “Y” for yes only if your project meets the criteria described in the left column.
5. Starting at top of page 1, enter the corresponding points in one of the three right columns (Resources, Energy, Indoor Air Quality/Health) NOTE: The available points for each subject matter, also provides the category designation.
6. Once the numbers have been entered into the three right columns, add each column up and enter the total for each column on the last page.
7. Submit the form with your application.
Back to Building Division Information, Forms & Applications Menu

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