Dear readers,
A couple of green items came up today worth mentioning. First is a news release from The Texas A&M System yesterday titled "A&M System Saves $4 Million With “Green” Utility Contract." It goes on to say that "the estimated value of the contract, which also includes Stephen F. Austin State University, is $37.4 million. SFA’s savings are estimated at about $2 million for the period." "Fifteen percent of the energy purchased through the contract, or approximately 43,000,000 kilowatt hours per year, will be in the form of Texas Wind Renewable Energy Credits."
I know there is still a debate about REC's and what they are worth that I don't want to get into. I will say I'm pleased a system exists that makes this possible and commend the system for taking this step.
With the same thought but certainly not on the same scale, I'm happy to say that I've moved all of Websites I manage to green servers in January. I did quite a bit of research into green hosting and ran into the same question about RECs. Yes, in a perfect world, I'd love to have the whole process "off grid," and there are a couple of companies that have done that.
I finally decided on HostGator for several reasons:
- Texas Based - Although my goal was green servers, buying locally figures in my purchasing plans. Although the owner went to school in Florida, he and his company are based in Texas, with data and call centers in Houston and Dallas. This was as close to home as I could get and stay green.
- HostGator tech support past Sam’s idiot test. - I’m the one who has to deal with them.
- They are buying Texas Wind REC’s - HostGator has purchased certified Renewable Energy Credits representing 130% of the electricity used to both power and cool their servers.
- They are inexpensive and I’m pleased to say I migrated all 18 sites without incident.
Again on the subject of Texas wind energy, the City of College Station announced that they are extending the Wind Watts Program to businesses and reducing the cost. “The voluntary program allows participants to choose to get 10 percent, 50 percent or 100 percent of their power from a wind-turbine farm west of Abilene. The council's decision lowered the price of the program from $3.50 to $2 extra per month for the lowest level and from $30 to $20 a month for full wind power.” The program is a premium over the regular rates,” according to The Eagle.
It hasn’t been a very good week for water and waste-water, as a power failure in Bryan caused the Burton Creek Sewage Treatment Plant to dump a couple of million gallons of untreated sewage into the creek. Just a few weeks ago, the TCEQ reported E. coli contamination in the same creek. The facility has no back-up generators. What a mess.
Finally, don’t forget the second of the City of College Station’s second green mini-seminar of the semester:
- Feb. 12 - Recycling Markets and Economics Why doesn't College Station recycle green glass or other items? Representatives from Texas A&M University, Texas Commercial Waste and others will talk about actual market rates and costs.
The seminar will be held in the new Public Works Office located on the 2nd floor of the College Station Municipal Court on Krenek Tap Road at 6 p.m. You can find more information at the City of College Station's Green Website.
For all the latest local and international green news, follow my tweets @bcsgreenliving! You can also find me on facebook.
Blue skies,
Sam White
SamWhiteRealty.com
979-589-4487
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