Clean Commute Day August 20th

Clean Commute Day is Friday, August 20, 2010 and Smart Trips, the regional organization that promotes alternatives to driving alone, is trying to encourage 10,000 people to use an alternative form of commuting on that one day- either carpooling, taking the bus, walking, bicycling or working from home. It's easy to join in.

Participants can either sign up for Smart Trips at www.knoxsmarttrips.org and log their commute for that one day or complete a really short survey (3 questions) in Survey Monkey, http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CleanCommuteDay as an alternative.

However, if they join Smart Trips that will allow searches for carpool partners and allow me to generate reports on participation. If this goal is reached more than 200,00 pounds of pollution can be reduced from the region's air in one day!

Energy & Sustainability Work Group Meeting Schedules Update

1.) Community Involvement Work Group (every second Thursday until Oct. 15)

• Wednesday, March 24, 9:00 AM, KCDC Conference Room (1st Floor)
• Tuesday, June 8th, 9 AM at CAC Central Office, Room 2
• Tuesday, July 6th, 10 AM at KCDC Conference Room (2nd Floor)
• Thursday, July 29, 10 AM at KCDC conference room (2nd floor)
• Thursday, August 12, 10 AM at KCDC, conference room (1st floor)
• Next Meeting: Thursday, September 9, 10 AM at KCDC, conference room (2nd floor)
Final meeting: Oct. 14 at KCDC

2.) Energy Work Group:

• Wednesday, April 21, 11:00 AM, Room 549 of the City County Building
• Thursday, May 20, 3:00 PM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Thursday, June 24, 3:00 PM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Thursday, August 19, 9:00 AM, Room 584 of the City County Building

3.) Goods & Services Work Group Main:

• Monday, March 15, 2010, 2:00 PM, Room 662 of the City County Building (Finance Conference Room)
• Monday, April 19, 2010, 2:00 PM, Room 662 of the City County Building (Finance Conference Room)
• Final Meeting: To Be Scheduled with whole group in October

3a.) Purchasing Subgroup:

• Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 11 AM, Room 549 of the City County Building.
• Monday, May 17th at 1:30-2:30 PM at the City County Building, Room 584
• June 22nd at 10 AM - 11 AM Room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, August 3, 2010 from 9-10 AM, Room 549, City County Building
• Final Meeting: To be scheduled with group in September

3b.) Sustainable & Edible Landscapes Subgroup:

• Thursday, April 8, 2010, 2:00 PM in Rm. 309 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, April 28th, 2:00 PM in Rm. 309 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, May 12th, 2:00 PM Rm. 309 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: To be scheduled with group in September

3c.) Waste Reduction & Recycling Subgroup:

• Monday, April 12, 2010, 1:30 PM at the CAC Offices, Conference Room B
• Wednesday, May 12th at 2:30 PM at the CAC Office, Conference Room B
• Thursday, June 17th at 2:30 PM at the CAC Office, Conference Room B
• Thursday, July 8, at 11:00 AM in room 549 of the City County Building
• Monday, July 12th, 2:30 PM at CAC offices, conference room B
• Final Meeting: August 16th at 9:00 AM, CAC offices, conference room B

4.) Infrastructure Work Group:

• Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 11 AM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, May 5th at 3:00 PM in Room 584 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, June 16th at 1:30 PM, Rm. 584 of the City County Building
• Friday, July 9th at 11 AM in room 584 of the City County Building
• Monday, July 19, at 1:30 PM in room 584 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Thursday, September 2nd, Room 549 of the City County Building


5.) Completed - Sustainable Growth (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month unless otherwise noted):

• Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 12:00 -1:30 PM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 12:00 PM in room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 12:00 PM in room 584 of the City County Building.
• Tuesday, May 4th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, May 18th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 584 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, June 1st, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, July 6th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, Room 549, City County Building
• Final Meeting: Tuesday, August 3rd, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, Room 549, City County Building


6.) Completed - Transportation Work Group:

• Friday, April 9, 2010, 10:00 AM, MPC conference room, 4th floor, City County Building
• Tuesday, May 11, 2010 3:00 PM, MPC conference room, 4th floor, City County Building
• Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Room 662 of the City County Building
• Final Meeting: Tuesday, July 27th at 11:00 AM, Room 662 of the City County Building

Energy & Sustainability Work Group Meeting Update

1.) Community Involvement Work Group (every second Thursday (Sept 9, Oct 14) until Oct. 15)

• Wednesday, March 24, 9:00 AM, KCDC Conference Room (1st Floor)
• Tuesday, June 8th, 9 AM at CAC Central Office, Room 2
• Tuesday, July 6th, 10 AM at KCDC Conference Room (2nd Floor)
• Next Meeting: Thursday, July 29, 10 AM at KCDC conference room (2nd floor)

2.) Energy Work Group:

• Wednesday, April 21, 11:00 AM, Room 549 of the City County Building
• Thursday, May 20, 3:00 PM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Thursday, August 19, 9:00 AM, Room 584 of the City County Building

3.) Goods & Services Work Group Main:

• Monday, March 15, 2010, 2:00 PM, Room 662 of the City County Building (Finance Conference Room)
• Monday, April 19, 2010, 2:00 PM, Room 662 of the City County Building (Finance Conference Room)
• Next Meeting: To Be Scheduled with Group

3a.) Purchasing Subgroup:

• Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 11 AM, Room 549 of the City County Building.
• Monday, May 17th at 1:30-2:30 PM at the City County Building, Room 584
• June 22nd at 10 AM - 11 AM Room 549 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 from 9-10 AM, Room 549, City County Building

3b.) Sustainable & Edible Landscapes Subgroup:

• Thursday, April 8, 2010, 2:00 PM in room 309 of the City County Building (3rd floor, Parks and Recreation conference room).
• Wednesday, April 28th, 2:00 PM in room 309 of the City County Building (3rd floor, Parks and Recreation conference room).
• Wednesday, May 12th, 2:00 PM in room 309 of the City County Building (3rd floor, Parks and Recreation conference room).
• Next Meeting: To Be Scheduled with Group

3c.) Waste Reduction & Recycling Subgroup:

• Monday, April 12, 2010, 1:30 PM at the CAC Offices, Conference Room B
• Wednesday, May 12th at 2:30 PM at the CAC Office, Conference Room B
• Thursday, June 17th at 2:30 PM at the CAC Office, Conference Room B
• Thursday, July 8, at 11:00 AM in room 549 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: July 12th, 2:30 PM at CAC offices, conference room B

4.) Infrastructure Work Group:

• Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 11 AM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, May 5th at 3:00 PM in Room 584 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, June 16th at 1:30 PM, Rm. 584 of the City County Building
• Friday, July 9th at 11 AM in room 584 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Monday, July 19, at 1:30 PM in room 584 of the City County Building


5.) Sustainable Growth (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month unless otherwise noted):

• Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 12:00 -1:30 PM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 12:00 PM in room 549 of the City County Building (the large conference room to the right of the elevators on the 5th floor).
• Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 12:00 PM in room 584 of the City County Building.
• Tuesday, May 4th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, May 18th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 584 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, June 1st, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, July 6th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, Room 549, City County Building
• Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 3rd, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, Room 549, City County Building


6.) Transportation Work Group:

• Friday, April 9, 2010, 10:00 AM in the MPC conference room, 4th floor of the City County Building
• Tuesday, May 11, 2010 3:00 PM in the MPC conference room, 4th floor of the City County Building
• Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Room 662 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: July 27th at 11:00 AM, Room 662 of the City County Building

New Transit Center: August 6 Sneak Peek

The City of Knoxville's first Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) municipally owned building will open in August. The new KAT transit center features a green roof, geothermal, solar panels.

In celebration, KAT will be hosting a First Friday event highlighting the art and architecture of the new Knoxville Station transit center on August 6th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Tours will be conducted by the architect, and the various unique features of the building will be discussed.

The event will also feature Knoxville Station Grand Opening Art Exhibition, a juried show featuring a variety of artists.

Knoxville Station is located at 301 Church Avenue on the viaduct.

Energy & Sustainability Work Group Meeting Schedule Update

1.) Community Involvement Work Group:

• Wednesday, March 24, 9:00 AM, KCDC Conference Room (1st Floor)
• Tuesday, June 8th, 9 AM at CAC Central Office, Room 2
• Next Meeting: To Be Scheduled with Group


2.) Energy Work Group:

• Wednesday, April 21, 11:00 AM, Room 549 of the City County Building
• Thursday, May 20, 3:00 PM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Thursday, June 24, 3:00 PM, Room 584, City County Building

3.) Goods & Services Work Group Main:

• Monday, March 15, 2010, 2:00 PM, Room 662 of the City County Building
• Monday, April 19, 2010, 2:00 PM, Room 662 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: To Be Scheduled with Group

3a.) Purchasing Subgroup:

• Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 11 AM, Room 549 of the City County Building.
• Monday, May 17th at 1:30-2:30 PM at the City County Building, Room 584
• June 22nd at 10 AM - 11 AM Room 549 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Tuesday, August 3, 9-10 AM, Room 549, City County Building

3b.) Sustainable & Edible Landscapes Subgroup:

• Thursday, April 8, 2010, 2:00 PM in room 309 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, April 28th, 2:00 PM in room 309 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, May 12th, 2:00 PM in room 309 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: To Be Scheduled with Group

3c.) Waste Reduction & Recycling Subgroup:

• Monday, April 12, 2010, 1:30 PM at the CAC Offices, Conference Room B
• Wednesday, May 12th at 2:30 PM at the CAC Office, Conference Room B
• Thursday, June 17th at 2:30 PM at the CAC Office, Conference Room B
• Next Meeting: Thursday, July 8, at 11:00 AM, Rm 549, City County Building


4.) Infrastructure Work Group:

• Wednesday, March 24, 2010, 11 AM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, May 5th at 3:00 PM in Room 584 of the City County Building
• Wednesday, June 16th at 1:30 PM, Rm. 584 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: Friday, July 9th at 11 a.m. in room 584 of the City County Building.

5.) Sustainable Growth (1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month):

• Tuesday, March 16, 2010, 12:00 -1:30 PM, Room 584 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 12:00 PM in room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 12:00 PM in room 584 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, May 4th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 549 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, May 18th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 584 of the City County Building
• Tuesday, June 1st, 12:00 - 1:30 PM in Room 549 of the City County Building
• Next Meeting: July 6th, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, Room 549, City County Building


6.) Transportation Work Group:

• Friday, April 9, 2010, 10:00 AM in the MPC conference room
• Tuesday, May 11, 2010 3:00 PM in the MPC conference room
• Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Room 662 of the City County Building • Next Meeting: To be scheduled with the Group

Sustainable Growth Meeting Update

The regularly scheduled Sustainable Growth Meeting is canceled this week. The next meeting is 07/06 at 12 PM in Room 549.

Brown Bag - Green Book discussion on Solar Energy

The community is invited to a lunch & learn series from Knox County Public Library and the City of Knoxville

In the wake of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, the subject of alternative methods of harvesting energy is being discussed more than ever. The Brown Bag – Green Book Lunch and Learn series sponsored by the Knox County Public Library and the City of Knoxville returns for the summer. On Wednesday, June 16, at 12 noon in the East Tennessee History Center Auditorium, 601 South Gay Street, across from the Tennessee Theatre Harvey Abouelata, Vice President of Efficient Energy of Tennessee, will lead a discussion of Power Trip: From Oil Wells to Solar Cells---Our Ride to the Renewable Future, by Amanda Little.

“ Power Trip challenges the reader to think about how oil affects their day to day lives,” says Abouelata. “I like a challenge, so I decided to figure out a way to go 24 hours without using or touching any petroleum products. The solution was easy. Go to the top of a mountain, wear natural fibers, and do not eat or drink anything you cannot catch with your bare hands. I’ll share the results of my experiment at the book discussion on the 16th.”

In Power Trip , journalist Amanda Little maps out the history and future of America's energy addiction in a wonk-free, big-picture, solutions-oriented adventure story. After covering the environment and energy beat for more than a decade, Amanda Little decided that the only way to really understand America's energy crisis was to travel into the heart of it. She embarks on a daring cross-country power trip, and describes in vivid, fast-paced prose the most extreme and exciting frontiers of our energy landscape.

Harvey Abouelata is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Efficient Energy of Tennessee. Previously, he held a similar position with Sustainable Future, LLC. Harvey has worked for years throughout the state of Tennessee to develop the renewable technology industry. A few examples of his extensive efforts work include developing Solar Workforce Training Programs with Pellissippi State Community College, working closely with the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and City of Knoxville to increase solar technology deployment in Eastern Tennessee, and developing educational curriculum for TVA's Green Power Switch program.

Abouelata has also worked closely with the State of Tennessee's Energy Office to ensure that the benefits of bringing renewable technology to the state, from job creation to power production, remain within the state. He continues to work very closely with energy-related entities including, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USDA Rural Development, the American Solar Energy Society and any and all entities working to make our local communities a better place to live. He holds a Bachelor's of Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

The community is invited to join the conversation, but reading the book is optional.

The series will continue Wednesday, July 21, with John Nolt, professor of philosophy at the University of Tennessee, leading a discussion of the classic Fast Food Nation: the dark side of the all American meal , by Eric Schlosser.

For more information, please call Emily Ellis at 215-8763 at 215-2065.