Thursday, January 9, 2014

BULLETIN: City Of Houston Adopts Residential Building Energy Efficiency Codes - New Code 15 Percent More Energy Efficient Than Statewide Code

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New Code 15 Percent More Energy Efficient Than Statewide Code

BULLETIN -- Houston City Council has approved another five percent increase in the Houston Residential Energy Conservation Code. With this increase the local minimum energy efficiency requirements for new construction of one and two family homes, townhouses and apartments up to three stories in height is 15 percent above what is mandated by state law. This is the third year in a row the local code has been increased by five percent.

“Houston is a hot and humid city, consuming high amounts of energy to temper the indoor climate,” said Mayor Annise Parker. “Anything we can do to ensure homes are more energy efficient will not only help us reduce energy usage, it will also help residents save money. These new codes are vital to keeping Houston a leader in energy efficiency.”

Currently, state law designates the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as the energy code in Texas. In 2011, Houston City Council adopted a stricter version of the IECC. An update of the IECC yet to be approved by the state is expected to mirror Houston’s requirements.

"With this action, Houston will take the next step, to continue setting a nationally high standard for energy efficiency of new home construction in the Houston area, resulting in lowered energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting”, said Daniel Krueger, P.E., Director of the Department of Public Works and Engineering.

“Houston has done it again, blazing trails for clean energy,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “We applaud Mayor Parker and the council for helping make sure Houston buildings are energy efficient, a critical step towards cleaning up our air and protecting our climate. Together with investments in wind power and electric vehicles, today’s vote is helping Houston rocket toward a cleaner, healthier future”

The change in Houston’s code was developed in collaboration with the Construction Industry Council and Greater Houston Builders Association and had the support of Environment Texas; Sierra Club, Lone Star Chapter; South Central Partnership for Energy Efficiency and Air Alliance Houston.

In addition to adopting new residential building energy efficiency codes, the City itself is continuing to retrofit municipal buildings to make them more energy efficient, achieving upwards of 30% energy reductions; utilizing new technologies, such as SmarteBuilding, to monitor real time energy usage for efficient operations; and, has recently purchased 140 MW of green power, making it the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy in the nation. These and other efforts have produced positive results. The City’s municipal operations emissions have realized a 26% decrease from the 2007 greenhouse gas emissions inventory. The City has committed and invested in many programs that reduce cost, improve efficiencies, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Check the City of Houston's website for more information on this www.bulletinboard.biz posting published by Aubrey R. Taylor Communications, Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine.

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FROM AUBREY R. TAYLOR
President, Aubrey R. Taylor Communications
Publisher of Houston Business Connections Magazine

The individuals asking for your support below are not connected unless otherwise noted. To discuss your inclusion below, please call Aubrey R. Taylor directly at: (832)894-1352 at your earliest convenience. 

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YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO VISIT THE CITY OF HOUSTON eGOVERNMENT CENTER

At the City of Houston eGovernment Center you can apply for a job, pay traffic tickets and water bills, find out about Houston events and Council Meeting schedules and the Mayor's Office of Special Events, including Downtown Special Events and Street Closings List (.pdf), and learn about theCity government that serves you. View the City's Code of Ordinances and the City Charter. See the Mayor's Photo Gallery or view our homepage photo archive and send us your favorite photo of Houston! Click rotating graphics above for more about the specific events.

 We would also like to take this moment to encourage you to take part in a few other very important events and elections listed below. The 2014 Texas Democratic and Republican Primary Elections taking place on Tuesday, March 4th are extremely important. Early voting for the 2014 Democratic and Republican Primaries will take place from Tuesday, February 18th through Friday, February 28th.

The winning candidates in the Democratic and Republican primaries will then compete for your vote and support in the November General Midterm Election to be held on Tuesday, November 4th, 2014. So, it doesn't matter whether you're a Democrat or Republican, you must participate in your party's primary to have the best slate of candidates on the ballot in November.

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MARCH 2014 - REMINDER

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DEMOCRAT DALE HENRY IS ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT IN THE TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION IN TEXAS

Please make a mental note that Democrat Dale Henry is asking for your vote and support in his bid to gain the Democratic nomination for the Texas Railroad Commission. He needs to defeat fellow Democrat Steve Brown in the Democratic Primary to accomplish this goal. You can begin voting for Dale Henry for Texas Railroad Commissioner on Tuesday, February 18th, during the early voting period. This note is a paid political ad by the Dale Henry for Texas Railroad Commissioner Campaign.

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MARCH 2014 - REMINDER

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DEMOCRAT SANDRA J. PEAKE IS ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT IN THE TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION FOR HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

Please make a mental note that Sandra J. Peake is asking for your vote and support in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for District Judge for the 246th District Family Court in Harris County, Texas. Peake must defeat fellow Democrat Julia Maldonado to accomplish this goal. You can begin voting for Attorney Sandra J. Peake in the race for Harris County District Judge for the 246th District Family Court on Tuesday, February 18th, during the early voting period. This note is a political ad paid for by Sandra Peake in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

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MARCH 2014 - REMINDER

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DEMOCRAT ALLECIA LINDSEY POTTINGER IS ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT IN THE TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2014 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ELECTION FOR HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

Please make a mental note that Allecia Lindsey Pottinger is asking for your vote and support in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for District Judge for the 280th District Court in Harris County, Texas. Pottinger must defeat fellow Democrat Barbara J. Sadler to accomplish this goal. You can begin voting for Attorney Allecia Lindsey Pottinger in the race for Harris County District Judge for the 280th District Court on Tuesday, February 18th, during the early voting period. This note is a political ad paid for by Allecia Lindsey Pottinger in compliance with the voluntary limits of the Judicial Campaign Fairness Act.

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MAY 2014 - REMINDER

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MAYOR ALLEN OWEN IS ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT IN THE SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014 MAYORAL ELECTION FOR MISSOURI CITY, TEXAS

Please make a mental note that Mayor Allen Owen is asking for your vote and support in his bid for re-election in the Saturday, May 10, 2014 Mayoral in Missouri City, Texas. Early voting for the May 10, 2014 Mayoral Election in Missouri City, Texas begins on Monday, April 28, 2014 and ends on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Don't forget to vote in this important election. This note is a paid political ad by the Allen Owen for Mayor Campaign.

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MAY 2014 - REMINDER

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MAYOR FRANK JACKSON IS ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT IN THE SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2014 MAYORAL ELECTION FOR PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS

Please make a mental note that Mayor Frank Jackson is asking for your vote and support in his bid for re-election in the Saturday, May 10, 2014 Mayoral Election in Prairie View, Texas. Early voting for the May, 10, 2014 Mayoral Election in Prairie View, Texas begins on Monday, April 28, 2014 and ends on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Don't forget to vote in this important election. This note is a paid political ad by the Frank Jackson for Mayor Campaign.

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NOVEMBER 2014 - REMINDER

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REPUBLICAN SEAN SEIBERT IS ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT IN THE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2014 MIDTERM GENERAL ELECTION IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

Please make a mental note that Sean Seibert the Republican running for United States Congress for the 18th Congressional District of Texas is asking for your vote and support in his bid to unseat U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in the Tuesday, November 4, 2014 General Midterm Election. Early voting for the Tuesday, November 4, 2014 General Midterm Election in Texas will begin on Monday, October 20th and end on Friday, October 31st. Don't forget to vote in this important election. This note is a paid political ad by the Sean Seibert for Congress Campaign.

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ATTENTION DEMOCRATS

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BULLETIN: Senator Wendy Davis is widely considered the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Texas. By (CLICKING HERE) you will find the list of other candidates who are participating in the 2014 Democratic Primary Election. Early voting for the Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Democratic Primary in Texas begins on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 and ends on Friday, February 28, 2014. Reynaldo "Ray" Madrigal is also running for Governor of Texas in the Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Democratic Primary.

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ATTENTION REPUBLICANS

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BULLETIN: Greg Abbott is not running for re-election for Texas Attorney General in the March 4, 2014 Texas Republican Primary. Abbott is instead running for the Republican nomination for Governor of Texas. Governor Rick Perry has decided to not run for re-election. Other candidates running for the Republican nomination for Governor of Texas are: Miriam Martinez, Lisa Fritsch, and SECEDE Kilgore. Early voting for the Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Republican Primary in Texas begins on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 and ends on Friday, February 28, 2014. By (CLICKING HERE) you will find the list of other candidates who are participating in the 2014 Democratic Primary Election. 

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