1st Annual Solar Home Tour—10-2-10

CHAPALA AREA FIRST ANNUAL SOLAR HOME TOUR OCTOBER 2, 2010 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. ​Under the auspices of the American Solar Energy Society and co-sponsored by the Lake Chapala Green Group and the eSun Solar Energy Center of Ajijic, Lake Chapala’s first ever Solar Home Tour will give people a chance to see the diversity of options for utilizing solar energy for electricity, water heating, pool heating, and passive home design. The tour, which celebrates the rapid growth in solar energy in our area – from zero to 30+ in three years- features six houses and two commercial buildings. Participants in the self-guided tour should begin by picking up maps, directions and a tour description at the solar electric (PV) powered Solar Energy Center located at Plaza La Floresta, just west of Wal-Mart in small center with Domino’s Pizza. The Lake Chapala Green Group is providing volunteers for assistance and security at the sites who will assist homeowners and installers in explaining the systems. There will be a reception and party immediately following the tour, from 4-6 p.m. at the eSun Solar Energy Center where the tours began. For more information, see the full page ad and photos in the Sept. 16 issue of Lake Chapala Review and the September 24 issue of the Guadalajara Reporter.

Update on Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 3:49PM by Editor

As all those that attended the First Annual Solar Home Tour can attest, it was a grand success. A big thank you goes out to all those volunteers, installer representatives, and especially to the homeowners that allowed us into their homes to view their installations. Without the generosity of these homeowners, none of this would have been possible. The eSun Solar Energy Center in Ajijic deserves thanks as well, for all their efforts and the welcoming reception offered at the end of the tour. Applause also to Donald and Pia Aiken for all their efforts in making this a most successful tour.

Steering Committee
Lake Chapala Green Group

Amigos del Lago: Tour a Mismaloya

Amigos del Lago would like to invite you on a tour to Mismaloya, on Saturday, October 9th.

Learn about the south side of Lake Chapala - a different world from our familiar Lakeshore. We'll be visiting Mismaloya (between Tuxcueca and Tizapan), a small town of fishermen and artisans.

The tour will include the following:

• Bus (there and back!)
• "Mini Tour" of Tuxcueca, visiting its old church
• Comida in Mismaloya
• Boat tour from Mismaloya (optional, you must bring your own life-jacket)
• Opportunity to meet and buy from the local artisans (embroidery, woven bags)

Date: Saturday October 9th

Meeting Point: In front of Farmacia Guadalajara, Ajijic

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EcoTianguis Plastic-Free!

EcoTianguis has planted the seed to grow into a plastic-free zone.

If you are reading this, chances are that you are already well aware of the impact of plastic pollution in our lives, communities and world.*   It is another example of how we are all, indeed, connected and living together.  Every choice has an impact. Single-use plastic bottles, bags, containers and cups are used for just minutes and remain for thousands of years in landfills and the oceans. 

Thus, it “organically” follows that the EcoTianguis is on its way to become plastic-free.   The commitment has taken root and the details are growing.  The vendors are working to find ways to provide their goods and eliminate single-use plastic.   This conversion process includes asking customers to bring their own bags, containers and baskets for carrying produce home or, initially, and for a limited time, to pay extra for each plastic bag provided by the vendor.  There will be sustainable alternatives available for purchase at the market as well.

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The Just-Right House in Lake Chapala

If you want low- or no-heating/cooling bills, what should you look for in a home in Ajijic?

Barbara Harwood, Adjunct Professor
Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture

As part-time residents of Ajijic who bought our perfect home because I had seen it in a dream when I was 12, you may not think I should be advising you on how to select a house that is perfect for this climate. But, dreaming aside, I still teach sustainable architecture, so I’ll give you the basic rules I give students about designing for this mile-high mountain climate in the lakeshore tropics of Mexico.

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Article: Sliding Down the Oil Curve - Part 2

 Sliding Down the Oil Curve: 
"The Chicken Little Scenario"

This is Part 2 of a series of articles by Rick Cowlishaw, LCGG Steering Committee Member, on Peak Oil.

Part 2 of 8. (Just click on the link to read the article. Right-click or Control-click to save it.)

Forward: We have discovered in part 1 that peak oil is probably occurring now in 2010, and that there will be a large impact throughout the world in the near future. Different governments are just now beginning to take action, and the actions are far too little to have impact. In part 2 we will now look at the control of oil and the predictions of the Hirsch report.

More parts of this report will be posted in coming weeks.