Meeting 7-27-08

Ten or eleven neighbors met for the quarterly block meeting at Henry and Yuri’s house at the top of the hill. It was especially good to have Henry’s parents, Peter and Lucy, with us from their house next door.

Hal and Nadine led off with warm enthusiasm about solar panels, electric cars, and possible sharing of Chilton autos. (Elizabeth is sharing her car with Mary L and it is going well. It makes both of them very alert to using public transportation as often as possible.) Other kinds of “karma trade” are also of interest on the block.

Regarding solar panels, these ideas emerged:
· Plug-in hybrid seems to be the way of the future in cars, which will make it even more desirable to have solar energy at our homes.
· Even in the fog, solar energy is collected by such panels.
· There are government subsidies for the start-up costs.
· As part of his work as an engineer, Henry is working on laying solar panels over bodies of water such as reservoirs.
· The roof of Moscone Center has solar panels on it.
· Wind power won’t work as well for us. The wind is not steady enough in our part of town and there is still no way to avoid slicing up birds.
· Solar water heaters are worth investigating, too. The flame in tankless water heaters right at your shower is terrifyingly hot, up to 600 degrees, according to Hal.

Other ecology ideas were shared. Empty (clean dry) plastic bags can be recycled at Safeway. To stop junk mail, contact www.greendimes.com. If you read the paper early in the day, plan to recycle by sharing it with a neighbor. Just toss it on their steps. Have them pick it up when you are out of town.

More. If you irrigate a lot, you can petition for a “flow factor discount” of 18%. (Check with Kevin.) Karen on Lippard is reportedly inquiring about the possibility of a community garden down below Bosworth next to St John’s School.

The best immediate idea: let’s have our next block gathering feature a solar-cooked picnic. See last two paragraphs below.

Other news includes that the transit housing project at the BART parking lot (between Bosworth and Arlington) is going forward and will have about 58 units. Berkeley grad students are involved in the design.

Joe’s house is still not on the market. Helen still visits her house once a week or so. Ken’s sister in Sacramento checks with him weekly by phone. The 26 Valencia bus line is to be discontinued.

Our next regular Monday evening meeting is scheduled for October 27. If you would like to host it, please contact Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, there is enthusiasm for a potluck picnic that would include foods cooked in the two or three solar cookers that are rumored to be available on the block. (Do you have one? Please tell Elizabeth.) We could also encourage foods grown on Chilton Avenue or nearby as much as possible. Maybe kids could help with preparations.

Better have it at noon, for full sun and adequate cooking time. Two Saturdays have been proposed: September 20 or October 4. Which would you prefer? Please email or call Elizabeth. Notes by Elizabeth