‘Green' construction catching on in the Valley

 Although it's taken time for so-called "green" construction and renewable-energy projects to catch on in the Rio Grande Valley, a few companies and organizations have raced ahead of the pack.

Whether designing buildings that minimize energy usage, teaching residents of Valley colonias to build wind turbines, or testing the feasibility of powering a grocery store with renewable energy, some groups are learning to think in new ways, local organizers said.

"We're experiencing a renewable-energy wave in the Rio Grande Valley," said Mark Peña, coordinator of the Cool Cities program in Edinburg. Last summer, the city became the first in the Valley to earn the Cool Cities designation through the Sierra Club. To earn the designation, a city must sign the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, agree to evaluate city policy and adopt more environmentally friendly practices.

Currently, city officials are looking at constructing more sidewalks and improving bike lanes in the city, as well as expanding Edinburg's recycling program, Peña said.

"I think we're hitting that point where we're finally making a turn," he said. "More people are interested (in the environment)."

In Edinburg, the Boys & Girls Club is looking to construct one of the first certified "green" buildings in the Valley.

The organization is planning to build a new, $11 million facility that will meet the requirements for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification, a program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. To earn the certification, a facility must meet certain criteria in sustainability, water efficiency, energy resources, materials and quality of the building's indoor environment, according to the U.S. Natural Resources Defense Council.

"It's the standard for green construction and design," said Jamie Crawley of the Austin-based design firm TAG International. Crawley is designer and project manager for the Boys & Girls Club project.

"A lot of municipalities are using the LEED standard and adopting it into green-building ordinances," Crawley said.

The Boys & Girls Club building will be the second LEED project south of San Antonio - the first likely will be U.S. Customs and Border Protection's new McAllen building, slated for completion in April.

The nonprofit organization decided to go through the LEED process for several reasons, said Sabrina Walker-Hernandez, chief professional officer for the Boys & Girls Club in Edinburg.

"We wanted to be stewards of the environment, and also to keep our operating costs down," Walker-Hernandez said. "We're looking at the long-term costs for the facility and we also want to be an example for the area."

The building's design includes a roof rainwater-collection system, a walking trail with exhibits on green energy and design features that will help increase ventilation and reduce energy use, Crawley said.

The organization is raising funds to build the facility, and officials hope to break ground this year.

H-E-B also is considering renewable-energy ideas.

Last summer, the grocery-store chain, in a partnership with Kentucky-based Wind Energy Corporation, agreed to erect a wind turbine at its distribution center in Weslaco. Wind Energy Corporation is using this turbine to research wind energy at the site and investigate the feasibility of a larger-scale project, officials said.

Results are good so far, said Jim Fugitte, CEO of Wind Energy Corporation.

"We're happy with the wind resource in the Valley," he said. "We've been happy with the total amount of wind speed available, as well as our ability to track it."

The 100-foot-tall tower, with a 19-foot "sail," only has a capacity of 25 kilowatts, hardly enough to power the massive Weslaco distribution center, officials said. But it's enough to collect significant data on wind speeds, Fugitte said. The turbine is flanked with meteorological towers that also collect data.

The turbine spins vertically, rather than horizontally, to catch the wind - a better design for areas with more variable wind speeds, Fugitte said.

If such a project is deemed feasible, H-E-B might erect more wind turbines to power stores, officials said.

"It's really the right thing to do," said Ed Medrano, facility leader at the Weslaco center. "When you look at our renewable resources, the wind is definitely blowing, and it's a method for capturing that wind and harnessing it into electricity. And that means lowering our expenses."

A group of students at The Science Academy of South Texas in Mercedes is not only learning about wind energy, but also is passing on that knowledge to others.

Fifteen students at the school, all members of an independent study class, are working with engineers to build a small turbine at a colonia and then put together a manual that others can follow, teachers said.

"Our mandate isn't to make running wind turbines - it's to write instructions that are easy to understand so residents of a colonia can reproduce it," said Dale Coalson, architecture and technology teacher at the academy.

The students, who call themselves the "Turbinators," are using their drafting skills and engineering know-how to produce an easy-to-replicate turbine, Coalson said. As part of the project, they must find the turbine parts and tools locally, so a colonia resident could reasonably find it, he said.

Engineers and colonia experts from Texas A&M University are collaborating with the students on the project.

Through the project, the students are acquiring valuable real-life engineering experience, while also helping out the community, Coalson said.

The turbine will produce only about 100 watts of electricity - enough to power a light or charge batteries, he said.

Academy students said they welcomed the chance to learn engineering skills and also promote renewable energy and design in the Valley.

"I'm really interested in sustainable design. ... I want to learn how it works," said senior Lee Ellington. "I want to study it in college."