1970

Its been tough finding time to cobble together a column between Christmas and New Year's Day, a task not made any easier by the dearth of news from 'round the girdled earth. Not even Steve Fox's excellent recent newsletter succeeded in stirring anyone to send along a snippet or two—at least not yet. Hint, hint...

So onward with the one piece of news we received—fortunately for me just a day late for inclusion in Scott's last column. It's an article from the Houston Business Journal sent by Joe Adams that discusses his firm's design and development of a totally green home for fellow Big Greener and his wife, Dan '68 and Adele Hedges. The 5,000-square-foot home nowunder construction will use 150 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels (the largest residential solar array in Texas) and also has a battery backup system for storing power overnight or for emergency use. It's anticipated that the solar panels will generate as much as 4,000 kwh per month—about 1,000 more than projected consumption. The home's water is supplied via a rainwater collection and purification system while a network of pipes buried 300 feet underground provides passive air conditioning. Other green building materials include bamboo flooring and low volatile compound organic paints. Joe promises to update us on the construction, which should be complete in the fall, but he is clearly energized (sorry) and excited by this "statement about sustainability right smack in the middle of the petroleum energy capital of the world."

Regretfully, I close on a somber note by reporting the passing of classmates Tom Ostermueller in September and Bruce Dobney in October. Obituaries will appear in a later issue. Our class extends its deepest sympathy to their families.

6 Pump House, Springhouse. PA19477; j.oplinger@yahoo.com; P.O.Box 607, Grantham, NH03753;hollansx@earthlink.net.