Are you interested in creating a more sustainable environment?
Discover how you might reduce your consumption and carbon footprint by altering your lifestyle for more sustainable living.
Alan Montemayor and Cheryl Hamilton will discuss how they modified their 1950’s style home in San Antonio to implement energy-saving strategies. Through a combination of small-scale and large-scale changes, they have incrementally reduced their home energy use dramatically.
Alan and Cheryl were early adopters of the CPS Windtricity program and hybrid-electric and electric vehicles. In May 2019, they installed a 3.3 KW rooftop solar system that generates more electricity than they consume. The solar inverter also directly charges their electric vehicles.
To reduce water consumption, Alan and Cheryl designed and installed a 3200-gallon rainwater harvesting system in their backyard. The system provides all the water for their vegetable/herb garden and compost. Additional features include an outdoor rainwater sink, cooling of solar panels and cooling of the air conditioner condenser unit. The system also provides water for birds and other wildlife. Any excess water drains into deep-rooted prairie grasses that help slow, sink and spread the water.
Alan and Cheryl transformed their traditional, water-intensive landscape into a native plants landscape that attracts wildlife. Their yard is a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Federation, Texas Wildscapes Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Monarch Waystation and a Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Habitat. It is also registered with the Homegrown National Park Program.
In addition to these major decisions, Cheryl and Alan subscribe to the “Five R’s”, including REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, ROT and RECYCLE. They believe that every decision we make can create a more sustainable world.
Alan Montemayor is a native of San Antonio and has been involved in water conservation, water quality, alternative energy and sustainability issues since 1972. Alan received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Alan worked for Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio for 25 years, where he founded the white paper recycling program. Alan specialized in the design of advanced alternative fuel vehicles. Alan is active in the electric-vehicle community and offers “Amazing Science” demonstrations to various groups.
Alan is chair of the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club and serves on the board of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. He serves on the Citizens Conservation Committee for SAWS and is a member of the Bexar Grotto. Alan volunteers as a backcountry ranger at Big Bend National Park for three months every summer.
Cheryl Hamilton received degrees in Special Education and Educational Administration and retired in 2009 after a 38-year career in education.
Cheryl is an Alamo Area Master Naturalist, a member of the San Antonio chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas and a citizen scientist with the Invaders of Texas program. Cheryl is a Certified Interpretive Guide with the National Association for Interpretation and is trained as a Wilderness First Responder with the Wilderness Medicine Institute. Cheryl volunteers as a backcountry ranger at Big Bend National Park for three months every summer.
Cheryl consults with parks, preserves and non-profits to transform traditional landscapes to wildlife and pollinator habitats. She has presented more than 100 workshops on the topics of native and invasive plants to local, state and national organizations in the past ten years.
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CHRISTUS Heritage Hall Public Attendance Policy
GUESTS: Wellness survey and masks are required.
The Village is a senior living community.
