GreenGeezer

Dark Sky Association Fights Light Pollution

Of all the experiences I had while living in Peru as a student, by far the most amazing was seeing the night sky from high in the Andes, where the atmosphere was so clear and dry, and the stars so bright and close, that it was overwhelming.  Years later I experienced something akin to this (though nowhere near as intense) in Belize.  The International Dark-Sky Association is seeking to educate policymakers, planners, and others about the beauty of the dark sky and the light pollution that is making it more and more rare. In Cherry Springs State Park  in north central Pennsylvania, the Milky Way can still be seen, according to an article in the New York Times (9/14/07), and people are flocking there to see it. "Chip Harrison, who manages Cherry Springs and seven other state parks, said only 10 percent of the United States population has seen a true dark sky, but a growing number are doing so at Cherry Springs."

On the IDSA website there is good information on approved light sources that not only save energy but keep light pointed down, so that the night sky can be visible in all its glory...

Pre-Fab Green Home in Sag Harbor, NY

Yesterday's New York Times featured an affordable (for the Hamptons) pre-fab home as a prototype which the architect, Laszlo Kiss, will live in with his wife.  The design has standard design elements such as a front and back cedar porch, and a translucent pergola, but what makes it special is its green features:

• Geothermal heating system
• Solar PV panels that will provide electricity and sell back excess power to the grid
• Light fixtures what will only accept CFLs
• Five sets of sliding glass doors and L-shaped windows which will allow passive solar heat

One of my favorite things about the house is that it is designed to make flexible use of space and is generous with its inclusion of storage.   Oh yeah, and it can be assembled quickly right from the factory. "The Kiss House design is 'exactly the kind of innovative thinking we need to make green homes that large numbers of people can embrace and afford,' said Neal Lewis, president of the Neighborhood Network of Long Island, a nonprofit alternative energy organization.'"  Treehugger shows the house layout and this image in their coverage of this article.

Rebuilding and Doing it Right: Greensburg, Kansas

How would you respond if 95% of your town's homes and businesses were destroyed by a two-mile-wide tornado?  Greensburg, KS decided to be the first city in the United States to pass a resolution to make every city building a LEED Platinum building.   Below is a rendering of their business incubator building. Talk about making lemonade: 

"Although this storm was devastating to our community, we are presented with an incredible opportunity to show the world our strength and to create a new future for those who will live here. We strongly believe that we will be back, better than ever, and will be a model for rural America."

Small But Mighty Kandle Heeter Heats a Room with a Candle

Check out the Kandle Heeter -- a small but mighty heater made from a candle and steel core with what looks like a terra cotta plant pot set on top.   Seems it is able to heat an 8X12 room!

New Technology Offers Small-Scale Solar-Powered Air Conditioning

TreeHugger features an article about a small-scale solar powered air conditioner -- one of the long-awaited technologies in the solar arena.   The fact that the hottest days are usually the sunniest days has not escaped the folks at Rotartica,  a Spanish company.   The units are powered by evacuated tube solar collectors.

Earthship Biotecture Homes

Check out the Earthship website and get inspired to build one, or find out how to just spend the night in one.

"Earthship n.
1. passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials 2. thermal mass construction for temperature stabilization. 3. renewable energy & integrated water systems make the Earthship an off-grid home with little to no utility bills.
Biotecture n. 1. the profession of designing buildings and environments with consideration for their sustainability. 2. A combination of biology and architecture."

Farm Restaurant Opens in Bloomington, Indiana

FARM Restaurant  has opened in Bloomington, Indiana, bringing to this delightful college town another outpost in the movement to eat local.   Daniel Orr, the chef/owner, was born in Columbus, Indiana, but lived and worked all around  the world, finally becoming the Executive Chef at La Grenouille, New York City's famed French restaurant where he earned a three-star review from the New York Times.  But the best reason to go the Farm is for its food, which will
" focus on the local and fresh ingredients that Orr will incorporate           into his menu items. The fusion of island cuisine and Midwest American           cooking will be the prime focus at FARM."   Can't wait to eat there next time we're in Bloomington.

Green Financing Available for Energy-Efficient Homes

Today's Chicago Tribune has an article on "green mortgages"  just in time for your Spring home purchase or remodel. Some of the incentives being offered include:

• Bank of America will discount closing costs up to $1,000 for energy-efficient homes
• Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer "energy-efficient mortgages"
• FHA offers a popular energy mortgage that offers extra money for renovation.  The energy savings make the homes more affordable, which is part of the FHA mission

More information is available at My Energy Loan.com

Update on Ola Brisa, Todos Santos, Mexico

It has been nearly a year (or more) since I spoke to the founders of Ola Brisa, a green community being founded in Todos Santos, Mexico, in Baja California. It is heartening to see how this development proceeds, and that they are taking to heart their mission of being a sustainable community.   I am away dealing with some family sadnesses this week, but hope to reconnect with the founders when I am back at my desk.  As the list of "things we like about OlaBrisa" continues to grow on their website, I thought I would share a few...

"We are proud that OlaBrisa is designed to be highly ecologically sustainable – that each unit is designed to have minimal air conditioning, that we recycle all of our water, that we are on a path where all of our electricity will come from renewable sources, and that we all, as a part of our dues -- offset the carbon emissions from our plane flights to and from our other homes....We like the idea that the landscaping for OlaBrisa is over 80% edible or medicinal, and that we are supporting Gabriel Howearth, the founder of Seeds of Change (who helped with the design and plant selection, and who provided us with many of the original plants) in his efforts to protect and preserve the genetic diversity of plants worldwide."