February 10, 2012   1-877-631-2845

Renewable Energy and Community: Samsø

10 offshore wind turbines contribute power to Sams 's independent power grid (Photo: Marcelo Medeiros).

A clear mandate for the 21st Century where consumption is concerned is not to continue along the lines of  the 20th Century, and to find a new way, a smarter and less expensive way, of sustaining ourselves. Really, that's what's been at the heart of the green movement since it was conceived in a post-war context. But, many of the major barriers to this mandate are cultural. The 20th century, with its unchecked industry, heavy reliance on ever-dwindling fossil fuels, and the exponential creation … [Read more...]

3 Sustainability Trends To Watch In 2011

vertical farming

Technology has a way of defining an era. Our era is less about the flying cars and jet packs that we envisioned for ourselves by this time way back in the mid-to-late 20th Century. Our 21st Century technological path is more about gaining ecological awareness for a better future, and achieving sustainability for a vital present. What are some of the top trends that are currently helping the average person adapt to a green lifestyle as our century progresses? Green building expert and sustainability … [Read more...]

Thomas Dolby’s Solar and Wind Powered Music Studio

Thomas Dolby

For the benefit of those who grew up with 80s radio, and even for those who didn't, I will not make any puns on the whole 'blinded with science' hook with this post. This is tempting when talking about technology entrepreneur, musician, songwriter, TED regular, and all-around tech geek Thomas Dolby, who's smash hit 'She Blinded Me With Science' was a staple in 1982. But, I will say that Dolby, among many other things when it comes to forward-thinking technology, is a modern proponent of alternative … [Read more...]

Green Building Festival IIDEX Conference Impressions

Green trees reflecten on business building, enviromental care symbol.

The Green Building Festival was held in Toronto a few days ago, partnered with the IIDEX conference with its usual emphasis on architectural design and sustainable building.   Even though none of our guys were there this year, I thought it would be useful to all of you out there  to gather a few impressions from the  green building innovation and interior design blogosphere. What really comes across are the little innovations in supplemental products that we sometimes take for granted.  For … [Read more...]

Green Transit System: Booster Backpacks!

Image courtesy of kolelinia.com

For those of you who have followed this blog for the past year and a half, you might have picked up on a couple of facts about me,  your humble blogger.  First, that I'm a bit of a transit geek and believe that one of the hallmarks of a world-class city is the extent and accessibility of its public transit system.  And second, I grew up on a steady diet of science fiction films and TV. And when these worlds come together, I get really excited - geekily so. Thanks to one of my favorite green … [Read more...]

Sneaky Sustainability: Floors That Generate Power When Walked On!

sustainable dance floor

It seems to me that the ultimate goal of sustainability is that it become the norm, and not the subject of news.  The end result is that we don't notice that our energy is generated without depleting resources. When sustainable living is a seamless, and unnoticeable thing, and perhaps even when we stop talking about it (or blogging about it!), it will have succeeded. And to illustrate, here's a story about a means of generating energy that relies upon this idea, that everyday activity that … [Read more...]

Sustainability: How To Avoid Becoming A Third World Nation?

Butterfly on the road

The global warming debate rages on, with various positions clamoring to communicate what's really going on when it comes to drastic climate change.   Some feel that the future is bleak.  Others feel that there is significant work ahead, but that a bright future is still within reach.  And still others deny that there's a problem at all. This article about global climate change deals mostly with the first two points of view, with a provocative undercurrent; that the future for the United States … [Read more...]

Put Your Home On an Energy Diet With the Pyramid Of Conservation

ConservationPyramid

Minnesota Power has developed a great info-graphic for home energy conservation, called The Pyramid of CONSERVATION. Its like the food pyramid but instead of helping you eat healthy, it shows you how to put your home on an energy diet! The ten-level pyramid is read from the bottom up, with easiest and least expensive means of energy conservation in the home as the pyramid’s  base. As you read up the pyramid’s levels, the steps become more complex and expensive. Topping the list is installing … [Read more...]

U.S. Green Building Council Supports 19 Federal Bills for 2010

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released, on Feb. 24, 2010, a list of 19 proposed federal bills that it says would advance sustainable building in the U.S. USGBC also praised the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AR RA) and honored Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Ky., and Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine for their efforts to support and pass support sustainable building standards. In a prepared statement, Roger Platt, Senior Vice President  at USGBC, asserted that green building is one of the … [Read more...]

'One Planet' Communities Aim to Set 75% Reduction in Carbon Footprint

Solar_Panels

Global organization One Planet and the proposed eco-communities are set to meet and exceed LEED for carbon footprint reduction.  This is due to a strict net-zero policy that improves upon LEED's 18% emissions reduction, boosting energy savings to 75%.  The One Planet organization is a non-profit group, dedicated to 'true sustainability' with a timeline extending to 2020. The efforts of the group were inspired by the group's BeZed Urban Eco-Village project, which that the UK Solar Awards called  … [Read more...]