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Green Transit System: Booster Backpacks!

May 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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...]

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Green Building For Cities: Importance of Global Community

May 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Green City Hong Kong

One of the things that I've noticed when it comes to green building, alternative energy, and urban planning is that the work being done to develop these areas are almost exactly contrary to how things have been done in the past.  This sounds a bit simplistic, maybe. But what I'm talking about specifically is that the fact that these efforts to improve energy efficiency and make the most out of sustainable resources are, by nature, cross-disciplinary. These efforts require experts in every field, … [Read more...]

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Sneaky Sustainability: Floors That Generate Power When Walked On!

April 14, 2010 By 5 Comments
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...]

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Sustainability: How To Avoid Becoming A Third World Nation?

March 29, 2010 By 4 Comments
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...]

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Intentional Community, Sustainability, and Green Building

March 23, 2010 By 2 Comments
Ithaca-Eco-Village

To continue the discussion about cultural shifts and 'green', I've been trolling the Internet for stories about alternative housing.  In doing so, I came across this article about cohousing in Massachusetts. Cohousing is otherwise known as intentional communities, where residents live independently, but share common areas, tools and amenities (like lawnmowers, and washers and dryers, for instance), and meet intentionally to decide on issues that affect communal living.  Residents meet for communal … [Read more...]

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Green Walls: Commerce and Nature

March 1, 2010 By 4 Comments
green-wall

One thing about being a member of the business community here in Vancouver; we love getting together for chat and a few drinks, regardless of our respective industries.  This is a great city to do business in, while making friends at the same time. Recently, I attended an event put on by INGDirect at their Howe & Pender branch here in Vancouver.  It was a launch of their newly renovated space, which effectively turns the model of a traditional bricks and mortar bank branch into something … [Read more...]

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Integrating Personal Public Transit and Green Building Best Practice

February 11, 2010 By 6 Comments
ultra-rapid-transit

In thinking more and more about how accessible public transit and urban planning using green building principles can dovetail, I came across this video.  Take a look! The system is to be implemented as a means of accessing Terminal Five at London's Heathrow airpport by the Spring of 2010.  A test track is currently in place in Cardiff, Wales.  Proposals for systems in San Jose, St.Louis, Ithaca NY, and other projects are at various points of development as well. Being something of a … [Read more...]

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Public Transit and Green Communities: Eat Your Vegetables!

February 8, 2010 By 2 Comments
rail-system

Perception is a funny thing. In some cities, doing without a car and relying on public transit is no big deal. In others, the very idea is entirely alien, even if the option of public transit is presented as a viable, and logical, option. I don't want everyone to think that I am down on car ownership. I like cars! They're convenient when visiting friends and family, or heading to public parks, or taking a cross-country trips to find yourself. They tend to be magnets for household detritus, … [Read more...]

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Green Building: Eco-Districts Need Eco-People

January 26, 2010 By 1 Comment
girl-in-meadow

There is a ton of news out there, seeming to be coming in by the minute, about specific buildings gaining LEED status.  Some of these buildings are quite high profile, which means that as a culture, we've got shining examples of what is possible when thinking about commercial scale buildings that are considered to be energy efficient. These examples are therefore indications of what green technology can potentially deliver across the board in terms of cost savings as well as a cleaner, and more … [Read more...]

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Green Neighborhoods: Culture Clash?

January 11, 2010 By 2 Comments
dont-walk

In the last year, I've gone without a vehicle.  That seems like a pretty simple situation for many who live in areas where public transit is easily accessible, along with grocery stores, parks, and libraries within walking distance.  Luckily, I now live in an area which more easily enables the car-less lifestyle on a number of fronts. But, my daughter and her mum live in an area of Greater Vancouver where car ownership seems to be assumed, and where public transit is not a first choice for most … [Read more...]

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