Kayakas!

Mike Johnson, who is a co-worker of a friend of mine, recently, with his partner Cassie, entered a City TV sponsored contest where they devised a presentation to promote the Green Belt.

Of course, view all of the presentations and vote for the one you think is best; or, take it from me and vote for the crazy dancin’ math teacher.

Thanks for listening and watching; I think you shan’t regret it,

Here’s the original message:

Ok,

thanks,
Mike

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On Wednesday night, the Nokesville Civic Association hosted a meeting on the >Meadow

• Wally Covington - Brentsville District Supervisor
• John Stirrup - Gainesville District Supervisor
• Jeff Brown - Energy Economist
• Bri West - Special Projects Assistant for the PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL
• Charlie Grymes - Chair of the Prince William Conservation Alliance
• In addition, Delegate Michele McQuigg came to the meeting, and Congressmen Tom Davis and Frank Wolf had representatives in attendance.

At 7:30 pm on March 31st, companies and individuals in Sydney will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - to show that it’s possible to take action on global warming. This simple action will send a powerful message that people care about the future of the planet. Earth Hour is the launch of a yearlong campaign to reduce Sydney’s greenhouse gas emissions by 5%.

Although this year’s Earth Hour will only happen in Sydney, it will hopefully grow into a global campaign. If you live outside of Sydney, you can show your support by turning off your lights at 7:30 pm local time. Use this opportunity to head outside, spend time talking with family and friends, have a candlelight dinner, or some other non-electric activity.

For more information, visit earthhour.org.

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The push for continual economic growth is a serious problem. Such growth, as we know it, is unsustainable. In large part that’s because it has a physical component. From the extraction of substances from the earth, to the production of goods, through their disposal as waste, there is a depletion of resources, emission of pollutants, a build-up of “stuff,” and an accumulation of waste. When these activities are carried out at rates faster than the earth’s capacity to regenerate and absorb, they gradually destroy the ecosystem, our life support system.

As if that weren’t bad enough, evidence suggests economic growth no longer correlates Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

Intended to raise awareness about energy conservation and climate change, the Sydney black-out has been the most impressive event of its kind so far. On February 1, the Eiffel Tower in Paris went dark during 5-minute lights-off to call attention to climate change, a symbolic gesture that was repeated in Rome where the Colosseum and the Capitol went dark, in Madrid where the lights of some of the most emblematic monuments were turned off, and in Athens where the power for

Next: Los Angeles and New York?

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San Francisco has become the first American city to ban plastic bags from large supermarkets and chemists’ shops - attracting the applause of environmentalists but also scepticism from business owners and many heartland Americans who feel that the quintessential “Left Coast” city has once again dived off the deep end.

San Francisco’s board of supervisors - the equivalent of a city council - voted 10 to 1 in favour of the ban, which would oblige supermarkets with annual turnover of more than $2m (£1m) to implement the change within six months and pharmacies with more than five outlets to do so within a year.

Read the whole article:
San Francisco bans plastic shopping bags

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Portugal has inaugurated what it says is the world’s most powerful solar power plant.

The array of electricity-generating solar panels covers about 60 hectares (150 acres) in one of Europe’s sunniest areas in southern Portugal. Officials say the plant should produce enough energy to supply 8,000 homes.

The plant is part of Portugal’s efforts to cut its reliance on imported fuel and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that add to global warming.

The plant is also meant to bring development and jobs to the Alentejo region 200km (125 miles) southeast of Lisbon, a poor area traditionally dominated by cork and olive production.

Read the whole article: Portugal opens major solar plant

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Global warming could re-make the world’s climate zones by 2100, with some polar and mountain climates disappearing altogether and formerly unknown ones emerging in the tropics.  And when climate zones vanish, the animals and plants that live in them will be at greater risk of extinction, said Jack Williams, lead author of a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

“What we’ve shown is these climates disappear, not just regionally, but they’re disappearing from the global set of climates, and the species that live in these climates really have nowhere to go as the system changes,” said Williams, a geographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Read the whole article:
New, Previously Unknown Climate Zones Seen by 2100

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Day Two of the Green Building Techinques course presented by Dan Chiras was phenomenal!

An outstanding feature of this lecture is that Chiras is teaching us from his proven methods of success, and also from the mistakes he made when designing and building his own home.  He often refers to things he didn’t consider at the time and passes along a note of caution on how to avoid danger in the future.  That perspective makes what he’s teaching even more cohesive and practical.

Today’s Topics:

• Green Building Practices, Materials and Technologies: Part 2 (Accessibility - Ergonomics - Adaptability - Earth-sheltering - Energy Efficient Design - Renewable Energy - Water Efficiency - Recycling Waste Water - Water Management - Landscaping for Wildlife - Integrated Design)
• Green Building Programs: What are they and why are they valuable? (Earthcraft, Green Built Colorado, LEED)
• How much does it cost to go green?
• Green Built Production Homes (Guest Lecturer, Jeff Medanich, McStain Neigborhoods, Boulder)
• Energy Efficient Design and Construction (Guest Lecturer, Larry Kinney, Synertech Sytems Corp. and SunFlower Corp., Boulder)
• Passive Solar Heating: Design Guidelines
• Passive Solar Heating: Avoiding Mistakes
• Builder Guide for Windows (BGW2004) Software (Guest Lecturer, Fred Roberts, Solaequis, Fort Collins)
• Radiant Heating, Hydronics, Solar Cooking and many more…!

And the main point that Chiras couldn’t stress enough was: DESIGN FOR EFFICIENCY!!!

During one of the design lectures, I brought up the notion that dome structures are increasing in popularity and asked what considerations one should make when trying to design.  Chiras mentioned several advantages, such as stability, efficiency, etc., but also pointed out a few concerns around design complications, such as dome structures creating passive solar heating design complications.  He also referred me to his book, The New Economical Home, which we all received a free copy of, where he makes mention of building domes.  Surprisingly, the gentleman I met yesterday, the one who is designing a vacation home for him and his wife, currently lives in a house that has a dome feature incorporated into the center!  Great!  We talked at length about why he chose to do this, as dome living has been a passion of his for a long time.  He also explained some of the complications he’s had, and recommended incorporating a dome structure into a larger floor plan (part of my observation/viewing dome ideas anyway).  Another woman in our group, who’s actually researched dome living extensively, overheard our conversation and approached me afterwards.  She gave me all kinds of links and resources for dome kits, monolithic domes, etc., and updated me on some of the benefits of domes when used as a primary dwelling. 

Chiras also showed slides of gorgeous, spacious, brightly daylit dome interiors.  I became interested in Daylighting techniques several years ago after learning about how incredibly easy it is to brightly light an office, classroom or home with natural daylight and little or no electric lights.  I call natural daylight “happy light”–our brain needs natural sun light each day to produce chemicals that promote feelings of health and well-being.  Ever suffer from “cabin fever” in the winter?  Shorter days mean less exposure to that vital dose of sunshine.  Not only are bright, cheery spaces more fun (and much more productive) to be in, they are necessary for sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).  And, as are all green design techniques when well-implemented, daylighting is extremely cost effective.  Less money spent on electric lighting means more money in the bank.

A few buzz phrases I’ve been hearing:

          “Design is an indication of intent.” –William McDonough

          “Air Tight, Ventilate Right!” –Larry Kinney

and perhaps my favorite…

          “When we build, let us think that we build forever.” –John Ruskin

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