Get Energy Smart! NOW!

President Obama and Congress must act to stimulate the US economy with a package of win-win-win-win (W4) elements that will: Create and protect jobs throughout the nation Foster economic activity that will help, through tax revenue, pay for the stimulus Strengthen the nation’s economic prospects for the long-term, and Help address other critical challenges: notably […]

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Stimulate Etymology: From Latin stimulatus past participle of stimul? (“goad on”) . Verb: to stimulate: To encourage into action. To arouse an organism to functional activity. Synonyms: encourage, induce, provoke, animate, arouse, energize, energise, excite, perk up Antonyms: de-energize, sedate, stifle For eight long years, this nation has been de-energized, had productive advancing of the […]

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The incoming US Congress will be running full out in January to develop a stimulus package to have ready, potentially, for signature by President Barack Hussein Obama minutes into his Presidency. Organization after organization, business after business, motivated citizen after motivated citizen are knocking on every door conceivable with ideas for funding that range from […]

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Amid the rush for McMansioning of life, a counter-trend exists, with people looking to micro-homes, often modular homes, and other ways of thinking small about one’s home. A wave of interest in small dwellings — some to serve … as temporary housing, others to become space-saving dwellings of a more permanent nature — has prompted […]

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Last month, to far (FAR) less attention than it merited, the House of Representatives (facing an Administration veto threat) passed the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act with $20 billion for greening public schools across the nation. Taking aggressive action to green schools is about one of the smartest steps the nation can […]

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As we looked toward the devastation of New Orleans, from the first moment, amid great pain, there were those of us who looked at the disaster as opening a (painful) opportunity. A chance to take a leadership position globally, to create something better out of the wreckage, to build Eco New Orleans: ‘A Shining Example […]

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There are many rows to hoe to foster an Energy Smart culture, one that will enable us to create a Prosperous, Climate Friendly Society.  Being Energy Smart begins at Home, but individuals will not, cannot create this path toward a sensible future alone, we work, live, and prosper in communities. And, well, isn’t that what […]

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Well, the Decathlon is underway, with 20 innovative teams fighting for victory as the best solar home to grace the Mall in Washington, DC.  Today, the first event was judged.  The Germans (Darmstadt) are leading the pack, with 209.206 points.  Far, far behind them, in second place, the University of Maryland with 208.872 points.  (e.g., […]

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This is something that we should hope to see spread globally, but it would be a tremendous step forward toward something like Architecture 2030 if California adopts its proposed building codes.  The proposal:  all new residential housing developments  energy self-sufficient by 2020 all new commercial buildings be “zero net energy” by 2030. Wow …

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“The majority of the world’s designers focus all their efforts on developing products and services exclusively for the richest 10% of the world’s customers. Nothing less than a revolution in design is needed to reach the other 90%.” —Dr. Paul Polak, International Development Enterprises   Just a few days remain for getting to the Design for […]

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