Get Energy Smart! NOW!

The Union of Concerned Scientists has done a series of studies looking at the economic benefits of moving toward a greener economy.  In particular, they have examined the implications of a 15 percent renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2020, as included in HR3221, the House Energy Bill. Their October update, in summary: Consumer Savings $13 […]

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Do you love those displays of Christmas (or Hannukah or Kwanza or …) lights?  Are you awed by those so impassioned that they string up 1000s of lights in awesome displays worthy of a city center? I once did, pausing on cold winter nights, white clouds issuing from my mouth, enjoying being in the glow […]

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Well, this is an invention that I’ve been waiting to have happen … and, sadly, it comes just too late for my recent window replacement.  The KSD Window from Eco-Logical Innovations (the US sister company of ÖKO-LOGIC GmbH in Germany) is “the every season window with the right spin”.  The KSD window  has three panes with […]

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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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In a gala session at the National Building Museum, Virginia Tech and partners announced the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Greater Washington.   The goal is to “reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20 to 50% from existing buildings”, using financing for energy efficiency and have the energy efficiency savings provide more than enough money to pay back […]

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There are so many obstacles to being Energy Smart in America and American culture.  Whether it is subsidized parking at the office huring transit ridership to (most) mortgage companies not recognizing the value of energy efficiency in a home to tax code that gives preference to operating costs (using energy) over capital costs (e.g., energy efficiency investments, […]

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Well, from time-to-time, Thomas Friedman just gets something right and he can turn a good phrase on occasion.  When it comes to the automakers, Friedman is noting that they are followin empty-barrel politics, conniving to have Michigan lawmakers year after year shielding Detroit from pressure to innovate on higher mileage standards, even though Detroit’s failure […]

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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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Environmental issues are, too often, pigeon-holed as an elite issue — rich people driving Prius hybrids and buying their organic food. Status symbol, sometimes, as much as substance.  Whether it is a question of pollution from industrial facilities or Global Warming impacts, it is (writ large) the poor who have the most to suffer from […]

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