Haven’t yet heard of the EarthCare Challenge? Aren’t you just a bit curious to see what the six “eco-oblivious” contestants are doing to Green their lifestyles and homes for a chance to win earth-friendly furniture? You are invited to follow the Hickory Springs EarthCare Challange and join in the conversation.
Why is this contest important? These six people represent you. They are expressing the same questions and concerns that I hear every day as a Green designer. Their goals range from small changes to big investments. Some have spouses and family members to consider as they make decisions. Some are looking to reduce their monthly bills. Others are looking to declutter their life. There are even a few that want to learn more so they can lead by example. Whatever your interests and needs are, you can follow what they are doing, what the Green experts are saying, and help decide which contestant wins the challenge.
This contest brings up an interesting item of note. There are many industries battling the tide to keep business as usual so they don’t have to change – they willingly choose to remain eco-oblivious. But, the smartest industries realize that status quo is not good for long-term growth. The furniture industry is starting to respond to consumer demand for healthier products and long-term environmental need.
Hickory Spring, who supports the EarthCare Challenge, manufactures furniture and components used to make furniture and bedding – stuff like springs and foam. They are using a new formula that replaces some of the petroleum in foam with a bio-based derivative to reduce dependence on oil. They also use recycled-content metals to make their springs. While nothing they do yet is 100% Green, they are transparent about the process: They promote their commitment to making positive change and the hard effort it takes to turn a big boat.
Why is all this significant? Hickory Springs also sells products like foam and springs to the automobile and airplane industries – two industries that remain eco-oblivious. Yet, just like the contestants in the EarthCare Challenge, every visible change leads by example.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Outta Control
How well did you manage the Thanksgiving abundance? A friend told me he has become determined to not overeat. Too many of his holidays ended with him feeling sick instead of joyous. His comment made me wonder how many other people had come to this same conclusion. It reminded me of an article I have held onto since November 8. It was written by Kara McGuire for the Star Tribune “Obeisty of our spending and our bodies” http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/yourmoney/69404587.html
John Hanselman, a financial planner, is the metaphor for the story. At the age of 37 he found himself severely overweight and on major medications to offset the negative health effects of obesity. A wake up call from his doctor sounded the alarm about poor behavioral choices and risk of premature death. It made him think about the negative effects of allowing convenience and complacency to override self control. In his own life he saw the effects of too many fast food meals, lack of exercise, and stress. He likened it to the consumers he knows or those he reads about that make irrational decisions about purchasing on credit, buying homes they can’t afford, or investing without due diligence. All around us is an epidemic of obesity and overspending. John’s new attitude became one of sustainability – making informed decisions that will allow him to lose weight in a manner that will promote long-term health.
Reading about John made me want to ask Kara to retitle her article to read “Obesity of our spending and our bodies and environmental consumption.” Just because we have an abundance of resources in this country does not mean we should abandon self control and consume them all until we are sick. It doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t model good behavior for future generations that are counting on us to be good leaders. We already know what happens when you eat too much and over spend without regard for the consequences. Why should over indulgence in environmental consumption lead to any different end result?
Make this holiday season joyful. Indulge in self-control while spending, eating, and leaving footprints on this planet.
John Hanselman, a financial planner, is the metaphor for the story. At the age of 37 he found himself severely overweight and on major medications to offset the negative health effects of obesity. A wake up call from his doctor sounded the alarm about poor behavioral choices and risk of premature death. It made him think about the negative effects of allowing convenience and complacency to override self control. In his own life he saw the effects of too many fast food meals, lack of exercise, and stress. He likened it to the consumers he knows or those he reads about that make irrational decisions about purchasing on credit, buying homes they can’t afford, or investing without due diligence. All around us is an epidemic of obesity and overspending. John’s new attitude became one of sustainability – making informed decisions that will allow him to lose weight in a manner that will promote long-term health.
Reading about John made me want to ask Kara to retitle her article to read “Obesity of our spending and our bodies and environmental consumption.” Just because we have an abundance of resources in this country does not mean we should abandon self control and consume them all until we are sick. It doesn’t feel good and it doesn’t model good behavior for future generations that are counting on us to be good leaders. We already know what happens when you eat too much and over spend without regard for the consequences. Why should over indulgence in environmental consumption lead to any different end result?
Make this holiday season joyful. Indulge in self-control while spending, eating, and leaving footprints on this planet.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Urging Impatience
“I urge impatience,” boomed Dr. Mitch Thomashow, President of Unity College in Unity, Maine. This gregarious man who filled the stage with importance and compassion delivered what I thought was the most compelling presentation in the three days of GreenBuild. He urged the audience of Green architects, builders, designers, remodelers, and city officials to move ahead quickly and without further delay as climate change is the number one threat to a quality future.
He talked about AASHE – The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and the thousands of members that are committed to “…a prosperous, equitable, and ecologically healthy world” where “…. higher education plays a vital role in ensuring that people have an understanding of the interdependencies between environmental, social, and economic forces and the skills and abilities to meet sustainability challenges.”
(You might be surprised to see what schools have committed to the AASHE challenge: Notre Dame (my alma mater), U of MN, Century College (another alma mater), Augsburg College, Dakota County Technical College, Hamline U, Gustavus Adolphus, Macalester, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout…and many too numerous to mention http://www.aashe.org/membership/members/institutional_members
Dr. Thomashow talked about the 9 elements of a sustainable culture to which Unity adheres (with “governance” being the most influential element of change). He also showed pictures of the 1,900 square foot Green home where he and his wife live that was designed to doubles as an environmental teaching lab. He is teaching the Unity Board of Directors what it means to truly be an environmental liberal arts college. He is teaching them to walk the talk all the while urging impatience.
He talked about AASHE – The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and the thousands of members that are committed to “…a prosperous, equitable, and ecologically healthy world” where “…. higher education plays a vital role in ensuring that people have an understanding of the interdependencies between environmental, social, and economic forces and the skills and abilities to meet sustainability challenges.”
(You might be surprised to see what schools have committed to the AASHE challenge: Notre Dame (my alma mater), U of MN, Century College (another alma mater), Augsburg College, Dakota County Technical College, Hamline U, Gustavus Adolphus, Macalester, UW-River Falls, UW-Stout…and many too numerous to mention http://www.aashe.org/membership/members/institutional_members
Dr. Thomashow talked about the 9 elements of a sustainable culture to which Unity adheres (with “governance” being the most influential element of change). He also showed pictures of the 1,900 square foot Green home where he and his wife live that was designed to doubles as an environmental teaching lab. He is teaching the Unity Board of Directors what it means to truly be an environmental liberal arts college. He is teaching them to walk the talk all the while urging impatience.
Monday, November 9, 2009
GreenBuild Means Money for Business and Community Leaders
Each November marks a significant milestone in the march towards a sustainable human existence. While the majority of the American population continues to avoid addressing truly committed sustainability issues, a notable population of professionals will be gathering for the world’s largest conference on Green building. Over 28,000 contractors, architects, designers, landscape designers, engineers, city planners, developers, non-profits, lawyers, realtors, manufacturers, retailers, hospital officials, government employees, military personnel, school planners…are expected to attend the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) GreenBuild conference in Phoenix.
If 28,000 people can’t convince you that sustainability matters, ask the 150,000 LEED APs what they think. USGBC introduced a rigorous testing process to measure a person’s knowledge and ability to apply Green building strategies to buildings and community development. Successful passing of the test awarded a professional the “LEED AP” (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional) designation. When I became a LEED AP in 2005, the pass rate was less than 60%. There were only 4,000 individuals accredited at the time. In four years, the test rigor has increased to a pass rate of only 20% while the number of LEED APs grown to over 150,000!
Why has interest in a LEED AP designation grown given the obstacles to achieve success? The moral side of me wishes we were all committed to Green for quality of life issues, yet the main fact stands that LEED AP means you know something about Green buildings and Green buildings mean money.
Why GreenBuild? You can attend workshops to prepare you for the LEED AP test. You can listen to keynote speakers such as Al Gore, business leaders like Arthur Rubinfeld of Starbucks, and Steve Thomas – host of Renovation Nation. But mostly it is the annual November destination for business and community leaders to gather strategies to improve return on investment and preserve quality of life.
If 28,000 people can’t convince you that sustainability matters, ask the 150,000 LEED APs what they think. USGBC introduced a rigorous testing process to measure a person’s knowledge and ability to apply Green building strategies to buildings and community development. Successful passing of the test awarded a professional the “LEED AP” (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional) designation. When I became a LEED AP in 2005, the pass rate was less than 60%. There were only 4,000 individuals accredited at the time. In four years, the test rigor has increased to a pass rate of only 20% while the number of LEED APs grown to over 150,000!
Why has interest in a LEED AP designation grown given the obstacles to achieve success? The moral side of me wishes we were all committed to Green for quality of life issues, yet the main fact stands that LEED AP means you know something about Green buildings and Green buildings mean money.
Why GreenBuild? You can attend workshops to prepare you for the LEED AP test. You can listen to keynote speakers such as Al Gore, business leaders like Arthur Rubinfeld of Starbucks, and Steve Thomas – host of Renovation Nation. But mostly it is the annual November destination for business and community leaders to gather strategies to improve return on investment and preserve quality of life.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Where's Your Fire Extinguisher?
I was going through my notes today after a great week in Indianapolis at the Remodeling Show. Amongst my scribbling, I found two bold words – FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
In all my formal and professional education I have never heard any kitchen designer, teacher, or Green professional talk about fire extinguishers. Once, I listened to a discussion on whole house sprinklers at another professional show. The threat of sprinklers becoming part of the new building code produced ample grumbling but no discussion on point source extinguishers. As the daughter of an insurance agent, I have two in our house – kitchen and mechanical room. But, I have never thought to include one in a design for a client.
Besides the obvious life saving benefit, an extinguisher used early in a fire can reduce the damage, cost of repair, and ensuing length of household disruption. The presenter, Paul Lesieur of Silvertree Construction, discussed fire extinguishers as part of his talk on “Hot” kitchen trends. While kitchen fires are not “trendy”, there is data from FEMA on kitchen fire trends: “There were an estimated 156,500 kitchen fires in 2002, yielding 331 fatalities, 4,914 injuries, and $876 million in property loss. On average, kitchen fires caused less property loss and were less fatal than structure fires in general, but resulted in more injuries.” http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/v4i4.pdf
Paul was able to get his fire under control but lost the cabinetry and paint on one side of the kitchen, but at least he didn’t lose the house.
A fire extinguisher is a good, cheap sustainable strategy – it sustains life, and it can sustain resources.
In all my formal and professional education I have never heard any kitchen designer, teacher, or Green professional talk about fire extinguishers. Once, I listened to a discussion on whole house sprinklers at another professional show. The threat of sprinklers becoming part of the new building code produced ample grumbling but no discussion on point source extinguishers. As the daughter of an insurance agent, I have two in our house – kitchen and mechanical room. But, I have never thought to include one in a design for a client.
Besides the obvious life saving benefit, an extinguisher used early in a fire can reduce the damage, cost of repair, and ensuing length of household disruption. The presenter, Paul Lesieur of Silvertree Construction, discussed fire extinguishers as part of his talk on “Hot” kitchen trends. While kitchen fires are not “trendy”, there is data from FEMA on kitchen fire trends: “There were an estimated 156,500 kitchen fires in 2002, yielding 331 fatalities, 4,914 injuries, and $876 million in property loss. On average, kitchen fires caused less property loss and were less fatal than structure fires in general, but resulted in more injuries.” http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/v4i4.pdf
Paul was able to get his fire under control but lost the cabinetry and paint on one side of the kitchen, but at least he didn’t lose the house.
A fire extinguisher is a good, cheap sustainable strategy – it sustains life, and it can sustain resources.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Do or Do Not. There is No Try.
If you are old enough to remember "Star Wars" or you are a new groupie, you are probably familiar with this now famous quote from the fictitious Yoda. I thought of it when I heard a remodeler at the national Remodeling Show in Indianapolis tell me yesterday that he won’t go Green because everyone expects “Greenies” to do everything right (truthfully, I would rather be called a tree hugger). He didn’t feel he could go Green small steps at a time. At first I shrugged this off as another excuse for not trying. But, I imagine there is a truth to it.
Green is still so foreign even though it lives in the vernacular of our culture. Confusion abounds on how to make more sustainable choices. The fear of wasting time or money on the wrong choice, or one that doesn’t really make an impact, keeps people from making no choice at all.
When I presented my seminar on life cycle analysis at the Remodeling Show, I had to begin the presentation with the caveat that the science of LCA is still emerging. An LCA does not exist for every product on the market. But there is a rapidly growing body of data for use now. At the end of my presentation, I encouraged the audience to use what is available and then promote the system and the results. Teach others the process. The more dialog in our culture, the greater the conversation will grow. If we fail to take action because the science isn’t complete, we will wallow in the past and not move forward.
If we do what is “safe” and build/remodel to current standards, our homes won’t compete favorably against those homes that are built to better, Green standards. If we continue to choose products that harm our health, we won’t get healthier. If we fail to engage energy strategies because we think cost is a hurdle, we will continue to pay high energy bills every month and end up paying more for energy than the upgrade.
When it comes to sustainability, don’t listen to Yoda. It’s not about do or do not. It is about trying. What have you tried lately that has worked for you?
Green is still so foreign even though it lives in the vernacular of our culture. Confusion abounds on how to make more sustainable choices. The fear of wasting time or money on the wrong choice, or one that doesn’t really make an impact, keeps people from making no choice at all.
When I presented my seminar on life cycle analysis at the Remodeling Show, I had to begin the presentation with the caveat that the science of LCA is still emerging. An LCA does not exist for every product on the market. But there is a rapidly growing body of data for use now. At the end of my presentation, I encouraged the audience to use what is available and then promote the system and the results. Teach others the process. The more dialog in our culture, the greater the conversation will grow. If we fail to take action because the science isn’t complete, we will wallow in the past and not move forward.
If we do what is “safe” and build/remodel to current standards, our homes won’t compete favorably against those homes that are built to better, Green standards. If we continue to choose products that harm our health, we won’t get healthier. If we fail to engage energy strategies because we think cost is a hurdle, we will continue to pay high energy bills every month and end up paying more for energy than the upgrade.
When it comes to sustainability, don’t listen to Yoda. It’s not about do or do not. It is about trying. What have you tried lately that has worked for you?
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The End of the Cancer Scare
Three months ago I had my annual mammogram. The results came back normal. Last week I had an annual physical exam. The doctor – making the best of an awkward situation – was talkative and engaging – until she found a lump – and then the situation turned serious. Another mammogram was ordered. It came back normal. An ultrasound was ordered. In that dark and quiet room, the first, and then a second lump were found. Suggestions were made. Choices were offered. I opted for a biopsy so that decisions could be made for the next course of action if the lab results indicated cancer. The next two days were blurred by lack of sleep, a wild imagination, and raw emotions.
Thankfully, the lab results were negative. No further treatment was required. I breathed a sigh of relief. I know that many people are not so lucky.
I have been thinking about those unlucky souls quite a bit over the past 6 years – how to reach them, how to educate them. Many cancers are linked to environmental factors and many are linked to things we can control. We choose how we build and decorate our homes. We often don’t know that our choices about design may be poor choices about health. Urea formaldehyde is implicated in many cancers. It is found in the many wood-based products we bring into our homes – furniture, cabinetry, flooring, paneling. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. One out of 3 homes in MN are at risk for elevated radon in their home. Asbestos – still found in many older homes – is also linked to lung cancer. Glues, varnishes, wood finishes – with highly volatile compounds – have been linked to leukemia. Vinyl and the dioxin by-products are linked to cancer, too.
I am fortunate to not have cancer. I am also lucky to be involved with many passionate Green building advocates that will help spread the word that better choices are available – those that help us create beautiful, healthy spaces.
Thankfully, the lab results were negative. No further treatment was required. I breathed a sigh of relief. I know that many people are not so lucky.
I have been thinking about those unlucky souls quite a bit over the past 6 years – how to reach them, how to educate them. Many cancers are linked to environmental factors and many are linked to things we can control. We choose how we build and decorate our homes. We often don’t know that our choices about design may be poor choices about health. Urea formaldehyde is implicated in many cancers. It is found in the many wood-based products we bring into our homes – furniture, cabinetry, flooring, paneling. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking. One out of 3 homes in MN are at risk for elevated radon in their home. Asbestos – still found in many older homes – is also linked to lung cancer. Glues, varnishes, wood finishes – with highly volatile compounds – have been linked to leukemia. Vinyl and the dioxin by-products are linked to cancer, too.
I am fortunate to not have cancer. I am also lucky to be involved with many passionate Green building advocates that will help spread the word that better choices are available – those that help us create beautiful, healthy spaces.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Winter is Coming - Is Your Home Ready?
Excel Energy will be offering a free energy efficiency workshop for our community on October 21, 2009 at 7:30 pm. The hour-long seminar will provide useful strategies to make your home more comfortable and lower your energy bill. Topics will include insulation, weather stripping, home heating, windows, lighting, energy audits, and energy incentives.
The workshop will be delivered by Jimmie Sparks, Program Director, for the Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC) of St. Paul. Jimmie is one of our region’s most respected energy raters and is passionate about helping people find solutions to their energy needs. Jimmie was instrumental in creating the NEC Home Energy Squad program: A skilled crew can assess your home, provide recommendations, and install energy efficiency upgrades all in one visit. You choose which improvements you want and pay only for the materials. You are not charged for the installation – making energy improvements affordable and doable!
The free Excel workshop scheduled for Wednesday 10/21 is designed to give you ideas and to learn about free & low-cost resources. It was also designed to let you ask questions. Bring your family and friends for this informative event.
When: Wednesday October 21, 2009, 7:30 pm.
Where: White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Maple St, Mahtomedi, MN 55115
The workshop will be delivered by Jimmie Sparks, Program Director, for the Neighborhood Energy Connection (NEC) of St. Paul. Jimmie is one of our region’s most respected energy raters and is passionate about helping people find solutions to their energy needs. Jimmie was instrumental in creating the NEC Home Energy Squad program: A skilled crew can assess your home, provide recommendations, and install energy efficiency upgrades all in one visit. You choose which improvements you want and pay only for the materials. You are not charged for the installation – making energy improvements affordable and doable!
The free Excel workshop scheduled for Wednesday 10/21 is designed to give you ideas and to learn about free & low-cost resources. It was also designed to let you ask questions. Bring your family and friends for this informative event.
When: Wednesday October 21, 2009, 7:30 pm.
Where: White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, 328 Maple St, Mahtomedi, MN 55115
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Great Lighting Debate: LED or CFL
Have you heard that LED lighting is the next best thing since sliced bread? That you can install an LED bulb in your home, forget about it for years, and reap the energy savings? Here is a bit of caution to the wise. LED lighting holds great promise but the technology is currently at the same place CFLs were when they surfaced over 10 years ago. The lighting quality of LEDs is consistently poor, the expense is high, and there are few guarantees that the bulbs or fixtures will perform as stated.
I was recently given an $85 OptiLED LED bulb to try out in the existing recessed can lights in my kitchen (yes, you read that right - $85!). The color was so blue my family looked half alive with their pasty flesh tones. This surprised me as the product was labeled “warm white.” In lighting terminology that means the temperature, measured in Kelvin, is less than 3000 –which is a typical temperature for incandescent lighting – slightly yellow and warm. As the temperature goes above 3000 K, the light gets bluer until it reaches 6000 K of daylight.
The light output of the bulb was only 500 lumens. “Lumens” is another term that describes the amount of light or brightness produced by a bulb. The goal is to get the highest amount of lumens using the lowest amount of watts (or energy). This chart on the Energy Star website compares CFL output to equivalent incandescent lighting: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_lumens The 500 lumens of the LED bulb were equivalent to the brightness of a 40 watt incandescent bulb (not a great option to put in a ceiling).
To further inform my decision to not spend $85, the bulb was handed over to me with the caveat that the all LEDs bulbs must be matched to an appropriate switch – 3-way or dimmer– not just any switch will do (meaning – if I liked the bulb, I would have to change the dimmer switch in my kitchen). It is best to check with a switch manufacturer to find out which switch pairs with which bulb. An incompatible bulb & switch can result in the bulb not reaching a stated dimming level, the bulb could flicker, the switch can buzz, and the life of the bulb can be shortened – all the same reasons why people became turned off (no pun intended) from CFLs.
If you are a risk taker, LED lighting could prove to be an adventure of intrigue and discovery. For those not inclined to spend excess money for unproven technologies, continue to invest in Energy Star rated CFLs and match the bulb to the switch. For both types of individuals, check out the Energy Star website.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=fixtures.pr_fixtures It will list the few LED fixtures that meet the stringent standards for light quality and performance. You will note that there are no replacement LED bulbs that have earned Energy Star certification because no LED bulb has yet to stand up to the rigors of the test procedures.
If you do find something you like, I would appreciate hearing about it. Leave your comments here or join me at Press Publications: http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/10/06/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
I was recently given an $85 OptiLED LED bulb to try out in the existing recessed can lights in my kitchen (yes, you read that right - $85!). The color was so blue my family looked half alive with their pasty flesh tones. This surprised me as the product was labeled “warm white.” In lighting terminology that means the temperature, measured in Kelvin, is less than 3000 –which is a typical temperature for incandescent lighting – slightly yellow and warm. As the temperature goes above 3000 K, the light gets bluer until it reaches 6000 K of daylight.
The light output of the bulb was only 500 lumens. “Lumens” is another term that describes the amount of light or brightness produced by a bulb. The goal is to get the highest amount of lumens using the lowest amount of watts (or energy). This chart on the Energy Star website compares CFL output to equivalent incandescent lighting: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls_lumens The 500 lumens of the LED bulb were equivalent to the brightness of a 40 watt incandescent bulb (not a great option to put in a ceiling).
To further inform my decision to not spend $85, the bulb was handed over to me with the caveat that the all LEDs bulbs must be matched to an appropriate switch – 3-way or dimmer– not just any switch will do (meaning – if I liked the bulb, I would have to change the dimmer switch in my kitchen). It is best to check with a switch manufacturer to find out which switch pairs with which bulb. An incompatible bulb & switch can result in the bulb not reaching a stated dimming level, the bulb could flicker, the switch can buzz, and the life of the bulb can be shortened – all the same reasons why people became turned off (no pun intended) from CFLs.
If you are a risk taker, LED lighting could prove to be an adventure of intrigue and discovery. For those not inclined to spend excess money for unproven technologies, continue to invest in Energy Star rated CFLs and match the bulb to the switch. For both types of individuals, check out the Energy Star website.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=fixtures.pr_fixtures It will list the few LED fixtures that meet the stringent standards for light quality and performance. You will note that there are no replacement LED bulbs that have earned Energy Star certification because no LED bulb has yet to stand up to the rigors of the test procedures.
If you do find something you like, I would appreciate hearing about it. Leave your comments here or join me at Press Publications: http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/10/06/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Friday, October 2, 2009
When Toilets are Exciting
The major resistance to Green is that "it costs too much." Good 'ole capitalism, however, is proving you all wrong. Not only can Green strategies be less expensive, they can perform better than the norm!
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/10/02/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/10/02/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Monday, September 28, 2009
Whispers from the Woods
After 5 days of fun in the north woods, what more can I say but:
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/09/28/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/09/28/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Buying and Selling Crap
What happens when we only value looks and not quality?
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/09/17/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/09/17/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Friday, September 11, 2009
Boil 2 Minutes
How can a pot of boiling pasta reduce your carbon footprint? Join me at:
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/09/11/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt to find out how.
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/09/11/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt to find out how.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
I Agree with Shawn McCadden
In this world that needs great solutions to mitigate climate change, we all need to step up to the plate. Shawn McCadden presented a great commentary regarding the role of the remodeling industry in the August issue of Remodeling Magazine. His insightful words are also important to the users of remodeling services - us homeowners. Please take a look and and your own commentary:
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/08/27/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/08/27/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
$5 Billion in Green Homes by 2013
If it seems hard to believe that so much money will be spent on Green homes in such a short time, take a look to see who is doing the work. You may be surprised.
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/08/11/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/08/11/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Friday, July 24, 2009
Free Government Money
Are you curious about Green building and remodeling? There are plenty of ways to get a good education without spending anything but your time. Here are a couple events for the upcoming week as well as a few to put on your calendar.
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/24/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/24/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Complications of a S'More
Join me in discussing the impact of campfires on global warming. Could you live without a warm campfire and toasted marshmallows?
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/21/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/21/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Thursday, July 9, 2009
It's summer, and nothing introduces a conversation about beverage containers than a camp song about beer. See Cindy's latest blog for Press Publications at:
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/09/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/09/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Fail Forward Fast
"Fail Forward Fast" is the latest blog by Cindy Ojczyk for Press Publications - serving 63,000 households in the northeast Twin Cities Metro. Use the quick link to get there:
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/05/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
http://presspubs.com/articles/2009/07/05/blogs/reader_blogs/doc493ea6567a7f1435499003.txt
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