I thought my tankless water heater would be saving money each month on my energy bill. I did not expect to be facing repairs of more than $2,000. Here is what I wish I knew. (Photo by Max Havins)
When trying to conserve water, do you think about what’s on your plate? The fact that a certain amount of water is required for food to be produced is often forgotten, so the United Nations highlighted this fact for World Water Day 2012. This also varies greatly for different types of food. For example, producing one pound of beef consumes 2,400 gallons of water, while growing one pound of wheat requires only 25 gallons. (Photo courtesy of the United Nations)
The Los Angeles Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on Avenue of the Stars combines a unique brand of luxury with “Green Responsibilities.” After hosting the Governors’ Global Climate summit in 2009, the hotel has been on a journey towards sustainability. (Photo courtesy of Hyatt Regency Century Plaza)
The ocean is a great equalizer, inspiring love not linked to geography, race, nationality or socio-economic status. A noteworthy ocean worshipper who has the talent, contacts, resources and desire to not only love our oceans but try to save them is Susan Cohn Rockefeller. (Photo © WILL RAGOZZINO / PatrickMcMullan.com)
There’s a way to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and make daily commutes enjoyable: bicycling. Ron Durgan, President of Sustainable Streets, has dedicated countless hours to creating a program which will change the assumption that living in Los Angeles requires a car. (Photo by Courtney Hayden)
Maybe you have heard that eating beef is one of the biggest contributors to your carbon footprint, much more so than driving. However, if you are like many of us, you may not have thought about how eating seafood affects the environment. Sierra Club Green Home investigated how our diet impacts the oceans, and we now offer this easy-to-follow guide to enjoying seafood sustainably. (Photo courtesy of Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies)
NEW YORK — The Island President gives intimate access to the Maldives’ first democratically elected president as he sounds the alarm for a paradise about to be lost, due to climate change. Sierra Club Green Home attends the theatrical premiere of the documentary. (Photo by Giorgio Montersino, Wikimedia)
Last week thousands of Bay Area citizens flocked to the San Mateo Event Center to enjoy the 2012 San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, despite some pesky rain. This year’s theme was “Gardens for a Greener Earth,” and the annual expo boasted sustainable design to educate and inspire. Hundreds of vendors came to represent the best and newest in horticulture around the bay. (Photo by Rosalie Rivera)
When you rise in the morning and go through your daily ritual of preparing for the day, do you consider the amount of water you will use in the next twenty-four hours? Maybe you remember to shut off the facet when brushing your teeth, but do you consider the amount of water needed to produce toothpaste? (Photo by Mazwebs, Stock.Xchng)
The last way you want to spend your hard-earned vacation is swatting away mosquitoes and then scratching away at the bites– so it hardly seems tragic if a resort starts spraying the bloodsuckers. However, the way that most resorts combat mosquitoes has some alarming implications for the environment. In the case of coastal areas, many mosquito pesticides can kill fish even when diluted down to one part per million. (Photo courtesy of Trudy Collins)
According to Dr Noel Brown, President & CEO of Friends of the United Nations, there is a shortage of 50 million housing units around the world. There is a low cost, energy efficient, elegant looking solution available – concrete dome buildings. Even the most skeptical consumer will be hard pressed to ignore the facts about these domes. They’re more resistant to fire, earthquakes, and hurricanes than any traditionally built structure. They’re impervious to mold, mildew and termites. They’re energy efficient and they’re cost effective. (Photo courtesy of Princeton Architectural Press)
The meat is grown from bovine muscle and stem cells in a culture dish under the watchful eyes and delicate care of trained scientists. Scientists already answered the question of “can we do this,” but there is a lot to consider regarding the “should.” First and foremost, is test tube meat safe? Since the meat is grown in a sterile environment, it is free of pathogens. So, from that perspective, it is safe. But, what about the other factors, such as the safety of genetically engineered meat? (Photo by Carin, Stock.Xchng)
KOH KOOD, THAILAND – A fully stocked cheese closet in the middle of a steamy jungle on a remote island off the eastern coast of Thailand? How about the chocolate cellar, chilled to preserve the 15+ varieties of homemade temptations in all sizes, shapes and flavors? Or, over 35 different sherbets and gelatos, also in a special chilled private room, and open for raids by the guests at any reasonable hour? (Photo by Herbet Ypma, Six Senses)
There are a couple of things that many folks don’t even consider (but really should) when looking to decrease their carbon footprint and save some money. They are installing tankless water heaters and radiant roof sheathing. I have installed both of these products in numerous homes throughout the East Hamptons area, passing on considerable savings to the homeowners. (Photo by Roger_Mommaerts, Flickr)
Ten million cars guzzle 114 million gallons of motor oil every year in California. What’s more, a lot of people change their cars’ oil too frequently due to the outdated assumption that every 3,000 miles requires a change. The California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery, or CalRecycle, recently launched a public service campaign to address the 3,000 mile assumption. (Photo by Eggrole, Flickr)
Just don’t see solar panels fitting on your roof? They can still be installed into your energy future, thanks to community solar programs. “Community solar is a way for multiple individuals to share in the benefits of a single solar installation,” explains a publication from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Instead of investing in a private solar energy system, people can pool their resources to develop a large-scale solar energy project for the benefit of a group or neighborhood.
The Dervaes Institute implemented the Urban Homestead ® program to help people living in urban environments become less reliant on purchasing food by growing their own. But, the Urban Homestead program is more than just growing plants. The program instructs residents how to restore a failing property, how to be better citizens, and how to be good neighbors who pitch in to help improve their community. (Photo courtesy of The Dervaes Institute)
SANDPOINT, ID— The Solar roadway project has a number of exciting and innovative features to it. Other than being able to generate enough electricity to power the nation, inventor Scott Brusaw’s project is designed to do the most economic and environmental good possible in several other capacities. (Photo by Dan Walden)
There are currently 28,000 square miles of roadways and driving surfaces spread across the lower 48 states. With the cost and availability of traditional paving materials becoming an issue, innovator Scott Brusaw, an electrical engineer (MSEE) with over 20 years of industry experience, sees solar highways as the solution. (Photo by Mark Dixon, Yert.com)
Have you heard about the Safe Sushi smartphone app that the Sierra Club released last December? This handy app makes it easy to check which types of seafood are safe and sustainable. Here Rebecca Silver of the Sierra Club tells Sierra Club Green Home about the organization’s motivation to create this tool, and plans for future apps. (Photo by Kasia, Flickr)
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