GreenDream

Consider the Lowly Carpet

Steve — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:34:12 +0000

My previous Green Living column focused on the benefits of recycling and the transition to an enhanced single-stream system that dramatically increases participation and reduces waste. Perhaps this is a good time to look closer at what that really means.

When we recycle we save energy, improve air and water quality and reduce our need for raw materials. We could rebuild our entire commercial air fleet with just three months’ worth of the aluminum ...(more)

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Recycling for Freedom

Steve — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:38:24 +0000

I am so excited! Finally, after what seems like an eternity, my community (Sun City Anthem in Henderson) will have an opportunity to participate in a new program that really makes a difference. Every homeowner in our area will benefit and the results promise to be spectacular. It will make lives easier, improve the community and help strengthen our country. It won’t add a dime to the monthly budget. I’m talking about Republic Services’ ...(more)

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Learning to Live in Place

Steve — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:11:35 +0000

I love the concept of Green Living. For me, it is a simple, common-sense approach to life that improves our daily lives while acknowledging and addressing major issues like climate change and the overall sacred balance of life on Earth. Glancing back over this year’s past columns confirms that it is a topic with great diversity. There are a few recurring themes such as green building, renewable energy and resource efficiency since they have ...(more)

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Gifting the Future

Steve — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:02:27 +0000

I love the way the seasons remind me of our planet’s journey around the sun. As another winter solstice approaches, I find simple pleasure noticing how the light reaches deeply into our home as the sun traverses its low, southerly arc each day. Another source of enjoyment this time of year comes in the form of giving to others.

Exchanging gifts is a holiday tradition that can have great meaning. As a sincere expression ...(more)

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From Daylighting to Moonlighting

Steve — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:26:46 +0000

Green buildings perform well by incorporating a variety of ways to increase efficiency and enhance occupant comfort. Perhaps one of the most common strategies is daylighting, a means of utilizing natural light for interior illumination. It not only reduces energy usage, but provides natural, full-spectrum light that enhances our well-being.

When an architect designs a new green building, they might employ several daylighting techniques. Obviously, window location, size, type and orientation play a key ...(more)

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Five Years and Counting

Steve — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:45:57 +0000

Our Home is changing – unnaturally and much too quickly. The Earth’s fragile, life-sustaining balance is shifting due to rapid and massive releases of carbon, dug up from beneath the surface and thrust into the atmosphere at an explosive rate. This “Sacred Balance,” as Professor David Suzuki so eloquently described it in his book by the same name, is what we depend on to survive and thrive. It is the essence of ...(more)

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