Recent Green Living Posts
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By Steve Rypka on September 8th, 2011
Photo Credit: Josh Lopez
Last week’s National Clean Energy Summit provided a partial snapshot of the status of our nation’s shift toward clean energy. It featured a wide range of presentations representing green building, military, commerce, transportation, utilities, manufacturing and labor interests.
The message was strong and clear: Renewable energy along with a vast array of innovative technology is here and vital to our future. The concept of clean energy includes everything from …(more)
Continue reading Taking Back Our Future
By Steve Rypka on August 11th, 2011
 Recent malfunctions in our home’s irrigation system have wreaked havoc with my water efficiency efforts. The real problem wasn’t the leak, sometimes things happen and occasional maintenance is necessary. The issue was that the leak went undetected until weeks later when the water bill showed up.
Water is a basic human right and is priced relatively low for a good reason: We need it to survive. But one unintended consequence is that we also tend to take it for granted, even here in the parched Mojave, the driest desert on the continent and one of the driest areas in the world. In a place where we should value every drop of every gallon, it’s still considered acceptable, even normal, to detect leaks after the fact. I can only imagine how many others have the same experience every month and the cumulative waste it represents.
Continue reading Thoughts on Water Use in the Mojave Desert.
By Steve Rypka on July 28th, 2011
 Think about this: We are living during an incredibly unique period in the ongoing history of humanity.
How often did that same thought cross the minds of our ancestors? Did the first generation of farmers realize the profound impact the agricultural revolution would have on the formation of modern society? In the early years of the industrial revolution, did anyone have even an inkling of what they were setting into motion? These key turning points in the development of our species have dramatically changed the world. As important as they were, they will pale in comparison to the Next Big Thing. I’m talking about the new Green Revolution.
Continue reading Green Revolution and the Clean Energy Summit.
By Steve Rypka on June 30th, 2011
 Nothing is more important to the human spirit than freedom. People sacrifice their lives so that others may experience it. As we celebrate our country’s independence this weekend, friends and family will gather for barbeques and many homes will display the flag. In addition to displaying a symbol of our patriotism, our homes and businesses represent a vital opportunity that, if we choose to take action, can do more to strengthen and enhance our freedom than almost anything else.
Continue reading Celebrate Independence.
By Steve Rypka on February 24th, 2011
 Have you ever looked back on a traumatic or difficult period in your life and realized that you actually benefited from the experience? It’s not just that time provides a different perspective. Challenges present opportunities for growth, innovation and learning. We can all benefit from difficult experiences.
Sometimes fear and resistance keep us from moving forward, even though we know a change is needed or even inevitable. Holding back just compounds the issue, making the eventual and ultimately unavoidable transition all the more difficult, expensive, time-consuming, or even dangerous.
For example, I often hear people express their fear of rising energy costs. At first glance, that seems logical and understandable. It’s no wonder that so many people have such strong opinions about their energy providers, after all, energy has become synonymous with life – and we use a lot of it in this country.
What if I said that paying two or three times as much for energy could be the best thing that ever happened to us? No, I don’t work for or get paid by the power company and no, I’m not crazy. There are very good reasons why paying more for energy would be a good thing for all of us.
Continue reading Why Pay More? Why Not?.
By Steve Rypka on January 27th, 2011
 Timing is everything, as the saying goes, and that certainly applies to act of purchasing a renewable energy system. There seems to be a constantly changing landscape of costs, rebates, incentives and supply that influence the final price of these systems. It would be great if we could gaze into a crystal ball to determine the precise moment of maximum benefit. The next best thing is to stay informed and that’s where this column can help.
The trick is to act like any self-respecting business, taking advantage of market forces, tax credits and other incentives to maximize shareholder return on investment. In this case, you and your family are the shareholders. Companies plan for the long term and that’s a strategy that certainly applies when it comes to investing in renewable energy.
Continue reading New Solar Thermal Incentives.
By Steve Rypka on November 4th, 2010
 When we have a choice to make, taking the high road means choosing the honorable or ethical course over some lesser alternative. In terms of housing efficiency, Nevada has a choice to promote an ethical path toward increased home energy efficiency and savings, or to maintain the dismal and expensive status quo.
I’m referring to legislation passed in 2007 to require a professional home energy audit whenever an older home is sold in Nevada. The requirement could be waived if both seller and buyer agreed to do so. To allow time for the industry to prepare, the activation date was set for January of 2011. I won’t bore you with the torturous details, but the bottom line is that due to opposition from industry trade groups, primarily the Nevada Association of Realtors, it may not happen. This would be a tragic outcome for the citizens of Nevada.
Continue reading Energy Audits are the High Road.
By Steve Rypka on August 12th, 2010
 An increasing number of homeowners in Nevada have something to smile about every month – their power bills. This is especially true during the heat of summer, when air-conditioning drives energy use sky high. The number of solar-powered homes is steadily growing, signs that the industry is heating up as the price of renewable energy continues to come down. Overall, interest in green building, energy efficiency and clean power has never been greater. The paradigm shift that was once but a glimmer in the eyes of a few is gaining momentum while transforming our homes, our communities and our lives.
Continue reading Clean, Green and Moving Forward.
By Steve Rypka on June 3rd, 2010
 Energy efficiency has never been more important or more urgently needed. Our homes are taking on a new and very important role in terms of energy: they are becoming an integral and active part of the electric grid system. The existing model of electrical generation, distribution and use, one that has basically changed little for over one hundred years, is about to take a major leap forward. The change will provide benefits in the form of lower energy costs, greater comfort and control, increased reliability and security, and environmental healing.
The premise is relatively simple: greater efficiency, real-time load management (down to the micro level), distributed generation and renewable energy. Homes will generate energy, share it with others when it makes the most sense, as well as use it much more wisely. The integration of these concepts will forever transform and improve the way we use energy while providing a major part of the solution to some of society’s most pressing issues. The details are complex and will take some time, but the seeds of change have already taken root and are sprouting. It’s a paradigm shift that will transform not only our homes, but our energy utility companies as well. Continue reading Energy Evolution: Efficiency is Key.
By Steve Rypka on April 8th, 2010
 Every cloud has a green lining. They say that every cloud has a silver lining. That might be even more appropriate here in the Silver State, since the clouds caused by the housing market have caused more than a passing shadow. However, the sun is beginning to peek through, and it’s shining a bright light on some activities in the housing market that not only have a silver lining, but perhaps even gold or platinum.
I’m talking about two projects, one quite old (by Las Vegas standards) and the other brand new. Both are equally exciting and represent a new wave of housing development that is just getting underway in Southern Nevada.
Continue reading Housing’s Silver Lining.
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