Recent Green Living Posts | By Steve Rypka on December 17th, 2009  Children will benefit most from the lessons we learn now. 2009 has been a year of learning. With economic challenges at every turn, many have been forced to do more with less. People have downsized, minimized, economized and localized. In a sense it could be considered a sort of natural correction. As we move forward into the New Year we should not forget these important lessons. For example, average home size has been growing for decades. Now there is a greater appreciation of the “smaller is better” concept. Homes that provide for our needs without being lavish or oversized make a lot of sense, not just for the occupants but for all of society. It’s much easier and less expensive to make a small, efficient home completely energy independent. I can’t count the number of people that have complained to me about high energy costs but who fail to make the connection to the size and efficiency of their home. Continue reading Lessons Learned. By Steve Rypka on November 19th, 2009  Diversity helps build strength and resiliency. Nowhere was this more apparent than at last week’s Greenbuild conference in Phoenix, AZ. Over 28,000 people from around the world gathered to share, learn and plan for the continued acceleration of green building practices. The opening plenary included reports by U.S. Green Building Council leaders from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Taiwan. Green building is driving global change.
We’re not just thinking globally now, we’re acting globally. Every person in every home has a role to play, a contribution to make, a vision to create. It’s exciting to know that people everywhere are engaged in this process now. Continue reading Greenbuilding – Local & Global. By Steve Rypka on November 5th, 2009  The greening of modern society is underway and nowhere is it more important than in our homes. With over one hundred million homes in the U.S. there’s plenty of work to do, but the potential benefits are enormous. It’s a multi-faceted transition: lights and appliances are getting more efficient every year, renewable energy systems are sprouting everywhere, utilities are beginning to build smart electric grids, and building codes are improving in many jurisdictions. Perhaps most importantly, people are changing their behavior.
Continue reading Greenbuild 2009. By Steve Rypka on October 8th, 2009 By now, the concept of sustainability is one that most people are familiar with. Though there are many ways to define a sustainable society, there is really only one alternative to it. Basically, you’re either on or off the bus. By definition, being unsustainable only lasts for so long. It’s the ultimate dead end. What does that mean in the current context of our lives, our homes and communities, and life as we know …(more) Continue reading Transition Town By Steve Rypka on August 27th, 2009 Home has meant many things to many people over time. From natural caves to stone cottages, cliff dwellings to modern tracts, homes have provided shelter and comfort throughout the ages. Early human dwellings were located near the natural resources necessary to sustain life, especially water. This is still true in many parts of the world, but it’s also true that many civilizations have, over time, devised ingenious ways to bring water to their dwellings. …(more) Continue reading Thoughts on Water By Steve Rypka on August 13th, 2009 I recently attended a series of seminars designed to inform realtors, lenders, appraisers and builders about the importance of energy efficiency and green building. The program, hosted by the Green Alliance/Nevada Energy Star Partners, featured Sam Rashkin, the national director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star for Homes program. The seminars were very informative and those in attendance definitely gained a leg up on the future of our housing market. I’ll write more …(more) Continue reading Corn, Oil & Electric Rates By Steve Rypka on July 30th, 2009 Perspective is an interesting thing. If you’re too far away from something, you don’t see the details. If you’re too close, you miss the big picture. In my experience, the best strategy for maintaining a healthy perspective is to keep both in mind. Look at the big picture and use it as a guide as you handle the necessary details. With regard to Green Living, the big picture is the health of the planet …(more) Continue reading 2009 National Clean Energy Summit By Steve Rypka on March 12th, 2009 I doubt there’s anyone who has not been affected in some way by the current economic crisis. This is a big deal – a game changer of major proportion. Things are tight and getting tighter, causing many of us to reexamine our lives and our assumptions about what we’ve so often taken for granted. I’ve heard there has been an upswing in the use of public libraries. This makes perfect sense, since a local …(more) Continue reading Read a Book, Kill A Watt By Steve Rypka on January 29th, 2009 It’s safe to say that green has hit the mainstream in a major way. Newspapers cover it, radio shows talk about it and there are even entire cable television networks devoted to the topic. Green living is the new paradigm that will continue to progress until it has become standard operating procedure. After all, it only makes sense. Green living is all about logic. It’s logical to be more efficient, to live a healthier …(more) Continue reading Going Beyond Green By Steve Rypka on December 25th, 2008  It’s that time of year again. Whether you celebrate the Solstice or Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, or even Festivus, may you and your loved ones experience much joy, happiness and good health. We’ve turned the corner in our annual journey around the Sun; our days are again growing longer. The New Year offers promise and a lot to look forward to.
I think 2009 will be a major turning point in many ways. With a new president and a new direction, green living will most assuredly play a major role as our government finally gets serious about the issues of climate change, renewable energy and the environment. Economic challenges are causing many to focus on priorities. There is a new emphasis on conservation. One benefit has been lower prices at the gas pump. Let’s not make the same mistake again by assuming it will stay that way. As we continue to conserve, we will be reducing our need for foreign oil, stemming the flow of U.S. dollars abroad and saving money at the same time. Continue reading Time to Reflect. | The Clark County Library District is sponsoring a series of five presentations on Green Living to be held at the West Charleston Library. I hope you can join us!
Download the flyer (PDF). Green Transportation: Getting Over Oil Thursday, May 31 6:30 p.m. The future of transportation is exciting and changing rapidly. Learn how people are saying adiós to the gas pump, saving money and helping the environment. |
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