The Importance of Leadership

The Earth is heating rapidly.

Good leadership is important. It can make or break a community, a nation, even our world. As citizens we depend on leaders to establish policies and standards that make our community safe. They must balance the immediate needs of many while keeping an eye on long-term trends that will shape our future. It’s not an easy task and there are more opposing opinions (some with very loud voices) that ... Read More

Save Some Dates, Save the Planet!

First Friday's Green Street

Green living is a broad topic and there are many ways to go about it. From my perspective the overall goal is to live lightly on the planet so as not to exceed the Earth’s ability to naturally sustain the entire diverse tapestry of life, not just us humans. Everything we do is an opportunity once we realize we are responsible for the outcome. Our homes are a good place to focus since they ... Read More

Action Alert: Label GMOs in Nevada!

Say NO to GMO foods!

Your help is needed to pass BDR 955, a bill to label genetically engineered foods in Nevada!  This bill would give Nevadans the right to know if genetically modified organisms are in our food, and to be able to make informed decisions when purchasing food for our families. It is an unfortunate fact that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are now commonly found in much of our food supply. ... Read More

Electric Vehicle Charging Station Map for Nevada

Solar panels provide shaded parking and EV charging at the Clark County Government Center.

Electric vehicles are hitting the road in ever-increasing numbers. Most are conveniently charged at home but when you're on the road and need a little juice, it's nice to know there is a growing network of public charging stations available around the valley. Here at GreenDream, we've been tooling around town on sunshine for over a year with a 100% electric Nissan Leaf that is charged with the ... Read More

EnergyFit Nevada Makes a Difference!

An EnergyFit home stands out.

My last column about the season of giving suggested that Green Living can be a wonderful way to express our appreciation to those we care about. Just after I wrote it, a friend sent a wonderful email providing a real world example of exactly what I had in mind. I’ll refer to this couple as Jenn and Rob. The excitement in Jenn’s email was obvious. She mentioned “a Merrier Christmas ... Read More

The Next Big Thing: Energy Efficiency Remodels

Installing a low-e, efficient window.

Want to know what the “Next Big Thing” in home ownership will be? No one can predict the future with absolute certainty, but there are no safer predictions than these: non-renewable energy sources will become increasingly scarce; energy costs will rise over time; and people will continue to desire comfortable homes that are affordable to maintain. Wrap it all up in a solution that makes sense ... Read More

Keep Energy Efficiency Energized

We have power to save. Keep NV Energy's efficiency programs fully-funded.

Home energy efficiency is a very common topic around here. I believe it is one of the best investments a person can make. It’s also one of the best investments our society can make. Home efficiency saves resources, reduces pollution, increases comfort and improves the economy. The best results occur with the local utility gets on board, offering programs that provide immediate savings and even ... Read More

Tour of Solar Homes

Installing solar thermal system.

Seven years ago, Southern Nevada experienced its first Solar Home Tour. At the time, I was involved with a great non-profit group called Solar NV, the Southern Nevada chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). I had attended a few solar home tours in Arizona and they were always a great experience. Our group decided it was time for folks in our local communities to have that same ... Read More

Computers and Humanity to Others

Humanity towards others via an old PC - with Ubuntu.

Most of us use a computer these days and, like everything technical, they evolve. They also tend to get slower over time. Eventually, it’s time to upgrade. If you are savvy, your old PC will be responsibly recycled. The Blind Center of Nevada has a fantastic program to handle that. It is part of the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reducing and reusing products take priority over recycling ... Read More

Thoughts on Water Use in the Mojave Desert

Rape by greed. Dozing NV to steal water.

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 ... Read More