I try to keep the tone mostly warm and friendly here but what drives me to write is very serious. We are facing… no, strike that. We are creating a planetary emergency. Let me state a few facts and then tie them all together. The Earth has an energy imbalance due to added greenhouse gasses […]
Dangerous Fireworks – Time to Move On
June 28, 2012 by /
What is it about our species that makes it so difficult for us to change? Sometimes, no matter how obvious it may be and despite all the logic in the world, it is still not enough. Some traditions are so ingrained in our collective psyche that they are almost invisible to us – it’s just […]
Sailing Home – Maintaining Balance
June 14, 2012 by /
When I was a young boy, my stepfather and I did a project together. We built a sailboat. It was small but perfect for me at the time. I learned a lot from that experience and my passion for sailing has never waned. Sailing demands awareness and a proper balance between self, the boat and […]
Taking Back Our Future
September 8, 2011 by /
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 […]
Thoughts on Water Use in the Mojave Desert
August 11, 2011 by /
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 […]
Solar Increases Home’s Value
May 5, 2011 by /
My wife and I live and work in a solar-powered home. I’m writing this from my office using a computer running on the freshest electrons you can get, produced just a few feet away, from photons only eight minutes old. That’s how long it takes light to travel 93 million miles from the sun to […]
The Insanity of Nuclear Energy
March 24, 2011 by /
Lately it’s difficult to think about anything except the recent horrific events in Japan. My heart goes out to everyone involved. Disasters like the earthquake and tsunami are mostly unavoidable; they are a natural part of our planet’s evolution. The ongoing nuclear disaster is another story. The world would be quite a different place without […]
Right Sized Homes
September 9, 2010 by /
The choices we make about where and how we live have a tremendous impact on our environment, community and economic well-being. If we choose wisely, we can minimize the negative impacts while maximizing value. They go hand in hand. Well-designed, efficient spaces can be beautiful, functional and comfortably provide for our needs. Architect and “Not […]
Our Tragic, Plastic World
July 1, 2010 by /
One thing that distinguishes human beings from other species, according to human beings anyway, is our use of tools. There are a few other animals that use primitive tools but they are quite limited in number and scope. We, on the other hand, are so damn smart! Not only did we invent shovels, we used […]
Ending Our Addiction to Oil
May 6, 2010 by /
The oil spill off the Louisiana shore is exacting a huge toll on the environment. Another thread is being pulled from the grand tapestry of life and, no matter how distant, it affects us all. Fingers are being pointed in plenty of directions, but how many of us take personal responsibility for the disaster? We […]
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