There is some good news on Nevada’s renewable energy scene. For those of you who have been waiting for the right opportunity to invest in a solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) system for your home or business, this might be the time to jump in. Prices are down, efficiency is up, incentives are strong and […]
Solar Hot Water Incentives
My last column focused on our man-made solar eclipse, some of the damage that results from drilling for fossil fuels and ways we can reduce our need for natural gas by using the sun to heat water and even our homes. A new solar hot water rebate program is in the works for Nevadans, similar […]
Longest Solar Eclipse Ever
There was a time when a solar eclipse struck fear into the hearts and minds of those who did not understand what caused the sun to briefly disappear during the middle of the day. Now when the moon casts its shadow while passing between the earth and sun we enjoy the relatively rare experience. We’ve […]
Animal Oil? – No thanks.
I recently had an interesting email conversation with some friends about green solutions and the gray areas that often accompany them. First, a little background. One powerful, economical and healthy method I use to reduce my carbon footprint is a vegetarian diet. I like our meat-free home and the wonderfully diverse, delicious and delightful meals […]
Appraising Green Homes
They say the dream of the older generation was to pay off a mortgage, while the dream of today’s young families is to get one. In this economy, that’s no joke. That dream is now taking on new dimensions that include managing the ever-rising cost of energy and water. In today’s home market, a lot […]
A Snowball’s Chance
The Copenhagen climate talks are behind us and the results were, shall we say, suboptimal. Despite dire warnings from the world’s brightest scientists, along with more than ample physical evidence of the need for immediate action, the world’s leaders have again, well, failed to lead. Spectacularly I might add. Copenhagen yielded no new treaty or […]
Lessons Learned
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 […]
Future Vision
I was pleased by a recent report detailing the substantial rise in property values in certain neighborhoods that are now the most desirable in the Las Vegas Valley. It was not completely unexpected. Ever since the light rail system was completed back in 2015, the value of nearby homes and businesses really took off. Ridership […]
Greenbuilding – Local & Global
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, […]
Greenbuild 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 […]