Watershed Management Group is Making a Difference

The task of creating a more resilient community can often seem overwhelming, assuming one is even thinking about it at all. Fortunately more and more of us are not only thinking about it, but actively looking for ways to make a difference. There is so much to do. Effective change has as much to do […]

Solar Water Heating Update

Last October we installed a solar water heating system on our home. It has been about ten months and I thought this would be a good time for a promised update. Overall, we are very pleased with the results so far. Solar Water Heating System Our system was manufactured by Heliodyne in Richmond, California. I […]

New Solar Thermal Incentives

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 […]

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 […]

2009 National Clean Energy Summit

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 […]

Food Inc.

Society has shifted in many ways in this historically brief Age of Oil, and our means of food production is no exception. The once-rich diversity of food crops has been decimated over the last few decades due to the intensive industrialization of farming industry. A vast array of products found on supermarket shelves is manufactured […]

Independence (from Fireworks) Day

Sometimes, all the logic in the world is still not enough. Perhaps its human nature, but we can be extremely resistant to change, even when the preponderance of evidence indicates otherwise. There are countless examples and some are so ingrained in our collective psyche that they are almost invisible to us. Traditional customs are like […]

House Like a Tree

Hiking is one of my favorite activities since I love reconnecting with the natural world. Safety is always number one so I try to avoid paths that get too close to dangerous cliffs. Call it self-preservation. I’m also not a speed demon, preferring to savor the experience – noticing the details. Did you know that […]

Desert Water Solutions

I love a good challenge. The bigger the problem, the more fun it can be to solve. The most elegant solutions are simple, effective and often right before our eyes. Such is the case with water. For decades, we’ve focused on engineering “more is better” solutions that “improve” nature and bend it to our will. […]

Green Options for Homebuyers

It’s exciting to see the transformation taking place in the home building market. Perhaps the best example is the new Villa Trieste development by Pulte Homes. Located in Summerlin, this community of 185 homes is leading the way when it comes to responsible building in Southern Nevada. The community has gotten some good coverage recently […]