When GM recalled all of their leased EV1 electric cars in 2002, there was quite a bit of speculation about the conspiracy that killed the electric car. Many owners begged to keep their vehicles, but had no choice but to surrender them to GM to be crushed or put in a museum. This fall, we’ll…
The sun continues to rise in Missouri! Since 2008, when Missouri voters passed the Renewable Energy Standard by a 2 to 1 margin, the solar industry has been growing rapidly across the state. This citizen initiative created a rebate program that requires investor-owned utilities like Ameren and KCP&L to pay a $2 per watt rebate…
On the eve after April Fool’s Day, all of the green people in St. Louis made a lunar landing on the Moonrise Hotel on The Delmar Loop . While this sounds like science fiction, the Green Ball was the place to “celebrate the earth under the moon.” The event raised thousands of dollars for the…
Geothermal heating and cooling systems are becoming increasingly common as a smart way to heat and cool buildings. The big reason for this is a 30 percent federal tax credit that effectively reduces the cost by that much. They’re not for everyone, but according to the EPA, geothermal systems are “the most energy efficient, environmentally…
Each day, as the sun rises and travels across the sky, an immense amount of energy is lavished on our planet. An oft-cited statistic is that more solar energy falls on the earth in one hour than what is used by the entire population in a year. In fact, most (almost half) of this energy…
Back in the early 80’s, I wrote a term paper on integrated control systems for the home. At the time, this was leading edge technology that promised the ability to program thermostats, security, lights and appliances, and control these devices remotely. Since then, much of this has become an affordable reality. Programmable thermostats are about…
What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place? That’s the fundamental question posed by the International Living Building Institute, which created a new building standard that seeks to promote true sustainability in the world’s built environment. When the leaders of Washington University’s Tyson Research Center in Eureka started…
I remember as a child the commercial about a popular glass-cleaner encouraging the viewer to “bring all the sun in.” There is an energizing feeling to have bright, natural daylight pouring into a room. While dark, quiet spaces may have their place, a well-lit room is an inviting space to work and play. Studies in…
The feeling of fresh, warm water on your face in the morning shower is soothing, refreshing and invigorating. The feeling of sunshine on your shoulders is equally therapeutic – in modest doses of course. Imagine combining these two to naturally warm water with sunshine, and you have a match made in heaven. We’ve actually been…
Sarah Heyman and her family have always been conservative when it comes to consumption. They are far from the ordinary family: Sarah rides her bike to work, and since they live near bus and MetroLink stops, they often use mass transit to get around. As a result, they have made a critical choice to live…
