Sustainability

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    Saving Energy Automatically

    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…

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    Green Gifts

    With the holiday season upon us, you might be thinking about more eco-friendly gifts to give this year.  You can head to the mall or Walmart and certainly find any number of possibilities, or you could make the shopping trip a unique experience that rewards you, the giver, as much as the recipient. It’s always…

  • Global Guardian

    I happened to be traveling on business the day after St. Patrick’s Day, and I came across the perfect addition to my limited Irish attire. The Kelly-green baseball cap had the words “THINK GREEN” embroidered on the front, with the “I” in “THINK” serving as the trunk of a white oak tree. Now it must…

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    Living Learning Center

    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…

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    Lighting Your Home Naturally

    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…

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    Solar Water Heating in Your Home

    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…