I was interviewed in the New York Times to discuss my top things everyone should do to green their home. Rather than talk about adding solar panels, I thought it best to choose things everyone (including renters) can do to save money and our environment at the same time.

Five Beginners’ Steps to a Greener Home:
FULL STORY HERE

www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/garden/12greenhome.html

One of my favorite books, Ecotopia, is being reissued by the publisher this month and the New York Times has a nice story about the book.

The story starts with the Pacific Northwest having seceded from the United States to form its’ own country named, Ecotopia. Washington, Oregon and Northern California make up the new country and base their economy on sustainable principles. The rest of the remaining US is thrust into a recession driven by partisan politics and old models of industry and energy.

Sound timely? Yes, except that it was written in 1974.

I had the prescient author, Ernest Callenbach, give a talk to a packed house at The Commonwealth Club in May 2005. He is the most charming and delightful man and lives just across the bay in Berkeley.

While you’re reading it, be sure to also read the follow up prequel he wrote, entitled, Ecotopia Emerging. In many ways, I like it so much better than the first book.

Dr. James E. Hansen is the chief climatologist at NASA and one of the leading experts on Global Warming and the Climate Crisis.

He testified to Congress twenty years ago (June 23, 1988) on the dangers of global warming. This week, he returned to testify again and shared his thoughts on the differences between those two briefings.

An excerpt:

“There are striking similarities between then and now, but one big difference…

The difference is that now we have used up all slack in the schedule for actions needed to defuse the global warming time bomb.”

He goes on to write of an ominous foreshadowing for the past 20 years:

“My testimony two decades ago was greeted with skepticism. But while skepticism is the lifeblood of science, it can confuse the public…
The evidence was strong enough that I could say it was time to “stop waffling.” I was sure that time would bring the scientific community to a similar consensus, as it has.”

And then he proposes a clear plan, something no government official seems able or willing to do:

“The steps needed to halt carbon dioxide growth… Phase out of coal use… Solution of the climate problem requires that we move to carbon-free energy promptly.”

Hansen also talks about why things have barely progressed in 20 years of threats:

“Special interests have blocked transition to our renewable energy future. Instead of moving heavily into renewable energies, fossil companies choose to spread doubt about global warming, as tobacco companies discredited the smoking-cancer link. Methods are sophisticated, including disguised funding to shape school textbook discussions.

CEOs of fossil energy companies know what they are doing… In my opinion, these CEOs should be tried for high crimes against humanity and nature.”

I love that part!

read the FULL STORY here.

In the New York Times is this item as to whether the environment suffers during hard ecomonic times.

An excerpt:

The environment is actually hurt in hard economic times. Companies will reduce their investments into research and development and green programs…

The Greener Side of Recession

CalFinder is a site where you can find contractors to help you with a building project. They interviewed me to talk about the perceptions of green building and what is waiting for us in the future.

An excerpt:

The act of renovating your building is expensive, whether you’re green or not. Being green doesn’t cost you any more, in fact it’s an opportunity to save money.

via CalFinder

The Seattle Times has a great little story today postulating that 2008 will be the year for green. Actually, I thought 2007 was a great leap ahead, so I’m excited to see widespread acceptance of sustainability this coming year…

via Seattle Times

From our friends at TriplePundit comes this story about the true costs of green building.

Cost the biggest misconception have about green building, and the one I seem to be fighting to change in peoples minds the most. I have said for years now there is no discernable difference in cost. In fact, we only encounter three items with any cost increase:
* solar panels: but have a 5-10 year payback.
* FSC Certified Wood costs 20% more than the bad wood, and with no return on its investment (other than being the right thing to do.
* Graywater systems: water is still so subsidized that the return on investment is LONG, but that will change as the future wars on water begin.

from Triple Pundit:
Well, according to WBSBD those tangible, financial costs may be over-stated by as much as 300%! That should be more than enough to get most construction projects thinking a little harder about engaging in at least some basic green practices.

The full report is available here. The bottom line suggest that the 17% premium originally suggested for “green” projects is really more like 5%.

Van Jones, the head of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and one of the most powerful speakers I know, has a wonderful article on how to get more diversity into the environmental movement..

Writing for ColorLines, Van Jones says, “In response to mounting ecological crises, the United States is going through its most important economic transformation since the New Deal. Unfortunately, the vital process of change along more eco-friendly lines is moving ahead with practically zero participation from people of color.”

I recently wrote an article on greenwashing for Natural Home and it is on newsstands this month.

The printed version has a handy cut out card you can carry in your wallet to know what questions to ask when looking at products. A great list of certifications is also included.

Kitchen & Bath Business Magazine interviewed me for this article on how to add green to your design business.. These are the same tips I suggest to all of the architects, engineers and designers we consult with to help them green their firms.

I welcome your suggestions and additions to this list…