GreenHab

Happy Earth Day 2010!

2010-04-22T07:59:00.000-07:00

April 22nd marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-Wisconsin-can i getta woot woot!) to promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.

A lot has happened in those 40 years: the 3 Mile Island nuclear power plant accident, a giant hole in the ozone discovered over the antarctic and the Exxon Valdez 11 million gallon crude oil spill in Alaskan waters. But it wasn't all bad: DDT was banned, leaded gas was phased out, congress passed the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts and the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list.

I think we've come along way since then. We think twice before throwing our soda can into the garbage and look for a recycling bin. People are starting to bring their own reusable grocery bags into the stores. We are buying organic and living healthier. More and more people are becoming aware of their own impact on the environment and actually doing something about it. Here are a few other things you can do to celebrate Earth Day:

Pick 5 for the Environment- The EPA has created a list of 10 easy actions you can take to help protect the environment. All you have to do is pick 5 and commit to them. It's as simple as that.

Join Billion Acts of Green- Make one green resolution and share it to help the Earth Day Network reach their goal.

or volunteer at one of your local Earth Day events.

And remember, every day is Earth Day.

Green Police

2010-02-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Audi ran a commercial during the Super Bowl last night featuring the "Green Police". I thought it was a little over-the-top (like most Super Bowl ads) but I loved it non the less. I have a special place in my heart for Audis and I'm definitely a fan of the new 2010 Audi A3 TDI. At 42 mpg on the highway with reduced CO2 emissions and great low-end torque performance, no wonder it won Green Car of the year. What do you guys think?

Go Green Expo in LA

2010-01-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

Each year the Go Green Expo travels nationally and showcases the latest eco-friendly products and services. It will be coming to the Los Angeles Convention Center January 23rd-24th and will feature 250+ exhibits, eco-celebrity speakers including Ed Begley Jr and Mariel Hemingway, educational workshops and seminars, green jobs, an eco-film festival and much more. Business buyers can attend on Friday (Jan 22nd) and use their business card for admission. The general public can get a 2-day pass (Sat & Sun) for only $10. I will definitely be there, hope you will too!

Dreaming of a Green Christmas?

2009-12-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

For many people the holidays are a time of excess. Excessive drinking, excessive eating (I had three desserts at Thanksgiving... ok?), excessive shopping etc. And every holiday season that amounts to a 25% increase in landfill waste. So, here's a short list to help make your holidays a little greener and in turn give a gift to mother earth.

1. Replace old christmas lights with LEDs. They use 90% less energy and last ten times longer. And while you're at it, use a timer so you're not wasting energy during daylight hours or while everyone is asleep.

2. Send your holiday cards and family newsletters via e-mail and consider e-vites for parties to avoid sending all that paper to the landfill. If you need to mail the real thing, make sure they're made of recycled or FSC certified paper.

3. Gift wrap is a big waste during the holidays. Instead, reuse gift bags and boxes. My mom never fills out the little card attached with this in mind. You can also use saved wrapping from the year before or be creative and use old magazines and newspapers lying around the house.

4. When shopping for all those gifts, try to plan ahead what you're going to get to avoid aimlessly driving between shopping centers. Also bring your own tote to carry the goods or ask for a large bag at your first purchase and consolidate the rest. Also, refuse any holiday gift boxes if they're not necessary.

5. For those holiday parties, buy organic and local foods. It will be fresh and in season, which makes for a great traditional spread. And try cutting your grocery list by 20%- that's how much is usually wasted during the holidays.

6. And finally, if you're going to get a tree, go with the real deal. Artificial trees consume significant energy and use a polyvinyl chloride (which results in the unhealthy emission of a number of carcinogens) during manufacturing. Fake Christmas trees also contain lead in order to make the needles more malleable and 85% of these trees are imported from China. Furthermore, artificial trees are not biodegradable and cannot be recycled.

When picking out a real tree, make sure the tree comes from a local grower. Tree farms replace each cut tree and therefore forests aren't being hurt. Many cities also offer tree recycling programs to turn it into mulch or chips. Go to earth911.com to see what's offered in your area.

Some folks are even opting to replant their trees after the holidays. You can buy a tree with the roots in tact and wrapped in burlap. Another option, if you don't have a yard or the ground is frozen, is to purchase a smaller, potted tree and keep it year round. That's what I plan on doing. And I'm really looking forward to starting the new tradition of bringing Mr. Tree inside for Christmas.

Street Fashion Bunny Rabbits

2009-11-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

The intent of this blog is to provide my readers some insight into green ideas for their home and other related news along the way. But I'm veering a little off course here today. Anyone who knows me and my love of rabbits will understand.

Besides rabbits, I am fascinated with Japanese pop culture. From the gothic lolita to their obsession with Gundam, I can never get enough of their- what would you call it- crazy inventiveness? But when I found out that every November, in Yokohama, they hold a 2-day "Rabbit Festa" with 8,000 visitors and a rabbit fashion contest, my admiration grew to new heights. Street fashion bunny rabbits? Are you kidding me?

Ten No-Cost Ways to Winterize Your Home

2009-11-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

Well, winter seems to be knocking here in Southern California and I'm sure it has already moved in and crashing on the couch of all my Midwest friends and family. So, I wanted to compile a quick list of free and easy tips that will save you money and keep you warm this winter.

1-Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans. A counterclockwise rotation will pull down all the warm air near the ceiling into the living area.

2-Move furniture away from vents. Make sure you're not heating the backside of your couch, but your own.

3-In the morning, open the blinds and curtains of all south facing windows to let the warm light in during the day. Make sure to close them back up again at night to keep out the cold.

4-Turn down the thermostat when you're not home and at night. That should save you 1-3% on your heating bills.

5-Put those ridiculous Christmas sweaters to some good use. Layer up in cotton clothing to add 2 to 4 degrees of warmth to your body.

6-Make some draft dodgers. Simply roll up a bath towel and place them at the threshold of your exterior doors. It may remind you of your college dorm, but those drafts can waste up to 30% in energy use.

7-Drain all hoses and air conditioner pipes. If your AC unit has a shutoff valve, use it. And make sure all exterior water spigots are turned off as well.

8-Clean the furnace filter. Dirty filters can prevent airflow and force your furnace to use more energy. They also trap in air pollutants like bacteria, mold, and pollen.

9-Get an overall heating system tune-up. A clean furnace can save up to 5% of heating costs. Many utility companies, manufacturers and dealers offer free annual inspections.

10-Install foam outlet and switch gaskets on exterior walls. I know, I said these were "free" tips, but these things cost around 10 cents each and will save you a lot more down the road. Just unscrew your outlet or switch plates and pop these things in. Props to my mom for showing me how it's done.

Re-Nest "Green Architect" Blog Competition

2009-10-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

In an earlier post I mentioned that I am competing to become a "Green Architect" blogger for Re-Nest, an online home decor magazine. Well, they just posted my second article entitled "Go Green, Save Green". Check it out. Comments are more than welcome.

GreenHab is a Semi-Finalist! Please Show Your Support and Vote

2009-10-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Link: Which company do you consider most deserves to be amongst the five finalists of the Idea Café’s Eighth Small Business Grant?

GreenHab is a semi-finalist for a small business grant! We can definitely use the funds and are really excited to make it this far. Please help us and show your support by going to the link above and voting. Registration is required, but you can opt-out at any time (a confirmation e-mail is all I've received from them since registering in June). Voting closes on November 1st so please, get those votes out. Thank you!

You can also read more about us on the Idea Cafe's blog and cast your vote there.

Great News for California on Blog Action Day- AB 758 Passed!

2009-10-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

Last month I wrote about Assembly Bill 758 and how it would require the California Energy Commission to develop and implement a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in existing buildings by March 2010. I also asked that you send a letter to support this bill and urge Governor Schwarzenegger to sign.

Well folks, on Monday he did! This is especially encouraging news on Blog Action Day and it's cause: climate change. This energy retrofit program will be equivalent to removing over 3 million cars from the road for one year. Lower energy consumption means a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, less stress on the power grid and putting thousands of people back to work. Great job guys!

West Coast Green Innovations

2009-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE Oct 14, 2009: This article has been submitted to Re-Nest for their "Green Architect" blog competition. Please check it out here

I'm back from the West Coast Green conference held in San Francisco this weekend and I'm so excited to share with you some of the great innovations out there. The top three that really caught my eye are:

Bright Spark by Econetix A Do-It-Yourself Kit which helps you monitor your home's power, HVAC and electrical consumption. It's all done via WiFi- that means absolutely no wiring. Some of the cool features are a touchscreen thermostat, a "Sleep Mode" to put your home to sleep at the touch of a button and it can all be controlled from your computer or iPhone! And I have to say, these guys were young, energetic, intelligent and really excited to be offering such innovation. Definitely the most enthusiastic bunch on the showroom floor.

Perfect Flush by Brondell The beauty of this product is in it's simplicity. The system easily installs in your existing toilet leaving you with a dual-flush button on top of the tank. Installing one of these is more sustainable than buying a new energy efficient toilet, performs just as well and can save you up to $100 a year.

Solar Clover by Armageddon Energy All right, i have to admit that I was drawn by the name, but you should see these things, they're really designed well. Basically, a single solar "clover" consists of a triangular frame, a micro-inverter and three lightweight silicon hexagonal solar panels. These solar electric systems are roof-top ready out of the box which will save you time and money on installation. You'll have to wait though, the solar clover is yet-to-be-released but plans are to start prefabbing and shipping commercial volumes in less than a year.

In addition to these amazing products, I also met a lot of great people at West Coast Green. There is definitely a strong workforce out there trying to develop and push green to the top of our agenda both environmentally and economically. I'll have more about that in my next blog and will leave you with this:

"The best way to predict the future is to invent it." - Alan Kay

Support 758, Boost the Economy and Save the Environment

2009-09-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

On Monday I posted an article from The Huffington Post regarding a correlation between energy efficiency and job opportunities. Over the last year, 1 in 5 California workers who have lost their jobs came from the construction sector. Assembly Bill 758 could put these people back to work.

The bill would require the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop and implement a comprehensive program to achieve greater energy savings in existing residential and commercial buildings by March 2010. They project that electricity can be reduced 9% and natural gas 6% through cost effective measures which translates to approximately $4.5 billion dollars in consumer savings.

By developing a comprehensive plan to retrofit our homes and offices, not only would it decrease the effects of global warming, but also put thousands of people back to work, put money in the pockets of consumers and boost local economies in as little as seven months.

Please join me in supporting AB 758 by asking Governor Schwarzenegger to sign. Global Green provides a simple form to fill out and send online: http://bit.ly/44ai7P

Go Gophers!

2009-09-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to give a shout out to my aluma mater, the University of Minnesota, for their new, LEED silver football stadium. It is the first LEED certified collegiate or professional football facility in the country! See story below.

http://bit.ly/SnIfE

"A Win-Win for Energy Efficiency and Jobs"

2009-09-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

Please read: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-petersen/a-win-win-for-energy-effi_b_290346.html

I completely agree with what Matt has written. We hope to contract several of these out-of-work construction workers for green remodels, retrofits, PV installations etc.

Thanks Global Green USA for sponsoring AB 758. The future is looking greener!

PARK(ing) Day

2009-09-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! Today is Park[ing] Day, where citizens, groups, architecture firms and others take a city parking space and turn it into a park. Anyone can participate, though it is strictly a non-commercial project, intended to promote creativity, civic engagement, critical thinking, unscripted social interactions, generosity and play. Make sure to visit one of your local parks, or create your own, as it only lasts one day.

http://www.parkingday.org/

locations in LA

http://www.communitywalk.com/parkingdayla

Official Website Launch!

2009-09-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Well, we did it! Greenhabdesign.com is officially up and running. You can also find us at greenhab.us and greenhab.me. So, go with what sticks and spread the word! I would like to thank all of my friends and family for their suggestions, support and love- especially you, RB.

So, check it out and please send any comments or suggestions you may have. Thanks again!