Buildings + Design

Climate change Is arguably the biggest problem facing humanity, and it’s largely driven by our collective use of fossil fuels. Anything and everything we can do to reduce our use of fossil fuels and in turn our carbon footprint will help mitigate climate change. I hope this Ecochallenge inspires us all to take another look at our energy use...

Roughly 10 years ago I replaced our natural-gas fired furnace in our home with a earth-coupled (geothermal) heat pump. This included a de-superheater that heats our hot water. Eight years later I installed a solar array that according to our contractor’s calculations would provide over 90% of our annual electricity. It hasn’t quite made that...

Producing your own energy is more affordable than ever. It reduces what you purchase from your utility and in turn reduces their greenhouse gas emissions. Making your own energy is one investment that pays for itself. Energy.gov: Residential Renewable Energy “Installing residential renewable energy systems, such as geothermal heat pumps and...

Wikipedia: Sustainable Development Goals The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were created with the aim of "peace and prosperity for people and the planet..." – while tackling climate change and working to preserve...

Wikipedia: Clean technology "Clean technology, in short cleantech or climatetech, is any process, product, or service that reduces negative environmental impacts through significant energy efficiency improvements, the sustainable use of resources, or environmental protection activities. Clean technology includes a broad range of...

For a little exercise (and to avoid another trip on the elevator) I just climbed seven flights of stairs. Coming down was more pleasant than climbing up. :) In the process I got to study an interesting aspect of older buildings - stair tread wear. Look for divots where people climb up and rounded tread edges on the downside. A little silly,...

The blue text in the title is a link to the source article. Energy.gov: No Fooling - Energy Saving Do-It-Yourself Projects Can Be Easy and Affordable APRIL 1, 2022 “Energy-efficient strategies don't have to cost thousands of dollars or require a contractor. You can change your home energy use with a few simple projects. Energy Saver has DIY...

Wood Mackenzie reports on energy markets, and they have a podcast focusing on cleantech: The Energy Gang Our bi-weekly digest on energy, cleantech and the environment. Lots of good information on current events in the energy market. Give it a listen. :)

Energy Harbor has some tips on living a carbon-free lifestyle. 52 Tips to Help You Embrace Your New Carbon Free Lifestyle “Around the Home: You might be surprised how big of an impact your house has on our climate. Everything from energy consumption to building materials can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. There are many ways we can...

NASA Earth Observatory: 2023 Fire Season in the Northern Hemisphere Whether sparked by lightning, intentional land-clearing, or human-caused accidents, wildland fires are burning longer and more often in some northern latitudes as the world warms. The NASA webpage linked in the title includes satellite imagery of various wildfires from 2023.