Category: Design

Great Streets

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Our physical environments can contribute mightily to the joy of sustainable living. Here are some excerpts from Allan Jacobs’ “Great Streets” – paraphrased, as necessary – that you may find helpful in enhancing your immediate or urban environment.

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 Guidelines for Great Streets

They are where you meet people – which is the reason for communities. It’s to be part of something that’s larger than oneself.  The interplay of human activity with the physical space has an enormous amount to do with the greatness of the street.… Keep reading

Tesla’s Solar Roof

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I enjoy the way in which Elon Musk is pushing the envelope, constantly exploring new ways to improve how we live. I’m not sure how his interstellar Mars-like explorations will play out, but I like the fact that he “walks the talk,” puts his money where his mouth is, and is actively “exploring possibilities.”

From a sustainability perspective, photovoltaic panels passed coal as the least expensive method for generating power. And driving electric cars is not only less expensive, but it’ll dramatically improve air quality (and reduce respiratory problems,) as well. … Keep reading

Mandatory Solar

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The process author Naisbitt used in identifying his “MegaTrends”, involved tracking column-inches of articles, by topic and over time, in five “bell-weather” states. He found that all major changes in the U.S. began in those five states.  California is most often cited for new trends.  Here’s one that, like it or not, may be spreading.  And from the results already measured, the outcomes seem to be quite positive – in terms of sustainable living.

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Mandatory Solar on Newly

Built Roofs Could Be Coming

To All of California

 

The city supervisor who wrote the policy for San Fran-

cisco is bringing the concept to the state legislature.… Keep reading

Cheapest Power

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None of us want to pay a penny more for power than we have to. Now, forgetting all the benefits of carbon reduction or clean air, clean solar power has just become the cheapest form of energy generation.

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Solar power is now the cheapest form

of energy in almost 60 countries

We just hit a major turning point.

 

DAVID NIELD

23 DEC 2016

 

It’s official: solar became the cheapest source of new energy in lower-income countries this year, giving both companies and governments alike another reason to ditch coal and gas for renewables.… Keep reading

PV World Record

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When our first Garden Atrium sustainable home was completed in 2002, we had 72 2’x4’ photovoltaic panels on the roof, providing the 3 kW we estimated would provide 100% of the home’s power needs. The next three Garden Atriums have 24 PV panels – to provide the same 3 kW. And the last three have 14 panels to provide the same 3 kW.

Efficiency keeps climbing and cost, naturally, keeps dropping. Recently, PV power became less expensive than coal, which is why coal companies are closing and PV companies keep expanding.… Keep reading