The SF PUC is hosting a street fair called “Big Blue Bucket Eco Fair” on Saturday the 26th from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. It looks like a cool event, and I plan on being there and reporting whats what. Some pre-highlights are rain barrel installation and a used medication drop off. Medication disposal is one of those small things that in aggregate settings, like say a City, has a massive impact. Dumping that last pill or three down the drain has long been an accepted way of getting rid of unused pharmaceuticals, but it has a tremendous impact on local waterways when these chemicals make it to the bay: waste water treatment plans are NOT designed to removed medication from water, it DOES get into fish and harm the waterways. Just another good example of San Francisco doing its part.
Why develop the same old cookie cutter community crap that everyone else does? Aside from the fact that McMansions built out of Styrofoam and formaldehyde suck ass I mean. It is not for lack of good examples.
Michael Reynolds, architect, developer, visionary of the Earthship Biotecture may be a bit hippy dippy at first, but his point is damn well taken: housing can be constructed to have a no resource footprint. His communities are true models for long term sustainable living. Thinking about our future, housing must be built this way; we cannot consume at our current level, the global changes already underway are catastrophic enough without us continuing to dig the hole deeper.
The following piece will give you a taste of his vision, and if you want more watch the documentary Garbage Warrior – it will give you that kick in the ass you need.
I know what I would like to do – make one of these in the middle of San Francisco. Now all I need to do is figure out how.
Great product for you fashionistas looking to make a couture statement about the environment. Love the product, love the story, love the idea: noonsolar
Solar power is so hot right now it is easy to forget about alternate sources of home power. But just as the thought of rooftop photovoltaic panels probably sounded uber green 10 years ago, in 10 years we may well see more houses with these:
I have been watching this windmill spin in the Forrest Hills Extension neighborhood of The City for some time now. I think it takes some big hairy balls to be willing to erect one of these on your block, and I approve. This is radically unknown territory for your average home owner, and not every contractor, electrician or even inspector from the Department of Building Inspection is going to know what to do with a home windmill. Obviously though, it can be done, and in windy locals it makes sustainable sense. One big disadvantage to Solar Panels like the ones I have on my house is that they do not work at night. But the wind can blow 24/7, so having the capacity to generate at all times is great. Now my electrical bills with a 2.3 Kilowatt solar system is $11.22 for this past month (PG&E bill just came) but this has been summer with longer days and up to 2,000 watts generate each hour. I know it will drop when winter comes, and something like a windmill would is a tempting addition. Not 100% sure what the wife will say though…
From today’s business section, The New York Times provides more reporting on my post yesterday about how Big Oil and its lackey API are astroturfing the climate change debate. The Times reports that these ass clowns are calling their group “Energy Citizens”. I hope they choke on their own BS.
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