Archive Of The Category ‘carbon footprint‘

 
 

Electrifying News!

lightning bolt | Dawid Cedler | Flickr

I’ve been talking to a lot of people lately about electrifying — that is, building an all-electric new home or eliminating natural gas and propane appliances in their existing homes. That’s something I plan to do myself any day now!
Meanwhile, for those building new or buying new appliances, I encourage choosing electric options. In case you’re not already of the same mind, here are my reasons:
1. I live in California, where we are rapidly moving towards cleaner and cleaner electricity production. Already 30% of our electricity is “clean,” i.e., produced by renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and photovoltaics, and Governor Brown recently signed legislation committing us to a 100% clean electric grid by 2045. Many other states will inevitably follow suit.
2. The International Panel on Climate Change has told us we have 12 years to throttle back fossil fuel emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change — but have you noticed that each time the IPCC reports, that time window gets smaller? I mean, smaller by more than the time elapsed since their preceding report! That means we probably REALLY have 5-10 years to cut emissions. Drastically.
3. Gas combustion in buildings is a very, very large fraction of our overall societal emissions. This is a part of the equation that as individuals we have the ability to change.
The single biggest objection raised to going all-electric is, “I can’t stand cooking on an electric range.” Here’s the good news: cooking on today’s magnetic induction ranges, although they do plug in, is otherwise a dramatic improvement over not only old-style electric cooking, but also over residential gas stoves. Everyone I know who has switched says they will never go back. I can’t wait to switch for the easier cleanup alone!!
Here are a couple of recent articles about induction cooking for your reading pleasure:
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/home-garden/2018/11/29/advisor-hottest-incoming-trends-2019/2116938002/
https://www.commdiginews.com/life/kitchen-trends-timeless-109591/
GO ELECTRIC! 

BW2: Brilliant Weekend @ BuildWell 2014

120 green building leaders and innovators in the built environment gathered last weekend at BuildWell 2014 in Sausalito, CA. Kudos to Ecological Building Network‘s Bruce King, co-producer Sarah King, and their dedicated band of volunteers for producing a brilliant event. The speaker line-up included keynotes from Architecture 2030‘s Ed Mazria, science wiz John Warner from the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, and ecological footprint creator Mathis Wackernagel of the Global Footprint Network — visionaries all.

Highlights — besides the keynotes — included talks by at least two dozen inspiring individuals. Organizations represented included the USGBC, International Living Future Institute, Healthy Building Network, Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, the US EPA, University of San Francisco, University of Santa Clara, BuildingGreen Inc., Gensler, Arup, Webcor Builders, Pankow Blue, and a host of other leading AEC firms.

Hosted at the gorgeous Cavallo Point resort (a star in its own right), this intimate meeting of the minds was the antithesis of the Greenbuild crush, where you’re lucky to spend 90 seconds with your favorite gurus. With most of the participants staying on premises, there were countless impromptu meetings and gabfests on porches, in hallways, and by the firepits.

Invite yourself to BW16 — sign up for the mailing list at http://www.ecobuildnetwork.org/contact.

Better yet, join the organizing team or become a sponsor for this exclusive event!

IMG_1416

BuildWell 2014 Attendees at Cavallo Point, March 22, 2014