The Greywater Guerrillas are a team that advocate the use of water from dishwashers and bathtubs i.e. "greywater," and are focused on installing apparati in homes that effectively recycle it for use in toilets or garden irrigation.
Greywater recycling is legal in California, but installation of clandestine tubing can be pricey. The Guerrillas are crusading to prove, through their own methods, that greywater recycling is easy and affordable.
Read more here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/31/garden/31greywater.html?ref=science
By: Ryan | Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 4:22 PM | | 
http://www.contemporaryartscenter.org/exhibitions/beyondgreen
There is an interesting art exhibit at the CAC downtown about sustainable art!
By: jamie | at 9:40 AM | |
A drive through the rolling hills of Lancaster County, Penn. is like stepping into a patch of colonial America. Turn down the side roads, flanked by white flaking barns, grazing cows and fields lined with crops. Weave around horse-drawn buggies and past women tending laundry on sagging clotheslines as toddlers play nearby with wooden toys. This is Amish country – American Gothic in the flesh – yet here lies a technology most Americans only dream about: solar panels.
When you think of the latest consumers of hip, green technology, the Amish probably don’t immediately come to mind. Known for their plain dress and strictly limited interaction with the outside, secular world, the Amish typically shuns the use of modern conveniences such as automobiles and electricity.
Although many today have running water, the Amish believe electricity would connect them with mainstream society, and so have found ways of adapting appliances to run on gasoline and now, solar power.
But as solar panel technology becomes more available, affordable and easy to use, Amish communities across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana have embraced its use. Solar power is now being used to fire up buggy lights, sewing machines and power the rest of the community’s modest electrical needs.
Solar electricity fits seamlessly into the Amish self-sufficiency model. It is convenient, safe and, unlike some Amish-sanctioned alternatives, there are no noxious fumes or noise and no fuel costs.
The technology has become so prevalent amongst the Amish that Green Energy Ohio is organizing an Amish Country tour during the American Solar Energy Society's 36th annual convention, July 7-12, in Cleveland. About 1,800 people from across the nation are expected to attend the conference and trade show. Read more here.
It strikes ironic that it is the Amish who are leading the so-called modern world down an alternative energy path.
By: Rachel | Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 1:37 PM | |
The Interface Company in LaGrange, GA, discovered that a local City Dump, a place where they had originally acquired much of their recycled rubbery backing for their manufactured floor tiles, is also a giant source of a greenhouse gas, Methane.
This Methane bed was so voluminous that it was successfully harnessed in order to power the Interface Plant for 40 years.
The results were astounding. The city of LaGrange now receives a multimillion dollar revenue stream, the Interface Plant uses a cheaper source of fuel and the life is the landfill has been extended, since as the methane was harassed, the volume of the landfill went down.
Most importantly, LaGrange is now deflecting methane away from earth's atmosphere.
Somebody call Rumpke.
Read the complete article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/22/science/earth/22interf.html?_r=1&ref=environment&oref=slogin
By: Ryan | Thursday, May 24, 2007 at 10:51 AM | |
Gardening Like the Forest Date: May 24, 2007
Time: 6pm-8pm Location: The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati
Healthy forest ecosystems are self-maintaining, self-fertilizing, and self-renewing. Wouldn’t it be nice to grow food in an ecosystem like that in your back yard? Well, you can! Edible forest gardening is the design of gardens that mimic the structure and function of natural forests, but also grow food, fuel, fiber, fodder, fertilizers, and “farmaceuticals.” This talk provides an overview of the concept, with inspiring and practical ideas, images, and examples, as well as information on the multiple uses of some key forest garden plants. Fee: $10 Registration required.
The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati
2715 Reading Road
Cincinnati , OH 45206 513-221-0981 www.civicgardencenter.org
By: Rachel | Wednesday, May 23, 2007 at 8:01 PM | |
http://www.mcdonough.com/
check out this website....Dale Murray calls him the pioneer of eco-design
By: jamie | Monday, May 21, 2007 at 8:35 PM | |
Everybody should take a look at today's issue of The New York Times Magazine - the entire issue is devoted to "Eco-tecture," with numerous articles about green building. One, titled "Why Are They Greener than We Are?" discusses how Europe is best at designing green buildings. Another, called "The Accidental Environmentalist," is a profile of a Japanese architect who makes buildings (literally) out of paper. Anyway, the issue is chock-full of fascinating stuff. Check it out!
By: Emily | Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 8:15 PM | |
Homes that are heated and cooled using the Earth's natural underground temperature. Appliances run by solar-powered batteries. Food grown in one of 571 acres of gardens or community orchards.
Sound like an environmentalist's dream? It may be closer to reality than you think.
CNN reports today on the proposed development for the future site of Sky. Fl., located an hour away from Tallahassee in the Florida Panhandle.
"Part of a growing, $12 billion a year sustainable-building industry, Sky is meant to be the green town of the future -- the way Americans will live when they realize they use too much energy, its developers say. They hope it will serve as an experiment into what can be done to accomplish that goal, and maybe be a model for other communities."
Because of rising numbers of Americans relocating to Florida - about 900 a day - new development is a necessity, says Sky developer Bruce White. But White and his partner, architect Julia Starr Sanford, wonder why it all has to be suburban sprawl.
Florida State University's Center for Advanced Power Systems is collaborating on the project, its engineers helping design the town. Then, they'll study what works and what doesn't.
"You've got almost a zero-carbon footprint just by living here," White said. "Just by being here you will be an environmentalist."
If you have the cash, that is.
Tagged more as a "luxury community" than commune, it won't be cheap to live in Sky. Developers expect Sky will appeal to a younger, professional demographic - who want the conveniences of having a holistic spa, a planned lodge and can work from home via the town's wireless capability.
By: Rachel | Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 9:45 AM | |
The historic Over-the-Rhine area in Cincinnati often gets a bad rap. Despite consistently dropping levels in the crime rate through the past several years, OTR still finds it difficult to shake its reputation as the site of the 2000 race riots in Cincinnati.
Though the district does have its woes of higher-than-average levels of crime and poverty, it's also home to several distinct and eclectic stores not found in other parts of the city.
On June 1, Park and Vine will join the unique OTR shopping district. Hailed as a 2,000 square-foot "green" general store, the shop takes its place in the community's Gateway Quarter section at 1109 Vine Street.
"The store focuses on goods that minimize the use of natural resources, toxic materials and animal by-products," said owner Dan Korman, as quoted in Whole Living Journal.
Products offered include accessories, apparel, footwear, personal care products, home furnishings, home improvement supplies and other items. Korman also plans on-site creative programs such as installations, lectures and film screenings on sustainable living.
By: Rachel | Friday, May 18, 2007 at 6:11 PM | |
Within the few years, "carbon neutral" entered the world vocabulary, the process by which companies offset their carbon emission by purchasing credits for emission reductions that are produced by environmentally friendly projects, i.e wind farms.
Enter "Packing Neutral," the process by which Wal-Mart slashes the amount of packaging material used annually for merchandise, and pressures competitors to do likewise.
Retail giants Wal-Mart, Proctor and Gamble and Coca-Cola are at the forefront of the consumer packaging slim down.
Recently each behemoth retailer introduced products with reduced packaging, and strategy to cut down on waste products, in efforts cut down on waster materials, thereby helping the environment.
Superfluous boxes, say for toothpaste, are being eliminated, Coke bottles are getting gastric bypasses and thin layers of plastic insulation will soon take the place of giant cellophane mittens that are typically seen girding shipped products.
For the complete NYT article, go here:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070514/BIZ/705140322
By: Ryan | Thursday, May 17, 2007 at 12:49 PM | |
from Nasa - a QuikScat satellite image of Antarctica taken in January 2005 shows areas of snowmelt in yellow and red.
According to a New York Times article published today, Antarctica, which has largely resisted the worldwide climate crisis known as global warming, is finally beginning to melt.
NASA has found that a large warm spell occurred over one week in 2005 and did significant damage to the continent. "Unusually warm air pushed to within 310 miles of the south pole and remained long enough to melt surface snow across a California-size expanse," wrote Times reporter Andrew Revkin. NASA detected this area with the satellite QuikScat, which uses radar to distinguish between snow and ice in areas like Antarctica and Greenland. In the past, other areas of melting have been detected in Antarctica, but not so far inland as this.
“It is vital [that] we continue monitoring this region to determine if a long-term trend may be developing,” said NASA scientist Son Nghiem.
By: Emily | Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 1:25 PM | |
Something green this way comes just around the corner from the university campus.
At the EPA annex project now underway in Clifton, more than 50 percent of the new roof will be green, planted with sedums and low-growing groundcovers, says James Geers of SFA Architects, downtown. The project should be done by summer.
So, what are these green roofs of the future? Vegetative roofs - called green roofs in the industry - have two jobs: provide an extra layer of insulation from heat and cold and absorb water that would rush into gutters, carrying pollutants picked up along the way to streams and waterways, writes Joy Kraft of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Not only will green roofs make our houses more attractive - if in a slightly odd Hobbit-like way- by carpeting roofs with ground cover, flowers, grasses, native plants and even trees; they promise to be much better insulators, trimming energy bills and protecting air and water quality.
Green roofs are more common in Europe, especially Germany, where they have been in use for years, but are relatively new in Cincinnati, says landscape architect Vivian Llambi, who sees green roof planting as a rising sub-specialty.
Other green roof projects afoot in Cincinnati:
Ridgeway Pavilion, part of the Health Alliance complex in Avondale, is getting a green roof replacement for the original concrete roof built on the 1984 structure. "It turned out to be cheaper than replacing the concrete," said site manager Jerry Emmerett, site manager.
The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati, part of the Flower Show exhibit, is converting a former gasoline station next to its Avondale headquarters into a learning center for environmental sustainability with a green roof.
For more information, visit
http://www.greenroofs.com/
By: Rachel | at 12:45 PM | |
Duke Energy recently announced that its green energy pilot program was approved, that they would soon allow their subscribers to invest in renewable energies, such as solar, wind, biomass and hydro.
The program would cost the consumer an extra 2.5 cents per kilowatt hour. The average home would see anywhere from a $5 to $10 increase per month.
Learn more here:
http://www.duke-energy.com/news/releases/2007050901.asp
The issue has already been featured on WCPO TV's "Don't Waste Your Money," with John Matarese.
Way to invest in the future, John.
By: Ryan | Tuesday, May 15, 2007 at 4:17 PM | |
At the meeting on tues. at Panera Chris suggested we use Garage Band to edit our audio. I have this on my computer and we can mess around with it if anyone needs to use it.
By: jamie | Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 2:32 PM | |
I will be attending/ recording/taking photos of a confrence call interview on Tues 5/19 @ 10:00 in Anton's office. The interview is for a section of the Dept. of Energy I believe. Anton, Ashley Vissing, Chris Davis and Brian Zimmerly will all be there so let me know if you need anything from them.
By: jamie | at 2:29 PM | |
In Maine, the average winter snowfall can reach up to 90 inches of white stuff with a wind chill factor of 20 degrees below zero. But Bill and Debbi Lord stay quite warm and cozy in their solar-powered home.
The couple and their house-of-the-future are featured in the PBS Nova feature, Saved by the Sun, which aired April 24.
Like UC's solar decathlon team, the Lord's were challenged with providing enough energy output to provide enough power to cool and heat their home, and also to operate all the appliances and electronic gadgets necessary for a modern day existence. The couple lists detailed information on their house's energy generation, along with explanations of its heating and cooling systems on their website.
Particularly interesting on the PBS/Nova site is a Q & A with Steven Strong, founder and president of Solar Design Associates, Inc.., who, in 1999, was named Time Magazine's environmental "Hero of the Planet." Or check out the presentation on the latest solar technologies or learn how a solar cell really works.
By: Rachel | at 7:54 AM | |
As someone interested in gardening (and climate change), I found a recent article in The New York Times really interesting. It talks about how certain plants that could previously be grown only in certain regions can now be grown in more (or fewer) regions due to changes in the climates of those areas. For instance, Tara Dillard, a landscape designer and garden writer, says that while people used to be able to grow rhododendrons in her hometown, Atlanta, they couldn't be grown there anymore: "We have heated out of the rhododendron zone," she said. The graph above, from the article, shows how the warm climate zones have spread across the southern part of the U.S., and how the dark blue areas (the coldest parts) have all but disappeared.
By: Emily | Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at 12:51 PM | |
What's cooler than one of those cute Vespa scooters? A solar-powered scooter, of course.
Solar powered mobility scooters could soon be on the streets thanks to the work of a student at The University of Nottingham. Matt Alvey, who is studying Architecture and Environmental Design, says the photovoltaic (solar electric) recharging system will turn the mobility vehicles truly green.
Read all about it here.
By: Rachel | Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at 10:21 AM | |
Denmark has been a pioneer in sustainable energy since 1891. The Scandinavian country of 5 million produces 20% of it's energy from the wind. The Danish government projects that by 2025, 50% of all Danish Energy will be produced by wind powered turbines.
Go here now:
http://www.windpower.org/en/core.htm
http://www.scandinavica.com/culture/nature/wind.htm
http://windpower-monthly.com/
And for your added pleasure, here is information about the United States' first large-scale, off shore Wind Energy development that, comically enough, has severe local opposition. Go fig, America!
http://www.capewind.org/
By: Ryan | Monday, May 7, 2007 at 11:21 AM | |
Hey Team,
Here is the event information for next week. Please try to come to as many events as you can.
On Tuesday, we will again meet at Panera on Calhoun at 8:00 am. Christopher Davis will be joining us to talk about what the team is doing and how we can coordinate ourselves with them, so if you need any questions answered, this should be a very clarifying engagement.
The Steering Committee will meet in the DAAP dean's conference room in the main office (near Anton's office) at 8:00 am on Thursday. The DAAP main office is on the 500 level.
Lastly, Dale's studio meets from 2-5 pm Monday and Friday in Sander Hall, not DAAP. We will be going as a class on Friday at 2pm. I will post the room number when it becomes available.
Aufwiedersehen,
Ryan
By: Ryan | Friday, May 4, 2007 at 11:00 AM | |
As if we needed another reason, beyond Rammstein and Schnitzel, to love the the German people...
Germany's Bundeskranzlerin, Angela Merkel, is not only embarking upon highly influential meetings with world leaders about energy consumption and Carbon dioxide emissions, including a recent visit with George W. Bush, but German automotive companies are well above par with the production of environmentally friendly autos. Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes and Audi all have models available that rely on alternative forms of fuel. Thus far, these companies employ not one, but five different options for eco-friendly transportation: Bio-diesel, Ethanol, Fuel Cells, Hybrid technology and Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines. Currently, only the bio-diesel and ethanol models are available in the United States.
For more info:
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/40658/newsDate/05-Mar-2007/story.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6421961.stm
http://www.german-world.com/articles/e_200701_LACar.htm
By: Ryan | Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 10:42 PM | |
Ok, everyone: if I can use WavePad, anyone can. It rules! It took me a couple hours to edit my .wav file down (including removing a number of oh's and ah's), add my intro to it, and just generally get it sounding pretty good, but I did it! (Needless to say, there's no music, at least not right now.)
Since I don't know how to use that filespace thing - isn't it \\filespace.uc.edu\UC_ArtSci\j-force? that isn't working for me - I uploaded it here for the time being. It's 20 minutes long if you're interested in listening.
Oh, also, I got some decent pictures of Luke and Eric today while Katy interviewed them.
By: Emily | at 7:36 PM | |
How much do you know about the business of being green? Take the quiz at MSNBC and post your results.
By: Rachel | at 8:25 AM | |
Think your weekend couldn't get any greener? Kick it off with a celebration of sustainability as it relates to art at the opening for a new exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center. The Zaha Hadid-designed downtown museum opens its doors for a preview party from 7-11 p.m. Keep your eye out for new staffers--maybe even the museum's new director--for a real scoop on artistic green living:
By: Professor Sonnenberg | Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at 10:43 PM | |
Hey team,
For those that missed this morning's meeting, we still are wrestling with the issue of podcasting. We searched and listened to a few podcast sites and downloaded some instructions on how to create our own. So far, we have at least three podcasts (with streaming video) ready to post. Anyone with any podcasting experience would be helpful at this point. Also, those of you conducting your interviews on digital recorders can volunteer your interviews for podcasting purposes . Please do so!!
Stay tuned for more info on Thursday's class!
Ryan
By: Ryan | at 9:56 AM | |
The Boone County Public Library will offer a summer-long series on sustainable living, with a focus on the relationship between human culture and the natural world we inhibit.
The series kicks-off with three discussions in May:
The Great Work
Tuesday, May 1, 7:00 p.m.
Scheben Branch
How do we transition from a period of human devastation of the Earth to a period when humans are connected to the planet in a mutually beneficial manner? Many questions raised by Thomas Berry’s book, The Great Work, press upon us. Join James Schwantes for a lively discussion of the issues and questions confronting humans at this remarkable time in the history of planet Earth.
Energy Alternatives
Thursday, May 17, 7:00 p.m.
Scheben Branch
Find out how homes use energy and are responsible for pollution. Alternative energy expert John Robbins (and founder of Earthsave) explains how to understand home energy use, set reduction targets, and implement a variety of strategies, including alternative energy sources, to improve your home’s energy efficiency.
A Natural History of Kentucky Trees
Tuesday, May 29, 7:00 p.m.
Scheben Branch
Learn how to recognize some of the major groups of trees seen in Northern Kentucky. Dr. Maggie Whitson from Northern Kentucky University shares some interesting highlights about their biology, their relatives, and their uses by both people and wildlife.
The Scheben Branch Library is at 8899 US 42 in Union, KY 41091. For more information, call 859-384-5550 or visit www.bcpl.org.
By: Rachel | at 7:48 AM | |
