News & commentary on sustainability, activism, urban planning, politics, and our world.
Using the power of the sun to heat your water is one of the simplest ways that you can make your home more energy efficient. Heating water usually accounts for 40 percent of an average family’s heating costs. Converting to inexpensive solar thermal water heating is a great first step that will not only allow us to utilize a much more clean, affordable and sustainable source of energy, it will also create jobs and help our nation to become more energy independent.
A layer of bubble wrap insulation can actually cut the heat loss from single paned windows in half. To insulate with bubble wrap, just moisten the glass and position the plastic with the bubble side firmly against the wet glass. Some people prefer larger bubbles and claim that they insulate better, but I like using the wrap with smaller bubbles. It creates a nice artistic frosted filter for the glass, and it also makes me think of how a house fly might see the world.
There is a growing grassroots movement in suburban and urban areas where the local action of growing food is beginning to profoundly transform our neighborhoods and our world. It begins first with a simple attitude shift, when we start thinking of our lawns and backyard gardens as opportunities for sustainably growing food. As we each start to plant a seed, we are healing not only ourselves, but the planet as well.
In the United States high speed rail is now not only more sustainable, efficient and pleasurable, it is also becoming increasingly stylish and hip. Two actors from the popular “Mad Men” AMC series, Vincent Kartheiser and Rich Sommer, have just created a clever commercial to help promote trains and more investment in our high speed rail infrastructure.
