Architecture & Design: Go For The Green

Right now no energy issue is more pertinent than high gas prices, but don't forget, high oil means high heating bills as well, and ironically, we can thank global warming for our mild winter last year. Talk about getting it coming and going, eh?

This month's Wired (featuring resurrected eco-evangelist Al Gore) has the first of a series of articles on the affluent and increasingly eco-conscious. I'll be posting a link to that "Green Home" article as soon as it goes live.

The concept of marrying real estate development to environmental concerns isn't as weird as you might think. Building new communities isn't just about putting up sh$!boxes in any random area and hoping people take a bite. It's about innovation, urban planning, and having the cojones to say that not everyone needs fifty flat-grass acres and a winding driveway that leads into the next county. Here's a great story about how one Florida community is building for the future.

One of the reasons why homeowners are fleeing the cities is because they want nature. All the convenience in the world can't make up for the ugliness of sprawl, and people are starting to grok that. Look at this DIY guide to building your own solar power generator, found via Lifehacker.

And don't forget LH's eco-conscious cousin TreeHugger for great shopping and living tips for people who want to use their green to make the world green.

Earth Day is officially over, but that doesn't mean we should stop caring. Everything you do--from the way you build your home, to the gas you use, to the car you drive, to the products you buy--has an impact on the world at large. You can make that impact positive or negative, and either one has an effect. Not to get all Galadriel-esque on you, but even the smallest change in your life can cause change on a much greater level. Think about it.

(Image gratefully appropriated from Audobon of Florida.)

Posted at April 26, 2006 02:17 PM

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Right now no energy issue is more pertinent than high gas prices, but don't forget, high oil means high heating bills as well, and ironically, we can thank global warming for our mild winter last year. Talk about getting it coming and going, eh? This month's Wired (featuring resurrected eco-evangelist Al Gore) has the first of a series of articles on the affluent and increasingly eco-conscious. I'll be posting a link to that "Green Home" article as soon as it goes live. The concept of marrying real estate development to environmental concerns isn't as weird as you might think. Building new communities isn't just about putting up sh$!boxes in any random area and hoping people take a bite. It's about innovation, urban planning, and having the cojones to say that not everyone needs fifty flat-grass acres and a winding driveway that leads into the next county. Here's a great story about how one Florida community is building for the future. One of the reasons why homeowners are fleeing the cities is because they want nature. All the convenience in the world can't make up for the ugliness of sprawl, and people are starting to grok that. Look at this DIY guide to building your own solar power generator, found via Lifehacker. And don't forget LH's eco-conscious cousin TreeHugger for great shopping and living tips for people who want to use their green to make the world green. Earth Day is officially over, but that doesn't mean we should stop caring. Everything you do--from the way you build your home, to the gas you use, to the car you drive, to the products you buy--has an impact on the world at large. You can make that impact positive or negative, and either one has an effect. Not to get all Galadriel-esque on you, but even the smallest change in your life can cause change on a much greater level. Think about it. (Image gratefully appropriated from Audobon of Florida.)