Posts by — juiced

Make a house a green home The American Clean Energy and Security Act is best known for its controversial “cap-and-trade” carbon emissions program, but the bill also contains an entire subsection devoted to creating incentives for consumers and federal agencies to build and finance more energy-efficient dwellings.

Under the Bill, State governments would be required to ensure that homeowners whose energy technologies allowed them to become  independent of utility companies for their power are not denied property hazard coverage by insurance companies. (more…)

He can, but will he? “The world has changed; America must change with it,” says the new President. But will the new administration change its existing environmental  pledges, or stick to their promised policies?

The stated policy is as follows.

? Help create 5 million new jobs by investing $150 billion over 10 years in clean energy initiatives

? Increase the nation’s use of electricity from renewable sources to 10 percent of our total use by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025

? Institute a national cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. (more…)

Rinder – Mr Cool in a tree house The treehouse that the artist Jay Nelson built is featured in the Sunday Magazine – and it sounds fabby.

Its in the woods of Lawrence Rinder’s country estate, two hours north of San Francisco near Ukiah, Calif., the house is shaped like an acorn. Inside, it sways and creaks like an old triple-mast schooner. The ”estate” is actually 40 acres of dry grass, oak and manzanita on a hilltop, where mountain lions, deer, wild boar, bears and the occasional stray dog roam.

It is one of three hand-built dwellings on Rinder’s property that both nod to and update the ’70s-era, neo-hippie, D.I.Y. vibe that persists throughout Northern California. (more…)

Laverne Williams – architect Ten years ago, long before it was fashionable, Bernadell and Stu Thompson built an off-grid ready house in San Antonio, Texas.

Now, everyone wants a tour.

“Even two years ago, we were considered way out there,” Bernadell said. “Now people are coming to us and asking, ‘How did you do this?’”

The 2,200-square-foot energy-efficient home is off-grid ready because solar panels are still too expensive compared to hooking up to the utilities which were already onsite. But that may change next year as costs fall, (more…)

Will work for food

If living in a metropolis means that I can�t grow my own vegetables, writes Jaana Nykenen what’s the next best thing?
In central London, there are no allotments, and the council-owned ones nearby have waiting lists of up to several years. If you have your own garden you can grow some vegetables, and even in a flat there are unexpected opportunities.
Homegrown
Having a balcony is a great advantage, and some herbs could even call a kitchen windowbox their home. An onion can start to grow if it has a little water, and the green tops can be cut into salads and soups, or to spice up a sandwich. (more…)

Changing with the times.

Ohio’s Amish, with their horse-drawn buggies, plain clothing and austere lifestyle, have embraced solar power, says Green Energy Ohio, a Columbus grass-roots organization that is pushing renewable energy. Ohio’s Amish country is the heart of a green-power sales boom and proof that solar power works in not-always-sunny northern Ohio.

The most common Amish home use of solar power is for recharging battery-powered floor lamps, which are on wheels and roll from room to room. Solar power may also be used in Amish houses to run sewing machines, sweepers and washing machines. (more…)

The Earthship has landed

France’s first residential Earthship has received planning permission. There are already two UK Earthships (houses built to the specification of Earthship guru Mike Reynolds) but these are eco-showcases in Brighton and Fife – not for living in, and there is another in Valencia, Spain.

Having failed to get planning permssion in the UK, a couple from Brighton decided to build the totally sustainable home in the small French village of Ger in Normandy. Kevan Trott and his wife Gillian are now hard at work on the structure (pictured). (more…)

Ruth – “posh camping”

As off-grid life moves rapidly from fringe activity towards the mainstream, we profile four women who have built businesses around the growing demand to step off the treadmill without dropping out of the race.

First comes Ruth Lawson, founder of canvaschic.com which offers 3-star camping holidays in France and the rest of Europe. A traditional camping holiday usually means either being in a row with hundreds of other campers or really going outback with a tiny tent on your back. Canvaschic offers 12 individually and stylishly furnished Yurts. (more…)