CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Casa Verde: Cameron and Cameron Talk (and Walk) Green

casasugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:00:31 -0800

I have yet to catch an episode of Sundance's Iconoclasts series, which pairs celebrities or leading innovators from two different industries to chat about their passions and creative processes. But, after seeing some clips of season four, which couples long-time environmental advocate Cameron Diaz and Architecture for Humanity cofounder Cameron
Sinclair, I think I've been wooed. This season, the series follows the two to New Orleans and Biloxi, MS, to take in the environmental impact of Hurricane Katrina. While Diaz may be an eco-conscious gal, she's not exactly an expert, so Sinclair, whose global organization works to find sustainable architectural solutions to humanitarian crises, is really the force in this pairing. It's refreshing to see him getting some face time and interesting to hear his perspective on an environment which has been so monumentally devastated.

To see a clip of this show,

In the News: Cabins Go Green

casasugar — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:00:19 -0800

In a recent New York Times article, "A Cabin Is Not a Shack," writer Louise Tutelian reports on the emerging trend to green second homes, or "cabins" as these houses are identified. One such cabin featured in the article, which is pictured below, was built in Montana using only local and reclaimed materials.

The article maintains that currently, cabin culture is defined by the following:

Ditch the deer heads and moose antlers. Put away the caps with flaps. There is nothing musty, creaky, saggy or squeaky about the new cabin culture. Across the country, cabins are being reimagined in sustainable yet stylish ways. Some combine industrial materials like mesh, oxidized steel and concrete with traditional wood. Others employ reclaimed or recycled material to stay eco-friendly and keep costs down. “Turnkey” models arrive fully constructed, ready to be dropped onto a site. Still other cabins are off the grid, but with the comforts of home. And despite the advances in design, cabin owners want the same thing they always did: a place that provides an escape into the natural world.

To tell me what you think about this trend, and read why I think it's nothing revolutionary,

Casa Verde: Method Potpourri Ornament

casasugar — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:00:20 -0800

Method never ceases to impress me with its well-designed, eco-friendly products. I've been waiting to see what it had in store for us this holiday season and I'm charmed now that I have. Method's new Potpourri Ornament ($10) is a tin ornament filled with compostable wooden beads. You can reuse the ornament for years to come after the beads have lost their scent. The ornament is available with a Spiced Pear or Winter Berry scent. If it smells as good as it looks, I'm sold. The scent of Christmas trees is so festive, though, that I'd probably hang this ornament elsewhere in the house. What do you think?

Casa Verde: Got Junk Mail?

casasugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:00:37 -0700

One of the clever editors at AT:SF recently decided to turn her junk mail into something much more lovely. She started out with some of the papers that were cluttering up her mailbox.

To see what she created and learn how to turn your junk mail into something gorgeous,

Casa Verde: What's in These Jars?

casasugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Recently, I've been experiencing some seasonal nesting urges, which have had me in the garden, sewing pillows, and reupholstering chairs. This is another of my ongoing projects.

To see what's inside these canning jars,

Casa Verde: A Coveted California Garden

casasugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 07:45:43 -0700

Lou Dixon, owner of Bio-Friendly Gardens, a landscape architecture firm in Berkeley, CA, creates gardens that are both beautiful and eco-friendly. A trained horticulturist, forester, and entomologist, as well as a landscape architect, Lou works in garden styles ranging from modern to Craftsman to traditional Japanese. No matter what garden style Lou works in, however, each of his projects is marked by beauty and consideration for location. Lou recently showed me around his latest project. Check out the slideshow for more photos.

Casa Verde: Radiant Floor Heating

casasugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:30:41 -0700

Many of you were intrigued by my definition of radiant floor heating, but you wanted to find out more about how it worked. Instead of trying to explain the concept abstractly, I thought I'd show you an explanation. I know that when I first heard about radiant floor heating, it seemed a little confusing. When I saw it installed, though, all of the pieces clicked into place.

To see the video explaining this energy-efficient home heating method,

Casa Verde: Michelle Kaufmann's Quick Construction

casasugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:34 -0700

Whether she's making cool eco craft projects or designing innovative homes, Michelle Kaufmann is definitely one of my eco heroes.

Michelle designs green, prefab homes that are both beautiful and cost-effective. These homes are guaranteed to achieve either gold or platinum LEED ratings, the two highest ratings from the US Green Building Council. And since the homes are prefab designs, they can also be quickly erected.

Want to know how quickly they can be built? Then

Casa Verde: Eco DIY Ideas

casasugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:15:29 -0700

Recently, I interviewed Tyler Velten, whose apartment had been featured in a New York Times article about designing on a student's budget. Tyler has a lot of cool, creative ideas for making eco changes on a budget. Check out some of his household experiments in the slideshow. Photos Courtesy Tyler Velten

Casa Verde: Fast Thermostat Facts

casasugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:00:06 -0700

If you're concerned about keeping a green home, energy efficiency goes hand in hand with eco home products and concepts. And since it's getting chilly again, I thought I'd give you a little refresher on ways to keep your house as energy efficient as possible. It's generally recommended that, to save money on heating, try to keep your thermostat set at a reasonable 68 degrees. Every degree warmer you set your thermostat will increase your energy use by 6-8 percent, which also means a rise in your heating bill. So, instead of notching up the thermostat, take a quick tip from me and layer up instead.

Source

Coveted Crib: West Coast Green Harbinger House

casasugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:00:45 -0700

You might not know it from looking at this photo, but the Harbinger display house at this year's West Coast Green is made from shipping containers. What's equally impressive is the beautiful interior design, which was done by Ecofabulous. Take a look at the slideshow for the gorgeous, eco interiors.

Casa Verde: Consumer Culture Art

casasugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:30:26 -0700

Think you recognize this painting? Guess again.

While it may look like Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte", it's actually a photograph from Seattle photographer Chris Jordan.

To see what this image is made from,

Casa Verde: Whyr'hymer Furniture

casasugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 07:00:47 -0700

One of the highlights of West Coast Green for me was meeting Brandon Morrison, the designer and craftsman behind Whyr'hymer Furniture, an eco-furniture design business he owns and operates with his wife, Sundeep. I love their furniture's lines, which in some pieces are very Arts and Crafts-inspired, and in other designs, seem to blend this sensibility with a modern aesthetic.

All of the furniture from Whyr'hymer is made from FSC-certified wood, and the finishes are either water-based or natural waxes and oils. And the couple makes everything by themselves in their West Hollywood studio. Nothing is outsourced in their creations. Of course, this means that these pieces are going to be more expensive, but the quality of each piece is obvious. And, as someone who's been lucky enough to sit in one of Brandon's well-designed chairs, it's an amazingly comfortable experience as well.

To see a video of the couple designing and building furniture in their studio,

Casa Verde: A Self-Contained Home

casasugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 06:15:09 -0700

Today, I'm hanging out with other eco-minded folks at West Coast Green, a green building conference that explores ways to make all structures more sustainable. I'll be snapping pics of some cool furniture pieces too, so tune in next week to see what I've found!

This year at West Coast Green, one home that everyone is eager to check out is this house made from five 40-foot-long shipping containers, which combine to form a 1,700-square-foot, 2-bedroom home. You wouldn't necessarily know that the home is made from shipping containers just by looking at it though. The company responsible for building these houses, SG Blocks, prides itself on its expertise in converting something that once sat on the deck of a ship into a functional, well-designed home.

For more photos of real-life SG Blocks homes,

Casa Verde: A Handmade Home Gets Some TLC

casasugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 06:15:18 -0700

Last year, I told you about my brother's handmade home, which he built in an eco fashion for a surprisingly small amount of money. However, nothing much had been done with the home's interior. This year, he and his wife made a lot of interior changes in the home to spruce it up. To see what this previously unfinished home looks like now, check out the slideshow.

Casa Verde: Efficient Dishwashing by Hand

casasugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:00:42 -0700

I've told you before that using an energy-efficient dishwasher is the best way to go when it comes to getting your dishes clean, but let's be realistic . . . we don't all have one and some of us just can't afford to buy one at the moment. There are some ways you can increase your efficiency at washing dishes by hand so you don't use more than a couple gallons of water, though. To begin, put a stopper in your drain (not just the strainer). The easiest way to waste water is to leave the faucet running down the drain, so plugging the drains will create a pool of water you can use to soak your dishes. And even if the water is dirty, you can still use it on your thirsty plants. If you have a double sink, wash your dishes in one section filled with a couple gallons of water and then use the other one with hot water for rinsing. If you have a single sink, use some sort of basin or bucket for rinsing your dishes with hot water, so the dishes you're rinsing reuse the same water. But, before you wash, wait until all of your dishes have piled up; it conserves water to wash as many dishes as possible at once.
Source

Casa Verde: Advice From a DIY Bride

casasugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:45:21 -0700

As many of you know, I got married in August, and took it upon myself to throw a wedding that was as DIY and green as possible. To see some of my tips for throwing your own green or DIY wedding (or big party, for that matter), check out the slideshow.

Casa Verde: Ronald McDonald House Goes Green

casasugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:00:20 -0700

While I may have some criticisms of LEED, the USGBC green building program, there's no question that the program is an important step in the right direction. Hopefully, thanks to green building guidelines and programs, green building will someday soon become a standard part of any construction project, and not an afterthought.

Austin, TX, has the oldest regional green building program in the country, with its Energy Star program established in 1985, and the green building program evolving from it six years later. Now, the city's Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing for families whose children are suffering from serious illnesses has been recognized for its new, healthy, and green building.

Austin is now home to the first green Ronald McDonald House in the world. It's also is the first building in Austin and only the third in the state of Texas to attain the highest level of green building recognition awarded by LEED — the Platinum certification.

To find out the green features of this house,

In the News: Green Architecture Has a Ways to Go

casasugar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:15:17 -0700

Interested in getting the lowdown about green architecture? Then I suggest you read the Newsweek article, "The Bad News About Green Architecture." For a good while now, the reporting of green architecture practices has been nothing less than greenwashed, and I've been waiting for a mainstream publication to address our country's problem with its perception and definition of "green" architecture. In "The Bad News About Green Architecture," writer Cathleen McGuigan points out that "LEED rating" is an over-trumpeted catch phrase these days ("more than 16,000 projects are now registered with the U.S. Green Building Council as intending to go for a LEED certification"), and LEED isn't stringent enough with its awards — a long-held truth.
But more importantly, she stresses that building green if you're building big (i.e. McMansions), or unnecessarily, isn't green at all. There are various plans to build green resorts in Las Vegas, including the 8.3-million-square-foot Palazzo Resort Hotel and Casino, likely motivated by the tax rebates that come with passing LEED certification. While that makes a great talking point in local papers, it still takes "tons of jet fuel that will be used to deliver millions more tourists to Vegas each year," and countless un-green materials to keep the place up and running once it's built. To hear more of my thoughts,

Casa Verde: Droog Rag Chair

casasugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:00:08 -0700

The next time you find yourself in the need of new furniture, you can refrain from opening your mailbox in search of a shelter catalog or from typing a URL into your browser. That's right, you might already have the materials needed for "new" furniture sitting in your home . . . or your hamper. That is, according to Droog. The Droog Rag Chair ($5,500) is made from layers of 15 bags of unique, upcycled rags. And, if you like, they can be your own rags; you have the option of recycling your own rags to be included in the design. Now you have a use for that free Capital One T-shirt you got when you signed up for a credit card at a festival booth . . .

In the News: Grad Student Bakes Green Power in Pizza Oven

casasugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:00:48 -0700

One of the main reasons that green power hasn't taken off is its high price tag, but Australian PhD candidate Nicole Kuepper may be changing that. This green-thinking student has discovered a way to produce solar cells using a pizza oven, nail polish, and ink jet printers.

According to the The Sydney Morning Herald:

Ms Kuepper realised a new approach would be needed if affordable cells were to be made on site in poorer countries: "What started off as a brainstorming session has resulted in the iJET cell concept that uses low-cost and low-temperature processes, such as ink-jet printing and pizza ovens, to manufacture solar cells."

While it could take five years to commercialise the patented technology, providing renewable energy to homes in some of the least developed countries would enable people to "read at night, keep informed about the world through radio and television and refrigerate life-saving vaccines". And it would also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The inspiring Kuepper was awarded the British Council Eureka Prize for Young Leaders in Environmental Issues and Climate Change for her solar power development, as well as a $10,000 study tour to Britain. I'm always proud of girl geeks, and since women are underrepresented in the sciences, I am doubly impressed by this young inventor. Congratulations, Nicole!
Source

Casa Verde: Emily Deschanel's Eco Finds

casasugar — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 06:15:14 -0700

Actress Emily Deschanel recently shared her favorite eco home finds with Green With Glamour. A staunch supporter of animal welfare, women's rights, and environmental causes, Deschanel also has impeccable taste when it comes to eco interiors. Check out the slideshow for the products she shared with Green With Glamour. Source and Source

Casa Verde: Hexayurt for Temporary Shelter

casasugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:00:32 -0700

I love to find examples of good design that's working for a good cause. In the case of designer Vinay Gupta's Hexayurt, those two elements are definitely present. The Hexayurt is, in Gupta's words, a "microbuilding." Gupta's design is a small, strong, and economic structure that can be erected in about two hours, and is made from easily accessible materials such as insulation board, plastic, and cardboard. The Hexayurt has a high R-value, which means that it is relatively comfortable in high and low temperatures.

Gupta's designs for the Hexayurt are in the public domain, which means that they are available for free download. While the Hexayurt was originally envisioned as a refugee shelter, it's recently gained popularity at campsites at the desert festival Burning Man.

To see a video explaining the Hexayurt,

Casa Verde: What Not to Recycle

casasugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:00:45 -0700

In the past, I've given you the lowdown on which plastics can be recycled and told you 21 surprisingly recyclable things. But aside from the question of pizza boxes, I haven't gotten around to telling you what not to recycle. We all know that recycling is important, and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom even thinks those who fail to should be punished. It's also pretty darn easy, especially if you've got a proper recycling bin system. However, tossing trash into your recycling bins can really complicate things for your local recycling crew. You'll have to check your local recycling guidelines to see what restrictions apply in your neck of the woods, but to get a general idea of what is not allowed in recycling,

Casa Verde: Texas Approves Wind Power Superhighway

casasugar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:30:00 -0700

According to an Associated Press article, Texas has preliminarily approved "a $4.9 billion plan to build new transmission lines to carry wind-generated electricity from gusty West Texas to urban areas like Dallas," and "build a slew of new turbines." The Lone Star State already stands as the nation's leader in wind power, generating about 5,000 megawatts with the nearly 4,000 wind turbines already in place, but a lack of transmission lines has prevented that energy from being used. The new plan will mobilize about 18,000 megawatts, "enough to power more than 4 million Texas homes." Texas electric customers will see a $3-4 price increase on their monthly bills, but it is likely to be offset by lower energy prices. The plan awaits final approval later this year, and the lines won't be ready for use for three to five years. It looks like Chicago may no longer be "the Windy City" . . .
Source

Casa Verde: Save Energy While You Vacation

casasugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:00:00 -0700

Of course, you know that if you're going on vacation during this endless Summer, you don't need to use as much energy at home while you're away as you would normally. But, I thought I'd give you a few reminders about how to cut back your energy use while you're off soaking up the sun.

Most people like to leave some lights on to be safe, so you appear to be home even when you're not. If you live in a city or neighborhood where that's necessary, just put a couple of your lights (facing the street) on timers to go on at night so your house doesn't appear vacant, but isn't hogging energy all day long.
Aside from your refrigerator and freezer, you can turn off and unplug all of your major and smaller appliances. But, if you'll be gone for an extended period, consider emptying your fridge and freezer all together and unplugging them as well.

There's more where these came from, so

Casa Verde: Grow Your Own Fruit

casasugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:30:43 -0700

Last night I picked some of the Empress plums from the tree in our backyard. Empress plums, also known as Italian prune plums, have a sweet, yellow flesh and purple skin. This variety is an easy grower, too — our tree is dropping plums faster than we can harvest them. While I have plans for making some pies, and maybe even plum cornmeal cake, I know that to get the most out of this fruit harvest I'll have to freeze or can some of the plums.

Besides the delicious treat that a backyard plum provides, another important reason to consider planting a fruit tree at your home is that the fruit doesn't need to be trucked or flown in from halfway across the world. By becoming a backyard fruit farmer, you're providing some locally grown food for your home. And by freezing fruit, making preserves, or even drying it, you can enjoy the sweetness of Summer all year round.

Do you have any fruit growing at your house? Do you visit nearby orchards to pick your own?

Casa Verde: Creative Coffins

casasugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:30:37 -0700

I hate to be macabre, and I know the last thing on your mind this summer is where you'll be laying "when I lay me down to sleep" for good. But for those of you who want to be green-to-the-grave, I thought I'd let you know that there's an environmentally-friendly coffin alternative out there for you. Creative Coffins are made from cartonboard produced from unbleached pulp. The cartonboard is made from at least 60 percent recycled paper and uses wood pulp from sustainable forests, too. Beyond that, the coffins are available in an array of patterns and themes such as flags, nature, pastimes (guitar), or sports, and can be made-to-order. If you're a traditionalist, you can still go au naturale with light wood, dark wood, marble, or granite printed coffins. I personally think it's pretty darn tacky to go with a slot machine-printed coffin, but I guess for the right person it could add a bit of humor to a very sad event. What will they think of next?

Casa Verde: Attention-Grabbing Explanation of Water Conservation

casasugar — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:00:21 -0700

As I've mentioned before, the shows and hosts of the DIY Network always bring a smile to my face, and that's definitely true with Desperate Landscapes host Jason Cameron, who transforms scrappy-looking lawns into things of beauty, often while wearing a tight t-shirt. I don't know about you, but there's no better way to have mathematics explained to me than by a cute, congenial guy. To find out how much water you can save by using rainbarrels, check out the clip below.

Source

Casa Verde: Graypants Scrap Lights

casasugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:30:31 -0700

Seattle-based design collaborative Graypants designed Scrap Lights (inquire for price), a series of pendant lights made from salvaged pieces of corrugated cardboard. I love how the reused cardboard's grooves and folds reflect dreamy, cloud-like patterns on the wall. The truth is, these days it's not hard to find beautiful furnishings made of reused or sustainable materials; however, Scrap Lights' design makes use of corrugated cardboard's unique structure, which is really appealing to me. I'd love to see a few of these pendants used above a kitchen island or a bar. Where would you hang them?

Casa Verde: Nick Stagg's Turned, Reclaimed Wood Bowls

casasugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:00:06 -0700

Woodworker Nick Stagg lives in rural Oregon, where he operates Moonraker Turning from his farm-based studio. Using reclaimed wood whenever possible, Nick shapes rough pieces of wood into beautiful, turned wood bowls, vessels, and vases. I recently had the chance to ask Nick about the craft of woodturning, and he explained the ins and outs of the craft. Also, check out his shop to order some of his beautiful turned wood pieces.

CasaSugar: When did you start woodturning?

Nick Stagg: I started woodturning in 2003 after seeing some turned tool handles in someone's shop and I thought that I could do that! I had an old, inferior lathe and poor tools, but was able to make some small oil-filled lamps for family members. Shortly after that I upgraded my lathe and slowly purchased better tools and continued to turn. I joined a woodturning club and checked out all the books and videos I could from the library and spent my spare time trying to improve. As time passed, I've hosted instructors from Engalnd and Australia in my shop to give classes to other turners. I'm now confident enough that I can offer help to beginning turners and, perhaps, make their journey into the woodturning arena less painful than mine!

To hear about how Nick makes his turned wood vessels,

Casa Verde: Ikea's Going to the Bicycles

casasugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:30:12 -0700

Great news: You can now carry your flatpacked Ikea goods home on your bicycle — at least if you live in Denmark.
According to Inhabitat, Ikea has partnered with the Danish bicycle company Velorbis to provide Danish customers with bikes outfitted with special trailers. Ikea decided to do so after discovering that about 20 percent of its Danish customers already ride bikes to Ikea stores. Now, customers can borrow a trailer and bike for a small deposit fee and load up their wool rugs, bookshelves, and other products in the trailer. Since I've been seeing more and more folks in the Bay Area transporting goods on bike trailers, this seems like a logical next step for eco-minded retailers. I would love to have this option at my local Ikea. Would you?

Source

Casa Verde: Listed Green

casasugar — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:45:51 -0700

Interested in buying a green home? Then try searching through Listed Green, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) exclusively for green, energy-efficient, sustainable homes and housing developments for sale worldwide. Committed to reducing global warming by promoting sustainable, energy-efficient, healthy-building design, the service helps to elevate the market value of new green homes and eco-friendly residential developments. Like a traditional MLS, Listed Green accommodates sellers of all types, averaging over 20,000 visitors per month, but each listing is personally reviewed before it is listed to ascertain that it is actually green, energy efficient and/or sustainable; this prevents a sort of real estate greenwashing. The process also holds bigger homes to higher standards, requiring that they have an "extensive" list of green components, such as solar power, solar-thermal hot water, water-saving devices throughout, recycled materials, and LEED certification. It also offers a platform for green builders and developers to advertise their current or up-and-coming green, energy-efficient, sustainable housing projects to like-minded buyers, and helps to educate potential home buyers about the importance of and technicalities surrounding living green. If you're on the house hunt, consider one of these green listings, or at least educate yourself about them. If not, Listed Green has a new website called Listed Green Getaways, featuring green, eco-friendly resorts and spas worldwide; go green on your next vacation!

Home Away From Home: Be an Eco Chic Guest

casasugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:45:37 -0700

Even if you're not sleeping in your own bed and eating out of your own fridge, you can still be an eco chic guest when you're home away from home — and that doesn't necessarily translate to skipping showers or toilet paper. I've outlined a few ways that you can be environmentally friendly when you're on vacation or a business trip:

Stay in a green hotel. Environmentally friendly hotels initiate programs that save water and energy and reduce waste, while saving money, and engage in many of the same activities you do in your casa verde. You can find them through the Green Hotels Association, Environmentally Friendly Hotels, AllStays, Green Hotel Review, and Eco Hotels of the World.

There's lots more to learn, so

Casa Verde: A Modern Green Home

casasugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:30:28 -0700

LivingHomes builds houses that appeal to the eco-minded modernists of the world. The designs of the homes are focused on simple, sustainable, modernism, and start at $185 a square foot. LivingHomes are made with natural, non-toxic, and sustainably derived materials, and are built in specialized factories that ensure superior quality, lower construction cost, a quick turnaround, and minimal waste. The first LivingHome was assembled in eight hours, and was certified LEED Platinum, the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Curious about how these homes work? You can find out more with a video from the founder of the company, when you

Casa Verde: BioBags

casasugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:48 -0700

We talk often about ditching plastic bags in favor of resuable shopping bags and recycling whatever you can. But, no matter how hard you work to be environmentally conscious, at the end of the day (or week), you still have to take out the trash. Someone still has to take out the trash. When that time comes, toss your trash away in BioBags, certified 100-percent biodegradable and 100-percent compostable bags, and the first "bag from corn." My dear city of San Francisco recently sent 100,000 rolls of BioBags to residents to educate them on the importance of diverting food and other biodegradable waste from entering landfills, and they're now available at over 100 outlets in the Bay Area. BioBags come as kitchen compost bags, tall-kitchen bags, lawn and leaf bags, cat-pan liners, and waste-system bags — pick your flavor. They're also available at most natural-food stores in the US, or you can order yours online.

Open House: Eco Upgrades

casasugar — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:19:12 -0700

According to CitizenSugar, Al Gore has spent $16,533 on eco-upgrades including solar panels, a geothermal system, new light bulbs, and better windows — and his "house uses enough energy in a year to power 232 regular houses for a month." Yikes! Not to brag or anything but, if you remember correctly, my utility company named me one of 1.5 million residential and 80,000 business customers who had conserved natural gas this past Winter. I may not have solar panels but there's a chance I may still have out-eco-chic'd Al Gore in terms of energy use! What eco upgrades have you made to your home? Solar panels? CFLs? Sustainable materials? Reclaimed wood furniture? Wind power? Planted a tree? Tell me by commenting below!
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Casa Quickie: Buy in Bulk

casasugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:00:25 -0700

Hilary Swank was quoted in Woman's World in 2005 saying, "I cut coupons, love specials, and believe in buying toilet paper and toothpaste in bulk. It's just who I am." Swank probably picked up the penny-pinching habit during her meager beginnings living in a trailer park, but she was onto something. Avoiding products that are packed for single use, and buying in bulk instead, is a form of precycling, or preventing waste before it happens. You can do so by storing your bulk products and transferring a smaller portion to reusable containers. Pick up products like tp, dishwashing liquid, and shampoo at health-food stores like Whole Foods and large, discount retailers like CostCo and Sam's Club.
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Casa Verde: Designing For Climate Change

casasugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:30:14 -0700

Architect Vincent Callebaut has designed a city that floats on the ocean and can house 50,000 people. Why? Given the projections for rising ocean levels due to melting ice caps, a lot of land, especially coastlines, will be under water in the 21st century. As Callebaut explains,

According to the less alarming forecasts of the GIEC (intergovernmental group on the evolution of the climate), the ocean level should rise from 20 to 90 cm during the 21st century with a status quo by 50 cm (versus 10 cm in the 20th century). The international scientific scene assesses that a temperature elevation of 1°C will lead to a water rising of 1 meter. This increase of 1 m would bring ground losses emerged of approximately 0.05 percent in Uruguay, 1 percent in Egypt, 6 percent in the Netherlands, 17.5 percent in Bangladesh, and up to 80 percent approximately in the atoll Majuro in Oceania (Marshall and Kiribati islands and step by step the Maldives islands).

To combat this loss of livable terrain, Callebaut proposes building his rather brilliant floating cities, called Lilypads. Each Lilypad can support up to 50,000 residents, and relies on a type of design called biomimicry, which uses shapes found in nature (such as the nautilus) and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems. In this case, the Lilypad design is inspired by the shape of the water lily. It is half terrestrial and half aquatic, and includes features such as lagoons that purify rainwater. The city relies on renewal technologies such as solar and wind power, and is designed to float on gulf coasts. Even cooler? The city's tiatium dioxide "skin" is designed to process CO₂ in the atmosphere, thus helping to reduce climate change.

While this city is still in the very hypothetical stage, I find it reassuring that there are architects diligently working on ways to deal with these possible issues. It's especially heartening when such a beautiful design is presented.

Source

Casa Shops: Spring

casasugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:00:05 -0700

After the birth of their son, Oliver, Lucas and Margi Heldfond were motivated to open their Russian Hill, San Francisco eco-specialty store, Spring. What's the correlation? They were troubled by the fact that air-tight homes seal in air pollutants. The Heldfonds took a look at the way chemicals find their way into our homes through paints, household cleaners, dry cleaned clothes, building supplies, furniture, electronics, and personal care products, and decided to specialize in green products for a healthy home. And thus, Spring was sprung.Spring now offers home products such as air purifiers, natural cleaning products, organic bedding, organic mattresses, natural personal care products, home accessories, steam cleaners, furnace filters, encasements, HEPA vacuum cleaners, and more. All of these eco products help to reduce our exposure to chemicals, toxins, and pollutants in our homes. This not only ensures environmental health in general, but also contributes to residents' personal health.

Concerned that all this sounds a little too hippie-crunchy granola for you? Not so fast! Spring is loaded with the most stylish, eco-friendly, and eco chic products around. The store even sells no-VOC paints in custom colors! So San Franciscans, go ahead and put a little Spring in your stomping ground. And for everyone else: here's hoping the Heldfonds get their web shop up and running before you have our own little Olivers. To see Spring's 12 steps to a healthy home,

Casa Verde: Cool Down With Naturally Clean

casasugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:48 -0700

Seventh Generation, a brand of environmentally safe household products, launched a special effort, called Get Out of Hot Water, to get people to pick up some green habits in the laundry room.
The company is asking people to pledge to switch to cold-water washing – and are offering a free copy of their book, Naturally Clean, a guide to healthy nontoxic cleaning, to those who do (while supplies last). You already know that washing in cold water is good for your sheets, but it also has a significant positive impact on the environment. Using a cool cycle, saves 90 percent of the energy used in machine-washing a load of laundry, effectively lowering your carbon footprint by preventing the release of energy-related greenhouse gases. It also can amount to a savings of about $70 in annual household energy bills. Making the pledge (easy as pie) and registering your name and address will make you eligible for the book. For those of you who were concerned that washing in cold water doesn't kill as many germs, Seventh Generation has a new production line, 2X Concentrated Laundry Liquids, which works overtime in cold water, getting clothes "hot-water clean with cold-water efficiency."
Source

Eco Chic: ReVision Furniture

casasugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:30:35 -0700

Artists For Humanity (AFH) is a Boston-based group whose mission is to "bridge economic, racial, and social divisions by providing urban youth with the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in the arts," essentially offering youth apprenticeships. A group of teen artists working with AFH were inspired by the AFH's EpiCenter, Boston's only LEED Platinum building (the highest designation of the US Green Building Council) and in response, decided to create a green furniture line, as they'd noticed a need in the market for innovative sustainable design. After months of research and development, the teens and their mentors launched ReVision Tables, a collection of small tables constructed from reclaimed junk mail and magazines, finished with a water-resistant , no-VOC, eco-friendly resin, which is also easy to clean with other eco-friendly products. The tables range from $300 to $650, and are available for purchase online here. Although they may not quite be my style, I certainly find the collection innovative and a great example of sustainable, eco-chic design. I can see them in a coffee shop or lobby-type setting, or perhaps a modern, urban loft. What do you think?

How-To: Repurposing Your Magazines

casasugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:00:22 -0700

Since it's eco chic month, I can't tell you to avoid reading all of your favorite fab fashion magazines (or shelter magazines), but I will give you a few tips on what to do with your mags when you've finished. It's always nice to pass them along to friends, but if your friends aren't eco-conscious, it's likely they'll end up in a landfill. So, here are a few suggestions on what to do with your light reading when it starts to get heavy.

Make a mobile out of them.
Make a box out of them.
Transform them into an art-like wall-hanging.
Turn them around and around into a bowl.
Weave them into a clutch (and have the MoMA sell it).

There are many, many more where these came from, so

Casa Verde: Recycling Bins

casasugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:00:11 -0700

You can't expect yourself to recycle if you don't designate a location for your used items. Your needs may vary depending on how many people you live with and what products you buy, so I thought I'd offer you several recycling bin options for home. Unless you have a city recycling program that lets you mix recyclables, you should be separating your recycling products (paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, etc.), so you might need a
bin or basket for each type. And, if you haven't yet, get yourself a composter, and get in the habit of composting. Also, consider whether you'll be keeping your recyclables inside your house or outdoors before you buy. After you choose what recycling system works best for you, make sure you know how your curbside recycling program works, and what type of plastics it accepts. If you don't have a curbside recycling program, definitely find out where your local recycling center is, so you can drop it all off!
Source

Casa Verde: Kristin Davis's Eco Choices

casasugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 08:30:15 -0700

If you're looking for inspiration on ways to go eco chic look no further than Kristin Davis. Perhaps better known as Charlotte from Sex and the City, this celeb is surprisingly green in her lifestyle choices. While it's true that she did drive a Beemer to the Sex and the City movie premiere, her BMW was actually hydrogen powered. While hydrogen vehicles are still in the experimental stage for the general public, research suggests that they may help to curb greenhouse gases, since their use doesn't involve the burning of fossil fuels.

Another eco choice? Well, Kristin is an ambassador with Oxfam, a charity that works to find long-term solutions to poverty and injustice in over 100 countries. Kristin's worked with Oxfam since the South East Asia tsunami in December 2004, first as a donor and most recently traveling on behalf of Oxfam all over Africa.

Kristin's biggest eco change, though, is probably her new solar-powered house, which is currently being built in LA. To see a video of Kristin talking about her house,

Casa Verde: Know Your Plastics

casasugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 05:30:42 -0700

You may have noticed some numbers surrounded by chasing-arrow symbols on consumer packaging like water bottles, plastic bags, bottle caps, toys, etc. If you have, good! That's step one. But, do you know what they mean? Contrary to what you may think, these icons do not mean that the products can be recycled, or that they're made of recycled plastic; they actually identify which types of plastic a product is made of. Once you know this, you can determine if it can be recycled or not. Unfortunately, not all plastic can be recycled. Most recycling centers accept types one and two, types four and five are less commonly recycled, and types six and seven are rarely, if not virtually never, recycled. For a rundown,

Casa Verde: Waste Management, One Man's Trash

casasugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:00:22 -0700

Justin Gignac, a graduate of New York's School of Visual Arts, picks up trash off of the streets of New York City. But, you won't find him in a sanitation department uniform. He actually fills bags with subway passes, Broadway tickets, coffee cups, phone book pages, and other NYC junk and carefully arranges them in plastic cubes, which are then signed, numbered, and dated in slick Helvetica typeface and sells them for 50 smackers — "making them perfect for anyone who wants their own piece of the NYC landscape," he says. Gignac has sold over 1,000 of his trash cubes, each unique, leak-free, and smell-free. The initiative to repurpose trash spawned from a conversation with a colleague who said package design wasn't important; "I figured the only way to prove them wrong would be to try to package something that absolutely nobody in their right mind would ever want to buy," he rebutted. A fresh way to look at recycling . . . or exporting: his cubes can now be found in 41 states and 91 countries.
Source

Casa Verde: Recycled Lanterns

casasugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 05:36:00 -0700

These recycled iron lanterns ($14.95) from CB2 are darn cute. They're made from iron sheet brand packaging that still shows its original logos, type, colors, and patterns. They would look lovely displayed in multiples, strung across the perimeter of a backyard or at a garden party, and I think these lanterns would also complement a beautiful ethnic print dress. Are you a fan, or are they too kitschy cute for you?

Casa Verde: Energy Saving Programs

casasugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 07:45:02 -0700

A few days ago, I received an unusual thank you note in my mailbox and thought I'd tell you about it. PG&E, my gas and electric company, sent me a note thanking me for being one of 1.5 million residential and 80,000 business customers who had conserved natural gas this past Winter, a time when demand for energy is at its highest. Sweet, right? Well, that wasn't all. Apparently I'm part of its 10/20 Plus Winter Gas Savings Program, which returns additional credit to energy-saving customers, on top of what they've already saved by cutting back on heating use.
To find out all the details,

Casa Verde: Slow Down, Enjoy the Ride

casasugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:00:21 -0700

Memorial Day Weekend is coming up in just a few days, and more than likely, your home may be chock full of guests, or you may be taking up residence in a friend or family member's guest bedroom. There are plenty of ways to go green over a holiday weekend (and I'll be bringing you more tips in days to come), but there's an equally important tip to follow before you even reach your destination. Before you or a loved one gets behind the wheel this coming weekend, I have an easy way for you to save big on both gas and money. Drive 55.

To find out what I mean,