Monday, April 24, 2006
EcoDesign / Green Buildings
Bioregion Focuses on Green Building
ELIST, Apr. 11, 2006 (Greenbuilding) – (CIP Editor’s note: This particular Job Posting deadline has passed, but this great partner organization offers terrific resource support) - The Cascadia Region Green Building Council is seeking a visionary leader to inspire sustainable communities and green building stewardship in the Pacific Northwest. Cascadia's mission is to promote the design, construction and operation of buildings in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live, work and learn. See www.cascadiagbc.org. Resources: http://www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia/resources.asp.
Bioregion Focuses on Green Building
ELIST, Apr. 11, 2006 (Greenbuilding) – (CIP Editor’s note: This particular Job Posting deadline has passed, but this great partner organization offers terrific resource support) - The Cascadia Region Green Building Council is seeking a visionary leader to inspire sustainable communities and green building stewardship in the Pacific Northwest. Cascadia's mission is to promote the design, construction and operation of buildings in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live, work and learn. See www.cascadiagbc.org. Resources: http://www.usgbc.org/chapters/cascadia/resources.asp.
Environment / Health Resources
Labour Environmental Alliance Society – Cancersmart Consumer Guide
ELIST, Apr. 3, 2006 (EN INFO: Green Shopper) - What do Orange Glo Orange Eliminator Spot Remover, Simple Green Cleaner Degreaser, Sunlight Laundry Detergent and many other common household cleaning products have in common? According to LEAS they contain carcinogens. Find out about these and other carcinogenic foods, personal care and homecare products. Buy your copy online. http://www.leas.ca.
Labour Environmental Alliance Society – Cancersmart Consumer Guide
ELIST, Apr. 3, 2006 (EN INFO: Green Shopper) - What do Orange Glo Orange Eliminator Spot Remover, Simple Green Cleaner Degreaser, Sunlight Laundry Detergent and many other common household cleaning products have in common? According to LEAS they contain carcinogens. Find out about these and other carcinogenic foods, personal care and homecare products. Buy your copy online. http://www.leas.ca.
Climate Change / Buying Local
There is Crude Oil in Your Oatmeal!
ELIST, Apr. 3, 2006 (EN INFO: Green Shopper) - Find out how much petroleum it takes to bring you breakfast.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/26/ING3PHRU681.D.
There is Crude Oil in Your Oatmeal!
ELIST, Apr. 3, 2006 (EN INFO: Green Shopper) - Find out how much petroleum it takes to bring you breakfast.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/03/26/ING3PHRU681.D.
Leadership Training / Earth Building Ed
Cal-Earth Apprenticeship Program
WEB Reference, Mar. 19, 2006 (CalEarth.org) - If you have a vision for building your home, a community, or even helping others to build theirs, or if you're ready to start construction, stop, and consider the alternatives. "Anybody in this world should be able to build a shelter for his or her family with the simplest of elements - earth, water, air, and fire." These technologies to construct a natural architecture haven't been developed from clever designs and speculation, but from bridging traditional technology by meditation, commitment, and distilling, into future planning. Over the last twenty-five years architect Nader Khalili has been researching Earth Architecture with his associates and apprentices to bring building back into people's hands. Now for the 1.2 billion people in the world living with no safe shelter and no hope of ever affording one, new hope has begun to arrive. http://www.calearth.org/apprent.htm.
Cal-Earth Apprenticeship Program
WEB Reference, Mar. 19, 2006 (CalEarth.org) - If you have a vision for building your home, a community, or even helping others to build theirs, or if you're ready to start construction, stop, and consider the alternatives. "Anybody in this world should be able to build a shelter for his or her family with the simplest of elements - earth, water, air, and fire." These technologies to construct a natural architecture haven't been developed from clever designs and speculation, but from bridging traditional technology by meditation, commitment, and distilling, into future planning. Over the last twenty-five years architect Nader Khalili has been researching Earth Architecture with his associates and apprentices to bring building back into people's hands. Now for the 1.2 billion people in the world living with no safe shelter and no hope of ever affording one, new hope has begun to arrive. http://www.calearth.org/apprent.htm.
Local Living Communities / Human Rights & AT
Sustainable Solutions
WEB Reference, Mar. 2006 (One Sky Website) - One Sky's mission is to promote sustainable living globally. Find out more about us and our philosophy. One Sky works on projects to promote human rights and sustainable economics and to conserve and protect the environment. One Sky furthers appropriate technology systems, such as strawbale constructions and pedal- powered technologies, and is focusing on renewable energy at the local, national and international levels. http://www.onesky.ca. Solutions: http://www.onesky.ca/sustsolns.html.
Sustainable Solutions
WEB Reference, Mar. 2006 (One Sky Website) - One Sky's mission is to promote sustainable living globally. Find out more about us and our philosophy. One Sky works on projects to promote human rights and sustainable economics and to conserve and protect the environment. One Sky furthers appropriate technology systems, such as strawbale constructions and pedal- powered technologies, and is focusing on renewable energy at the local, national and international levels. http://www.onesky.ca. Solutions: http://www.onesky.ca/sustsolns.html.
Climate Change Solutions / Energy
Green Knight / Black Knight
WEB Reference, Mar. 17, 2006 (Green Knight / Black Knight) - Free Downloadable Book on Sustainable Solutions - Across Canada, and throughout the World, humanity is in an epic struggle to come to terms with its energy needs and desires. Civilization's powerful attachments to oil, gas, and electricity have brought us to the brink of a disaster unprecedented in our times. Soaring costs, dwindling supplies, political chaos and the hydra of Climate Change all roar out for a challenger. Sustainable solutions to this dilemma do exist. Clean, renewable sources of energy, in concert with better efficiency and consumers who give a damn, present the only viable plan of survival for society. Time is very short. When the supply lines fail, self-reliance will rule. Find your allies now. 1. Get up to speed on the Climate Change/Green Power puzzle in only two hours (the time it takes to watch one Hollywood movie). 2. Get scores of new regional and international prospects for training and employment in the hot new field of sustainable energy development. 3. Get ready for the future with fresh perspective and a sense of humour. Read a sample here.
Green Knight / Black Knight
WEB Reference, Mar. 17, 2006 (Green Knight / Black Knight) - Free Downloadable Book on Sustainable Solutions - Across Canada, and throughout the World, humanity is in an epic struggle to come to terms with its energy needs and desires. Civilization's powerful attachments to oil, gas, and electricity have brought us to the brink of a disaster unprecedented in our times. Soaring costs, dwindling supplies, political chaos and the hydra of Climate Change all roar out for a challenger. Sustainable solutions to this dilemma do exist. Clean, renewable sources of energy, in concert with better efficiency and consumers who give a damn, present the only viable plan of survival for society. Time is very short. When the supply lines fail, self-reliance will rule. Find your allies now. 1. Get up to speed on the Climate Change/Green Power puzzle in only two hours (the time it takes to watch one Hollywood movie). 2. Get scores of new regional and international prospects for training and employment in the hot new field of sustainable energy development. 3. Get ready for the future with fresh perspective and a sense of humour. Read a sample here.
Students Involvement / Personal Impact
WANTED: BC Sustainability Trades School & Workshop Students for Pre-Registration Survey
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Mar. 30, 2006 (Earth Innovators Leadership Education Listserve) - Taking the leadership challenge, 20 students of sustainability trades, will enter this year what is possibly the newest game in designer education for eco-home, rural and community / neighborhood sustainability projects. The Vancouver Island multi-partner project will survey, produce and design courses in response to student needs for their own individual learning experiences on a 2 to 20 month calendar rotation, involving overview, classroom, shop and hands-on field learning, in all categories of sustainability awareness, renewable energy and project ‘start-up’. Independent study is being offered, as well as think tanks, 2 month, 6 month, 1 and 2 year structured programs for those with goals leading toward: Classroom Teaching, Project Assistance & Field Instruction; Maintenance & Mechanics; or Field Design for Home / Project Use. Various specialties, Jack-of-All-Trades and Self-directed Study programs are intended to emerge. The aim for this new trades school / workshop design program is to prepare keen ground-level students of the earth arts to be able take many of the next steps with their own project designs or sustainability interests. They will develop a level of familiarity, confidence and the language to converse comfortably with field engineers and professionals for home-designing, building and maintaining projects, equipment and tools, and to pursue life and career goals. Course fees and payment schedules will be determined by each student’s chosen study outcome and a limited number of Barter / Trade Students will be accepted on leadership terms. Students and community members who are not registered in a course of study will also be able to join in for individual sessions or for field trips with a fee-for-auditing, depending upon class size and seat availability. This is a leadership opportunity for those in need of more how-to, hands-on education in sustainability and for those wishing to co-create the next transitional phase to a new eco-future, where seek-and-be-helped education is an open service system for and by all people from all walks of life. For more information or to take part in the Student Pre-registration Survey you can contact the Community Assets Project, Earth Masters Program at: 250-753-5605 or email: communityassets@telus.net. Please leave a detailed message and a time when you can be reached by phone. All parties during the course of this survey will keep both questions and answers confidential. Final program and enrollment details will be announced after the survey wrap-up and the mapping of BC education options (and elsewhere) that could be accessed by students following the end of their introductory course material, when they may wish to pursue more specialized training. Instructor enquiries are welcome.
WANTED: BC Sustainability Trades School & Workshop Students for Pre-Registration Survey
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC, Mar. 30, 2006 (Earth Innovators Leadership Education Listserve) - Taking the leadership challenge, 20 students of sustainability trades, will enter this year what is possibly the newest game in designer education for eco-home, rural and community / neighborhood sustainability projects. The Vancouver Island multi-partner project will survey, produce and design courses in response to student needs for their own individual learning experiences on a 2 to 20 month calendar rotation, involving overview, classroom, shop and hands-on field learning, in all categories of sustainability awareness, renewable energy and project ‘start-up’. Independent study is being offered, as well as think tanks, 2 month, 6 month, 1 and 2 year structured programs for those with goals leading toward: Classroom Teaching, Project Assistance & Field Instruction; Maintenance & Mechanics; or Field Design for Home / Project Use. Various specialties, Jack-of-All-Trades and Self-directed Study programs are intended to emerge. The aim for this new trades school / workshop design program is to prepare keen ground-level students of the earth arts to be able take many of the next steps with their own project designs or sustainability interests. They will develop a level of familiarity, confidence and the language to converse comfortably with field engineers and professionals for home-designing, building and maintaining projects, equipment and tools, and to pursue life and career goals. Course fees and payment schedules will be determined by each student’s chosen study outcome and a limited number of Barter / Trade Students will be accepted on leadership terms. Students and community members who are not registered in a course of study will also be able to join in for individual sessions or for field trips with a fee-for-auditing, depending upon class size and seat availability. This is a leadership opportunity for those in need of more how-to, hands-on education in sustainability and for those wishing to co-create the next transitional phase to a new eco-future, where seek-and-be-helped education is an open service system for and by all people from all walks of life. For more information or to take part in the Student Pre-registration Survey you can contact the Community Assets Project, Earth Masters Program at: 250-753-5605 or email: communityassets@telus.net. Please leave a detailed message and a time when you can be reached by phone. All parties during the course of this survey will keep both questions and answers confidential. Final program and enrollment details will be announced after the survey wrap-up and the mapping of BC education options (and elsewhere) that could be accessed by students following the end of their introductory course material, when they may wish to pursue more specialized training. Instructor enquiries are welcome.
Self-reliance / Energy Sources
Small Scale Geothermal: Saving Up to 75% on Heating!
WEB Reference, Mar. 30, 2006 (Magnumpm) - Practical in its method, GeoExchange heat pumps are installed in the basement or mechanical room of the building and are connected to underwater or underground pipes called loops which extend into the site footprint. These loops collect the 51% of extra energy that the sun transmits into the earth each year. In the heating months, the energy is transformed by the heat pump into a usable form. In the cooling season, the energy is transmitted back to the earth where it came from, hence "Geo Exchange". This proven technology is an affordable, effective, and environmentally sound way of heating or cooling your home. http://www.magnumpm.com.
Small Scale Geothermal: Saving Up to 75% on Heating!
WEB Reference, Mar. 30, 2006 (Magnumpm) - Practical in its method, GeoExchange heat pumps are installed in the basement or mechanical room of the building and are connected to underwater or underground pipes called loops which extend into the site footprint. These loops collect the 51% of extra energy that the sun transmits into the earth each year. In the heating months, the energy is transformed by the heat pump into a usable form. In the cooling season, the energy is transmitted back to the earth where it came from, hence "Geo Exchange". This proven technology is an affordable, effective, and environmentally sound way of heating or cooling your home. http://www.magnumpm.com.
EcoVersity
Ecological & Organic Learning Centres & Places in North America
http://www.planetfriendly.net/learn.html.
Ecological & Organic Learning Centres & Places in North America
http://www.planetfriendly.net/learn.html.
Global Village / Women
Women and Environmental Conservation
ELIST, Mar. 2006 (id21) - International treaties and conferences now recognise the central role of women as caretakers of the natural world. Most societies and governments, however, have been slow to act when it comes to improving women's conditions. They have also neglected the link between women and the environment. http://www.id21.org/society/s4aUNEP1g1.html. Email request: GET http://www.id21.org/getweb/s4aUNEP1g1.html (see end of message for full instructions to receive full research highlight by email).
Women and Environmental Conservation
ELIST, Mar. 2006 (id21) - International treaties and conferences now recognise the central role of women as caretakers of the natural world. Most societies and governments, however, have been slow to act when it comes to improving women's conditions. They have also neglected the link between women and the environment. http://www.id21.org/society/s4aUNEP1g1.html. Email request: GET http://www.id21.org/getweb/s4aUNEP1g1.html (see end of message for full instructions to receive full research highlight by email).
EcoDesign / Solar Decathalon Follow Up
Department of Energy Announces 2007 Teams
WEB Reference, April, 2006 (www.solardecathlon.org) - Twenty teams (http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/solar_decathlon_2007.html ) have been selected to compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon. Each selected team will be awarded $100,000 over two years to support the Solar Decathlon's research goal of reducing the cost of solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology. http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon. (Editors note: Do NOT miss the Gallery of Homes to date. This is some of the most fantastic work in the world!)
Department of Energy Announces 2007 Teams
WEB Reference, April, 2006 (www.solardecathlon.org) - Twenty teams (http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon/solar_decathlon_2007.html ) have been selected to compete in the 2007 Solar Decathlon. Each selected team will be awarded $100,000 over two years to support the Solar Decathlon's research goal of reducing the cost of solar-powered homes and advancing solar technology. http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar_decathlon. (Editors note: Do NOT miss the Gallery of Homes to date. This is some of the most fantastic work in the world!)
Self-reliance / Solar Housing
Sustain Mini-home Hits the Road
WEB Reference, Apr. 16, 2006 (Treehugger.com) - So many prefabs are vaporware- great ideas that never make it off the drafting board. Imagine our excitement to see the SIP walled, green roofed, solar panelled, stirling powered Sustain MiniHome hit the road to Toronto for its first exposure at the National Home Show. (although we cannot guarantee that all of those components are in this first unit) This TreeHugger may go over the top a bit about this little unit but it is the future- small efficient spaces, green materials and low impact. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/sustain_minihom.php.
Sustain Mini-home Hits the Road
WEB Reference, Apr. 16, 2006 (Treehugger.com) - So many prefabs are vaporware- great ideas that never make it off the drafting board. Imagine our excitement to see the SIP walled, green roofed, solar panelled, stirling powered Sustain MiniHome hit the road to Toronto for its first exposure at the National Home Show. (although we cannot guarantee that all of those components are in this first unit) This TreeHugger may go over the top a bit about this little unit but it is the future- small efficient spaces, green materials and low impact. http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/04/sustain_minihom.php.
Exemplary Resources / EcoDesign
Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide
WEB Reference, Feb. 27, 2006 (Metaefficient / Goto Reviews) - This practical book is the first step-by-step green building guide we've seen. It is packed with photographs illustrating building techniques like Earth Plastering, Straw Bale Construction, Living Roofs, Cordwood Building and Cob Building. At over 600 pages, this hefty guide is useful for anyone wanting to see the nitty-gritty details of green building. The author's web site is Think Building Green. Available from Amazon.
Building Green: A Complete How-To Guide
WEB Reference, Feb. 27, 2006 (Metaefficient / Goto Reviews) - This practical book is the first step-by-step green building guide we've seen. It is packed with photographs illustrating building techniques like Earth Plastering, Straw Bale Construction, Living Roofs, Cordwood Building and Cob Building. At over 600 pages, this hefty guide is useful for anyone wanting to see the nitty-gritty details of green building. The author's web site is Think Building Green. Available from Amazon.
