Architecture

Volunteers in East Oakland, California celebrated Earth Day this year by pulling out their hammers and doing some green building. Once a year, Habitat for Humanity of the East Bay holds their “Earth Day Build-a-Thon.” Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization which links low-income families with affordable homeownserhip opportunities. 

The 5-day Build-a-Thon is a fundraiser where hundreds of volunteers (about 75-110 people per day!) dust off their hammers and hard hats to build homes for low and very low income individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Volunteers are sponsored (much in the way walk-a-thon or bike-a-thon participants are) in order to raise money for Habitat for Humanity of the East Bay.... read more

I caught an interesting interview on The Diane Rehm Show on Boston's WGBH Radio yesterday.  The interview was with Dr. Dickson Despommier, author of The Vertical Farm: Feeding Ourselves and The World in the 21st Century and Bob Young, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.  

Dr. Despommier's book is coming out next week, and I can't wait to read it.  Last month I wrote about urban farming, and the concept of "vertical farming" takes urban farming to a much bigger and exciting level.  

Despommier's website says that by the year 2050, nearly 80% of the earth's population will reside in urban centers.  Meanwhile, much urban space is being underutilized and urban centers often don't have access to fresh, local food.  The solution?  Farm vertically.  Farm "up."  Build indoor farms on this land, such as tall greenhouses or using hydroponics.  Think of how green this is.  No shipping produce long distances, no tractors, and less water usage.  ... read more

Universal Studios, Hollywood

Universal Studios in Hollywood was recently honored with the EMA Environmental Media Association (EMA) Green Seal Award. The award is the first-ever given to a theme park for its commitment and effort in working towards a more environmentally conscious workplace and community.

I recently toured the theme park to witness their ‘greening’ efforts as a casual visitor.... read more

What is Aquaponics? 

It is a closed-looped, symbiotic process involving fish and produce where fish waste provides a food source for the plants and the plants provide a natural filter for the water the fish live in. So that means you can raise your own fish and grow your own produce in a self sustaining nutrient system.... read more