Act now to cut winter energy bills

“Energy, like money, is much more easily saved than generated.”
—Bill Mollison, cofounder of the permaculture design system

UltraTouch insulation is made from 85% post-industrial recycled denim and other cotton textiles (bondedlogic.com).

Now that the crazy days of summer are winding down, it’s a good time to plan for how to manage energy costs this fall and winter. While the escalating price of energy may be out of our control, the amount of energy we use is up to us. Small and large steps to cut energy consumption around the home make a difference not just to our wallets and comfort but to global security and sustainability.

Schedule energy tune-up tasks for a couple of weekend mornings or afternoons over the next few months, and come winter you, your home and your bank account will be better prepared to ride out the chill. If you live in a warm-winter climate, keep in mind that many of these steps will cut cooling or lighting costs year round.

Deconstructing the kitchen

My kitchen, circa August 2005. Deconstruction takes more time than demolition but keeps resources in use rather than burying them in landfills.

One of the biggest challenges of green kitchen remodeling is keeping waste in check. It’s easy to become so riveted by our vision for a beautiful new kitchen that we lose sight of making sure that old cabinets, appliances, plumbing fixtures and other materials don’t wind up in the dump.

When my partner Erik and I set out to redo our kitchen last year, we talked to our builder, Jonathan Cunha of Fusion Building Company, about salvaging rather than dumping any reusable materials. Because we discussed this before signing the contract, he was able to build extra time for salvaging into the construction schedule.

Our project was relatively small, so Jonathan had his own crew do the salvaging. They removed appliances and fixtures we weren’t planning to reuse and donated them to a local building materials salvage yard. They delivered conduit, ducts and other metal to our local recycling facility. Wood was stacked and stored onsite for reuse. And many cabinets got a second life in our garage.

Getting a Green Life: Urban Permaculture

Up close and personal with worm composting.

This summer, I didn’t go to the beach. Or to the mountains, for that matter. I stayed home and took a six-weekend course in permaculture design. Offered for the first time by the San Francisco Botanical Garden Society, this course was unique in the permaculture world in that it focused more on urban than rural issues.

Although hardly a household word, the concept of permaculture design has been around for more than three decades. Originally formulated by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren, permaculture is now practiced across the planet.

So what is permaculture?

Good Green Cooking: Panzanella (Tomato & Bread Salad)

Wondering what to do with that stale hunk of crusty bread? Don’t throw it away! Cube and toss with fragrant late-summer tomatoes and basil for a hearty salad. Serves 2.

1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon balsamic or red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups days-old Italian or French bread, cut in 1-inch cubes
1/2 pound ripe tomatoes, cut in 1-inch chunks
1/4 cup Kalamata or Niçoise olives
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

In a medium bowl, mash minced garlic with pinch of salt. Add vinegar and then whisk in oil until well blended. Add remaining ingredients and toss well. Salt and pepper to taste. Let stand 10 minutes to allow bread to absorb dressing. Buon appetito!

Dwell on Design — 9/16/2006

Sept. 16, 2006  San Francisco

Dwell on Design Conference + Exhibition. Experience architecture through the lens of prefab, sustainability, affordability and urban design. Conference runs from Sept. 13 to 17 and is hosted by Dwell magazine. On Sept. 16, Jennifer will speak on the topic, “Is Green Good Enough?” A book signing follows. Info: dwell.com/connect/dwellconferences

 

West Coast Green — 9/30/2006

Sept. 30, 2006  San Francisco

West Coast Green Residential Building Conference + Expo. This three-day event focuses exclusively on residential green building. On Sept. 30, join Jennifer for a lively presentation about what green means when it comes to the kitchen. A book signing follows. Info: westcoastgreen.com

 

Urban Permaculture — 10/11/2006

Oct. 11, 2006  San Francisco

Urban Permaculture Design and Community: practical solutions for a changing world. Jennifer will join a panel of urban permaculture designers and educators to offer perspectives on this holistic design system and how it works in our suburbs and cities. Moderated by Kat Steele of the Urban Permaculture Guild and sponsored by Architects, Designers and Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR).

 

Recommended: An Inconvenient Truth

An Inconvenient Truth. You still haven’t seen this film about Al Gore’s crusade to wake us up to our planetary emergency? What are you waiting for? Info and theater locations at climatecrisis.net.

 

Recommended: The Great Turning

The Great Turning by David C. Korten, 2006. Korten argues that we’ve reached a critical juncture. We can join together now in what he and others call the Great Turning, setting the stage for a sustainable global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and peace. Or we can stand on the sidelines, lamenting an unprecedented collapse of environmental and social systems that may be known to future generations as the Great Unraveling.

Recommended: Daily Acts

Daily-acts.org. Make a world of difference by taking individual and collective daily actions, from buying local to growing your own food to getting to know your neighbors.