Running On Empty

The smell of an exceptional bolognese sauce filled the kitchen of the house we were renting for the Christmas holidays. We had all descended on Cape Town to visit my mother. My sister, Tessa, bent over the pot to give the dish a taste as my wife popped a few loaves of garlic bread into the oven.

Smog-Eating Buildings and the Snackwell’s Effect

Is Technology the Answer?

The development of new green building technologies can be tremendously exciting, but it can also be a distraction that takes us away from a core focus. A few months ago we saw the introduction of “smog-eating” roof tiles by MonierLifeTiles that are being deployed on all of KB Home’s California projects. In May we saw ALCOA introduce its Reynobond^® with EcoClean™ architectural panels that purportedly clean themselves and the air around it.

For us green building geeks, this is exciting and fun stuff.  Both use titanium dioxide for air cleaning purposes. MLT uses it as a sunlight-reactive agent roofing product that interacts with smog molecules (nitrogen oxides, or NOx) and converts it to a harmless calcium compound that is washed off by rain.  EcoClean is also a titanium dioxide product that is applied to pre-painted aluminum panels. NOx is captured and converted on a super-slick surface and then washed off with rain or small amounts of humidity.

When Forests are Well-Managed, Wood is the Most Sustainable Building Material

Sustainability-minded builders have long chosen wood over cement and steel, when possible, to deliver structures with lower embodied carbon emissions. When you compare wood and wood-alternatives side by side, wood always wins in terms of lower embodied direct emissions. But what about the potential unintended consequences of using wood whenever and wherever possible?

Oregon House Debate Highlights Building Performance Labeling

Should building owners be required to provide public information on the energy performance of their buildings? Would such disclosure help to promote the local commercial and residential real estate sectors? A number of Oregon legislators and their constituents would answer “yes” and “yes.”

Winter Recreation Takes a Hit: Business Risks of Climate Change

Feb 12, 2011:  We left excited for a weekend in the snow and headed up to the Cooper Spur area on Mount Hood.  Arriving at the trailhead, typically under several feet of snow this time of year, we found patches of bare ground.  As we were planning to spend the night at the Tilly Jane cabin, we had a sled full of gear – expecting it would be much easier to haul our gear in a sled on the snow, than carry it on our back.  Unfortunately, the sled turned out to be more of a burden than an aid as we had to carry the sled for about half a mile where there simply wasn’t enough snow – bare ground, rocks and fallen trees.  I’ve been traveling this trail every year over the last 19 years, and while the snow isn’t always the light fluffy stuff you dream about, I’ve never had to take my skis off and walk the trail due to an absolute absence of snow.

So how exactly does my disappointing weekend snow trip illuminate business risks?  Well, right next to the trailhead is the Cooper Spur Mountain Resort, which typically offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing runs for family recreation.  The resort is closed right now, due to insufficient snow – and this is an increasingly common state of affairs.  The general trend is that over the long term, snow fall and snow pack have been falling.  As I work on climate change issues, I know exactly why this is happening, but the issues of climate change aren’t simple and can be difficult to communicate (see my colleague’s blog).

Protect Our Winters

Slashing First Tracks in the Blizzard of Climate Change Messaging

The one thing all skiers and snowboarders have in common is the question: "Is it snowing?" When the answer is "no" and suddenly it's 65 degrees at 10,000 ft. in February, even the drunkest ski bum will start searching for answers. Climate change? There is nothing simple about climate change and the information explaining it is often over most of our heads. Hopefully, a change is on the horizon. While the climate change industry is stuck on creating a global message, Protect Our Winters (POW) is doing the opposite. By taking a human approach, POW is simplifying the climate change message.