Green Homes Las Vegas Undressed

Green Links Las Vegas

I have been in the middle of a move for the last week so I’ll start posting again with Green Links Las Vegas. Collin Dunn writing for treehugger talks about pesticides and which vegatables have the highest levels of pesticide residue. It’s always wise to wash your vegatables; here is the link.

In another post from treehugger, written by Marian Hopkins, we take a look at The Green Technology Revolution. Marian points out this may be “Sputnik’s Lesson” and the U.S. can’t afford to get left behind.

Solar technology is getting much more efficient. Timothy B. Hurst writing for CleanTechnica points to a solar plant in Phoenix called Suncatcher that is setting records in energy conversion. 

Bryce Harper the 16 year-old phenom is making news again. The Las Vegas native has been getting a lot of press lately; this is a link to an article from ESPN by David Picker. He hit a 570 foot home run last year and batted over .600. Here is the link to the post and the accompaning video.  This is not really a green link, but he is a young wonder.   

This weeks final link is from the Las Vegas Sun and Alexandra Berzon. The politicians are at it again; this time it is about solar power generation. You be the judge; I just hope they make the right decision.

Green Links Las Vegas

Green Links Las Vegas starts the week off by taking a look at fuel cell technology. Are mushrooms the answer? You can find out by clicking on this link to an article by Tina Casey writing for CleanTechnica.

Are we letting our guard down it our search for killer astroids? Seth Borenstein’s article in the Tacoma News Tribune suggests that it might be the case. Congress is not getting the funds to NASA and this research is what I would consider fairly essential. Stuff does happen! 

Here is some more news on toilet technology from Consumer Reports; video included at the link. For more information on Green Toilets you can check out the post that I wrote a few weeks back. 

Did you know that under a 1944 treaty, Mexico receives 1.5 million acre-feet of water a year from the Colorado River. That’s five times more than Nevada’s share, but only about one third of what California gets and about half of what Arizona receives. An article in the Las Vegas Review Journal written by Henry Brean discusses the possibility of desalination plants in Mexico.  

Green Links Las Vegas

This weeks Green Links Las Vegas takes a look at Green Colleges. Blythe Copeland writing for treehugger has a list of the top ten College Environmental Programs. If you have a student who’s interested in green have him or her click here.

I’ve always liked soda water and it’s better for your teeth than real soda. How I found this site I have no idea; it is an earth friendly product. The soda-club is promoting your own home soda factory; make your own from tap water in 3 seconds. Here is the soda-club’s website.  

I’m having a little difficulty finding good green posts; so here are a couple off-topic posts.

There is a great food site called italian foodies and this weeks article article is about Jamie Oliver. Oliver also know as the Naked Chef has had a number of food shows. This post from Lorriane at italian foodies takes us on a tour of Oliver’ restaurant in Bath. Here is the link to Jaimie’s Italian restaurant.

Okay, long search, but I found something that I can tie this post off with. Blueberries are in season so this is a timely recipe. Are you ready for Blueberry, Lime and Rose Petal Cheesecake. The Luna Cafe link to their recipe is right here. 

Green Roofs Las Vegas

Green Roofs Las Vegas is the title of this post. You’ll find out how solar panels work and take a look at some new technology. 

If you click the above photo you can view a video on how solar panels function.

We are definitely seeing an evolution in solar panel design and installation.

The roof on this home was installed with a new solar tile designed for curved roofing. The new tiles designed by SRS Energy of Philadelphia blend in with a number of styles of clay tile. If you look closely you can see that the panels are actually built into the tiles. The Bermuda Dunes home above is one of several demonstration installations.

SRS Energy and US Tile expect to do a product launch that will allow homeowners to install larger solar upgrades.

It is very apparent that SRS Energy and U.S. Tile are designing roof tiles that are not only practical but blend in with the architecture of the home. Most of what we are seeing now in solar roofing is very visible.

I’m reminded of the time that I bought my first computer in the early 1980’s. My Apple III computer set me back $4000 at the time. Now you can buy them for $400.

The price of solar roof tiling is bound to come down as demand and production increase. The seemless beauty of these tiles will surely attract a following!

Green Links Las Vegas

Green Links Las Vegas starts the week with a story about harnessing ocean waves. Ruedigar Matthes writing for Cleantechnica says “If it is successful in its debut this autumn, it could change the face of wave energy forever.” Here is the link.

The largest mass ascent of hot air balloons took place recently at the biennial Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons rally in Chambley, France. Pilots from around the world lifted off in 329 balloons on 26 July. This is from the Flickr blog; complete with a video of the event.

Here is a solar powered blimp that looks out of this world! Bryan Nelson from Cleantechnica shows us what the future may hold for cross Atlantic travel.

The Gulf Stream current is the strongest in the world. Can it be harnessed? Here is a report from CNN.

Here is a green home in Oregon. Beautiful inside and out, the home is a perfect example of how green homes can be beautiful, energy efficient and create minimal impact on the environment. Bridgette Meinhold writing for Inhabitat shows us the home.

Luxury Homes in Las Vegas

Sun West Custom Homes (The Ridges) 2009

Luxury homes in Las Vegas are as plentiful as are the designs and character that have been built into them. Some are strikingly beautiful and unique while others are often just large boxes with high ceilings and little character.

Signature Custom Homes (McDonald Highlands) 2002

This got me thinking about the time I spent in the School of Architecture at the University of Washington. The vision was to create new structures using imagination, new materials and technologies in the building of homes. Sadly, most builders continued to build what the client wanted rather than build something new that the public would come to see as a better alternative.

Slade Development (Red Rock Country Club) 2009

You can see from the above photos that the creative mind is still at work in Las Vegas!

When I was still in school I visited Taliesin West. Built by Frank Lloyd Wright, this complex was designed as a school for architects. Students, at the time that I was there, learned everything from operating construction equipment, framing to architectural design.

There is a beauty and grace to this complex. The buildings and the landscape show a balance and a harmony of form and color.

I remember Frank Lloyd Wright and how his vision of wide-open living spaces helped to coax Americans out of their boxlike houses. The homes that he designed used a variety of materials; he would create a palate of color and textures that brought warmth to the homes that he built.

Frank Lloyd Wright architecture – Arthur B. Heurtley House (1902)

He utilized the natural environment of the site and brought nature into the home. Wright embraced glass in his organic designs.  He would use strings of glass panes along whole walls; creating light screens to join together solid walls. This created a balance between the light and air of glass and the solid and hard nature of the walls.

Fallingwater, which was completed in 1937, is an example of how he uses a rich and lively environment and incorporates it into the design of a home.

His style was unique and his creative design work has withstood the test of time.

He was quoted as saying to his Fallingwater client “I want you to live with the waterfall, not just to look at it, but for it to become an integral part of your lives.”

I plan on writing a series of articles about our custom homebuilders here in Las Vegas. This will be an attempt to uncover how their visions took hold and their plans for the future of homebuilding here in Las Vegas.

Green Oceans and Plastic

Our oceans are being threatened by “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” This is a phenomenon that has many scientists concerned. The debris field of this massive vortex of floating plastic trash is said to be twice the size of Texas.

An article written by Paul Rogers from the San Jose Mercury News highlights some of the issues that are involved. For the full article you can click here.

“The bobbing debris field, where currents swirl everything from discarded fishing line to plastic bottles into one soupy mess, is about 1,000 miles west of California,” Rogers writes.

Most of us know that plastic just doesn’t decompose; you might check my post on plastic bottles for more information.

It may be impossible to clean up this mess. The larger pieces can be pulled from the ocean; however, we are dealing with an area that is just too large.

Rogers says “First, most of the plastic is broken into tiny fragments. Plastic becomes brittle from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation and eventually breaks up into minuscule pieces like confetti. Billions float just below the surface in the garbage patch, which is located north of Hawaii but shifts in size and location depending on the season and the currents.”

Holly Bamford, director of marine-debris program for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Silver Spring, Md. has these comments.“Albatrosses and other sea birds die from ingesting plastic, which fills their stomachs without providing nutrition. The plastic pieces also can absorb toxic chemicals, which then migrate up the food chain, even potentially contaminating fish that humans eat.”

This issue is an “out of sight out of mind” issue according to Rogers. We can be thankful that scientists are looking into the problem. However, we must be more vigilant in protecting our planet. We need to be disciplined and create habits that are friendlier to the environment.

This is all about setting roots in our culture; about the importance of being good stewards of our Planet. Taking action creates a domino effect; it can inspire others to take action. Our beaches and oceans are littered with items made of plastic; so buy reusable shopping bags and water bottles.

Changing the World Starts with You!

Changing the World Starts with You!

The Four Agreements from Don Miguel Ruiz:

1.  Be Impeccable With Your Word

Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2.  Don’t Take Anything Personally

Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

3.  Don’t Make Assumptions

Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4.  Always Do Your Best

Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

Don Miguel Ruiz and his Toltec Teaching can be viewed by clicking here for his webite