Breaking news:  EDF (Environmental Defense Fund) approached corporate giant Wal-Mart about greening their supply chain.  The results could be healthier indoor environments for many of us, plus a better world overall.  Read about this massive change here.

I want to highlight that EDF approached Wal-Mart, not the other way around, so ignore the doubters in the article comments.  Now if we can just get them to do something about the environmental impact of their stores (reduce energy use, permeable paving, sustainable building practices, etc) ....

Today is Blog Action Day 2009, and this year’s topic, selected by popular vote, is climate change. 

If you haven’t heard by now, there is a lot of scientific evidence that the earth’s atmosphere is changing due to man-made side effects of the consumption of fossil fuels.  Along with the atmospheric changes come weather and elemental changes such as melting glaciers and loss of habitat, rising oceans, droughts and loss of potable drinking water, tsunamis and hurricanes.  There is a tipping point, beyond which we cannot stop the mounting effects that will destroy much of the life on this planet.  It’s probably the single biggest challenge of our generation, and may be the defining act of humankind, how we respond to this self-created crisis.  So what can we, as designers, do to positively affect climate change?

Live, work and design sustainably.  Take a serious look at your workplace, your home, and your designs.  Do they incorporate sustainable principles?  Are you taking every possible measure to reduce your consumption, reuse what you have already and recycle anything else in a responsible manner?  Are you considering environmental and chemical factors when selecting products and finishes?  Do you provide a transparent service to your clients and educate them?  Are you educating yourself with the latest information on products, services and eco-design techniques?  (Furnicology.com can help you here!)

If you think the best way to have a green garden is with a huge expanse of lawn, you’re like most people. Lawns are a part of our culture, and are a ubiquitous feature of front yard landscaping. Unfortunately, they also need a lot of water to maintain their lush good looks, and water is a precious commodity in sunny California.

So, how can you maintain your yard’s good looks without that gorgeous lawn? The answer is simple – get creative and go with native, drought-resistant plants.  I was recently inspired by the wonderful landscaping at the Dierberg Winery (http://www.dierbergvineyard.com/) tasting room up in Santa Barbara County. Simple outcroppings of sage and lavender, coupled with rock lined beds and bark, really worked well together.

       

My UC Berkeley Extension Sustainable Interiors class went to the Pacific Energy Center Monday night.  Ryan Stroupe gave us an informative overview of Lighting and Energy Efficiency.  What the heck is the Pacific Energy Center (PEC)?  "The Pacific Energy Center offers educational programs, design tools, advice, and support to create energy efficient buildings and comfortable indoor environments. Most of [their] efforts are focused around commercial buildings, however, other departments offer advice and information for residential buildings."  The PEC has classes around the Bay Area; find more information here.