The Smart Grid will trigger many transformations. Chief among them is the change in the relationship that consumers have with electricity. We can transform from consumption roles to prosumption roles – producing electricity as well as consuming it. One of the most prominent enablers for us to engage as prosumers are the buildings we inhabit…
Natural gas seems to invoke a win/win perspective as the solution to all problems in some discussions about energy policy and the best fuels for electricity generation and transportation. In these scenarios, the only downside is the pressure it puts on renewable energy technologies. Yes, natural gas is cleaner than goal. It exhausts about half…
Solar panels capture energy from light and convert it to electricity. This is the most visible form of energy harvesting, but it is hardly the only one. Energy harvesting captures energy lost as heat, light, sound, vibration, or movement. Devices that harvest or scavenge energy can capture, accumulate, store, condition, and manage this energy into…
There have been some interesting trends in the world of flooring over the last year. Some of the most notable advances have been in the ease of maintenance and installation. Oiled Wood Floors The realm of “what’s old is new again” can be seen in the development of oiled wood flooring. In this country, we decided…
On my usual trip to England last November, I made a weeklong side trip to Stockholm, Sweden. When people ask me, “Why Sweden?” I (half) jokingly tell them that I wanted to see if the whole country was run as well as that large Swedish home furnishings store we know so well. But my curiosity…
In the developed world, we take for granted the infrastructure fundamentals that give us the good life. Healthy drinking water? Naturally. Reliable electricity? Of course. But in the developing world, this infrastructure is out of reach for at least 1 billion people. Last week the Center for Science, Technology, and Society at Santa Clara University in…
We spend at least a third of our lives in a single room. We turn there for comfort, refuge, and daydreaming. So why don’t we give more thought to our bedrooms? Not to get too personal about it, but it may have something to do with our private and public selves. We give our all…
As you evaluate a potential home remodel or a new purchase, you may envision doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor. Either way, you will find value in hiring an interior designer to help see your vision through from beginning to end. By engaging a professional designer, you become the direct beneficiary of his…
Join us and Think Local First DC for our Do Good Week Green Business Happy Hour. Get inspired by the results of our groundbreaking study on explosive growth in the green economy. DO GOOD WEEK GREEN BUSINESS HAPPY HOUR Wednesday, May 1 6 – 8 pm @ Green America 1612 K Street NW Ste. 600…
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans demonstrated for a clean and sustainable environment. In October 1973, Americans experienced the first oil embargo, and for the first time thought about the real costs of our reliance on oil for energy. On the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we know how the Smart Grid helps achieve…