Mayors often talk about Green initiatives in their communities, but taking real action is not as simple as it sounds. Mayors Across America is the first step that all mayors need to take to make sure their offices, communities, and cities become authentically Green.
Green leadership is very important to encourage others to Go Green as well. We are struggling right now with-in a period of Greenwashing tactics and an "Easy Green" attitude that will actually buying a Green certification off the Internet. What is needed is a program that does not "Dumb Down Green," but encourages people, families, businesses, and organizations to step up to a respected standard of Green Practices
The Green Business League transcends local Green programs that are well-intended but not capable of creating the kind of program that can change our nation and our world. While every little bit counts, we also suffer from a discordant array of Green promotions that lack the size and vision found in the national (and International) program of responsible and holistic Green Practices that millions of people and companies can achieve under a common system.
We encourage every Mayor to join Mayors Across America, and take the leadership in their community for what is happening in other cities across America. The fee, of course, is extremely modest. The public relations value is also very obvious. But, the signal that this effort sends is invaluable to the community.
Earth's orbit
Believe it or not, even space contains copious amounts of pollution. An estimated 4 million pounds of space debris — nuts, bolts, metal and carbon, even whole spacecraft — currently orbit the Earth, threatening satellites, communication and even the lives of our astronauts.Earth's orbit
Believe it or not, even space contains copious amounts of pollution. An... more
EMBARQ - The WRI Center for Sustainable Transport takes a look into Washington, D.C.'s bike sharing program, SmartBike DC, the first of its kind in the United States.EMBARQ - The WRI Center for Sustainable Transport takes a look into Washington, D.C.'s... more
In just 24 years it will increase by 10 million and hit 70 million in 2029, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
That is less than half the time it took to go from 50 to 60 million between 1948 and 2005. Every year 425,000 more people will be living here, the equivalent of a city the size of Bristol.
Across the UK the total will hit 71.6 million in 2033 from just over 61 million now. Of those, 60.7 million will be living in England.
Obviously these statistics dont take into account how many of us will be sick to death of this country by then and will have left!
But let the Eugenics people get stressed out, the same ones who think abortions are our only way to solve the problem of over-population.
So what's a national debt of over a Trillion pounds shared by 70 million? well at least having more people may take the burden of usIn just 24 years it will increase by 10 million and hit 70 million in 2029, according... more
Every year, the top book publishers gather together in Frankfurt Germany at a public show. This is a photograph of the gorgeous public hall where the 2009 book fair took place. This image was taken today.Every year, the top book publishers gather together in Frankfurt Germany at a public... more
Forbes has recently compiled a list of the 10 most expensive cities in America. Not surprisingly, New York was #1. Read more at link.Forbes has recently compiled a list of the 10 most expensive cities in America. Not... more
How towns and cities cause the extinction of local plants has been revealed for the first time.How towns and cities cause the extinction of local plants has been revealed for the... more
Police Departments are now employing ShotSpotter technology which can pinpoint within a few feet where a gunshot occured within the city limits using audio sensors setup throughout the city.Police Departments are now employing ShotSpotter technology which can pinpoint within... more
Have I shown you this house yet? I know I have roughly one dozen photographs of it from various angles, so I am sure it has appeared here at least once, but just in case, here is a close look at this beautiful house. Anyway, I would love to live in this gorgeous Finnish beach house.Have I shown you this house yet? I know I have roughly one dozen photographs of it... more
A tree behind the Seurasaari Ravintola (Helsinki, Finland). I like this photograph and want to share it with you. Of course, as usual, current has distorted the image, so it's best to click through if you want to see it.A tree behind the Seurasaari Ravintola (Helsinki, Finland). I like this photograph and... more
Petunias on the deck of the Seurasaari Ravintola (Helsinki, Finland). I am proud of this photograph and want to share it with you. (and stupid current distorts the image, so click on the link to see an unbastardized photo)Petunias on the deck of the Seurasaari Ravintola (Helsinki, Finland). I am proud of... more
A very close look at a Pansy on the deck of the Seurasaari Ravintola (Helsinki, Finland). Photographed while I was traveling.A very close look at a Pansy on the deck of the Seurasaari Ravintola (Helsinki,... more
A close look at some of the Petunias on the deck of the Seurasaari Ravintola (Helsinki, Finland).A close look at some of the Petunias on the deck of the Seurasaari Ravintola... more
Great article on scifi cities that are part paradise/part prison. I always thought that the city design for "Logan's Run" was something to be emulated by modern city planners, just not the whole killing people who are older that 30 part.Great article on scifi cities that are part paradise/part prison. I always thought... more
Everyone knows what a pub crawl is, but what's a cricket crawl?? Read more about it, then come out and have some fun with us tomorrow night!Everyone knows what a pub crawl is, but what's a cricket crawl?? Read more about it,... more
Most people reading this (i.e. people interested in green architecture, sustainability,etc.) probably already know most of what's in this article. But, nevertheless, it's a decent read.
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Nowhere has the greening message had a bigger impact than in the building industry. Green or sustainable architecture is all the rage—as well it should be, because buildings use a lot of energy. The construction and operation of residential and commercial buildings consume as much as 40 percent of the energy used in the United States today.
The calculation of a building’s total environmental impact must factor in everything from annual energy consumption to how and where building materials are manufactured and the handling of storm water. This requires some sort of rating system, and there are currently more than 40 of them in use around the world. Most, like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), which has become the standard in the United States, award points based on a checklist—daylighting, water recycling, solar panels, bicycle racks, and so on.
Although it is estimated that fewer than 6,000 projects have been certified in the United States in the 10 years since LEED was established, the program has significantly raised public and professional awareness. Yet a checklist approach has drawbacks. It tends to focus attention on unusual features, such as green roofs. Growing grass on a roof is definitely photogenic, but it is not as energy- and cost-efficient as simply painting the roof white (see “The California Experiment,” page 66). And checklists—even weighted checklists—may produce misleading results. Both a suburban office campus and an urban high-rise office building, for example, can receive a high rating. As David Owen points out in his forthcoming Green Metropolis: Why Living Smaller, Living Closer, and Driving Less Are the Keys to Sustainability, in the office campus, people work in sprawling buildings and drive between them; in the high-rise, people work in a compact building, use elevators (which are inherently energy-efficient, since they are counterweighted), and walk to lunch.
[full article at link]Most people reading this (i.e. people interested in green architecture,... more
Poppy blossom. Photographed in the gardens at the Tarvaspää Café at the Gallen-Kallela Museum near Tarvon Salmi on my first day in Helsinki, Finland.Poppy blossom. Photographed in the gardens at the Tarvaspää Café at the... more
Biting (Goldmoss) Stonecrop, Sedum acre, also known as the Wall-pepper. Includes some interesting information about this plant.Biting (Goldmoss) Stonecrop, Sedum acre, also known as the Wall-pepper. Includes some... more
Few enjoy their commute. Just ask Stephen Dinwiddie, M.D., a psychiatrist at the University of Chicago.
"I think anybody who, like I do, commutes on the Kennedy on a daily basis knows exactly what stress is," he says, of his daily home-to-work commute on Chicago's expressway that extends from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. "It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to several centuries--at least subjectively."
But more pressing factors make Chicago for the second year in a row the country's most stressful city. Crowding, poor air quality, a high 11% unemployment rate and free-falling home values have created a cocktail of constant worry affecting many in the Windy CityFew enjoy their commute. Just ask Stephen Dinwiddie, M.D., a psychiatrist at the... more
Daisies. Photographed at Tarvaspää Café at the Gallen-Kallela Museum near Tarvon Salmi in Helsinki, Finland.Daisies. Photographed at Tarvaspää Café at the Gallen-Kallela Museum near Tarvon... more
![The Frankfurt Book Fair [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/900/466/12/wu5924_60x45.jpg)
![Seurasaari Beach House [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/900/048/40/V27972_60x45.jpg)
![Tree on Sky [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/808/23/K18674_60x45.jpg)
![Seurasaari Petunias, 2 [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/778/17/H26497_60x45.jpg)
![Seurasaari Pansy [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/753/18/r25867_60x45.jpg)
![Seurasaari Petunias, 1 [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/734/07/G29775_60x45.jpg)
![Helsinki Poppies [pics]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/407/10/s32599_60x45.jpg)
![Helsinki Wall-Pepper [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/364/54/AZN629_60x45.jpg)
![Helsinki Daisies [pic]](http://i2.crtcdn.net/images/asset/899/258/01/VX5442_60x45.jpg)
