Sustainability

Cowspiracy is now on Netflix

“COWSPIRACY: The Sustainability Secret (cowspiracy.com) is a groundbreaking feature-length environmental documentary following an intrepid filmmaker as he uncovers the most destructive industry facing the planet today, and investigates why the world’s leading environmental organizations are too afraid to talk about it.”

If there is one thing that can make a huge shift now and address climate change, one plate at a time, is choosing a vegan diet.

Water Use on a Vegan Diet 300 to 600 Gallons a Day per person.
Water Use on a Meat Diet 1,200 to 1,500 a day per person.

Those concerned about the California drought, global environmental disasters due to climate change, protecting animals, ending world hunger, saving the rainforest… Watch this film. You will be inspired. Don’t be reluctant, if you are a meat eater, just watch and see what you want to do about it.

Patagonia’s founder and owner, Yvon Chouinard, talks with Joel Makower at the 2013 GreenBiz Forum

It was truly a pleasure to work with such a like-minded leader and visionary while I was still working as a Senior Designer at Patagonia. Yvon is such a delight and full of insight. I still enjoy hearing about him and the emails I get periodically from Malinda Chouinard – the woman behind many of the company’s family-friendly and social/eco practices. Watch the video on this link: http://www.greenbiz.com/video/2013/03/01/patagonia-responsible-company. In this video he talks about corporate responsibility and authenticity. He also points out how we as consumers, not designers, have the power to make a difference with our wallets and the choices we make.

Save

GREEN & SELF-SUFFICIENT ZERO EMISSION HOMES

When I was still living in my ’52 modern home, which I converted to a 100% below ZEH (Zero Emission Home) in the mid 2000s, I was planning on adding a prefab guest/art/yoga studio from Modern Cabana. Since then, they have joined Blu Homes. Blu Homes creates sustainable pre-fabricated homes that are computer-designed and fabricated in their zero-landfill construction factory, then delivered to the client. They are assembled on site in about three weeks. Built with recycled steel frames, sustainably forested  and reclaimed materials for wall systems and glass, these energy-efficient homes are made to fit a client’s needs, be it small or large. Add to that renewable options like solar or wind, water catchment  and grey water systems, geothermal for heating and cooling or solar radiant heating, and you have a self-sufficient home that can also give back to the electric grid. It is exciting to live in a time where we have so many more options to choose from to help reduce our carbon footprint!

Watch YouTube.com/BluHomesTV for more on these gorgeous sustainable structures.

My first below-ZEH home…

SUSTAINABILITY & SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

I’ll be speaking on Sustainability and Sustainable Design this week at one of the top art schools in California- a real treasure in the mountains. The students are immersed in the arts at Idyllwild Arts Academy all through high school and move on to great futures. It’s truly an honor to join them. If you are in Idyllwild, come by on Tuesday, February 26th or Wednesday, February 27th, 2013. ~ V.V.

See Speaking & Consulting in About Menu.
(more…)