By Brian Skeele, on July 5th, 2011 ♫  When this old world starts getting me down Up on the Roof in Berkeley And people are just too much for me to face I climb way up to the top of the stairs And all my cares just drift right into space On the roof, it’s peaceful as can be And …

By Brian Skeele, on April 5th, 2011 Built and occupied in 2002, Beddington Zero Emissions Development, Bed ZED, helps people go green with time tested encouragements. The resident on the right took too long a shower. the one on the left failed to recycle a beer can. What were they thinking, what planet are they living on???? Remember, don’t take too long …

By Brian Skeele, on April 18th, 2011 Rob Althouse shares some of the dilemmas in evolving a green lifestyle. Remembering as a child walking to every thing, and waking up as an adult in a walking to nothing world. Putting an overly expensive solar system on a non solar home. Feeling like an inmate in an insane world.  ahhh, the joys …

By Brian Skeele, on March 10th, 2011 Continuing the walk thru of my take on the Killer Modeling Tool… As the amount of input from the Charrette (design) process builds, the needs and desires of the future residents, landowners, finance people, city planners, designers, the school district,  neighbors, etc, are collected.  People are starting to get excited. The question is “How can we …

By Brian Skeele, on May 11th, 2011 Imagine. An elementary school and the surrounding neighborhoods joining  together to become  a sustainable community with the school at its heart. Part 3 Working Together to Get to a Zero Carbon Emissions Lifestyle The “Gone Green” Neighborhood Renovation program continues to transform energy inefficient homes into zero emission homes. The “Whole Home Audit” documents …

By Brian Skeele, on July 6th, 2011 “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Albert Einstein. Here’s my ideas of the major elements that make up a sustainable lifestyle. Most are not of the thinking that created our existing suburban sprawl society. Changing from car-dominated thinking to pedestrian-centered thinking is …

Sustainable Fiber-Industrial Hemp-Get over it! By Brian Skeele, on March 19th, 2011 It grows in marginal soils. It’s fibers are really tough. 19th century sailing vessels made their sails and rope with industrial hemp. I’ve heard blue jeans made of hemp don’t wear out, they wear in. The excuses we are using to not grow hemp, are bogus! It’s time …

Climate Carbon Wedges By Brian Skeele, on March 21st, 2011 Now maybe you’re saying to yourself, “Why is he talking about those things that bullies do where they pull someone’s underwear way up?”, ya know “wedgies”.  Nope, but you’re close! I could take an hour to explain it, but these guys are on it. The climate carbon wedge concept was …

By Brian Skeele, on April 25th, 2011 Cooperation, Collaboration, a community based on common values…..Sounds so technical!  What if your neighborhood made choices like incorporating a swimming pool or a movie theater into the community??  The ownership structure could be by membership, a coop, or a private business.  The list of possible shared amenities and services is endless. Transforming the American …

By Brian Skeele, on July 14th, 2011 The intent is to give people the tools to redevelop their neighborhood sustainably. Here’s one way I see it playing out. (my take on the Chattanooga 2000 process). 1) All the citizens are invited to a “Make our City a Better Place to Live” event ( “A more sustainable town”, etc). 2) The …