Living Lightly » green design

More Powerful: D-Rev’s Design Revolution

deltork — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:19:17 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the making of my film Powerful: Energy for Everyone, I had the occasion to visit many communities, see interesting projects and interview passionate people of all stripes. I shot over 100 hours of video. Not all could be squeezed into a 95-minute film. This is one of the stories that I would like to have included if I had the space.

It is easy for us, the people who have never known a life without easy access to cheap energy, to forget that as many as two billion people do not. Energy choices for many are limited and hard to come by. In many rural villages in Africa, South America and elsewhere, the only source of light is a burnable fuel like kerosene which can be scarce, expensive and polluting or batteries which are hard to come by and must be regularly replaced. Enter D-Rev — the design revolution entrepreneurs. Greg Lee and Amanda Gonzalez are two young entrepreneurs with engineering training and a social mission. They have developed a “solar concentrator” that generates electricity from the sun, using an elegant design and inexpensive materials. It has the potential to change lives, and even save lives.

David Chernushenko

Powerful Interviews: Eric Martinot

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:56:43 +0000

In this series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, renewable energy analyst Eric Martinot discusses the growth of the renewable energy industry, the importance of good government policies, and the promising future.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Powerful Interviews: Preben Maegard

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:42:17 +0000

In this series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, Danish wind and renewable pioneer and expert Preben Maegard discusses the Danish experience, the potential of wind and biomass, and the policies that will get us to a renewable energy society.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Powerful Interviews: Paul McKay

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:35:34 +0000

In this series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, Paul McKay discusses how we can move from a power system dominated by fossil fuels and nuclear, to one that is based on conservation, efficiency and renewable sources.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Powerful Interviews: Paul Gipe

david — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:51:30 +0000

In this first of a series of extended interviews on green energy and a future powered by renewable power, Paul Gipe discusses the potential for Ontario and Canada, but with a global message. What are the obstacles and how do we get past them? What policies would make a real difference.

Parts of this interview will be featured in the upcoming David Chernushenko film, Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Click here to view the embedded video.

David Visits The Currents

david — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:12:54 +0000

David Chernushenko visits Ottawa’s eco condo building The Currents to interview developer Jonathan Westeinde of Windmill Developments, and Vic Klassen, a resident as well as sales manager.

Video edited by Stan Boyle

Click here to view the embedded video.

European Smart Energy Tour – Blake Hudelson – Part II

deltork — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:01:29 +0000

PART II – In the spring of 2008, 22 students, professors, professionals and community members from San Luis Obispo, California, embarked on a journey to Europe. They traveled to England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden to learn about smart energy solutions. The group visited cities that exhibited best practices for sustainability in the following areas: renewable energy, innovative transportation, green building, smart growth, energy efficiency, and conservation. The group sought out those areas to be able to bring back some of the lessons and ideas to the United States.

Click here to view the embedded video.

European Smart Energy Tour – Blake Hudelson – Part I

deltork — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:00:10 +0000

In the spring of 2008, 22 students, professors, professionals and community members from San Luis Obispo, California, embarked on a journey to Europe. They traveled to England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden to learn about smart energy solutions. The group visited cities that exhibited best practices for sustainability in the following areas: renewable energy, innovative transportation, green building, smart growth, energy efficiency, and conservation. The group sought out those areas to be able to bring back some of the lessons and ideas to the United States.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Attention Locavores

anouk — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:00:45 +0000

One way I try to “Live Lightly” is to buy food that is grown locally as much as possible. Eating locally and seasonally is more sustainable, healthier and tastier. www.100mileradius.ca connects locavores with producers, and even has a cool chart of what’s available when here in
Ontario.

Selina

Here are some little things anyone can do to conserve resources

anouk — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:36:53 +0000

Hi all,

Nightlights aren’t just for kids !! Instead of using the 600 (!!) watts of lighting the builder originally installed in the masterbath (8-60w track lights plus 2 60w lights in ceiling fixture) I brush my teeth and wash my face using a 4-watt night light with a clear bulb and clear shade right beside the sink. (Most people can locate their face in only this amount of light ) )

Daylight is free! Think twice before flicking those lights on. If there’s enough light coming thru your windows that may be all you need for what you’re doing at that moment.

Boil water with your kettle first, then dump it into the pot and turn the stove on. It saves energy, money, and even time — see how fast that pot boils now. Also turn off the stove element as soon as it boils when cooking pasta, cover the pot and leave it on the hot element for desired time.

No more drive-thrus ! Try parking and walking into that restaurant. You save money, time, and help keep the air clean. Of course, people with disabilities or lots of little kids or even one little boy who runs everywhere are exempt.

Use the fan setting on your programmable thermostat. Our 3-floor home used to have a basement that was freezing, a main floor that was just right, and a top floor that was too warm. To maximize the A/C (which I use minimally) I turn the A/C off after a little while and use the fan to circulate the air thru all 3 floors. No more freezing in the basement.

Cheryl