CasaSugar

What's the Carbon Footprint For McCain's Mansions?

CasaSugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:00:03 -0700

You might remember that presidential candidate John McCain couldn't recall how many homes he owned. Given that, he probably doesn't know what the carbon footprint of these homes is either. Can you guess? Source

Take the quiz

Leo Trades in Pacific Coast View, Lowers Carbon Footprint

CasaSugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:25 -0800

Leonardo has finally closed on the eco-friendly Battery Bark Condo that he went to contract to purchase back in April, paying nearly $3.7 million. But, ever the environmental advocate, DiCaprio isn't swooping up energy-hogging properties left and right. He's made room for this purchase in his real estate portfolio and his wallet by putting his 2,374-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath midcentury oceanfront Malibu home on the market for nearly $9 million.
DiCaprio can gaze at the Hudson River through the energy-efficient triple-layered windows at Riverhouse, one of the greenest residential buildings in America. DiCaprio's new apartment building exceeds Gold LEED certification, using solar-powered energy and built with only nonpollutant materials. Among its other eco features are programmable thermostats, filtered air, filtered water, locally quarried bluestone, recovered barn wood, low- or no-VOC adhesives, paints and carpeting, and recycled, salvaged, and biodegradable materials. There's no word on the exact square footage of Leo's new pad, but a listing for a similarly priced Riverhouse property measures in at 1,985-square-feet, with 3 bedrooms and 4 baths.

To see more photos of both properties and hear about his Malibu digs, read more.

The listing for DiCaprio's Malibu property reads:

Distinctive contemporary on the bluffs above the ocean complete with new stairway to the cove below. The interior is a collection of elegant open spaces looking out to beautiful gardens and your hot tub tucked away on the ocean front. A separate guest house containing two 1-bedroom suites. A four car garage and long winding driveway complete this beautiful estate.

View 16 Photos ›

Here are some photos of another Riverhouse apartment, most likely the model apartment designed by Thom Filicia:

View 17 Photos ›

Source and Source

Open House: Do You Think About Your Water Footprint?

CasaSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 11:00:31 -0700

I learned in a recent post in The New York Times' environmental blog, Green Inc., that a Finnish food company is the first to begin reporting how much water was used to make its product on a label of the package. We've seen carbon footprints reported for sometime now, but this is just the beginning of reporting water-use footprints. Consumers are becoming discriminating in new ways about the environmental impact of the things they buy. Of course, water isn't only used for producing food items. Water is used to dye the textiles on your bed and upholstery, along with a slew of other production processes. And, of course, it's used to wash your dishes and your clothing. When you shop, do you think about the water that has gone into producing a certain product? Do you think about the water use that will be required after you've purchased something? Or the sustainability of a certain water source? Do you use low-flow shower heads and toilets? Tell me by chiming in below!
Source

Casa Interview: Destination Wedding Planner Alison Hotchkiss (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:00:47 -0700

Alison Hotchkiss, the creative director of Alison Events and the author of Destination Wedding Planner, has plenty of smart advice on planning destination weddings. If you, or a couple you know, are planning a destination wedding, I highly recommend Alison's new book to lend a guiding hand in your planning process. You can read the first half of the interview here. Alison has more great advice in the second half of this interview.

CasaSugar: When you plan a destination wedding, do you try to use local artisans, caterers, and other services?

Alison Hotchkiss: I definitely try to use as much local support as possible. It’s cost-effective, puts money back into the community, and is a positive way to support the area. I will sometimes hire a local planner to serve as my eyes and ears locally, and then I have someone to help us when we’re there. Especially in smaller beach communities, a lot of negotiations and contracts are over a handshake, not a formal agreement, so it’s important to respect the way that the local community does business.

To see Alison's advice on everything from wedding favors to organizing activities, read more.

CasaSugar: What’s your take on wedding favors? Have there been any that have stood out? Have there been any alternatives that were creative or impressive?

Alison Hotchkiss: One of my favorite favors was from my Costa Rica wedding. All of the guests were given Holga cameras preloaded with film, so everyone was able to take photos throughout the ceremony. There was a big beautiful glass bin where everyone could drop their film and they could reload throughout the evening. At the end of the evening the bride took all of the film, processed it, and put it on the Pictage website, so everyone could see all of the photos that were taken.

Another trend I’ve been seeing is people paying it forward by offsetting people’s carbon footprint for travel. This is often seen on the bottom of the menu or program. Other couples have donated to schools or children’s community shelters. I’ve seen a lot more of that than people purchasing favors. I think it’s a waste of money to do a favor these days when there are so many other things you can put your money towards.

CasaSugar: How do you deal with gifts at a destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: I rarely see gifts at a destination wedding. Most people know to not bring gifts and to ship them in advance. If somebody were to get gifts they’d have to pack them and bring them back. You’d have to arrange for shipping, and oftentimes if you’re staying at a hotel that’s something they can execute for you.

One other great story is that some of my clients, in lieu of wedding gifts, the client included a notecard in the invitation asking everyone in lieu of gifts to “pay it forward” and do something for someone else, be it a family or an organization in their name, and then to write it on the notecard. Then, when people got to the wedding, the guests had the same card that had their name and their table numbers on it, so they replaced the name cards with the pay it forward card, and we had this really awesome display of what people had done to pay it forward. They ranged from deep, meaningful stories to really silly stories, such as “Oh, I paid for the person’s toll behind you,” and someone else said, “I rescued a bird off the side of the road.” That was a really cute idea and a great way to say, Let’s not focus so much on material gifts, and focus more on giving back to the world.

CasaSugar: Once guests get to the destination, have you found a fun way to organize activities? Do you let guests know a schedule beforehand, or spring it on them as a fun surprise? How would you say is the best way to organize this?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say the majority of people these days are creating their own wedding websites, which is the best way to communicate all of the information that can happen. It can have directions, wedding activities, local things to do and see, all of that. Or, rather than asking people to sign up beforehand on the web-site you can have people, during the rehearsal dinner, sign up for the following day’s tours. We have used a chalkboard so it was more fun than writing it on a 8.5x11 piece of paper. Different activities we have done are a snorkeling adventure, massage, or horseback riding. It’s nice to not have to determine things so far in advance.

CasaSugar: Given the economic climate right now, if you were going to recommend one area where guests can squeeze their budget, what can be downsized?

Alison Hotchkiss: I’d say music. We always tell people to go with a DJ vs. band, it’s thousands and thousands of dollars for a band. A band can run from $2,000 to $10,000. That’s one area. Another is limiting favors. You can also choose beer and wine instead of an open bar, or limiting the time of the open bar. Pick your battles and consider what’s most important.

Another area is the flowers. Instead of doing flowers, consider using a combination of herbs, flowers, succulents, and fruits. We did a wedding recently in the tropics and cut bougainvillea petals from the local branches and made a carpeted aisle for the ceremony. It was so vibrant and so colorful, and it was free. Use what you have locally.

CasaSugar: What would you have at your destination wedding?

Alison Hotchkiss: All I know is I want it to be somewhere tropical (with good surf), laid back, and I would be totally happy with fish tacos, a DJ, and local beer, Oh and I think I am going to wear a short dress and lose the shoes!

CasaSugar: That sounds excellent.

Source

Casa Verde: Jon and Kate Plus 8 Go Green

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:30:00 -0700

This Sunday, the Gosselin clan of Jon and Kate Plus 8 will welcome Planet Green's Renovation Nation host Steve Thomas into their home to retrofit it with some eco-friendly upgrades. Steve and his crew will help install electric solar panels and solar thermal panels onto the house, as well as solar powered lights along the driveway. They'll also build a picnic table for the family using reclaimed wood. Of course, the kids will also lend a hand (or 16) with the projects, and learn a few things about being green. Unfortunately, the hefty needs of the large household are not helping the family's carbon footprint! Catch the special at 9 p.m. EDT this Sunday, April 19, on TLC.
Source

Casa Shops: Beehive Kitchenware Company

CasaSugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:30:47 -0700

While Beehive Kitchenware Company does make measuring cups and lemon juicers, their range of fanciful metal accents ensures that you can use them in any room of your home. I have my eyes on Beehive's Paisley Hooks ($27) myself, though there are plenty of other pieces that have enchanted me. The company, which is located in Massachusetts, is owned and operated by Jim Dowd and Sandra Bonazoli. The metalworkers' collaborative work has been exhibited at the Museum of Arts & Design.

Jim and Sandra's work has been featured everywhere from Gourmet to Architectural Digest. They were first influenced to create their metal home accents after seeing how beautiful antique kitchen items were. With the goal of melding form with function, they started their line of products. Birds and bees are a repeating motif in the company's metalwork, as are delicate petaled flowers. You can order these products online, or find them at a local retailer.

To see images of the products, and to hear about the company's environmental commitment, read more.

Beehive notes that, as part of their environmental policy,

We use only recycled paper in our office and recycle all our paper, junk mail, and cardboard (no small feat!). Our packing peanuts are made from bio-degradable material. Our products come in boxes that are made from recycled, unbleached paper, and are most often nestled in a natural, compostable material. There is very little in the manufacture of our products that creates waste: any reject castings get re-melted, and we recycle every bit of our scrap metals. And of course all of our pewter is lead-free, without any electroplating, to protect the health of our water.

The company also only works with local and national suppliers to cut down on their carbon footprint. While these items are definitely not "needs" for a home, they will complete a home's look and add a whimsical, beautiful touch to any room. I like to think of Beehive's products as things that you might not necessarily buy for yourself, but would be on the top of your list for thank-you gifts for your favorite friends and family.

View 14 Photos ›

Source

Casa Verde: Solara

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:45:45 -0800

Solara, a new apartment community in San Diego County, California, is the first apartment complex in the country that is completely powered by solar energy. But that's not all-these homes are also affordable, and are built for families that make only moderate incomes.

This project was made possible through a collaboration with the city of Poway, California, Community Housing Works, and Global Green USA. People who make 30 percent to 60 percent of the area's median income are eligible to live at Solara, which means that a family of four is eligible if their annual income is less than $41,100, or a single person is eligible if she makes less than $28,750 Residents pay between $388 and $1,075 per month, depending on their incomes and whether they are renting a one-, two- or three-bedroom apartment. Utilities are included in the rent.

The apartments are made even more affordable given that they include such energy-saving features as passive solar orientation, cool roofs, low-e windows, Energy Star appliances, and tankless boilers for hot water. The homes also feature low-flow restrictors, dual flush toilets, and native landscaping, which saves on water. The homes also feature recycled materials such as linoleum, green carpet (with carpet pad from recycled clothing), plastic-composite decking material, and fly ash in concrete. Healthy indoor environmental quality is provided by natural cross ventilation, low-VOC paints and finishes, formaldehyde-free insulation and cabinets, chlorine-free air conditioning, and ample mechanical ventilation.

To see how this project was funded, just read more
The project’s renewable energy systems, such as the solar panels, were financed almost entirely by energy rebates and tax credits, including rarely used state and federal financial incentives for multifamily housing. Funding for the $16.3 million project comes from Union Bank of California, the City of Poway, the County of San Diego, the California Energy Commission (CEC) and National Equity Fund.

SOLARA has the lowest carbon footprint of any apartment complex in California, a full 95 percent lower than a conventionally powered community! This means that Solara is able to avoid producing more than 1,800 tons of carbon dioxide each year, which is equivalent to planting 5,446 trees or taking 300 cars off the road annually.

Source

Casa Verde: Cool Down With Naturally Clean

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:48 -0700

Seventh Generation, a brand of environmentally safe household products, launched a special effort, called Get Out of Hot Water, to get people to pick up some green habits in the laundry room.
The company is asking people to pledge to switch to cold-water washing – and are offering a free copy of their book, Naturally Clean, a guide to healthy nontoxic cleaning, to those who do (while supplies last). You already know that washing in cold water is good for your sheets, but it also has a significant positive impact on the environment. Using a cool cycle, saves 90 percent of the energy used in machine-washing a load of laundry, effectively lowering your carbon footprint by preventing the release of energy-related greenhouse gases. It also can amount to a savings of about $70 in annual household energy bills. Making the pledge (easy as pie) and registering your name and address will make you eligible for the book. For those of you who were concerned that washing in cold water doesn't kill as many germs, Seventh Generation has a new production line, 2X Concentrated Laundry Liquids, which works overtime in cold water, getting clothes "hot-water clean with cold-water efficiency."
Source

Casa Verde: Consumer Consequences

CasaSugar — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 05:05:57 -0700

We've all heard a lot about sustainability, carbon footprints, and greening our lifestyles, but have you ever actually calculated how many resources your lifestyle requires? If you're curious, do as I did and play Consumer Consequences. This easy-to-use, fun platform seems more like a game than a survey, and at the end you'll know how many planets would be needed to support your habits. In my case it was 2.1 - which is a lot, but still a lot lower than the American average!

After you play the game, let me know what your results were by commenting below, and also leave suggestions about how you might change your habits to reduce your score. My biggest offenses seem to be diet-related: I eat meat, drink coffee daily, and drink wine nightly. Oh boy - I don't know if I can compromise much on those last two.