Monthly Archive for March, 2007

My New Dream Home

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on March 2, 2007
in Environmentalism and Technology
. 0 Comments

The BASF Chemical Company has gone and made a dreamhouse for everyone: the Near Zero Energy House.

Built in Paterson, New Jersey as a model home for a disadvantaged family, the house manages to be state of the art, inexpensive to build, and ‘normal-looking.’ ‘Cause as cool as we might think they look, no neighborhood is going to let a Jetsons-style space-pod settle down in their cul-de-sac without a fight.

The big selling point for this home, though, is the fact that it uses 80% less energy than a comparable ‘traditional’ house. And that, combined with the efficient construction materials, easy installation, and strong structural elements that can cut down on insurance and maintenance costs, and you’ve got yourself a house that’s both affordable and keeps its value over time.

As such, it’s going to used as a template for a 3,000 unit low-income housing project in New Jersey, which should have a huge impact on the energy consumption of Paterson.

Also, it looks pretty swank on the interior.

Via Treehugger.

NY > LA

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on March 1, 2007
in Environmentalism and Politics
. 1 Comment

In more whimsical (and unemployed) days, I used to co-write a snarky blog called Tale of Two Cities with an ex-roommate who lived on the east coast. We’d launch faux-attacks on the city the other person lived in, trying to answer the age old question: Which city is better, New York or Los Angeles?

So far, in the Step It Up 2007 campaign, New York is definitely taking the proverbial cake.

In their weekly update on the project, the Step It Up folks profiled a project in the Big Apple called Sea of People.

The project already has is aiming for thousands of participants - hopefully including a few prominent local Presidential candidates - who will line up across Manhattan’s new post-global-warming coastline wearing blue to give everyone a tangible, visual idea of what a small rise in ocean levels can do to a coastal city.

It sounds like a great idea. It’s big, it’s simple, it’s visual - and it sounds like they’ve got may have a little bit of political star power behind it.

So what do we here in the Stardust Rodeo have to offer?

A big fat nothing.

On the Step It Up web site, celebrity-rich West L.A. has two events. One of them looks like a lecture, and the other one looks like someone started to sign up for an event, then couldn’t figure out how to do it.

What?!?

Is this the same city that just paraded it’s celebu-elite around in fancy Prius limos for the Oscars? The city that jumps at any excuse to call attention to itself? Antonio Villaraigosa’s town?

To be fair, Claremont and Thousand Oaks look like they’ve got their act together, but it’s a bit embarrassing that L.A. Proper doesn’t have a single event yet - let alone anything on the visual scale of the Sea of People project.

Come on, Hollywood! Let’s put that pollution-causing star power to good use!

EDIT: So far, the Sea of People doesn’t have any confirmed political big-wigs. I misread the Step it Up site’s hopefulness. Apologies!

Everything (May Be) Illuminated

Published
by
Modern Hiker
on March 1, 2007
in Gadgets and Gear and Technology
. 0 Comments

There’s some new military technology that has potential for a big impact on camping. And no, it’s not the TempurPedic mattress.

“Superflex Lighting” is basically a lighting kit that’s woven into fabric, and can be powered by standard AC sources. The military’s been using it to light tent interiors, and the lights can be folded and rolled up with the fabric without damaging it.

While it’s still probably a few years off, I’d love to have some of this stuff on the inside of my tent. I usually like to do a little reading or writing before I hit the sack. Battery lanterns can be awkward to pack and heavy to carry, and holding a flashlight in your mouth probably isn’t good for your teeth. I’m guessing this would be a lot more convenient, and probably wouldn’t add too much weight to tents, either.

Plus, with your tent all lit up, you can pretend you’re in an REI catalog.

Via GoBlog.