Amen! On Fri, Jun 24, 2016 at 11:46 AM, Sarah Gagnon < [email protected]> wrote:
> True enough this, but Karl has a good point. It does matter how much > energy is used to construct the building. Our choices of construction > materials and techniques would be better informed if we taxed fossil > carbon. The hidden energy both embodied and used in production would then > be reflected in the price of materials and the cost of their assembly into > buildings. > > Joel > > > On 6/23/2016 12:37 PM, Christian Nielsen-Palacios wrote: > > While we could and should aspire to do more (restorative design, etc.), > building NET-ZERO buildings is a laudable achievement. And I don't think > the definition is deceptive. Such buildings DO produce as much energy as > they consume (after they are built, or they wouldn't be "a building"). > > Christian > > On Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 11:54 AM, Regi Teasley <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> Thank you for these responses. >> Yes, "net-zero" should include the lifecycle energy requirements. But >> then, our beef is probably not with Ecovillage which aims for energy >> conservation. Half a loaf...etc. >> >> Of course all these efforts are coming about forty years too late and, >> God bless him, Jimmy Carter was right. Still, what are we to do? >> >> I say we make every feasible effort to develop better ways of living on >> our beloved planet and learn as we go. Our grandchildren deserve no less. >> Nature will sort out what, if anything, works. >> >> That's my two bits. >> >> Regi >> "Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love >> everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things." Dostoyevsky. >> >> >> On Jun 23, 2016, at 11:42 AM, Thomas Shelley < <[email protected]> >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >> Hi, Karl. This is a great response. Even those promoting the >> "net-zero-energy" concept are clueless re embodied energy in their fancy, >> high-end homes and life-styles in general. We are going to hell in a >> hand basket, as Dad used to say. I hope all is well up North. All is well >> here and getting better. My wife and I just sold our Collegetown rental >> property which is a great relief as it was a real stone about the leg. I >> now have a lot more time for gardening and art work and things I have been >> putting off for years. I still have in mind to write a TCLocal-style >> article on embodied energy. Perhaps I will have time to do this now, as >> well. Take care. Tom >> On 6/22/2016 1:31 PM, S North wrote: >> >> >> To describe houses like the Ecovillage one pictured in the article as >> "net-zero-energy" is a gross deception of the public because it does not >> begin to account for the full life cycle fossil energy costs involved, >> which are huge. I have designed and currently live in a house that >> incorporates most of the elements of the Ecovillage house, but I have >> studied the full-scale energy costs, not only to me but to society, so I >> have no illusions about such housing, unlike many who are being duped by >> people who claim such houses will help save the planet. >> >> > > > -- > > > -- Miranda Phillips Volunteer, Citizens' Climate Lobby NY-23 Chapter *607 277 1241* Learn more about our work: The New York Times <http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/29/lobbying-for-the-greater-good/?_r=0> The Guardian <http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2013/jun/18/climate-change-citizens-climate-lobby-carbon-tax> CCL in two minutes <http://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-solutions-speak-up-for-climate/> <http://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-solutions-speak-up-for-climate/> For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ If you have questions about this list please contact the list manager, Tom Shelley, at [email protected].
