Go Blue Too
Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 3:28AM 
Distribution of WaterSense Irrigation Partners by State. Image via EPA.
At the end of last month North Carolina-based Vanguard Homes built the first WaterSense® labeled new home in the U.S. The purpose of the EPA's WaterSense program, which began with partnerships with irrigation professionals, is pretty straightforward: to save water for future generations.
A WaterSense labeled home is designed to use about 20 percent less water inside and outside than the conventional home by including, of course, WaterSense labeled products (dual flush toilets, high efficiency shower heads) and ENERGY STAR® rated appliances, and using water-efficient features and practices. As a result, you could reduce your water usage by upwards of 10,000 gallons per year and save on energy bills.
You're already going green, we hope. So, why not go blue, too?
How Will We Design?
Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 2:53AM The A+D Museum Los Angeles will host a symposium on Saturday, December 6, entitled Design Process and Innovation. It will be moderated by KCRW's Frances Anderton and The Architect's Newspaper's Los Angeles correspondent Sam Lubell. From the symposium's abstract:
While today's designers have at their disposal powerful digital design software and fabrication machines, technology does not guarantee effective design. Other influences on the design process include globalization, compressed time-to-market, ecological sensitivity and increased sophistication in consumer taste. This symposium brings together experts from a variety of design disciplines to analyze trends, share ideas, and look at the future of the design process.
Tickets are $75 now, $100 the day of, and $45 for students. Oh, to be a student (with ID).
LED Holiday Lights
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 2:05AM 
18" LED potted artificial evergeen seedlings. Photo via HolidayLEDs.com.For those putting up holiday lights, it might be time to say goodbye to the tangled lights of holidays past and buy some new LED holiday lights. In a recent EPA news release, using ENERGY STAR energy efficient lighting is one easy way to "go green" this holiday season. Although LED holiday lights probably won't tangle any less than the old conventional lights, they require 1/50th of electricity and are expected to last 20 to 30 years. So as long as you don't lose them in the attic or garage (uh-oh, where are they?), no more last minute Target run!
While switching to LED lights may not be a big change, switching to an artificial tree may not be as easy for those of us who love the smell of a real tree in our home. Because artificial trees (some of which are even pre-lit) typically last at least 10 years, it's possible we may be seeing fewer trees tied to cars in the years ahead.
The [Web-based] Way to a Gen Xer’s Heart
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 at 12:55AM 
Gen X wants walkability, too. Photo via Flickrer Mike Licht.As Gen Yers begin to think about what they want in a house, Gen Xers, born roughly between 1965 and 1978, know what they want. As it turns out, the two generations aren’t so different in their needs and wants, as far as buying a house goes.
Whether they're first-time home buyers or property owners planning to keep the property as an investment, Gen Xers know what they want. They want to find a house on their own clock, not an agent’s. Instead of using the services of a middleman, homebuyers go to Craigslist, Google, and Web brokerages. Pretty much all the action happens online.
Top Ten Green Products
Monday, November 24, 2008 at 1:07PM 
Agilewaves Resource Monitor. Photo via BuildingGreen.Who doesn't like a top ten list? It's a generous round-numbered serving of "the best of." And don't you deserve the best?
Jetson Green blogger Preston Koerner brings us top ten tidbits from GreenBuild 2008 (also, who doesn't like tidbits?) and the top ten green building products, announced at this year's U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, which took place last week in Boston. Greenbuild 2009 will be held November 11-13, 2009, in Phoenix.