Posted on 06/19/2007 6:40:54 PM PDT by SandRat
Global Warming is a subject of great concern, and many people are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint. There is much discussion about switching to compact fluorescent bulbs and hybrid automobiles. These changes will help, but they are only part of the picture. There is very little discussion of the enormous impact made by architecture and urban planning.
Tim Frank, a senior policy advisor to the Sierra Club on livable communities, will talk about Cohousing and Global Warming on Monday, June 25. The free presentation will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fair Oaks Community Library, 11601 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Fair Oaks.
As people work to fight urban sprawl, well-designed infill projects can make a huge difference in reducing traffic, improving air quality, fighting global warming and providing better housing and transportation choices for our neighborhoods. Cohousing combines private homes with generous shared facilities, thus creating the feeling of a small village where neighbors know and care about each other. Cohousing can create socially vibrant and environmentally sustainable communities, especially for seniors.
Frank will talk about the critical role that green building and good neighborhood design can play in reducing our global warming emissions. Green building practices employed in Orange-vale Cohousing will include shared walls, radiant floor heating and passive solar heating and cooling. These techniques can reduce home energy consumption dramatically, by more than 60 percent, as compared to a typical detached single-family home.
Cohousing also creates a more self-reliant community that doesnt require numerous car trips. With onsite child care, shared common meals and a close-knit community, people have less need to drive their cars. In addition, they are more likely to carpool, to compost, to reuse and to recycle.
By supporting lifestyle and behavior changes that are good for the environment, cohousing integrates social sustainability with environmental sustainability. It has often been said that community is the secret ingredient of sustainability.
As an example, Dr. Kyle Christensen, chiropractor and former Orangevale resident, says: When we (my wife, six children and I) lived in a single-family home in Orangevale, we drove the kids to several play dates every weekend. Since moving into Nevada City cohousing over a year ago, we havent had to plan any play dates.
Frank has served as an environmental advocate and public affairs consultant for more than 18 years, and he has worked with the Nature Conservancy, NRDC and the Sierra Club. He has extensive experience in land use policy development and advocacy and has represented clients on the local, state and national level. He also serves on the core team developing the new neighborhood design standards for the U.S. Green Building Councils LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.
The presentation will be sponsored by the Sierra Club (Sacramento Group) and by ECOS (The Environmental Council of Sacramento). For more information, visit www.OrangevaleCohousing.org or call (916) 967-2472.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
“we havent had to plan any play dates”
What’s a play date???
Frog meet pot.
Relax everyone, *they’re* just getting us slowly used to gulags and Soviet style living conditions.
Yes. So-called 'urban planning' has been the tip of the spear of socialism for almost fifty years in this country.
LOL I still wear Earth Shoes. I have a pair of sandals that I bought last year and they are very comfy.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Here’s what is worse. Urban planners are all architects. They know nothing of the markets which form cities, or that those markets are forces of human nature not subject to central planning.
Watch out for the condo Nazis! I like to ask how it is that a couger gets 25 square miles and a person gets 1,000 square feet here in the usa which is of the people, by the people, and for the birds?
Next thing you know they will be advocating 3 families share one house.Sleeping on a hot bed schedule should save some energy!
I rememer when the Sierra Club was about 80 members and they were all young adult play boy ski bums from Bel Aire, Brentwood, and similar areas and all they cared about was preserving their cross country ski areas in the Sierras.
I knew a couple of them.
In later years they were taken over by the enviro whackos that really don’t care one bit about the enviroment but only to lead their stupid, robot follerers into giving them money thinking they are promoting some worthy cause, all the leaders care aboutt ia socializing/communising the country.
Years ago one of their presidents came out and stated that “our ultimate goal is to eliminate all humans west of the Rockies”.
**Whoops I meant Vaclav, my bad, typing too fast...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
They will be knocking on our doors to introduce us to Pedro, Maria, lil’ Pedro, Yalonda, Hector, Juanita, Lupe, Uncle Romero, and Grandma Rosie.
You will be forced at to accept the above into your home. This will be cohousing.
A play date is when your Dad is crazy as a coot and the other neighborhood children won't go near you, so he packs you off in a car to play with the kids of another crazy liberal coot whose neighbors won't play with his kids either. This is in celebration of the spontaneity of childhood. It's a good way to bring up neurotics.
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