scruffy days

Visited the Griffith Observatory with my parents during my stay in L.A. Here’s the view at night.

I’m really looking forward to this class. It’s a great group with alot of knowledge to offer and share. Reading Cradle to Cradle is inspiring already.

What matters to me?
I want to start off by becoming more aware of issues surrounding sustainability, and what we can start practicing/modifying now. Just some thoughts, areas I want to explore:

• Energy Usage & Solar Technology - Understand how the grid works, and how we consume energy. More on the workings and feasibility of solar power. Tom suggested the possibility of wiring up a datalogger to the solar panels on our roof as a means to calculate how much power could be generated. I think this is a great idea & would like to participate in this.
• Waste in Urban Environments - During my summer travels to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dublin and Berlin, I noticed different ways these cities dealt with trash & recyclables. Also, my mom works as structural designer for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Department, so I hope to gain some insights from her perspective. After moving to NY, I was shocked at the amounts of garbage produced daily; in a city so dense, waste becomes so much more visible.
• Recycling - What really happens to recyclable products? How can the idea of reuse become more viable in cities?
• Balance Between Creativity and Responsibility - Examining the materials, equipment & processes we use, and moving towards more responsible practices.

What annoys me most about this?
That we’re so engrained in lifestyles and products which create these problems for the environment, that our infrastructure and economies will be difficult to change..

But my hope is that how strongly we feel the need to really start changing things, and having this course/environment to focus on ways to go about it, will actually take steps in that direction.

Also, I think Andrew’s proposal is a great idea and goal for the class as a whole to work towards. This class is the first I’ve really heard about off-the-grid projects and housing, and I’m eager to take part in this effort.

Arrived in Düsseldorf, and look at this sparkling, clean airport with trash receptacles for just about everything: