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I was lucky enough to tag along with my mother and visit one of her friend's amazing house and garden. Extremely well kept (army of servents ensure that, I even saw them hand mowing the lawn blade by blade) and super luxurious. This place would be expensive in any country. However completely sustainable. Totally off the grid with solar power and a garden that produces all the fruit and vegetables required.
Read more about this historic Paris library, founded in 1757, here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblioth%C3%A8que_de_l%27Arsenal
For a number of years in my career as a librarian, I was a cataloger. When I started in cataloging, the generation of catalog cards for the card catalog was the daily work. But in time, my work changed to the "person who helped kill card catalogs" as new online systems developed. So it was sweet to see this card catalog today.
Off the grid - Our Daily Challenge
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I was lucky enough to tag along with my mother and visit one of her friend's amazing house and garden. Extremely well kept (army of servents ensure that, I even saw them hand mowing the lawn blade by blade) and super luxurious. This place would be expensive in any country. However completely sustainable. Totally off the grid with solar power and a garden that produces all the fruit and vegetables required.
With the walls and central ceiling panels up, that left only the corner radii. The plan was simple: pop the 1/8" birch ply into place, and use the edges of the ceiling and wall panels as foot-holds to expedite the process... but how can you jam 1/8" ply into a corner without cracking it? It's all about even pressure (and a big cardboard tube).
Dome Guys - Private living dome in California, constructed in 2007. This living space has green long-life cover, a bay window, and interior walls, which create separate rooms. This dome is off-the-grid.
Pictured: Interior wall, second story
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
The world’s most affordable and efficient off-grid lighting system to replace polluting, dangerous, and expensive kerosene in the developing world. - Pedaling with Nuru POWERcycle
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
Sorry for not commenting today; we're going to be without power again and last time it wasn't from 8:30 to 3:30, it was over 10 hours. So see you tomorrow - have a happy day.
Insulation, plywood backing, & high-grade birch ply... the secret to success. For these tight corner radii, we used 1/8" birch veneer.
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
The Fort Knox energy team demonstrated during an Energy Security Project ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday the installation’s capability to operate independently of external power sources using natural gas from beneath the post’s surface – a first for a U.S. military installation.
The project was originally conceived to address mission readiness issues experienced in 2009 when an ice storm left Fort Knox and much of Kentucky without power for several consecutive days.
The harvesting of renewable methane gas on post in recent years and the installation’s six new energy substations that include gas generators now allow Fort Knox to continue 100 percent of its operations if power from the external utility provider is cut off. The post’s 3.7 megawatts of solar arrays and 6 million square feet of building space that is heated and cooled using geothermal energy has allowed the post to reduce its dependency on using other power sources, such as gas, as well.
“We’re giving back gold to the taxpayers,” said Garrison Commander Col. T.J. Edwards. “Our (Directorate of Public Works) estimates that we will save about $8 million per year from peak shaving.”
Peak shaving des-cribes another primary purpose of the Energy Security Project – switching to Fort Knox-produced power when energy demand strains the off-post energy utility, which is also when costs to purchase energy are at its highest. Com- bined with the savings achieved through geothermal heating and cooling, Fort Knox’s annual energy utility bill is projected to be $18 million less.
“Our energy team is special,” said Edwards. “We’ve won nine conse- cutive Secretary of the Army energy awards. But we don’t sit on our laurels. We’re constantly getting after it, asking how do we get better.”
Katherine Ham-mack, the assistant secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, addressed the criticality for installations to maintain operating capability at all times.
“Energy security underwrites our unique ability to rapidly de- ploy, employ and sustain military forces around the globe, she
said. “And it’s for that
reason the Army is moving toward building resilience into our installations.”
Fort Knox’s ability to achieve this “resilience” was credited by the secretary and garrison commander as a result of Fort Knox Director-ate of Public Works, contracting command and legal officials working to establish partnerships with third parties whose expertise is in the energy field. As an example, Edwards singled out Brandon Marcum, an engineer and Harshaw Trane subcontractor for Nolin RECC, as a central figure in creating and developing the concept that became the Energy Security Project.
“We have authorities to work with third parties, leveraging core competency, capability and funding to enable us to meet our mission,” said Hammack. “The private sector partners have stepped up to help the Army in meeting our mission requirements.”
Nolin RECC staff gave the audience of about 150 area and military leaders, Fort Knox employees and area community members an inside look at its energy security bunker through a live video stream. Attendees were told how all of the systems function to achieve energy independence and peak shave. The built-in redundancies to prevent power failure – such as an off-site energy security bunker and the multiple, secured substations – were touted as well during the demonstration.
The formal celebration of the occasion involved a unique twist. Dignitaries and Army leaders didn’t cut a ribbon, they unplugged a ribbon. The ribbon was an LED cord, and when it was unplugged in the middle, the side connected to the Fort Knox power source stayed lit, symbolizing Fort Knox’s energy independence.
“Kentucky is very proud of the efforts here,” said Dave Thompson, Kentucky Commission on Mili-tary Affairs executive director. “We see Fort Knox as a growing in- stallation with undeniable potential for the future. Job well done.”
For more information about Fort Knox’s energy initiatives, read Capt. Jo Smoke’s story in the March 26 edition of The Gold Standard, titled “The Army’s only green island: 20 years of energy investments pay off,” which can be found at bit.ly/1FY4MT5. To learn more about the Energy Security Project visit youtu.be/CxNH7m0cdfw.
Photos by Renee Rhodes Fort Knox Photo
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)
Dome Guys - Private living dome in California, constructed in 2007. This living space has green long-life cover, a bay window, and interior walls, which create separate rooms. This dome is off-the-grid.
Pictured: Owner in front of living dome, bay window
I'm working on a project called Sustainable Howe Sound with the David Suzuki Foundation (sustainablehowesound.ca/).
From the website we're building... "Life in the waters of Howe Sound is rebounding after decades of harm from industrial activity. Planning for the future is the best way to protect the sound’s wildlife and communities. Sustainable Howe Sound is a platform for individuals and groups who share a commitment to protect Howe Sound. The end goal is a plan for land and marine environments guided by public and expert input.".
Our first visit was to Camp Firmcom (fircom.ca/) on Gambier Island. Check out the interview and photos! :)
sustainablehowesound.ca/stories/connection/
(on assignment for David Suzuki Foundation)