thelifesimple

Winter's Gentle Touch

Winter’s gentle touch on the Central Coast 
Summons an arousal of verdant green
On the voluptuous hills.

The playful bite of December wind
In a cool bath of regenerative rain
Brings the desire to stoke a fire.

And celebrate slowly.

Tim Blair - 2009

We Are All One - Beautiful video about our future

No better way to begin 2010 than with the message that we are all one.

If you'd like to help this cause, the website is here.

Thanks to my friend @Marcome for showing me this.

Simply,

Tim

Simple Christmas Gifts - Recycled Tie Wallets from Narwhal Co.

 You have to check this site out!

The Narwhal Co. has some VERY cool wallets made out of recycled ties.  Lots of different styles and different patterns.  For a last minute holiday gift for those hard to buy for people, this just might be the right gift.

I know I'd love to get one of these under the tree! (hint, hint)  : )

Check out all the wallets at Narwhal Co. for a simple gift for that "life simple" person in your life.

Simply,

Tim

SLO Green Build has a New Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lana Adams
Administrator, SLO Green Build
admin@slogreenbuild.org, (805) 286-0072

SLO Green Build has a New Home

San Luis Obispo, CA - November 2009. Now in its fifth year of operation, the local, non-profit SLO Green Build has office space that they can call home. In the past, its volunteers and one paid employee have utilized any place they could get their hands on – from coffee shops and restaurants to meeting room space donated by local businesses. All that changes this month; SLO Green Build now occupies space on South Higuera in San Luis Obispo, in the RRM Design Group offices. This new location will provide volunteers and interns a go-to spot for meetings or work.

“This new physical presence in the community is a big step for our organization,” explained Lana Adams, SLO Green Build Administrator. “Our goal is to work from this space for at least a year. Having a physical location will make our volunteers’ lives easier when planning meetings, and also gives us the much-needed opportunity to bring interns in to help on projects.”

The space includes an “L” shaped pod that accommodates four people, as well as the use of conference rooms, a training room, kitchen, outdoor patio, and shared parking spaces.

###

More about SLO Green Build:

Formed in 2004 by a small group of professionals from the design and construction industries, community planners, environmental and social services advocates, and concerned residents, SLOGB focuses on the issues of sustainable development and “growing” green building on the Central Coast. SLOGB encourages the use of the most sustainable development methods and greenest building materials possible. www.SLOGreenBuild.org

Submitted for SLO Green Build by:
Beth Fillerup, SLOGB volunteer
FILLERUP marketing communications
(805) 748-2135
 www.get-the-word-out.blogspot.com
 twitter @getthewordout

Bill Hayward Speaks At SLO Green Build Mixer About FSC Certified Lumber

I took in a talk this week by Bill Hayward, CEO of Hayward Lumber and Chair on the board for Forest Stewardship Council, US at Hayward Lumber in SLO. The event was a SLO Green Build mixer that brought together green builders and businesses from San Luis Obispo County.

It was a great opportunity to hear the status of sustainability in forestry across the globe from an expert and very early adopter of the FSC certified products. Hayward Lumber has stocked FSC certified lumber in their lumber yard for many years and has led the way for others to do the same.  

Mr. Hayward's leadership in this industry effort started with himself and his team in the 90's when he took his team to walk the forests of the Northwest and see the difference between FSC certified forests and clear cuts made without sustainable practices. Getting on the ground and walking the forest made his team believers in forestry stewardship and they forged a way to be both profitable and sustainable.

Most inspiring is Mr. Hayward's vision that California builders can lead the way to global change. Starting here, California builders using a reasonable percentage of FSC certified wood in projects would be the tipping point to build demand for more forest certification which would lead to lower costs of certified wood products and increase usage globally.

It's a plan that could work to eliminate poor forestry management globally.  

When you get a chance, take a look at the Forest Stewardship Council website. According to Bill Hayward, the model of governance they have created is being copied in other industries such as Fair Trade. It's worth the look just to understand how each of us can make a difference by asking for wood and paper products that have been certified by the FSC.

Simply,

Tim

SunPower Joins SLO Green Build

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: 
 Lana Adams
 Administrator, SLO Green Build
 (805) 286-0072, admin@slogreenbuild.org

Steve Sutton
Project Development Liaison, California Valley Solar Ranch
(619) 917-2184, sutton.cvsr@gmail.com 

SunPower Joins SLO Green Build

San Luis Obispo, CA – November  2009. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) recently exhibited its commitment to our local community by joining SLO Green Build as a Redwood Member, the non-profit’s highest level of membership. SunPower designs, manufactures, delivers, and monitors high-performance solar electric systems worldwide for residential, commercial, and utility customers.

SunPower shares SLO Green Build’s belief that San Luis Obispo County is one of the most precious places on earth and shares its commitment to using the most sustainable development methods and greenest building materials possible. As a new corporate citizen of the County, SunPower is honored to join and participate in the organization’s tradition of grass-roots involvement and volunteerism among its membership and the community. The company’s membership in SLO Green Build is an acknowledgement and endorsement of the organization’s vision that “in a sustainable future, every building is a green building.”

SunPower is a major manufacturer and distributer of high energy solar electric modules for roof top and utility scale energy systems.  It is also the developer of the California Valley Solar Ranch.

###

For more information about SunPower: http://us.sunpowercorp.com
For more information about SLO Green Build: www.slogreenbuild.org

Submitted for SLO Green Build by:

Beth Fillerup, SLOGB volunteer
FILLERUP marketing communications
(805) 748-2135
www.get-the-word-out.blogspot.com
twitter @getthewordout

The Girl That Silenced The World For 5 Minutes

Thanks to Athen Agana for share this with me on Facebook.

simply,

Tim

Morro Bay Residents Invited to a Graywater Workshop

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact: Jessica Steely

Board Member & Event Coordinator, SLO Green Build

Production Coordinator, Semmes and Company

jessicas@semmesco.com, (805) 466-6737 x203

 

Morro Bay Residents Invited to a Graywater Workshop

Learn the ins, outs, and how-tos of graywater systems

 

Morro Bay, CA – November 4, 2009. On Tuesday, November 10^th from 5pm – 8pm at the Morro Bay Vets Hall, the City of Morro Bay is hosting a SLO Green Build Graywater Workshop for Morro Bay residents interested in water conservation. The Workshop will utilize the San Luis Obispo Guide to the Use of Graywater to educate attendees on the benefits, costs, and requirements to install their own safe and legal graywater system. Morro Bay’s Chief Building Inspector, Dan Doris, will lead the Workshop.

 

A $5 donation at the door is suggested for attendance, but is not required; light refreshments will be served; and an RSVP is not needed. Usually $10, a printed Graywater Guide will be available for only $5 to the first 30 buyers.

 

The Workshop will cover:

• How to calculate graywater discharge, landscape, and surface area requirements
• Plumbing techniques, materials, and discharge options
• Do’s and Don’t of graywater systems
• Maintenance programs
• Comparative costs, complexities, and environmental footprints of various graywater systems

 Local contractors and vendors will be on location to provide additional information. Attendees require no prior knowledge.

 

To download the Graywater Guide prior to the workshop, go to:

http://slogreenbuild.org/cm/resources/library/green_papers.html

 

###

 

More About SLO Green Build: www.SLOGreenBuild.org

More About City of Morro Bay: www.morro-bay.ca.us

Great Video Story from GreenForAll.org

Check out the Green For All website when you have time.

simply,

Tim

Turn Graywater Into Reusable Water - Graywater Guide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Contact: Lana Adams
Administrator, SLO Green Build
admin@slogreenbuild.org, (805) 286-0072
 
Turn Graywater Into Reusable Water
Learn How with SLOCOAT’s Graywater Guide & Workshops
 
San Luis Obispo, CA – October 16, 2009. The San Luis Obispo Coalition of Appropriate Technology (SLOCOAT) has completed The San Luis Obispo Guide to the Use of Graywater, which provides easy to follow steps to develop a safe graywater system at home. The Guide is available for free download at www.slogreenbuild.org or hard-copy purchase for $10.
 
“The Graywater Guide is an easy-to-follow, straight-forward tool that has the potential to make a large impact on reducing our County's water consumption,” explained contributing author and SLOCOAT member, Ken Haggard. “As people in the community begin to use the guide to create their own graywater systems, they will see just how easy it is; especially since the permitting process for graywater systems is being simplified and the state is proposing no permits for simple graywater applications.”
 
SLOCOAT recently provided a free luncheon to SLO County’s municipal departments to educate them on the Guide and its application in their community, and is now offering a “Graywater, a Resource to be Reused” workshop for municipalities to educate their local residents. Details to be announced.
 
The Graywater Guide teaches the steps and materials needed to construct a graywater system that will comply with the latest plumbing codes, won’t require any permits, and won’t become a health risk. It also includes useful tips, such as a list of plants that typically love graywater and detergents and cleaners that are appropriate for graywater systems.
 
To download the Graywater Guide go to:
http://slogreenbuild.org/cm/resources/library/green_papers.html
 
###
 
More About San Luis Obispo Coalition of Appropriate Technology:
http://slogreenbuild.org/cm/about_green_build/appropriate_technology.html