Water restrictions are no match for green building principles
I wrote this piece for the Florida Green Building Law Blog a few weeks back, and thought I would share here as well. Look for more contributions from Tampa Bay area green building enthusiasts, including myself, in the future.

While the rain begins to hit our roofs almost daily—those afternoon showers that simultaneously cool things off yet make our air more humid—consider the fate of this precious source of water for our region…



Our water infrastructure includes the design of expensive, and extensive, storm water management systems that add huge costs to new development, require expensive/disruptive repairs, and transport the toxins, debris and trash that comes from water hitting our impermeable driveways, streets and gutters. It then goes into the sewer, enters the storm water pipes, is filtered with powerful chemicals at treatment plants, and eventually reaches (and negatively impacts) the precious ecosystems and waterways that Floridians and (and tourists) visit and enjoy daily.

In response to this unsustainable method of collecting and treating surface waters, green building advocates, environmental organizations and individuals mindful of the complicated and costly requirements of an impermeable environment have started advocating for more permeable site design, and employing conservation strategies that once were common remedies when water wasn’t as readily available in the home—rainwater storage/use and grey water recycling.

Tampa Bay Water defines grey water as “untreated household wastewater that has not come in contact with toilet waste and includes wastewater from bathtubs, showers, clothes washers and laundry tubs.” Grey water makes up roughly 50-80% of the water heading down our drain, leaving a large capacity of reusable water that could be filtered easily and efficiently…reducing overall water use in the home by 30% or more!

We are still in a drought; homeowners, businesses and municipalities have been required to eliminate their use of potable water for irrigation and maintenance in order to conserve our dwindling water reserves. People learned quickly that these kinds of limits are not fun for water-hungry landscapes, and cringe at the thought of higher water surcharges—taking a second look at our everyday use of water.

Those that weren’t concerned had already prepared for this predicament—with their rain barrels/cisterns, drip irrigation systems, Florida-friendly landscape and low-flow fixtures helping keep their yard lush and monthly bills low.

Tea Leaf Green Welcomes 'Green' Community to their SF Earth Day Weekend Shows

Tea Leaf Green Welcomes S.F. ‘Green’ Community for Two-Night Fillmore Party Over Earth Day Weekend

And I was lookin’ up
at them tall redwood trees,
like looking up the skirt
of my destiny.
- Tea Leaf Green, “Zoom Zoom”

On Friday and Saturday April 17-18, San Francisco’s Tea Leaf Green returns to the historic Fillmore for what promises to be an epic Earth Day Weekend party for the Bay Area’s ‘Green’ community.

Known for its triumphant brand of psychedelic rock ’n’ roll – which has been likened to its San Francisco forebears – Tea Leaf Green’s music is characterized by the Earth-inspired lyrics and poignant vocals of keyboard player Trevor Garrod, a botanist who grew up on a northern California farm. The tension-release solos and soul-piercing blues guitar of Josh Clark trigger bursts of confetti to explode from the crowd at peak moments, while one of the filthiest rhythm sections in rock ‘n’ roll – bass virtuoso, Reed Mathis, and drummer, Scott “Ice Man” Rager – hold down the deep end.

Playing hometown shows in a city consistently ranked among the ‘greenest’ in the nation, the band is reaching out to the Bay Area’s ‘green’ community, and has invited two environmental non-profits to be a part of the event each night.

“Respecting the Earth is really important to Tea Leaf Green,” says the band’s long-time entertainment coordinator, Todd “Sauce” Wallenbrock, who is known to hike 30+ miles deep into wilderness areas of the American West. “You find out what is important in maintaining this world really quickly. Spend a few days in the back country catching three pound goldens [trout] for dinner, and things make little more sense.”

Wise men are hiding in the mountains
while most of us are working too hard
- Tea Leaf Green, “Kali-Yuga”

Friday night, rising Indy/Newgrass band, Or, the Whale will open the show on the main stage, while guitar maestro, Sean Leahy, plays the poster room before the show and during set break.

Seattle superstars Flowmotion open Saturday night, and Eugene, Oregon’s Freedom Tribe will play its vaunted mystical soundscapes in the poster room.

Click here to purchase tickets to what promises to be a historic pair of Earth Day weekend shows:

* Friday, April 17:
http://tinyurl.com/FillmoreNightONE

* Saturday, April 18:
http://tinyurl.com/FillmoreNightTWO

Make It Right-Pitt's Call for Action in NoLa

In 2006 Brad Pitt announced a partnership with Global Green USA, a non-profit focused on stemming climate change through sustainable green buildings and cities, eliminating WMDs, and securing safe drinking water for all people, with an architectural competition for firms to bring green designs to the ravaged Big Easy. This week, in a more drastic move in the right direction, Pitt announced his "Make It Right" Initiative, and it's Pink Project:

"While filming a movie in New Orleans, Brad Pitt noticed a pink fabric house that was being used as part of the set. He perceived the visual potency of pink houses as a metaphor. Working together with GRAFT, the idea was born to merge film and architecture into an installation that would bring immediate global attention to a pervasive local issue."


The project hopes to promises to bring innovative, affordable, homes designed (passively and actively) to reduce the structure's impact on the environment-and surely the inhabitants operational costs.

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Originally, I couldn't help but think of the loss of historic architectural features on the Lower 9th Ward after these 150 homes are built (so long as the money is donated). I soon realized, after looking at the designs accepted by the chosen architectural firms, that the home styles all incorporate a "shotgun" style, but offer contemporary, artistic, and, yes, innovative, design elements that bring color, life, and thought back to a place that needs all of those things.



One of the more envelope pushing designs by the Dutch firm MVRDV followed by my favorite by Billes Architecture:

Surrounded by Green

I'm all about making our built environment more sustainable, green, and beneficial-but there is a point where the green movement becomes too "out there," losing it's appeal. Do people want to live in a home that is completely covered with plants? Maybe a small niche, but I think there has to be a more mainstream focus in the creation of new techniques and materials. Otherwise, this movement will not shake the ground.
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From CNNMoney.com:
Green roofs aren't the future: They're already here. In Chicago, 2.5 million square feet of downtown roof space is now covered with hardy plants such as sedum and prairie grass--the better to lower heating and air-conditioning costs (by 10 percent or more) and dramatically reduce rainwater runoff.

The Windy City's rooftops aren't alone: The total square footage of green roofs in the United States is growing at the healthy rate of 125 percent a year.

Now some entrepreneurs are placing bets on something even more forward-thinking: green walls. "They're taking off way faster than green roofs," says Chad Sichello, president and CEO of G-Sky, a Vancouver, British Columbia, company that offers both.