2009 February

Berkeley’s Homeless Build Paleolithic Barbecue Pit

February 28, 2009 By Susan Kraemer 8 Comments

The homeless already know the fragility of life. Like bulldozers waking you in the night, at any moment everything can change.

By contrast this earthsheltered barbecue pit they created at Bums Paradise will likely survive for millennia.

AIA Provides Guide to Reducing Carbon Footprint

February 28, 2009 By Dawn Killough 4 Comments

The AIA is offering a great resource: 50 building design strategies to reduce fossil fuel use and move towards carbon neutrality.

New Home Makes Family Sick

February 27, 2009 By Linda Kincaid, MPH, CIH 2 Comments

The Wilson family moved into a new home last summer. Within days, they were feeling ill. Their eyes were burning, they had sore throats, and they were chronically tired.

Greenest Winery Opens in Napa Valley

February 27, 2009 By Keith Rockmael 2 Comments

Instead of usual colors that we associate with wine such as white or dark red, our color paradigm might shift to say Gold. With the CADE Winery just about to open, this solar powered and organically farmed winery, hopes to garner LEED Gold status and if so, would be the first Estate Gold LEED certified [...]

Formaldehyde from Citrus Cleaning Products

February 26, 2009 By Linda Kincaid, MPH, CIH 15 Comments

Cleaning products and air fresheners can produce formaldehyde. UC Berkeley researchers found that chemicals in pine oils and citrus oils react with ozone in the air, producing formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a strong eye, nose, throat, and lung irritant. Formaldehyde is also an asthma trigger and a carcinogen, according to the EPA.