The myth of the landlord as a Mr. Potter-type figure still persists, even though many of them today are as cash-strapped as the tenants. That is the only rational explanation for why many building owners fail to make obvious energy-saving improvements in their buildings, improvements that have paybacks of 4 years or less and add to [...]
Read Full PostWhy don’t hotels have no-frills “green rooms” ? Here’s how it would work. First, instead of those little disposable bottles of shampoo and conditioner and body lotion (who the hell even uses the body lotion?), they’d have a dispenser. Second, if you want changes of sheets and towels you’d pay extra. In fact, maid serivce [...]
Read Full PostLike Norman Bates’ mother, your gas and electric meters are never seen outside the basement. But this does not have to be the case. (About metering, that is.) Think Outside Of the Box for a minute. What if every day an email appeared on your computer [...]
Read Full PostTHE GREEN DIVIDEND: HOW TO END OUR FOSSIL FUEL ADDICTION WITHOUT PAIN
No one talks seriously about reducing our dependence on carbon-based fuels by taxing them, which would be the obvious way to reduce consumption. The conventional wisdom is that such a tax would be expensive and unpopular, politically dead on arrival. And if the tax [...]