Comments Kathy Austin has made

  • Begley's Best

    Different subject here. I'm a USGBC member and Greenie, Prius owner etc. etc. I find it hard to buy green cleaning "stuff" for the most part. It's available in Mega Industrial sizes for offices that have implemented green cleaning policies. I can get some things that are "sort of" green in some of the local markets and Trader Joe's. Which brings me to the suggestion of Ed contacting Trader Joe's (South Pasadena is their original starting point, and I assume the decision makers are still in that area) about carrying his cleaning products. I think it would be a win win for everyone. Otherwise, can we find out how to get some shipped?
    Thanks,
    On A new reality series reveals what it's like living with eco-celeb Ed Begley Jr. posted 2 years, 10 months ago 7 Responses

  • Cold Windows

    I too live in a realtively mild CA climate and own a very old home. It took me several years to have enough money to replace the large original plate glass windows in my living room. (3 windows two 3.5 and a 5x5)with wooden frames! I couldn't be in my living room for 4 months of the year without looking like an Eskimo. Plus it was noisy as I live on a busy street. I found a company that installs replacement windows that are double pane with low e and one pane that is 3/16th" thick. The extra thickness is terrific in blocking noise. The replacement windows do not require you to remove any exterior trim, provided your existing windows are not surface nailed to begin with. Simply remove the stops on the inside, remove old, replace with new and replace wood stops. Whoalla! New warm quiet windows in about an hour. Suddenly my heat bills plummeted and I could lounge in my T-shirt in the living room in the dead of "winter."  

    It might be worth it to take out a small line of credit or loan to do the replacements and see the heat and or cooling savings help pay off the loan! Check locally to see if there is a "Homeworks" or similar company that advertizes "replacement" windows. I was so thrilled I replaced all my office windows (1920's bungalow)and had the same wonderful results.

    A caveat here, the only actually affordable windows other than leaky aluminum ones are made out of vinyl. I know that Umbra would never use them, but please consider they are made in a more environmentally responsible manner now in the US and will last basically forever, which is a good thing. The key is a "thermal block" between inside and outside which vinyl and wood can easily do. Problem is that wood windows are many times more expensive for us mere mortals.

    PS, Plastic with tape and or storm windows will not come close to helping solve this problem.

    K. Austin, ArchitectOn Umbra on inefficient windows posted 3 years ago 4 Responses

  • Dripless LED "Candles"

    Just a suggestion, but now there are many attractive alternative "candles" that use a flickering LED light inside what appears to be a wax candle. Not sure what the candle is made of but the benifit is that it lasts a very long time, doesn't produce any by products, won't accidentally cause a fire in your home and no accidental burns or spills. I've seen these advertised in large pillar style and small votive sizes. On Umbra on dripless candles posted 3 years ago 8 Responses

  • Global Warming excellent resource

    Thanks Umbra. I would like you and your readers to know that the American Institute of Architects voted and made a committement in June 2005 to reduce green house emisions from the buildings we design by 50% by 2020. To view an excellent website with plenty of easy to read and view documentation go to www.architecture2020.com
    We, the architects of this country have the opporunity and obligation to help create change in the way our buildings are are built, preserved, and renovated, to reduce the impact on the environment to zero.
    Sincerely,
    On Umbra on global warming posted 3 years, 7 months ago 3 Responses