Urban Sprawl and Sustainability in So Cal

KPCC/NPR has just run a 3 part series on sustainability and Los Angeles. In part 1, about smart growth for LA, Abdres Duany, a Miami based urban planner is interviewed:

"Southern California is a laboratory for everything that can go wrong in urban design, says Andres Duany. Also: he likes that. "You can find probably California has pioneered suburban sprawl and every aspect of it," he says. "But at the same time California has all the best examples of things as well. There are wonderful downtowns. Wonderful urban agricultural areas. And I think California is probably a good example of as good as things can get and as bad as things can get."

Part 2 address issues of mega cities, those with over 10 million population (wow! - I don;t think the entire country of Austrailia has that many people) and brings up the point that "people can’t make sustainable homes unless they think about problems across an entire region. But he adds that it’s impossible to improve the environment on a mega-city scale without starting in just one house."

In part 3 of the series, Architect Michael Maltzan, a sustainable architect, is interviewed. There are some neat things happenning in LA including sustainable housing for the homeless. As an EcoBrokerTM, I often write about residential sustainable housing as it relates to your home and maybe to those in your neighborhood. This feature story brings out a good point about your home in relation to the overall urban design:

"Passive heating and cooling, reduced energy consumption, and filtered
indoor air are common in Maltzan's work. But he says that sustainability is
bigger and more complicated than ultra-efficient internal systems and
eco-friendly building materials. For example, architects and urban designers
will have to commit to the efficient use of public space - and the zealous
protection of privacy - to help cities thrive. 'As our lives become more
interconnected I think one of the complexities of the contemporary life is
increasingly that blurry line between public and private and what that
means.' In a city like Los Angeles, Maltzan says, where public plazas are in
short supply, the blurry line is often the street and the sidewalk
themselves."

So, as we head to urbanization throughout the country including Southern California, we do need to think about our little piece of heaven in it's surroundings.

Read more about it at: http://www.scpr.org/news/2009/12/30/sustainable-home-3/

How can ancient mythology help us go green?

OC Green Realty is forming an alliance with Icarus Green Energy Solutions, in my due diligence researching their company, I of course, went to the about us section of their website. Here is why they call the company Icarus:

The story of Icarus dates back to the times of Greek Mythology. Icarus was the son of master craftsman Daedalus the inventor of carpentry. Imprisoned on the island of Crete, Icarus and Daedalus needed to plan an escape. Using his skills for building, Daedalus constructed wings made of wax and feathers to be used to fly Icarus and himself off the island. The plan was a success except for one major detail: THE ENERGY FROM THE SUN! In flight after the escape, Icarus flew too close to the sun. The sun melted the wax of his wings and Icarus’ escape ended in tragedy.
What can we learn from an ancient Greek mythological story today? Daedalus could have gone GREEN and utilized the energy of the sun! The 20th century Icarus has gone green and like his father is a master craftsman rebuilding green communities across the world. Icarus’ mission is to spread the word of going green and advocating energy efficiency and energy independence.

This company can help you with an energy audit, an energy efficient mortgage and general tips on going green in your home. I am excited to find them, and to be working with them, as they encompass all the support services I need as an EcoBrokerTM and Green Real Estate Agent to serve my clients with an extra package of services and products they need. I am forming an affiliate program for my clients to receive comlimentary upgrades and services through Icarus.

We have alliances with an Interior Designer, A Feng Shui Master, and Green Architects. Check out our website on the resources link page: http://www.ocgreenrealty.com/default.asp_Q_f_E_links