Now that COP21 is over and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change has been written, what’s next? John Kerry suggests that there’s potential for economic growth in the development of new technologies to mitigate climate change. I prefer to see the potential for moral growth by all of us – individuals, corporations, and nations alike – if we abandon this model of growth as a value to be pursued. [Read more…]
Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime? (Or in this case, 2 cents?)
You may have noticed an item in today’s paper concerning the upcoming referendum on Bylaw 389, better known to most of us as the “Homelessness Referendum”. This will take place on November 28, and is something that merits serious attention.
A Matter of Trust: the dangers of DIY
In our culture, a lot of value is placed on the DIY ethic, in which it seems we’ve empowered everyone to do just about anything. The result is that people aren’t always prepared to value expert opinion, but instead engage with experts as minimally as they can. This is due partly to the widespread idea that all opinions have equal validity – especially when it comes to the world of design. [Read more…]
A ‘phoenix’ tale: a stock plan revisited
Ten years ago, we were contacted by a client in California who wanted to buy a modified ‘Purcell’ stock plan from us. After customizing the plan to his specifications, we sent off the drawings. The build went ahead, Craig was installed in his new home, and all was well — or so it seemed. [Read more…]
At home in the country — for good
Today I spent six productive hours in a workshop focused on strategies for housing the aging population in our rural areas. The event was co-sponsored by Island Health and the CVRD, and was hosted by my home community, Creekside Commons Cohousing.
Many rural homeowners are getting to the point in life where continued upkeep of their properties and buildings is too much work. However, relocating to town would take them away from neighbours, the landscape and a lifestyle that they still love. There’s an obvious need for housing options that embody these rural values through the later-life transition, especially as people lose their ability to drive. [Read more…]
A call for REAL change
The other day I touched base with an architect colleague who shares my passion for sustainable design. We lamented the fact that despite the growing certainty about the very real consequences of climate change and environmental degradation, green building hasn’t taken off as we’d hoped it would in this country. As one example of this: back in December 2013, when I took my Passive House training, there were about 40 projects built or in planning in Canada. A quick online search of the PH database reveals that now, two years later, there are only 15 built Passive Houses in Canada, (while 371 have been built in the U.S.) – disappointing numbers, to be sure, and indicative of a movement that’s lost its momentum. [Read more…]
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