The SunCatcher, a passive solar greenhouse, could change local agriculture while reducing fuel use and CO2 emissions. In today’s high-tech society, what would it look like to rediscover the simple but ancient wisdom of using only the sun for our heating needs? Knowledge and use of passive solar design to heat buildings has been around [...]

Cairo, a city packed with cars, is remaking its downtown into a pedestrian-friendly plaza, writes TreeHugger. The city’s urban planning authority has announced that plans will be complete within a year, and implementation will take another 10-15 years. Currently, the well-known thoroughfare Sharia Al-Mu’izz Li-Din Allah as well as other parts of downtown are already [...]

Afghanistan’s desolate Ghazni Province may hold the world’s largest deposits of lithium. (Image: Tyler Hicks/The New York Times) Just days after the Afghan War became the longest war in US history – 104 months, surpassing the 103-month American engagement in Vietnam – the New York Times, quoting top US government officials, reported the discovery of [...]

I started some small planters on the balcony off the dining room today. I have a condominium in West Los Angeles, no yard, no land – just the balconies. I have a few goals with this project: 1) Reduce the amount of food I need form the grocery store, 2) Teach my son about growing [...]

I love the holidays. Great food, family, festivites, fun and good movies. I love the cold weather with a nice fire inside and a good book with some yummy tea. On the holidays we get together, we celebrate each other and give thanks, we give gifts, we give to those who have less than we [...]