Second Nature » Events

From Hippie to Hip – Earth Day 1970 to 2011

Jayme — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 16:00:37 +0000

Each year, Earth Day — April 22 — marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.

The height of hippie and flower-child culture in the United States, 1970 brought the death of Jimi Hendrix, the last Beatles album, and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. Protest was the order of the day, but saving the planet was not the cause. War raged in Vietnam, and students nationwide increasingly opposed it.

“Environment” was a word that appeared more often in spelling bees than on the evening news. Although mainstream America remained oblivious to environmental concerns, the stage had been set for change by the publication of Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring in 1962. The book represented a watershed moment for the modern environmental movement, selling more than 500,000 copies in 24 countries and, up until that moment, more than any other person, Ms. Carson raised public awareness and concern for living organisms, the environment and public health.

Earth Day 1970 capitalized on the emerging consciousness, channeling the energy of the anti-war protest movement and putting environmental concerns front and center.

Source: earthday.org

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Skip to 1990…

As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign, similar to 1970. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

As the millennium approached, Hayes agreed to spearhead another campaign, this time focused on global warming and a push for clean energy. With 5,000 environmental groups in a record 184 countries reaching out to hundreds of millions of people, Earth Day 2000 combined the big-picture feistiness of the first Earth Day with the international grassroots activism of Earth Day 1990. It used the Internet to organize activists, but also featured a talking drum chain that traveled from village to village in Gabon, Africa, and hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Earth Day 2000 sent world leaders the loud and clear message that citizens around the world wanted quick and decisive action on clean energy.

Much like 1970, Earth Day 2010 came at a time of great challenge for the environmental community. Climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community all contributed to a strong narrative that overshadowed the cause of progress and change. In spite of the challenge, for its 40th anniversary, Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a powerful focal point around which people could demonstrate their commitment. Earth Day Network brought 225,000 people to the National Mall for a Climate Rally, amassed 40 million environmental service actions toward its 2012 goal of A Billion Acts of Green®, launched an international, 1-million tree planting initiative with Avatar director James Cameron and tripled its online base to over 900,000 community members.

The fight for a clean environment continues in a climate of increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest every day. We invite you to be a part of Earth Day and help write many more victories and successes into our history. Discover energy you didn’t even know you had. Feel it rumble through the grassroots under your feet and the technology at your fingertips. Channel it into building a clean, healthy, diverse world for generations to come.

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Super Fun Newcastle Earth Day 2011

Jayme — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:00:51 +0000

The City of Newcastle, the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce and the Newcastle Weed Warriors are pleased to host Earth Day 2011 at Lake Boren Park on April 23, 2011 (granted Earth Day is really April 22nd, but we can forgive them). The event includes informative mini-educational seminars, booths featuring green products and services, activities for Children and Mr. Scrappy Recycle will be on hand to meet your metal and appliance recycling needs. Hope to see you there!!!

Location: Lake Boren Park, Newcastle, WA

About: Earth Day 2011

Date: Saturday, April 23 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Websites: http://ci.newcastle.wa.us, http://newcastlecc.com, http://twe.ly/WeedWarriors

- Jayme M. Carleton, Second Nature

Making Sustainability Second Nature™

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Accidents Happen – Electrical Safety

Jayme — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:00:53 +0000

As a board member for the ResCon Safety Group I have hosted and sat through numerous safety presentations and pitches. Some are good, some are bad.

Recently I was lucky enough to host Dennis Smedsrud from Puget Sound Energy at our September ResCon Safety Group meeting. He was absolutely fabulous and his display was attention grabbing. Who wouldn’t want to watch small demos of people being electrocuted? (Yes, I just saw your jaw drop).

The main take aways for me from this presentation was:

Accidents happen because you take short cuts, they don’t seek you out
Always check where you are at in relation to power lines =10 foot rule
Stay away from power lines because electricity is an unknown variable and will jump towards you!
Electrical burns are internal; you only see 25% of what is really there
Don’t do quick easy tasks that will get you killed (i.e. see below the worker in the pool)
You CAN survive if a live power line lands on your car

Can You Say "Power Tool"?

I’m sure this guy’s boss told him to get the work done quickly and the worker didn’t think about the fact he was using a power tool. Duh… power tool = electricity… water BAD.

Well, I sure found this presentation interesting and love the fact that it was free! Please check out our other safety presentations at ResConSafetyGroup.com.

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Last Weekend of Public Tours!

Jayme — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:00:13 +0000

Clean Air, Radiant Heat, Daylighting - What More Could You Ask For?!?

If you haven’t yet seen this cool 5-Star Built Green project all I can ask is “What’s the hold up?!?” This is the last weekend that the Green Access Home at Suncadia will be open for public tours!!! There are so many amazing features to this home; it is worth the drive!

The house will be open to the public on 10/9 and 10/10 from 1-5 p.m. both days!

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

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House Featured in Kittitas Tour of Homes Magazine

Jayme — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:00:09 +0000

Below is our page from the Kittitas Tour of Homes magazine which was from Friday, September 17 through Sunday, September 19 2010. If you haven’t yet seen this showcase 5-star Built Green home, never fear! We are open for the next three weekends – please see http://www.greenaccessatsuncadia.com/events for the dates and times.

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Public Tours This Weekend!

Jayme — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:00:54 +0000

Metal, Stone and Wood - Gorgeous!

Don’t forget to stop by this weekend to see the Green Access Home at Suncadia.

The house will be open to the public on 10/2 and 10/3 from 1-5 p.m. both days!

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Daily Journal of Commerce Showcases Our Built Green Project

Jayme — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:00:12 +0000

I am very fortunate to be part of such a wonderful Built Green demonstration project!!! DJC featured our project on September 15, 2010.

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

Green Mixes With Universal Access in a New House Built in Suncadia
By KATIE ZEMTSEFF
Journal Staff Reporter

Tour Event

The Carrs’ house was designed by 4D Architects and built by Nine Pine Developments.

When Mike and Susie Carr decided to build a vacation home at Suncadia in Cle Elum, they wanted a house that was both sustainable and accessibile to everyone. The result is wheelchair-friendly, but it also offers a number of lessons about design for an aging population.

Universal access means all people of all abilities can use a space. The project is called the Green Access Home at Suncadia, and it opens this weekend at 4047 Swiftwater Drive.

The 2,000-square-foot home is in Suncadia’s Nelson Preserve and has targeted 5 Star Built Green. Weekend public tours will begin later this month.

Mike Carr offers one lesson: With a little thought, people can build a house they can live in long-term. Carr, a director of software development at Amazon.com, has been in a wheelchair since 1996, but he said universal design is useful for everyone. Having a house that can easily accommodate aging people adds value because you can live in it longer.

“One of the tips we got from our architect is envision how you’re going to use the space,” he said. “Especially for a vacation home because people use them when they are retired. You don’t want to build it out, finally retire and not be able to use it.”

The house was designed by 4D Architects and built by Nine Pine Developments. The Carrs live in Bellevue and plan to use it as a vacation home for themselves and friends. It has three bedrooms and two baths.

Carr said it is interesting to watch how universal design and sustainability intersect. For example, he said the house is smaller to make it more sustainable but that also makes it more accessible.

The single-level house sits on a ridge with an elevation change. In front, the house has a long driveway, creating less of a grade change. A viewing deck in back extends about 50 feet from the house, making it easier for people in wheelchairs to experience the outdoors. Carr said the deck will let him watch elk and other wildlife.

The house has smooth, easy to navigate concrete floors. Windows are lower so a seated person can get a better view of the outside. Door handles are another focus. As people age, many develop arthritis, making it hard to turn knobs. The Green Access home has levers on the doors rather than knobs.

The house has wide doors and corridors, a roll-in shower, lower light switches and appropriate tub and bed heights. It has a front loading washer and dryer and an easy access pantry.

One challenge was the kitchen. Countertops are low but a wheelchair user still needs to be able to roll under them, leaving little room for a standard sink. The team used a poured concrete countertop with a built-in sink: “It’s hard to get that out of the box.”

The house is well insulated so air flow was a concern. The team added remote controls that allow Carr to open and close the top part of windows, so hot air will flow out of the home.

Green design also forced some innovative solutions. The guest bedroom, for example, was originally slated to have two twin beds, but that would make it difficult to navigate in a wheelchair. The Carrs added a sleeper sofa instead. “If we weren’t being green, we would have built it bigger with beds that aren’t used. Now it’s cozier and mostly a study,” he said. “It led to a better use of the room.”

The house was sited based on the sun and prevailing winds. A large overhang and eaves will protect the house from passive solar gain. It is built into a hillside, which will provide cooling during the summer.

Susie Carr, a naturopath, wanted a strong emphasis on indoor air quality and non-toxic paints and finishes.

The house has solar energy and a solar thermal heating system will warm water for the radiant system in the floors.

With green systems, Carr said the team had to be concerned about payback. But designing for universal accessibility mostly involved smart design and configuration with no added cost.

Carr said visitors wouldn’t know the house is different if they don’t know the history.

“It’s not like you have to have a giant wooden ramp in front of it,” he said. “The whole intent is to make it accessible without being obviously accessible. Good design is accessible.”

Other groups that have been involved in the project include the Sustainability Foundation, the Central Washington Built Green Association, Senger Construction and Second Nature.

Public tours will be given from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays from Sept. 25 to Oct. 10. On Sept. 18 and 19 the project will be featured during the Kittitas Tour of Homes from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information or to learn more about the tour, visit www.greenaccessatsuncadia.com/about.

For the full article click here.

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Seattle Times Article about Green Demonstration Project

Jayme — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:00:50 +0000

The exposure we are receiving on this demonstration project is wonderful! I hope everyone has a chance to visit the home.

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

A home that’s green, accessible and open to the public

September 08, 2010

Seattle Times staff

A series of weekend open houses is scheduled for a home that is a showpiece for sustainable building and handicap access.

The free tours of the Green Access Home at Suncadia, near Cle Elum, are from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sept. 25, 26 and Oct. 2, 3, 9 and 10.

The home will also be part of the Central Washington Home Builders Association Tour of Homes from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 17, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 18 and 19. Tickets for those are $10.

The house, which is getting the finishing touches put on it and is not for sale, is a 2,000-square-foot, one-story contemporary mountain cabin that has a passive-solar power and was made with local, salvaged, durable and nontoxic materials, plus other green-energy systems and technologies.

The address is 4047 Swiftwater Drive, Cle Elum. For more information: www.greenaccessatsuncadia.com

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Tours This Weekend!

Jayme — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:30:12 +0000

Indoor and Outdoor Living Made Easy

Don’t forget to stop by this weekend to see the Green Access Home at Suncadia.

The house will be open to the public on 9/25 and 9/26 from 1-5 p.m. both days!

- Jayme Carleton, Second Nature

http://jaymecarleton.com

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Free Recycling Event! – Sunday 6/6

Jayme — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 17:07:43 +0000

Date: Sunday, June 6th

Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: Bellevue College, Bellevue Wa.

1 Green Planted and Eastside FC U-18 Boys & Bellevue College are partnering to provide a free recycling event at Bellevue College on June 6th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will also be books for you to pickup. Suggested donations are appreciated: recycled items $10-20; books $1-2 per book.

FREE Pickup and recycling for the following:
- computer and parts
- printers
- fax machines
- phones
- record players
- speakers
- radios
- game systems
- TV's all sizes
- VCRs
- Christmas tree lights
- Anything with a plug!

Also accepting:
- appliances any size
- car batteries
- computer batteries
- medical equipment
- ink toner and cartridges

1 Green Planet is a local non-profit 501 (c)(3) recycling organization that gives back to the community. Their business is to create a greener planted by helping you recycle equipment you no longer use or need. Your donations help support education and training programs, local food banks, homeless shelters, hospitals and other causes.

1 Green Planet
1780 NW Maple Street, Issaquah 98027
www.1greenplantet.com
866-422-3755
susan@1greenplanet.com

- Jayme Mattson

http://jaymemattson.com

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