Tomorrow morning at 6am I’ll be on Southern Oregon Live, the radio show hosted by Russ Batzer. We’ll talk about Greener By Design and what’s happening in green building.

If you’re in the Rogue Valley tune into KCMX 880 AM to learn more about green building. If you’re not in the Rogue Valley you can catch the podcast of the show at http://solive.mypodcast.com/. The live call in number is (541) 772-TALK (8255).

I’m pleased to announce that the business has moved to Southern Oregon! Now located in Medford, Greener By Design is still serving southern and central Oregon, just from a new headquarters.

Same phone number and contact information.

Please forgive the initial commercial message from CBS, the story that follows it is very important to understand if people have questions about “why should I use a low flow toilet, shower, faucet……”

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Seems like I’m always googling topics or looking for an article I read somewhere, but can’t find now. Unfortunately many of the Green Building articles out there, don’t seem to google very well. To find many articles it often works best just to visit the online magazine and use their search feature. Some content is available for free, some requires a subscription, but here are some of the resources available. None of these are “lifestyle” magazines, they are technical journals, trade publications, and business magazines geared toward people with professional experience and interest in green building. They are in no particular order, click on the image to go to their website.

Home Power Magazine covers solar, wind, hydro, design, and build articles

Green Source is a McGraw Hill publication

Building Green covers a wide variety of product reviews and building science. It also lists articles and products by CSI number so it’s easier to incorporate back into specifications.

Published by the Cascadia Green Building Council, this magazine covers people and design in the northwest that pushing the cutting edge of the industry.

Sustainable Industries covers green building, green manufacturing (lean manufacturing), and other business topics of sustainability

Please feel free to suggest more resources. I find it’s hard for client or company to choose green, when they are unfamiliar with it, and so these resources are often critical in helping people make decisions to choose green or choose between green options.

Happy Holidays! May your holiday season be filled with good company, merriment, love, and peace.

I’ll be away from the office until Monday December 28.

It’s been a good 2009, and here’s hoping that everyone has an even better 2010!

See you real soon,

Heather McNeill

I visited the greenhouse project today. I finished the designs last spring, but as with so many things, life got in the way and construction was postponed for awhile.

Today they put the rafters in place. Just a few sticks of wood are nailed together and it feels like a sheltering space. I say that even though it was nearly dark and sleet was coming down from the sky. There is still nothing like standing in the middle of a space that had just been an idea on paper, and is now three dimensions. Now we can walk through doorways, see all the framing for the windows. Its ample enough for a wheelbarrow, for working space, for planters, benches, and even the hammock that Randy and Carol are thinking about buying. They are wonderful gardeners and artists. I can only imagine how this little glass garden temple of salvaged windows will be decorated and overflowing with life by next spring.

And what they don’t know is that everytime I stand in a skeletal framing of a newly hatched building , I remember each fort I built as a kid. I remember being 7 years old watching my Dad and Uncles putting walls in place for the addition to our house. I remember running through that new space imagining all the things we would do there and it was just studs standing awaiting so much more, but there was that joy of really seeing how something that had been drawn, becomes a place we live and work.

It was a great afternoon, freezing sleet and all, standing in a newly framed space is still something hopeful and joyful. Thank you Randy & Carol! I never would have pictured that in a wintry mid November in Central Oregon, we’d be laughing in the sleet, imagining the soon to be planter boxes and hammock, and next springs garden.

Just call if you need anything in the next few days.

I’m thrilled to be working with Batzer Construction in Medford Oregon! We’ll be tackling several big projects during the next year. I’ll be in Medford working with them about half of each month, which is just right to go on helping clients in Bend too.

So the company dog McKenzie, and I will be traveling and I am considering adapting the post office motto “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays this company from the swift completion of greening tasks!” I know it will be an adventure during the winter and it’s lucky for me that I love the state of Oregon and getting to see it in all her glorious seasons.

I highly recommend this series on the Sundance Channel. It’s well produced, useful and inspiring ways people are affecting sustainability in all walks of life.

Some of the series is available on Netflix if you don’t get the Sundance Channel.

Event Announcement from The Environmental Center

Thursday, July 30th
5:00-7:00pm
G5 Search Marketing
In the Old Cigar Building
906 NW Harriman Ave, Bend

Did you know that Green Drinks is an international movement with nodes all around the world? There are nodes in virtually every country from Algeria to Vietnam!

Celebrate the summer at Green Drinks on July 30th. This is Bend’s Best Green Networking event for anyone or any business interested in sustainability. Join us and have a green drink or two!

We’ll be at G5 Search Marketing, an innovative company that has implemented many green initiatives in their operations.

In an effort to have a truly “green” drink, bring your own cup!

For more information, contact the Central Oregon Environmental Center- Katy Bryce at 541-385-6908 ext. 16.

Solar Oregon is a good organization to watch for workshops and they’ll be holding workshops in Bend August 15. Please register for their workshops on their website, by clicking the links below.

Residential Basics of Going Solar - 8/13/09 - Bend (Bend Community Center 1036 NE 5th Street, Bend, from Aug 13, 2009 06:30 PM to Aug 13, 2009 07:30 PM)
Learn the Basics of Going Solar in Oregon. Learn about Solar Thermal and Solar Electric systems and how Tax credits can pick up more than half of the cost.

How to Buy a Solar Electric (PV) System - 8/15/09 - Bend (Central Oregon Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend (Audobon Room), from Aug 15, 2009 09:00 AM to Aug 15, 2009 11:30 AM)
Learn about your options for turning sunlight into electricity. You can power your home or business, and get credit for putting your extra power into the grid.

How to Buy a Solar Hot Water System - 8/15/09 - Bend (Central Oregon Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend (Audobon Room), from Aug 15, 2009 01:00 PM to Aug 15, 2009 03:30 PM)
Solar Hot water is one of best ways for home owners to “Go Solar”

Passive Solar Building Design - 8/15/09 - Bend (Central Oregon Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend (Audubon Room), from Aug 15, 2009 04:00 PM to Aug 15, 2009 06:30 PM)
A practical “how to” workshop for builders, designers and individuals who are planning to design or build a passive solar home.
poster-for-bend-3-hr-workshops_8_15_09

In addition to the workshops being offered, Solar Oregon has some great case study resources that you might find helpful in considering your options for green buidling.