On a recent Wednesday night, 15 of us sat under the vortex of the Lake Harriet Spiritual Center dome and had a conversation about dark matter and dark energy, led by a political science graduate. For 45 minutes the assortment of us – none of whom to my knowledge had any particular scientific career –…
Commentary
About science, storytelling and social conscience
How might we tell stories differently so that instead of deepening the grooves of a fragmented society, we shift the way we have conversations?One of the joys of my life as a writer is that I get to meet and hear firsthand so many stories. Yet, as a communicator by profession, I have a profound…
Commentary
How we create boundaries
Can we create a place where anyone—regardless of age, race, gender identity, religion—can walk into a city, be welcomed and find the footing they need to succeed?When Bill Remmer left his home in Melvin, Iowa, in his mid-30s, to walk 230 miles to Minneapolis to find a better source of income for his growing family, his…
Commentary
Loving our community to failure
If we start with the notion that our community/ world/ universe is connected, then maybe the ways we divide ourselves up politically, economically and socially will no longer make sense to us and we’ll get about the business of repairing it.A few years ago, Roy Scranton, an opinion blogger for The New York Times, wrote…
Commentary
A nuanced story about consumption
One of the home designers I’ve gotten acquainted with as I work toward a book about Minneapolis and sustainability is Michael Anschel of otogawa-anschel design+build. At my December “Sustainable We” forum he was not afraid to speak his mind about the limitations of energy efficiency as a concept, despite being on a panel of efficiency-minded…
Energy & Design
Carbon Zero Home: Attempting to Leave the Dickensian Era
Sean McLoughlin leads a Carbon Zero Home effort to improve energy efficiency of existing Minneapolis homes. Why it is difficult to do the right thing…As a child of ‘hippy’ parents, Sean McLoughlin grew up living off-grid in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico. The fall was spent compiling the wood pile that heated their house…
Energy & Design
Designed for the Future: A Sampler
A sampler of the excellent compilation by Jared Green of communities and structures “Designed for the Future.” Much food for thought.One of the books I discovered this year is Designed for the Future: 80 Practical Ideas for a Sustainable World, by Jared Green (Princeton Architectural Press, 2015). He talked to more than 80 architects, urban…
Energy & Design
Forum #3: 5 Architects on Building a Better City
Five Minneapolis designers/builders talked with fellow residents and community leaders about how to build a better city, at the third Sustainable We forum. At Sustainable We forum #3, five home builders/designers debated the state of energy efficient housing stock in Minneapolis today. It was a lively discussion. Will we be able to meet standards to…
Energy & Design
Sustainable We Forum #4: Where Does the Sun Shine on Renewable Energy?
How are Minneapolis community gardens going to make a difference? What should we know about the developers? The options? Forum #4 Our city-wide series of “Sustainable We” conversations continued January 19 with a panel discussion at the community room of Gandhi Mahal restaurant in the Longfellow neighborhood. A short video clip from audio material below: Questions…
Energy & Design
Why Should We Care About Our Home Energy?
We hear about it as a global warming issue, but do you really know why Minneapolis energy efficiency is important? And what you are spending on home energy?The big picture… Most of the energy we create from fossil fuels is wasted, and leads to air pollution, global warming, and health issues. (The World Health Organization…