Hi, Sustainable environments are a hot topics. If we could concentrate in guiding existing utilities like NYSEG to think like Cornell's 100 year plus use we might not be releasing by-products in making electricity into the lake. I am an architect so my information is very much general, possibly erroneous. My interest, however, continues. Recently, I met with James Adams who was quite illuminating. Low sulfur coal may be available for 400 years where gas has 50 years. Renewable components I would think begins with reductions and efficiencies of existing fuels. name: James R Adams send_email_to: jra4@xxxxxxxxxxx nickname: Jim campus_address: 135 Humphreys Serv Bldg campus_phone: 607-255-6648 fax: 607-255-5377 department: Utilities Administration univ_title: Dir Facilities II working_title: Director - Utilities & Energy Management type: staff He may direct you to others that are as illuminating to your concerns. Please keep the sharing of information as we all need to be informed. Regards, John Barradas, AIA ---------- >From: Jay Jacobson <jay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >To: greenbuild@xxxxxxxxxxxxx >Subject: [greenbuild] Bio >Date: Thu, Apr 5, 2001, 4:51 AM > > > Hi; > I'm a retired environmental scientist who joined EcoVillage at Ithaca in > '92 and am living in the first neighborhood. I'm interested in using the > principals and practices of permaculture to reduce our consumption of > natural resources. I'm tracking the neighborhood's total use of water, > electricity and natural gas to see the extent to which this suburban > ecovillage/cohousing community actually is moving towards sustainability. > I'd like to explore using more alternative techniques such as rainwater > collection instead of potable water to flush toilets, a strawbale > composting greenhouse to grow salad vegetables in winter, solar energy for > preheating hot water, geothermal energy for space heating and photovoltaics > for electricity. I'd like to grow tree crops such as fast-growing poplars > or bamboo for some useful purposes. Any suggestions? > Jay Jacobson > >