Habitat for Humanity has been building homes for years. Now, the nonprofit that brings together volunteers with prospective homeowners to erect low-cost, low-income housing has gone green. And in the process, Habit for Humanity is showing that an eco-friendly house also can be kind to the bottom line. From USA Today:
Reynolds says the goal is to build green AND affordable. He avoids what he calls "green bling" (eco-features with little bang for their big buck) and focuses instead on insulation, efficient appliances and minimizing construction waste. "We had one piece of siding left over," he notes.
The house, located in Bay St. Louis, Miss., cost just $90,000 to build and won a top rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. More details and great pix in the full story.
For-profit builders seem to be getting the message as well, as the green revolution makes its way into the urban core. The Los Angeles Times has the details.
Renters are getting into the act as well. While grand gestures like solar roof panels and a gray water recycling system fall to homeowners, people handing over a monthly rent check also can make a difference, the Mother Nature Network says. Think weather-stripping doors and windows, changing to eco-friendly light bulbs and (OK, this one goes for homeowners, too) turning down the thermostat this winter.
Speaking of the Mother Nature Network, co-founder Chuck Leavell is profiled here at SecondAct.com.
In New Jersey, green is the goal in that annual rite, back-to-school shopping. A growing number of products are made partially or entirely from recycled materials, North Jersey.com reports, and offers some tips for making eco-friendly choices.
Even the champagne bottle has gone green, says The New York Times.
Here's another good reason to get out of your car. Turns out a longer commute can be hazardous to your health.
OK, this is amazing: Scientists studying chimpanzees living in the rainforests of Guinea have stumbled on a remarkable feat--the primates have not only learned how to recognize the traps used by poachers, but the chimps also have taught themselves how to disarm the snares. The full story--with a video--at the BBC site.
If that video of chimps in the rainforest gets your wanderlust going, consider this vacation--birdwatching in the cloud forest of Peru. Sure, the wonders of Machu Picchu are nearby, but in a tiny valley in the Andes, the protected micro-climate offers up birds and plants you won't see anywhere else, the NYT reports.
Are you longing to be more than a mere tourist, to make a difference yourself? Then check out the Tonic story by Vivian Jamieson, featured here at Second Act.com, and learn how she spent her time in Greece helping to save dolphins.