What would it be like to live in world that was completely self sustainable?  How would life be different for us if we were completely free of our dependency on fossil fuels and foreign oil?

Well, some intrepid architects are out to get some very real answers to those questions. In what will be the nation’s first net-zero (emission free) community, a little place called Geos will be making its debut in Colorado in late 2008.  

Photo Credit: Inhabitat

Green Genius?

Entirely solar and geothermally powered, this experimental city should prove quite the study in green design and eco conscious building practices.  And it may just be a jumping off point for increased interest in development and implementation of the strategies and products we’ll need if we want to cut our energy bills more efficiently. 

Will it be, as some nay-sayers predict, a disappointing, low grade disaster that fails to make a clear case for the enviro-movement? Or will it be a 25 acre window into the future?

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My kitchen has constant action. There are always cookies being baked, vegetables being steamed, bottles of wine being opened, and cupcakes being iced. With all this time on my feet in the kitchen, I’m constantly thinking about what kind of flooring might best work under my shoes.

Growing in popularity, and providing an array of benefits that traditional flooring options can’t even come close to offering, cork flooring is a great investment for any kitchen remodel.

Cork flooring first came across my attention because of my yoga studio. All the studio spaces were installed with cork flooring because it is soft, durable, and of course, a natural sustainable choice. If it’s the perfect comfortable flooring materials for yogis practicing difficult poses, it must be just as comfortable for the busy cook.

But it’s not just about comfort. While cork makes for happy feet, it’s also fire resistant, reduces heat loss (it’s a great insulator!), is mold and bug repellant, reduces sound and vibrations, and is easy to install since cork flooring can often comes in click-into-place mosaic tiles. 

And for those of you increasingly concerned with your impact on the environment, cork flooring is a perfect sustainable product.  Not only is it easy to easy to grow and harvest, it’s very easy to recycle too.

And, don’t think cork only has to go on your kitchen floor. You can try it in just about any room of your home, or you can even look into cork siding for your walls, and cork furniture. Examples of new uses for cork are coming out everyday, so keep your eyes open and see how you can use it in your home.