Vaxjo, Sweden: The World's Greenest City

Last month, Sweden was declared the greenest country in world. This survey, conducted by Yale, Columbia, NEWSWEEK, and LinkedByAir, considered many factors into what qualifies as "green". "Sweden: Going Green", published by The Sydney Morning Herald is an excellent article by Louise Williams that describes the hundreds of changes that Vaxjo, the greenest city in Sweden, has made and how it can be taken as a model for not only the rest of the country but also the world. One Green Goal is to entirely eliminate the country's dependence on oil by 2020. That's right, less than 12 years from now. With the U.S. ranked at #66 greenest country in the world (behind Iran, Mexico, Israel, Russia and Cuba) maybe we should be looking at the countries ranked higher as models economic sustainability instead of "sticking the course" with our current oil-dependent economy.

Eco-Home Design

Calculate Your Ecological Footprint

Calculate your Ecological Footprint and begin to comprehend the effect that we have on the environment. It's difficult to swallow but the results will make you think twice about everyday activities and how we could change our habits for the benefit of our planet

AltBuild Expo 2008 - Santa Monica, CA

Anyone interested in learning more about green building, material and construction alternatives and living a healthier lifestyle should consider attending the 5th annual AltBuild Expo in Santa Monica, CA. It is presented by the City of Santa Monica and will be located in the Civic Auditorium Friday and Saturday (4/25-4/26) from 10a.m.-5p.m. This event is free to the public and will consist of green building exhibitors, non-profits, guest lecturers, panels, professional classes and other special events. Check out the website at www.altbuildexpo.com and we hope to see you there!

Eco-Home Design

With the continuing growth of environmental-consciousness and the awareness of the effects that global warming and unsustainable development have on human health, people are looking for ways to not only create safe and healthy environments for their families at home, but also work and school. Considering most of a child's lifetime outside of the home is at school, shouldn't the educational environment be a safe, healthy environment and not one where chemcial cleaners, unnatural, unhealthy meals and poor indoor air quality inhibit the quality of their education? Eco-Home Design is broadening its focus from creating healthy environments not just in the home and office, but in the educational arene as well. There are many things that can be done to develop a more sustainable, natural, toxic-free campus and Eco-Home Design is committed to encouraging the development of these schools across the country.

Want to Green Your School?

If you are interested in greener your child's or your community's school and you are in the southern California area, please contact us by responding to this blog, sending an email to ecohomedesign@gmail.com or contacting the non-profit, Healthy Child Healthy World, as they are developing a program to aid in the greening of schools in the Los Angeles area. There are countless others interested in this issue in your community. Organize other parents interested in making your community's schools healthier and safer for children. Contact you PTA and local school administration for a more direct approach. Please contact us for help, questions or recommendations. Good luck!!!

Build Greener Schools

Children are our future and it is our responsibility to ensure them the same rights and opportunities we were given as a child when it comes to natural resources and the environment. Healthy environments are very important for children to grow up in; so why allow them to go to a school where toxins, VOCs, and poor indoor air quality are just as prevalent as paper and chalk? By contacting your local LEED Greener School adviser through USGBC's Build Green Schools Program. There you will find the information, stats, as well as steps you as an individual can take to begin the movement in your community towards building greener schools and thus creating healthier learning environments for your children. Take the Pledge and make a change for future generations. Check out our link and post at www.eco-homedesign.com.

Check out my Slide Show!