From the article:

"Zeta Communities, which is headquartered in South of Market and owns a manufacturing plant in San Leandro, is close to completing its first "zero energy" townhome in Oakland."

The idea here is sustainable living starting with the dwelling. I think this is a great idea. Really this should be pushing the bar for all new housing construction.

Hit the related link for the whole article.

With my eye on all things green seemingly all the time, I love to see things like this that show we are still innovating to create a sustainable future without compromise.

If there were a red color silicon to really blend this, it would be incredible. I think as years go by, our tastes will change as we grow accustomed to views that include renewable energy sources. Who knows, a home wind turbine may become a status symbol the way our cars have.

Find out more about these tiles at the related link below:

There really isn't much to say. Production has stopped and supplies are expected to run out in the fall.

You can read the press release at the related link below:

An inspiring story like this helps make Monday a lot better. Way to go Sara!

From the Contra Costa Times: "As her fellow passengers panicked, 15-year-old Sara Broski, of Alamo, stepped up to the plate and calmly saved the Clayton woman's life. She knew what to do thanks to her recent CPR training."

The whole article
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_12660215

Well, it is fathers day and I had a great one. I started the morning having breakfast with my dad and sister. Later in the morning my wife, kids and I set out for 6 flags park in Valejo. Wow, what a mistake! Traffic was backed up for miles. I thought there was an accident and took the surface streets instead of highway 80.

As we approached the park from the North now, the traffic was still so backed up that we spent 25 minutes on the off ramp! Yes, 25 minutes. My wife made phone calls and we tried to decide if skipping the park would upset the kids too much. As we neared the intersection at the bottom of the off ramp and could see the miles of freeway backed up to the park exit from the other side, we knew, it was not worth the effort.

We headed home and a few hours later took the kids to the new Chuck E Cheese in Concord. This was a much better option, the place is clean and everything works like it should. We went a little overboard on the tokens, but I think we still saved money over the 6 flags option. Although I must point out that we have season passes for 6 flags, so we would have only had to buy food today.

While we were having a nice family / fathers day, news reporters were looking for things to write about. One of the things I discovered tonight is directly related to my work, reducing green house gases. Now let me just say "Happy Fathers Day" and get on to the article;

A quote from the article: - Coventry Valley Farm is one of 15 Vermont farms working with Stonyfield Farm Inc., whose yogurt is made with their organic milk, to reduce the cows' intestinal methane by feeding them flaxseed, alfalfa, and grasses high in Omega 3 fatty acids. The gas cows belch is the dairy industry's biggest greenhouse gas contributor, research shows, most of it emitted from the front and not the back end of the cow. -

This is a step in the right direction. If the cows are happy and I'm sure they are with less gas, then this is the type of change that I perceive as an obvious choice for diary farms. Cows and all related industry account for the largest contribution to green house gases, more than the auto industry. This makes a simple diet change a very powerful and easy improvement for the environment.