Comments on: Earthquake bad, avalanche worse http://greencouple.com/2008/04/23/earthquake-bad-avalanche-worse/ Learning to live green and live together Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:05:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Will http://greencouple.com/2008/04/23/earthquake-bad-avalanche-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-376 Will Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:30:24 +0000 http://greencouple.com/2008/04/23/earthquake-bad-avalanche-worse/#comment-376 Apartment buildings are nice because they're very efficient. Waste heat from your apartment is heating the apartment next door (rather than the outdoors) and vice-versa. The problem is that landlords are less likely to update appliances because they don't pay for utilities. Tim Harford (the Undercover Economist) suggests that if you set up a system where landlords pay for half your utilities, that would give both parties an incentive to save. Unfortunately, that's kind of unwieldy so I doubt it'll happen. There are some small-scale generators. You can get small solar panels put them in the windows or try for some passive solar heating of water, etc. There are also tiny wind turbines that are designed to attach to the sides of buildings. They require more wind to start up than others, but if you get 10-15mph winds, you'll be okay. And, of course, since they're so small they're very local. Even if your region doesn't get 10-15mph winds, the area at the side of your building might. If your landlord doesn't go for the compost bin, you could try vermiposting. A worm bin is relatively small, doesn't smell, and will handle two people's food leavings just fine. Apartment buildings are nice because they’re very efficient. Waste heat from your apartment is heating the apartment next door (rather than the outdoors) and vice-versa. The problem is that landlords are less likely to update appliances because they don’t pay for utilities. Tim Harford (the Undercover Economist) suggests that if you set up a system where landlords pay for half your utilities, that would give both parties an incentive to save. Unfortunately, that’s kind of unwieldy so I doubt it’ll happen.

There are some small-scale generators. You can get small solar panels put them in the windows or try for some passive solar heating of water, etc. There are also tiny wind turbines that are designed to attach to the sides of buildings. They require more wind to start up than others, but if you get 10-15mph winds, you’ll be okay. And, of course, since they’re so small they’re very local. Even if your region doesn’t get 10-15mph winds, the area at the side of your building might.

If your landlord doesn’t go for the compost bin, you could try vermiposting. A worm bin is relatively small, doesn’t smell, and will handle two people’s food leavings just fine.

]]> By: Linnea http://greencouple.com/2008/04/23/earthquake-bad-avalanche-worse/comment-page-1/#comment-375 Linnea Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:12:30 +0000 http://greencouple.com/2008/04/23/earthquake-bad-avalanche-worse/#comment-375 That's a pretty brilliant idea, I'm wondering where 20+ unit apartment buildings fit in (like my own). We don't have a generator, but we are lucky enough to have gas heat and stoves. A lot of apartments are all-electric... Do you know of any super-small scale generators that could be used in an apartment? Especially an apartment that doesn't see sun half the year? I'm still working on getting my landlord to set up a compost bin next to the recycling... That’s a pretty brilliant idea, I’m wondering where 20+ unit apartment buildings fit in (like my own). We don’t have a generator, but we are lucky enough to have gas heat and stoves. A lot of apartments are all-electric… Do you know of any super-small scale generators that could be used in an apartment? Especially an apartment that doesn’t see sun half the year?

I’m still working on getting my landlord to set up a compost bin next to the recycling…

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