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Thirsty Planet Going Build Native
Thirsty Planet, a local Austin brewer, contracted NATiVE to convert an existing 50,000 square foot building into their new brewery and tasting room. This collaboration enables Thirsty Planet to dramatically increase their brewing capacity without sacrificing their commitment to sustainability and the environment.
Read MoreWhy Cheapest Isn’t Always Best
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”101794″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”298679″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”164577″] “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.” – Warren Buffett The Native Difference: Warranty & Pricing When looking for a quote for your next home improvement project, whether it’s a solar PV system or remodel, you will probably be faced with a range of prices, high…
Read MoreSandy Shatters Silence
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”102031″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”921394″][vc_column_text] If Hurricane Sandy could speak, what would she have said? What has she told us about America’s badly aging infrastructure? Our emergency preparedness? Our effect on climate and climate change? While it appears that politicians have espoused a vow of silence when it comes to global warming, maybe hurricane Sandy, popularly termed…
Read MoreGreen Milestones of 2012
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”102048″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”174016″][vc_column_text] 2012 was a significant year for the green sector. And while the spectre of Solyndra from the previous year still cast shadows on the industry, all in all, the industry experienced solid growth across the board. In many ways, 2012 is but a snapshot of an industry hitting its stride. The…
Read MoreGreen Building Design 101 – Natural Daylighting
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”102084″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”535438″][vc_column_text] The first thing any architect or builder should tell you is that we need to work with nature, not against it. This is the key mindset of sustainability. Every building site contains inherent natural potentials. This can mean average rainfall, prevailing winds, geothermal activity, even the ground beneath your very…
Read MoreGood & Bad Flooring Materials
Floor coverings have been cited as sources of contaminants as well as a significant burden on the health of the environment. Learn about good, sustainable flooring materials such as wood, bamboo, and concrete—as well as bad floor coverings that should be avoided.
Read MoreLuxurious Sustainability?
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”102080″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”122658″][vc_column_text] Why sustainability can be a luxury as well as a necessity – plus, three ways to live with Luxurious Sustainability Most people associate sustainability with sacrifice. You must sacrifice the convenience of easily disposable products; you must foreswear plastics altogether; you must learn to embrace the ambient temperature as it…
Read MoreRedefining “Sustainability”: Re-Empowering the Term Sustainable
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”102078″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”154094″][vc_column_text] “Sustainability” as a term is not as powerful as it used to be. It has been incorporated, some would argue co-opted, to such a degree that the very idea of “sustainability” can now refer to everything from water bottles with the use of less plastic, to corporate boardroom growth forecasts.…
Read MoreSmart Green – “Intelligent Efficiency” Offers New Source of Energy
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”102076″ media_width_percent=”100″ uncode_shortcode_id=”122203″][vc_column_text] While politicians, pundits, and activists yammer on about the future of our energy security and what it means for the environment, green technologies and practices continue to play a dismally small role in America’s overall energy portfolio. Coal and natural gas generate 67 percent of the nation’s electricity; renewable contributes a measly…
Read MoreGreen Upgrades in a Tough Economy
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image media=”102074″ media_width_percent=”100″ shape=”img-round” uncode_shortcode_id=”170331″][vc_column_text] In tough economic times, and even when times are rolling, many homeowners simply cannot justify the installation of solar panels on their rooftops or the drilling required for geothermal heat pumps. Many of us do not live on acre lots with space to set up the infrastructure to efficiently farm…
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