got to grab lunch w/ my friend and 'net zero' hero @mattgrocoff.bsky.social last weekend, who on top of his own net zero development (veridian) reminded me about A2's sustainable energy utility and @volts.wtf interview w/ missy stults.
www.volts.wtf/p/ann-arbors...
This is why at Veridian at County Farm in Ann Arbor we build with Red List Free materials and we refuse to charge extra for the cancer free package.
No quartz countertops. No PFAS sealants.
Legislation aims to stop countertop cutters with silicosis from suing
www.npr.org/2026/01/14/n...
My neighbor!
This is what happens when you make streets for people instead of for cars!!
Ann Arbor closed Main Street for trick or treating. Things got CRAZY.
#waroncars
#freethepedestrians
Just cancelled our Disney Plus subscription. Love Disney. But we love democracy more.
Big fan of you doing all you do and having such a big impact in Ann Arbor! :-)
Andrea! Thanks for being such a long time fan of net zero work!!
So cool what Matt has been able to do in Ann Arbor!! (where I went to school and now where my parents /some family live). His vision for sustainable communities is happening and it is massive #ClimateInfluence. Go A2!!
Eleven of Boston’s twelve City Councilors co-sponsored a hearing order to investigate the legalization of “construction of triple-deckers and other 2-4 unit housing” in Boston.
D2 City Councilor Ed Flynn was the only councilor who did not sign on.
Neighbors at Veridian got pissed when energy bill DOUBLED since last month———after powering their all electric home and 60 miles daily EV commute they paid just under $3 🤑😻😻😻
This is what sustainable living looks like!! youtu.be/tQCLiQlLS_w?...
michigan public radio piece on my friend @mattgrocoff.bsky.social's virtual power plant for his net zero community in ann arbor
you should have him on @volts.wtf
www.michiganpublic.org/environment-...
From sharing my net-zero home + hosting The Environment Report on NPR, to tracking PPM & the Paris Accord—today’s work at Veridian in Ann Arbor shows how we can go beyond net-zero. A living neighborhood, a virtual power plant, & a model of energy abundance.
www.michiganpublic.org/environment-...
this is pretty good
thin buildings. car light streets. open space. plazas. access to nature.
visitbaltics.net/sovremennyj-...
Veridian is leading the way and getting international recognition for answering the simple question: what does good look like?
In the past couple of weeks it’s been written about in over a dozen media outlets!
Here’s the latest from today
www.homes.com/news/free-of...
@unionstudioarch.com
I love Venn diagrams, so I attempted to create a literary Venn to describe where we are.
Nuremberg established forever: “just following orders” is no defense for carrying out illegal actions.
If ICE or any federal agents enforce actions that have been ruled unconstitutional by courts—or obviously illegal on their face—they must be held personally accountable. Badges are no shield.
#EndDaylightSavingTime
More darkness in the morning and light in evening has detrimental impact on sleep and mental health.
Experts oppose misguided efforts for "permanent daylight savings"
Daylight savings time is bad for our health. End it now
There is wide consensus amongst experts in sleep medicine that living in permanent standard time would have advantages for our health.
apple.news/AhlWHVEbiQvq...
That was an archived post from Pre-musk Twitter when Tesla held promise as a climate solutions company. Migrated all my twitter archives to bluesky. Deleted post - it didn’t age well 🤣
www.wbez.org/news/2013/08...
12 years on and we’re still racing to transition to renewable energy
Here’s my 2013 interview on WBEZ
Great to see Ji Hye Kim of Ann Arbor's Miss Kim nominated for "Best Chef: Great Lakes" by the James Beard Foundation. Ann Arbor’s Spencer has also been named a semifinalist once again for the James Beard Award for "Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program."
Single stair access removes burdensome regulations for building without sacrificing safety.
This simple rule change can add 10-20% more housing at low cost.
Floor plan efficiency can increase from 75%-95%
Thanks Rep Morgan for bipartisan leadership
You might want to Google me before you disparage me as the “Eco left”. I’m one of the leading advocates for the expansion of housing in density. Skyscraper buildings are not actually increasing density nationwide.
Our aging water and sewer infrastructure suffers from a systems design problem.
Our water systems are built to spec. But we chose the wrong specs. They are linear and fracture critical
@holz-bau.bsky.social and I met with Sen Jeff Irwin and @reprheingans.bsky.social
This is a magic policy tool that unlocks valuable living space. I honestly don’t think we can achieve sustainable, affordable housing without this change
@jasonmorganmi.bsky.social let’s get coffee!
Just like a forest, #gentledensity cities are not only the most beautiful, but they are also the most climate beneficial.
Funny how sustainability = beauty
We don't need Bladerunner cities to solve housing crisis.
...
Why are most of my colleagues in NYC journalism interviewing only drivers about congestion pricing & not the NYers who have no option but to take the subways & buses to get to work? How about interviewing the folks who deal daily with subpar service in poor, far flung neighborhoods of the city?
Building for People with @holz-bau.bsky.social webinar on his new book is up on youtube!!
If you give a shit about the future of buildings and cities, then have a look (and buy the book!)
youtu.be/sn0ADl3YpHI
