Theres been quite a buzz around town lately about energy and water conservation practices, and for years so-called green building has been a hit.
However a few homes in Truckee were built eco-friendly, not just to save heat and money, but because theyre just plain interesting.

One with the Earth
Sue and Jeff Cauhape have been living in their Tahoe Donner, earth berm home for 12 years. The couple maintains that, despite being for-the-most-part covered in dirt, their home is very bright and inviting.
Its not dark inside at all; we were surprised by how much light there was, Sue Cauhape said. We tried to sell it for two years, but I dont think a lot of people get the concept. Its odd, but weve been very comfortable here.
Comfort inside the home can be attributed to its thermal mass the walls absorb and retain heat, so the house requires neither heater nor air conditioner.

about this blog

Many of these long-lived wonders have been restored to their original appearance with textbook accuracy. You can stop at just about any point along this winding road and find a house with historic past worthy of conversation.

Unless, of course, you stop in front of my house.

Now, if you're working on some kind of obscure doctoral thesis on classic 1960s Cape design, you might find a wealth of worthwhile information within my four walls. The use of knotty pine in just about any vertical application, say, or the evolution of speckles in vinyl tile flooring - 1965 through 1967. Otherwise, the 1,300-sq.-ft. structure that I call home is just another shingled Cape. It would fit comfortably in many aging suburban developments throughout the Northeast, but, instead, it's been plopped down in the middle of the country's longest continuous registered historic district.

This is the second half of the story 'Rands and sense of greening your ...

Altruistic investments
This is the second half of the story 'Rands and sense of greening your house'.
[Full Story...]

Rands and sense of greening your house
Theres a pressing need for us to cut back on our energy consumption: apart from global warming, the cost of electricity is set to climb in South Africa. We look at practical ways in which you can reduce your reliance on the national electricity grid.
[Full Story...]

How collecting gathered pace
Once the preserve of emperors and aristocrats, the desire to own beautiful and rare objects has developed into a popular obsession.
[Full Story...]

You can make your bonus work for you over the coming year(s)
It's that time of the year again - when those of us licky enought to receive a 13th cheque find our inflated bank balances tempting us to spend.

Wreckage To Get Detailed Exam

Sunday, members of the Phoenix police dive team entered a murky pond at Steele Indian School Park to look for pieces from the wrecked helicopters.

Public invited to review preliminary FEMA maps today

An open huose will be held from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Heymann Performing Arts Center for citizens to review FEMAs Preliminary Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps for Lafayette Parish.

Specialists will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the flood mapping process, what the maps mean for Lafayette Parish and explain flood insurance benefits and requirements. The maps will be available in both digital and print formats.

.

IPC Gains New Ground in Malaysia with IQ/MAX

Statements made in this news release that state IPC's or its management's intentions, beliefs, expectations, or predictions for the future constitute "forward looking statements" as defined by federal securities laws, which involve significant risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in the telecommunications equipment industry. Others are more specific to our operations. The occurrence of the events described and the achievement of the expected results depend on many factors, some or all of which are not predictable or within our control. Actual results may differ materially from results discussed in these forward looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievement to differ materially from those described or implied in the forward-looking statements, are risks associated with substantial indebtedness, leverage and debt service, risks relating to the performance of our business and future operating results, risks of competition in our existing and future markets, loss or retirement of key executives, risks related to the notes and to high yield securities generally, general business and economic conditions, market acceptance issues, including potential technology changes and the risks inherent in new product and service introductions and the entry into new geographic markets, as well as those risk factors described in our filings with the SEC.