* I attended a lecture at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA yesterday (deemed one of the most walkable cities in the United States, by the way). It was about sustainability, meaning, pretty much, things that endure over time without depleting resources. This particular lecture, by famous architect Steve Mouzon, focused on simple green building that incorporates techniques that make sense and work with nature (as opposed to what he calls “gizmo green” which relies on technology to provide solutions). How simple are we talking here? Opening windows and letting the breeze blow through the house. Having higher ceilings where the climate is hot so the heat can rise, and lower ceilings where it’s cooler to keep you cozy. Basic stuff, folks. Check out Mouzon’s blog, Original Green, here.
* Everyone in the room perked up a bit when Mouzon talked about “lovable” houses. What a nice way to put it (and the fact that he showed a picture of his adorable dachshund didn’t hurt). (This is not his dog–I found this photo here.) He said that “beauty moves us to admiration, but love moves us to action.” Maybe that’s why I was moved to action on the Kudzu Must-Do 52 weekly e-newsletter yet again this week–my sweet, lovable house, with its old carpet and creaky noises and uneven heat. I’m not sure a professional carpet cleaning will help anymore (I just had one not too long ago), but I can certainly show my house some love, do as recommended, and check to make sure rain is being funneled away from my house–thanks, Kudzu!
* Mouzon says people need to be “conditioned” first, and then the house conditioning should follow. He used sidewalk bistros in Paris as an example, and said that after people get accustomed to the climate, not as much conditioning is needed inside the home. I spent most of this part of the lecture daydreaming about Paris, and wanting a bistro table like this one. Can’t you so see yourself at this table tomorrow morning? Do you think the neighbors will find it weird if I put this in my driveway and people-watch as they go in and out of their automated garage doors?
* A final wow moment was when Mouzon recommended that everyone give a “gift to the street.” By this, he meant putting something out in front of your house that would make it more pleasant for people to walk in your neighborhood, such as a bench or a pretty pot of flowers. I have a mailbox garden from which I encourage neighbors to pick herbs (or even okra–although I don’t recommend this as that large plant starts attacking the mail carrier after awhile and becomes a bit of a problem). Mouzon happens to live in a highly walkable community (South Beach, Florida), so he thinks this way. (Curious to know your WalkScore? See here. Steve Mouzon and people from Decatur, you can skip this.) Maybe if we all thought a bit more about “giving a gift to the street,” our communities would be a bit more, well, lovable. Why not improve your curb appeal, make your home more lovable, and give the neighbors something to look at (or sit on, or nibble) when they pass? Here’s my mailbox garden before I planted it a few years back–it cost me something like $40 and two hours to do this. If you live in a climate like Mouzon’s, why not go for it this weekend? See some examples of “gifts to the street” here.
Mouzon likes to shop local (and to walk and bike there, of course). Well, guess what? Kudzu lets you support your local business economy as well–from the convenience of your home (for those of us with WalkScores in the toilet). Find local service providers on Kudzu with just a click–and get read to click even more with your home and your neighborhood.
