Heads up!

There is a 1 in 3,200 chance of getting hit by space junk now hurtling toward Earth this week.  The falling satellite, UARS, is the size of a school bus, and will likely hit Earth on Friday (give or take a day) - somewhere between the northern Newfoundland and southern South America latitudes. Or more precisely, but less dramatically, between 57 degrees N and 57 degrees South, and thus could hit just about anywhere around the fattest part of the planet.  While it is expected to break into pieces in a fiery light show, and rain across a path of up to 500 miles, with the largest debris estimated at about 300 pounds.

Scientists say it is not likely to hit a person.  The planet is well-covered with water, and even on land, we are relatively sparsely populated, except in places like New York City and Dhaka.  In order to take appropriate precautions, I will be walking around in my bike helmet starting Thursday at noon.

Cold enough for you?

Brrrrrrrrrr....we're experiencing an icy chill here in Washington.  It's been well- below freezing the last few days.  A huge departure from the semi-balmy typical winters in this quasi-Southern city. Today's wake-up temperature was 18 degrees, and this past weekend hovered in the 20's. (Love ya, Capital Weather Gang!). It's been lots of tea, hot chocolate, soup, long underwear, down coats, and woolly hats around here.  This deep freeze all across the northeast US - minus 35F in Saranac Lake, NY this morning!!! - and atypical icy, snowy conditions this winter in Europe are throwing us all for a loop.  Coupled with last winter's historic blizzards, it's all quite bizarre.

But for the global warming skeptics - more appropriately and accurately referred to as climate change - please do not get all smug about it.  The Arctic is downright balmy these days with 15 to 20 degree above average temperatures.  And it sports a polar ice cap 30% smaller than in 1979 when we first began to measure it.

It all quite freaky if you ask me.  I mean, have you read how the earth's magnetic poles seem to be reversing?  Someday your compass needle pointing at the 'N', will actually be heading you towards Miami.

Seriously, I'm kind of freaked out.  I even may start to panic if I thought it might do any good...

Lumenhaus: Design within Reach

Congratulations to the Virginia Tech team for winning the 2010 Solar Dacathalon Europe!  Their beautiful Lumenhaus (gorgeous film and interactive site) incorporates beautiful eco-design principles, and its infinite flexibility to upsize and downsize off the central module over a lifetime makes it even more ingenious.

The small 580 ft2 footprint looks and feels more expansive with the connections of the inside with the outside, the abundance of natural light from its wide windows, and its adaptable, multi-use spaces.  I am taken with the passive heating and cooling of the sliding screens and perforated panels that invite or deflect sun, or allow for a lovely cross ventilation.  I'm also in love with the adaptability of the central module - the way the table can be wheeled out to the pavilion patio (a new room in nice weather), and the kitchen counter detaches to additional counter space.  And as mentioned, the central, most expensive pod with the solar cells and controls, can have plugged in shells to expand up to a 4-5BR/2BA house as the family grows, and back down again in downsizing and empty-nesting  How marvelous is that? There's also all sorts of eco-tech features, that I hardly get, like bio-filitering grey water, rain catchment, and a smartgrid that works with the local utility company, both providing energy back to the grid and allowing a data feedback for its own use.  

The linked interactive feature here at the NY TImes gives a better tour and explanation than I ever could, so please check it out.

BP Oil leak continues

When I saw this slide show of wildlife affected by the BP oil spill disaster, I began to cry.  Right now, I'm even more sad than angry - and that's troubling.

Less off-shore drilling; more off-shore wind farms

The BP oil leak that continues gushing unabated in the Gulf of Mexico is a horrific tragedy.

I have always found wind farms beautiful.

I'm hardly an expert.  I know it's more complicated than all that, but...

Imagine.  Clean, renewable energy.  Energy independence. Increased global security.  Just seems like it would be mo' better.