2019

Fem: Where do “fem” and “net zero” meet? Perhaps where diverse bees and people thrive; where Indigenous communities are not caught between oil and livelihood; where all have access to constructing or having a micro-generator.

Failure of Imagination: In a context where climate change denial is alive and well, solar panels and local gardening shine. In the context of actual climate change, they begin to pale. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/un-global-biodiversity-report-1.5124089

De-Growth: How might housing simultaneously re-imagine social relations and built environments, e.g. reduce energy metabolism AND democratize shelter (Cattaneo and Gavaldà 2010)? Check out our neighbours, the Westmount Net Zero Social Housing Project. http://www.greenenergyfutures.ca/episode/canadas-first-net-zero-church

Design: Aesthetics, mechanics, gardens, safety, sunlight, efficiency, navigation for all kinds of bodies. Why are these intersections so elusive? “When women are empowered to design their own houses they can do so in radically different ways.” (Pickerill 2015: 903)

Character Imprint: Bill the digger. Dawn the electrician. Tommy the framer. Kam the tiler. Pol the finisher.  A creative and diverse group of people applying their craft, their human imprint durably encased in our home.

Treaty Six and Métis lands. Canada. Alberta. Oil. Seven hours of sunlight on December 21, 17 hours of sunlight on June 21. Kilowatts sold in summer at 16 cents, bought in winter at 6 cents. And yet, solar energy incentives…

Conflicting Urgencies: Saving fruit trees from demolition means trucking dirt off site. Eco-friendly building materials sometimes travel the farthest. Oil money feeds mortgage loans (esp. in Alberta). Solar for the public good sustains the private good life. @just_powers