Egg hunts, air conditioning and the energy usage of renters [Friday ...

The Atlantic Cities wonders if air conditioning-dependent cities like Miami are, in fact, more sustainable than their "older, bitterly colder brethren in the north" like Minneapolis. University of Michigan research professor Michael Silvak believes this to be case ? Minneapolis is actually three-and-a-half more energy demanding than AC-loving Miami???when it comes to heating and cooling. Silvak explains: "The main story is counter-intuitive to me as well because we hear all the time about how unsustainable it is to live in the desert. This doesn?t actually argue that that's not the case. It just says look, there's another side of the coin as well, and we should pay attention to the other extreme."?

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Co.Design marvels at a clever waterproof toilet paper caddy for campers called When Nature Calls. The main components? Half of a recycled plastic 2-liter bottle, a freezer bag, reflective tape, and plenty of twine.

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Architizer singles out?nine "eggcellent" spots to partake in an Easter egg hunt including The High Line in Manhattan and Guatemala's Tikal National Park. I think most of us will have to settle with our own backyards but intriguing picks nevertheless.

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EcoBuilding Pulse is curious as to why renters use nearly a third more energy per square foot than homeowners (as evidenced by data recently released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration). The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies has some solid?theories.

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TreeHugger checks out the "pure salvage" building methods of Luling, Texas-based Tiny Texas Houses. Owner Brad Kittel who, most conveniently also operates an architectural salvage business, explains: "Tons of vintage materials are at our fingertips waiting to be re-harvested ? awaiting our awakening to the responsibilities we have to live with, not destroy the planet that we share. With some imagination, these salvaged quality materials and simple Human energy, anyone can have energy efficient tiny houses to live in for the rest of their lives. Sub-Zero carbon footprint houses are not only possible they are here ? our tiny houses are proof that this concept works."

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Jezebel welcomes?advice-giving clean person and author of "My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag" Jolie Kerr as a new weekly columnist. In her kick-off "Squalor" post, Kerr tackles removing nasty makeup stains from a twill couch and ridding a "beautiful vintage full-length crinoline/bustle/underskirt tulle-y foofy thing" of pot smoke stench.

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Curbed maps the most famous works of birthday boy Mies van der Rohe (the famed modernist architect would have turned 127 on Wednesday). Also, love this bit from the Mies Society: "In our time, where there is no limit to excess, Mies' reductionist approach is as pertinent as ever. As we reduce the distractions and focus on the essential elements of our environment and ourselves, we find they are great, intricate, and beautiful. Less?is?more."

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Source: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/egg-hunts-air-conditioning-and-the-energy-usage-of-renters-friday-news-clump

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