Your Renewable Lifestyle Part 2

The focus of the previous article in this pair, “Assessing without Guessing,” was to help you assess your lifestyle in order to pursue your own personal green-shifting. Remember that the assessment considers your lifestyle as it is now and how your situation is likely to shift during the next several years. The assessment integrates issues pertaining to your purpose (intentions), the people in your household (now and later), and the place(s) you inhabit.

This companion article recommends addressing your goals in ways that are both meaningful and practical, while minimizing the stress induced by fear or an expectation of instant gratification. Once you’ve experienced such a “fear and now” mentality, you know that there must be a better way. Let’s consider several assessment-driven scenarios whereby lifestyle shifts can be designed and addressed. I invite you to focus on a single issue or several, remembering that households – and extended families – share interrelated experiences that may very well share mutually beneficial solutions. As you read this article, be mindful that different considerations will likely emerge as you assess and address your own green lifestyle redesign.

Assessing

Assessment reveals the thoughts, feelings, and dreams of present and perhaps future household inhabitants, as well as an opportunity to create a shared understanding of relevant issues from all perspectives. An accurate awareness of the present helps us consider the future with discernment. Each inhabitant has both individual and interrelated needs to be considered. Let’s imagine a household in the present and proceed with an assessment of selected criteria, as well as a few scenarios that project how they might address future issues and lifestyle shifts.

Inhabitants

Household

This suburban home is inhabited by Sue and Mike Green, a two-career couple in their mid 50’s. They have one set of 80-ish parents living in their own home 20 minutes away. The other parents are deceased. Sue and Mike have a 25-year-old single daughter, Jenny, who works in a large firm near her new apartment in the urban business district. All seems to be going along smoothly.

Perspective

Holding senior positions in their respective companies, both Sue and Mike are aware of the troubling economic climate, as well as their investments and retirement options. The threats of petroleum-based energy dependence and environmental contamination cause increasing concern punctuated by the fact that they might have a grandchild or two some day. Being forward thinkers, Sue and Mike recognize that this a perfect time to assess their situation and plan toward the future without undue stress or immediate outside pressures. They start by considering themselves, as individuals and a couple.

Careers

Since Sue returned to employment, when Jenny began 8th grade, she has been flying up the corporate ladder. She has become known throughout her industry as a relationship builder of the highest order and has had a guiding hand in many multi-win successes. Her career nourishes many of her gifts and talents. She loves her work and admits out loud for the first time that she could probably realize continued success in a variety of venues. She engages in some work at home, but has managed with intention to keep most of it at her office.

Mike, on the other hand, has been satisfied with his success over his 30-year career, but now needs to re-imagine his way of contributing to the world – perhaps to help create a beneficial future for his yet unborn grandchildren. He acknowledges that he has built a multi-disciplinary network of people and his own skills are easily transferable to other sectors. Mike admits, also for the first time, that he would love to retire early from the “rat race” and create his own venture around some ideas he’s been cultivating with feedback from a few trusted friends. The couple agrees that they would like to ease the pace a bit and plan time to travel together to places they have always found interesting. Perhaps they can incorporate travel with respective business dealings. As their individual and mutual ideas begin to unfold, Sue and Mike realize that Mike could feasibly retire early, receive good benefits, and pursue his vision by starting his own venture. Sue has the option of becoming a consultant and engaging fewer clients, while earning similar income.

Family Connections

Extending beyond their immediate household, Mike and Sue wish to be mindful of their family connections and self-defined response-abilities. As an only child, Sue has always been close with her parents and likes them being nearby. Mike has had some challenging interactions with them over the years, but respects their experience and values their presence in the family. It makes sense to include them in potential lifestyle-shifting designs going forward.

On the other side of the “sandwich,” Jenny’s recent entry into the workforce may leave her a susceptible candidate to be displaced by corporate restructuring, i.e., downsizing. Perhaps this possibility can receive some attention in the lifestyle redesign. A family conversation is planned to include each person’s input.

Region

The Greens love their area for many reasons. The climate supports their favorite activities. The cultural benefits in the region and the urban center are stimulating. Due to the presence of several universities, progressive local governance, and a number of social agencies, the community continues to grow and support people of various generations, interests, and issues. Environmental safety and healthful living are integrated into most programs and planning efforts.

Living in an aging but well-maintained inner ring suburb, mass transit is within a mile. Shopping and service offerings are nearby in pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use centers with pleasant landscaping and common areas for sitting and chatting. A connective bicycle route for transport, as well as exercise is in the planning phase.

Mike and Sue enjoy their community and find that local businesses have been fairly stable over time. They have come to know many of the shop owners and employees, even when they see them out of context in other places. On a more intimate level, most of the neighbors are friends or at least pleasant acquaintances. Suffice it to say that the Greens plan to live in the area long term.

Building on Principles

Before getting ahead of themselves, the Greens refer to their inhabitant assessment. To facilitate mindful planning, they develop a set of Guiding Principles to establish an intent with which all decisions must be aligned. Remember that these represent a few principles. New ones can be added any time throughout the process and into the future.

Principle 1: Aging-in-Place

Since Sue and Mike plan to live here for a long time and Sue’s parents are likely to move in at some point, applying universal design criteria to accommodate everyone comfortably is vital. Examples of universal design include lever style door handles; wider doorways, hallways, and turns; level transitions at entry and between rooms; lower placement of wall switches and controls (wheelchair or walker reach-ability); bathtubs with doors or roll-in shower areas; easy access cabinets; and selected adjustable-height counters in the kitchen and bathrooms. This said, designing spaces for possible re-purposing is also essential.

Principle 2: Resource Conservation

In order to shift toward a healthful lifestyle, energy, water, and other resources must be conserved. Simultaneously, the Greens would like to integrate on-site harvesting of renewable resources, such as solar power and rainwater. Rain barrels, for example, harvest rain for landscaping without requiring potable water. The Greens will investigate any financial incentives and programs offered by government or local utility suppliers to defray costs of innovative solutions. If a technology is cost-prohibitive right now they can design for future integration by installing connections and planning utility space. For example, photovoltaic solar panels (PV’s) may be expensive now without incentives. However, the Greens can become PV-ready. All they need to do is have their PV consultant install connection points in appropriate places in the attic or on the roof, run shielded cable to their utility room, and make sure there is a space ready for a power inverter (from DC to AC) near the electrical box. Simply stated, an inverter permits them to feed unnecessary power back to the utility grid (electric meter runs backwards) and earn credit. Incidentally, shielding transmission cables helps protect inhabitants from the electromagnetic radiation released from power generating devices. Such devices may be huge power plants, high transmission towers, or your tiny handheld mobile phone.

As a corollary, products that carry high embodied energy due to excessive mining, manufacturing, or marketing (among other things) or extensive travel between the source, manufacturer, the recipient (the Greens), and the recycler are to be avoided whenever possible.

Principle 3: Environmental Quality and Safety

Good design enhances physical movement, reduces stress, and promotes healthful activities. Further, introducing only safe materials, products, and furnishings in and around the home offers vital health benefits to all inhabitants as well as wildlife that visit the surrounding habitat. Toxic products (e.g., formaldehyde, pesticides) have been connected to asthma, neurological impairment, cancers, and other ailments and disorders. Such items are to be eliminated or rendered benign. At the same time healthful materials that are both pleasing and effective will need to be selected. Zero toxin paints, sunflower board cabinets, recycled glass tiles, and other products are examples.

Design criteria will support health and wellbeing. We are used to thinking of buildings providing healthful air quality, thermal comfort, visual comfort, physical comfort, acoustical comfort, etc. Additionally, lifestyle design needs to support neuro-cognitive needs (e.g., perception, attention, memory, creativity, navigation), psycho-social needs (e.g., selective levels of privacy, motivation, belonging), and spiritual needs (e.g., quiet, reflective, or meditative activities). Universal design issues are prevalent within this principle as well as the first.

Building on Structure

Sue and Mike live in a residential community, consisting of mostly single family homes. Their specific development contains mostly split-level designs. Oriented with southern exposure, the house receives sunlight throughout the day. Ample space is available to add on, if appropriate, without running into building code issues.

The Greens have varying weather and would do well to improve their home’s envelope. A professional energy audit will identify priority areas, such as attics and windows. Adding appropriate insulation will eliminate air infiltration. Replacing windows and adding correct overhangs on the south side will permit daylight and prevent excessive summer heat-gain, while inviting winter heat-gain to warm the home energy-free. Replacing north-facing windows with newer models that minimize heat loss would improve comfort and reduce energy use as well. The roof will be examined for wear and flaws. Replacement choices will be based on materials that are safe, durable, and preferably locally produced.

Air conditioning is helpful during July and August, but a gentle breeze usually cools the house sufficiently. A solar-powered exhaust fan properly placed at a higher point can quietly pull incoming air from the open windows and out of the house, thereby enhancing the comfortable breeze. The heating system is aging and needs to be updated. Energy efficiency and long term operating costs are priorities. Perhaps a switch to geothermal heating and cooling makes good sense. All appliances are to be EnergyStar compliant.

Various interior components including the kitchen are due for renovation as well. Design will include access, comfort, and multiple stations for several people preparing food.

Building on Requirements

Before any physical modifications, the Greens consider space-related issues (e.g., layout, privacy, flow) for the likely scenarios, particularly an office for Mike, a plan to move Sue’s parents in if and when appropriate, and a temporary yet comfortable space for Jenny if necessary. Here are a few starting points for consideration.

Mike’s Home Office

Rather than consuming money and other resources by renting an office and commuting, Mike would like to incorporate a home office to enhance his sustainability. He’ll be more effective in customized surroundings that suit his work style. Mike also looks forward to incorporating daily chores to break up the day a bit, leaving more personal time for a nice evening with Sue.

One solution set includes the creation of a home office in the lower ground level area, formerly a casual family room. A separate entrance from the driveway, a divisible meeting space, a full bathroom, and a lockable connection to the house should accommodate changing needs over time. After renovation as a home office and meeting room this ground floor can convert to a parents suite and office (Mike), then later to an aging-in-place master suite and office for Sue and Mike.

Boomerang Jenny

If and when Jenny returns home temporarily, two of the bedrooms can be modified to provide a bedroom and a personal space with an integral bathroom – similar to a suite. Privacy issues will be paramount and “house rules” will be established to make this transition smooth and pleasurable for all members of the household.

Presence and Impact of Renewable Lifestyles

Together we have walked through Sue and Mike Green’s process of assessing and addressing a few stages in their personal shift to renewable living. Your situation and current experiences are probably different and somewhat unique. This article is intended to provide a greater level of detail and understanding through their story. Visualize your own greening process. Imagine expanding your household experience to your friends and neighbors. Share the benefit of your experience. Spread the mutually rewarding benefits of living a renewable lifestyle throughout your community.
Be present. Be informed. Be healthy. Be happy. Be GREEN!