Diamond-Cut Life

Sustainable Living: More Joy And Less Consumption In The Face Of Global Warming

Diamond-Cut Life header image 4

Cleaner, Greener Lives in Oregon

October 28th, 2008 · No Comments

Governor Kulongoski of Oregon, my home state, has stated a vision of combating global warming with both a state economy and general Oregon lifestyle that is cleaner and greener than the rest of the nation.
“Climate change is the most important environmental and economic issue of our time,” Governor Kulongoski said (the added emphasis is mine). [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: 97215 · Oregon · bipartisan politics · carbon footprint · cars · climate change · economics · energy · global warming · green living · politics · transportation

Electric Vehicles: Truly Green, Or No?

July 30th, 2008 · 6 Comments

Living here in Portland, Oregon, I’ve become aware that we have the highest percentage of hybrid cars of any city in the nation. I’ve also observed that Portland General Electric (PGE) has the largest renewable power program in the country. (Disclosure: I’m married to Thor Hinckley, the manager of that renewables program.)
The new piece is [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: 97215 · carbon footprint · cars · energy conservation · environment · green living · hybrids · lifestyle

Rethinking the Entitlement of Travel

July 1st, 2008 · 6 Comments

My blogosphere colleague Brandt Smith of Wealth and Wisdom commented on yesterday’s post on hybrids and electric cars in a way that intrigued me. He was responding to my belief that electric cars and hybrids are the only cars that have a future in our carbon-constrained world.
“Ahh, a topic for the engineer in me. . [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: carbon footprint · climate change · energy conservation · green living · lifestyle · simplicity · sustainability · transportation

Prius vs. Honda Hybrid vs. Other

June 30th, 2008 · 2 Comments

My friend from Santa Cruz, concerned about global warming as I am, asked for advice yesterday about the car purchase she needs to make.
It happens my husband Thor did lots of research recently about whether to buy a Prius or a Honda Civic hybrid. We chose the Honda, for reasons given here, but we use [...]

[Read more →]

Tags: 97215 · carbon footprint · carpooling · cars · energy conservation · environment · global warming · green living · happiness · hybrids · life · lifestyle