Well we know someone who is certainly very happy that the bedroom has been all put back together. A very, very happy Luka taking his mid-afternoon nap. The carpet looks great and feels great underfoot. So we are all really happy with the job...

Couple of “action” shots of CJ laying down the tiles. It’s so darn easy even Luka could do it… I'm keeping this one short because seriously, it's that easy to install.

Current weekend project, is replacing my ratty old carpet in the bedroom. Carpet is only three years old, but it has definitely suffered by way of going through Luka becoming potty trained. So, the old carpet was kinda yucky. I’m super excited about these Flor carpet tiles. First off super easy to install. Next, they come as easily swappable tiles, if I dump a glass of red wine, or if luka pee’s, and the carpet stains, just pop up the tile and replace. Third, Flor has the goal to be mission zero – zero net effect on the planet, by 2020.Day one, carpet underlay is of course cork. Super easy comes in rolls for easy application. Found a low VOC glue to help keep the cork down. Very easy to install. Oh, and guess what, another reason for using low VOC glues, it dries quicker… CJ and I let it sit overnight simply because it was too late in the afternoon to start laying tiles – both of us wanted to catch dinner…


www.florisgreen.com

Alright, well that once a month event that we are all anxiously awaiting... my Florida Power & Light bill.



So, we're down about 2,200 watts from last years consumption. So that's pretty good. Which means the system is basically working the way it should. The PV system is just under 5,000 watts and it's generating about 2,200 watts a month, take into account sun only shines half the day and we've had a lot of rain and cloudy days to kick off the rainy season and well, that about right. I'll keep posting the updates and hopefully in a couple months maybe by Octobers bill we'll be able to get a couple nice graphs going. That'll be really exciting.

Hmmm. Ok, so their website isn't exactly super flashy and exciting to look at, but it does have an incredible amount of informational links on it and does give a lot of great info if you have the time to wander about through it - and hopefully they're right - the new World Wide Web will be a sustainable World Energy Grid...

Click On The Image To Go To Their Website:

We all know that plastic bottles suck. They're made from petroleum, they last for a million years in a landfill and some of them even have nasty off-gassing post-production that can poison you... But the entire planet packages all of their crap in plastic bottles. I was in Whole Foods the other day and came across a display of Sigg Bottles... seriously I love these, super lightweight, when empty, they have cool graphic designs and they are of course earth friendly. I drink a lot of iced tea and water, so these bottles are perfect for me, basically what I do is simply fill mine up the night before (either tea or water), toss it in the fridge and have freezing cold refreshing beverage for the morning, that I toss in my backpack to take along with me...
Really cool, great idea, and you don't look like a dork walking around with it, so go out and buy one or a couple...

Ahhhh, ha… ok, there is no reason in the world for me to post this other than that I was walking down the Leidseplein with Molly today and came across the poster. I wish I had actually know about this before getting to amsterdam I would have definitely have gone to see the show. Que sera...

From the Boom Chicago Website:

Boom Chicago's fifteen year anniversary show, Last One to Leave the Planet, Turn Off the Lights! is a hit with the press and audiences alike. NRC's Henk van Gelder called it 'Boom Chicago's best show in 15 years' and says, 'Boom Chicago should teach de Lama's how to improvise.'

Last One to Leave the Planet is a climate change comedy is full of hot-air from environ-mentally retarded comedians.

Although not your typical eco warriors, Boom Chicago are still worried about the Netherlands might become the Atlantis of the future.

In the debate about green issues, we also ask the right questions: Is it rape if the tree doesn't want to be hugged? Who left the ozone open? And can we charge more if we use recycled jokes?

It’s kind of odd, the organic movement doesn’t seem to have made such an impact in the Netherlands just yet. I doubt it’s because they’re not concerned with their health and their food (despite the fact that Holland is the home of the french fry drenched in mayo!!!), maybe it’s because historically most of their food has been sourced locally or that those in the agricultural world aren’t quite as hip on hormones as we are. Let’s be honest, unfortunately when it comes to “doing things right”, Europeans are better at it than we are, but when it comes to making things bigger, faster and shinier, we’ll American’s created the Hummer!!!

So, the point of this post, is right around the corner from my hotel and where Caroline lives is the first Organic super market that anyone seems to know of in Amsterdam, and guess what, milk is one Euro cheaper at the organic place than at Albert Heims (the supermarket chain). Anyway, so groovy little organic market is where I’ve been picking up breakfast and snacks for us. If anyone happens to be wandering around Amsterdam and needs to know where it is on Vijzelstraat between Keisersgraat and Prinsengraacht...

Hey we’re not the only one’s feelin’ the pinch at the pump. Europe has historically always had high gas prices – right now they are in the $8.50 to $9.50 range, so we’re griping about $4.00 and more, but here across the pond they’ve been dealing with it for years. It’s great to get away on vacation and it’s also great to travel somewhere else to put our own lives in perspective. I do a fair amount of cruising around on my bike back on the beach. I would like to think that Miami Beach is bike friendly, but after hanging out here a couple days, what a joke. I went with Caroline today and I rented a bike so I could get around like everyone else. Amsterdam is a relatively small town, it’s kind of easy to get around. Super bike friendly, it seems to me that bike’s no matter what have the right of way, which is amazing, because I’m used to Miami where people on Bikes are considered fair and open game to become hood ornaments on some dicks Beemer. Every bike in Amsterdam is totally pimped out with bike racks and saddle bags, bungie cords, etc… it’s just the way you do things there. Bikes and the gear that you have are definitely a statement. They have bike racks all over the city and the police actually give a crap when someone’s bike gets stolen – while I guess typically there’s not much they can do there are heavy penalties if you are caught stealing a bike. Anyway, in my humble opinion I think that hey, we’re American’s we love our cars (we don’t love high gas prices) but if you’re going to go around the corner for a bottle of wine, or milk, or whatever goofy errand we all have to do, instead of your car, go out, buy a really cool bike (I have a cannondale) but if you want something funky and you are new to the bike world, get an Electra, seriously so much fun…

Caroline With Her Awesome Bike...

Typical Street Shot....

Once again, yes, long time between posts. I have decided that I need a vacation, of sorts. And damn, it’s flipping hot and humid and nasty in Miami, no matter how many years I’ve been in Miami Beach the summer always just smacks you in the face with the heat. So, I have run off to Amsterdam to meet up with perhaps my most favorite person on the face of planet (you know who you are) and to enjoy a little northern European summer weather, crisp afternoons with beautiful sunshine and cool evenings. When I post my next electric bill to show how the home is operating, many of you may be tempted to cry “foul” and claim that any monetary savings should be discounted for my vacation – guys, I have a dog and a cat at home that need to be taken care of so my friends Will and Reid are staying at the house to look after the pup and the kitty. So the house is fully occupied while I am gone…

Anyway, I am staying at The Banks Mansion, which is relatively cheap when taking into account our crappy currency. The point of this posting is, look what I found in the hotel room potty, yes, a dual flush toilet!!! Again, I spend way too much time thinking about potties and composters and lightbulbs, but it’s great to see how commonplace these things are becoming, Europe’s had this stuff for years and has integrated it very nicely into their daily lives and it’s definitely time for us to do so also.