| Technology can really make bad taste come alive, don't you think? As you can read below in more detail, a company called Patch.com is giving away $112,000 to encourage people put up more excessive holiday light displays. 24 people will get $500 each to (help) offset their excessive electricity consumption, and another $100K prize will go to the winner's school district (thankfully, not into his/her pocket). Doesn't it make you want to get online and vote for wretched excess? There is an alternative. David Arkin, a sustainable architect, decided to enter the contest from the other direction, and hopefully raise a little sustainability consciousness. He entered his holiday light display, which draws only 6.5 Watts of electricity, all of it produced by solar panels. I'm hoping that enough people vote for his entry, that a more sustainable approach to celebration will get some attention. You can vote once a day. All the details and links are below. * * * * * Dear Friends Near and Far: Patch.com has launched a 'Deck the House' contest: http://deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/albany The premise is that the 'best decked' house in the US wins $100,000 for their local school district. As you'll see from the links below, some (most) use electricity like there's no tomorrow. In fact, Patch is giving 24 finalists $500 to offset their December energy bills. We've decked our house with 6.3 watts of electricity ... probably a lot less than most of the others, but enough to add a little cheer to our street on dark winter nights. So far as I can tell ours is the only house from our town posted right now, and it's easily the lowest energy user of them all. See it and please vote for it at this link: Please forward the link and this message around ... together we can spread the word that simplicity and conservation and renewable energy are worthy of celebration, and maybe just maybe win that $100,000 for our local Albany, CA schools. But we have to spread the word fast ... the leader (so far as I can tell) now has 1746 votes, and voting ends on Dec. 26th. Three things worth noting: • People can vote for one entry per day, between now and Dec. 26th • One doesn't need a Facebook account to vote ... just follow the instructions to set up a temporary account just for the purpose of voting • You'll be asked if you allow Patch to post to Facebook as you ... you can say 'don't allow' if you'd rather it didn't, and your vote still counts, but if you do say 'allow' all it does is post your vote on your facebook page... it won't keep posting as you into the future. Thanks and Good Wishes to one and all for the Holidays! David Arkin ps: One has to awe and be shocked at the time and effort it takes to do some of these, though: A typical entry: http://deckthehouse.patch.com/entry/228888 Current (pun intended) leader: http://deckthehouse.patch.com/entry/222557 And, imho, one that sums it all all up just a bit too well!: http://deckthehouse.patch.com/entry/224632 Arkin Tilt Architects Ecological Planning & Design 2011 Small Business of the Year David Arkin, AIA, Architect LEED Accredited Professional CA #C22459/NV #5030 1101 8th St. #180, Berkeley, CA 94710 510/528-9830 "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." — A. J. Muste |