To see Kelly’s really great work, click here for her website.

I might add a 16th after watching Julia Louis-Dreyfus on talk about the graduation address she gave at Northwestern University a while back.  She gave three pieces of advice, the last being, “don’t be an ass.”  Not exactly eco-friendly, but still very good advice.

I’ve been extremely patient with the City of Dallas.  We have been trying to obtain the final regulation/code that governs the use of harvested rainwater in a washing machine for eight months.  Our rainwater contractor presented information to the City twice early this past spring.  And now, in January, it seems that we’re not any closer to having the regulations than we were in April of last year.

Lonnie Erwin, the City’s Chief Plumbing Inspector, informed me in an email back in August that we would have new regs “after October”.  While technically that could mean 10 years after October, I assumed it meant November-ish.  My last email to him (and to City of Dallas Chief Inspector Zaida Basora) dated 11/17 was answered in December by someone informing me that Mr. Erwin was no longer with the City of Dallas. 

I was also told that Mr. Erwin left behind ZERO information regarding our request and our presentations.  NO ONE had been working on our request for months!  Thank you, Mr. Erwin!

Theoretically someone from the City Plumbing Inspection office is working on the request now, but it’s been almost a month since I’ve heard from him.

What should I do now?!?!

But that mistake gives me the opportunity to highlight Catalog Choice.  Since we’re all getting tons (literally) of catalogs during this time of the year, it might be worthwhile for folks to check out Catalog Choice.  It allows you to opt out or opt in to specific catalog lists.  Alternatively, you can also go to the website of any catalog and find the Contact Us or Customer Service section (if you can’t easily find it, check the very bottom of the company’s home page).  I’ve had a lot of success reducing the number of unwanted catalogs by going directly to the catalogs own website and sending an email (or using the catalog’s “unsubscribe” list).  For example, click here to see a specific catalog’s really good and flexible unsubscribe mechanism.

Note that I said “UNWANTED” catalogs.  I do like getting about 4 or 5, but there are dozens that I have no interest in.  Every little bit helps!

PS:  once you’re done with the ones you get, put them in your recycling!

We got many compliments on our dining table, and I couldn’t remember the artisan’s name at the time.  So here you go:  Cameron Van Dyke.  His work is absolutely amazing, and chances are we’ll collect more of his work soon.  Also, the coffee table (with all the holes in it) is also his work…the table is called “Fizz“.

I want to thank the following folks:

• Robert Diago – my partner and co-homeowner
• Kelly Mitchell – our Architect
• Garry Walling – our Designer
• Sean Garman – our Green Consultant (and primary cheerleader)
• Jim Martinez – our Landscape Professional
• Andrea Fair – our primary contact at our Home Provider, GWS
• Ross Boorhem – our Contractor

And I’d like to thank our friends and co-workers who tolerated hours of me telling them about SEER ratings, HERS ratings, VOCs, U-factors, flow rates, permiability……….