This week's column briefly touches on a number of topics. The first one is a reminder that today is the 2006 Southern Nevada Solar Home tour. Start at The Gardens (3701 W. Alta Drive) at 9 a.m. Exhibits are open until noon. Homes along the solar tour are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2030 Challenge

The Klai::Juba Lecture Series has begun at the UNLV School of Architecture. The series, titled The 2030 Challenge: Environmental Design in the Face of Climate Change, is a welcome indication of the momentum that is growing in our community for creating real solutions to our most pressing issues.

The first lecture featured Ed Mazria from Santa Fe, N.M., architect and author of "The Passive Solar Energy Book -- A Complete Guide to Passive Solar Home, Greenhouse and Building Design." Mazria gave an excellent presentation that first outlined two very serious issues facing the world today -- the climate crisis and peak oil (and energy in general). He then described a very positive plan to effectively deal with these issues. With a focus on the built environment, the plan is called the 2030 Challenge. This deserves our full attention and support. You can find more information at www.architecture2030.org.

Straw bale homes

I've had a lot of inquiries lately about straw bale homes. Using straw bales as a construction material is gaining momentum in many states, mostly in custom homes, and it has many benefits. Using a post and beam structure for support, straw bales then are used as infill between the posts. They create a thick wall, 18 inches or more, that is sealed with plaster or stucco. The walls are often beautifully finished and the overall effect is similar to that of a true adobe structure.

Straw bale homes can be very energy efficient when properly designed. The walls can provide insulation values well beyond those found in common 2x4 or 2x6 construction. Straw is considered a waste product and consists of the stalks of various crops like wheat or rice that are left over after harvesting. Rather than burn the material, which creates pollution, straw bales are now being used in a number of creative ways, including the building of beautiful, efficient homes. There are two straw bales homes on this year's Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour. You can find more details at www.strawbale.com.

Green building standards

The U.S. Green Building Council has developed a green building rating system called LEED that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. When a building meets LEED standards and is certified under the program, there is no doubt that it is energy efficient, environmentally friendly, uses minimal water and has a healthy indoor environment as well. The General Services Administration, which operates as the federal government's landlord, has issued a report that found the LEED system to be the most credible among five systems evaluated.

LEED certification can now help businesses qualify for property tax incentives in our state. While green building has enough merits to stand on its own, these incentives are creating additional interest in LEED certification for new construction in Southern Nevada. In fact, some of the largest green building projects in the world are now happening right on the Strip, including MGM/Mirage's City Center project, among others.

With LEED for Homes coming soon, we can look forward to standards that will raise the bar on residential construction with increased value, performance and efficiency, while also helping the environment. Additional information on LEED can be found at www.usgbc.org.

Whether it is a solar home tour, rising up to a worthy challenge, building with straw bales or embracing the best in green building standards, Southern Nevadans have more ways than ever before to pursue green living.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Steve can be reached via email at steve@greendream.biz or at www.greendream.biz.