Ask them to Dance.

I've had an idea.
You know, (I hope) that there are hundreds, if not thousands of ways to save energy. Some sexy; solar PV, wind generators, passive solar water heat, tankless water heaters, geothermal heating and cooling; and some not so sexy, but perhaps even more effective; insulation, caulking, electric and water conservation, duct cleaning, filter changing, stopping Vampire-energy drain, getting more efficient appliances and electronics.
All of these things are great and most are pretty reasonably priced. If you own your home. What if you rent?
If your landlord did one or two, or ALL of these things, he'd (or she'd) save a lot of money in the long-run and make the property more appealing to future renters, and take the Eco-guilt off of renter's shoulders.
I propose a contest in which we open it up to renters to propose ways to kinda, sorta suggest, cajole, influence, incentivise or extort landlords into wanting to apply some of these energy-saving strategies. Think of your ideas and submit them to vince@denvergreenstreets.com and I'll try to come up with a really nice prize (besides helping to save the planet) like free tickets to a cool event or concert or something else fun. You will also be a guest on a special "Hip and Yucky Show" podcast, to explain your ideas.
Lets get everyone involved. Like anything else that makes a community work, The More, The Merrier!!

Wha....???

Did you happen to see this?
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/memphis_teacher.php

To put this in terms of Urban Homesteading: “Oh, for plucks sake!” (a chicken reference)

You hear about bad teachers sometimes. Something should be done about them.

You hear about bad students. Do something about them also. Maybe get them good teachers.

You hear about people fined and jailed for gardens. That’s right. I said GARDENS.

You know, plants and flowers and vegetables. That kind of garden.

Now, this. It is pretty apparent that local governments don’t have enough important work to do. I guess in these communities there must be no crime and 100% employment. The schools must be great, and the streets clean. The hospitals cheap and efficient and everyone gets along like a happy crowd at a rave where the water has been spiked with ecstasy.

Bullcompost, bullcompost, bullcompost!

This is community!

This is Education!

This is Science!

This is farming!

This is food justice!

This is giving students a purpose!

This is what we should ALL be doing.

Memphis oughta’ re-think why people percieve the South as backwards.
This should be REQUIRED not criminalized.

Baby Steps...