Interview with EcoHearth’s Rick Theis—Part 1

"Live simply that others may simply live."

Mohandas K. Gandhi (from EcoHearth)

Since on April 22nd we celebrate both Earth Day and “Renew Your Nest Day,” I invited Rick Theis to give us some tips for improving our office space from an eco-friendly, green living standpoint.

Theis is the cofounder and executive editor of the green-lifestyle website EcoHearth.com. Besides working on environmental issues, he has been an organizer for several peace groups and active in war tax resistance, anti-apartheid, human rights and civil liberties.

Rick Theis

In today's interview, Theis shares some green strategies that can save energy in the office and home. Part 2 (live on April 28) will have even more green ideas as well as what you’ll find at the EcoHearth.com website.

Writing may be a creative, right-brained occupation but there is no getting around the need for technology in our industry. And technology requires more and more power: computers, chargers for iPhone and iPads, printers—not to mention enough light to see what we are writing! What are some of the biggest power draws in an office?
Theis: Heating and cooling are the biggest energy hogs. EcoHearth's offices are completely wind-powered, as is the site’s remote server. Most energy companies offer a wind-energy option, which I recommend rather than using electricity from coal-burning or nuclear plants. The former are horribly polluting and contribute to global warming. The latter are unsafe and produce radioactive waste that is dangerous for thousands of years. 

Heating and cooling needs can be minimized by wearing more in winter and less in summer, as people have done for millennia. I further manage heat in the summer without resorting to air conditioning by opening windows at night (if your windows aren’t situated in a way that you get a cross breeze, use a fan) to allow cool air in. Then I close the windows (drawing the blinds to keep out the hot sun) when the temperature outside reaches the temperature inside (usually late morning). This keeps it relative cool inside on all but the hottest days. I use an overhead fan to pull cool air up from the floor on very hot days.

What are some common power-wasting habits in home offices?
Theis: I think the worst is keeping the thermostat too low in the summer and too high in the winter. Also, it’s important to connect all devices to power strips and then use the master power switch to turn them off so they don’t draw energy while not in use. Sit near a window to read or work instead of using artificial lights. Check out Leveraging the Sun: Daylighting and Passive Solar Heating for more natural heating and lighting ideas.

What are some ways we can make our offices more energy-efficient?
Theis: Use solar rechargers to recharge cells phones, iPods and other DC-powered electronic devices. Use CFL bulbs. Always buy Energy Star equipment and appliances. For other ideas, check out Ways to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Your Electronics and How to Use Less Energy to Run Your Computer on the EcoHearth site.

When it comes to being eco-friendly, what recommendations do you have to make our office more environmentally responsible?
Theis: EcoHearth.com recently published a piece called Simple Steps to Greening Your Office. It has tons of tips for home and business offices. For example, did you know that, on average, laptops use half the power of desktops?

Plenty of food for thought—and ways to green up our office—and there’s more to come on April 28 when Theis shares even more information and ideas! Now celebrate Earth Day and “Renew Your Nest Day” with some eco-improvements!