Homer Sustainable Maker-Space

07/26/2025

06/16/2025

☀️ Concrete burns. Grass cools.
A simple truth that could reshape our cities.

On scorching days, concrete and stone become ovens. They absorb massive amounts of heat and continue to radiate it long after the sun sets. This creates the urban heat island effect — cities becoming much hotter than their surrounding areas.

🌿 Grass – nature’s air conditioner
Unlike concrete, grass has low thermal mass and cools itself through transpiration — a process where it evaporates water and lowers the temperature around it. Plus, during the day, some of the sun’s energy is used for photosynthesis, not just heat.

📏 The difference is real — up to 20°C
Concrete surfaces can reach over 50°C (122°F), while grass rarely exceeds 30°C (86°F). And you don’t need a thermometer to notice it — just take off your shoes. Grass stays pleasant. Concrete scorches.

🌳 Green spaces aren’t decoration — they’re survival.
Parks, green rooftops, and lawns improve air quality, lower ambient temperatures, and create healthier, more breathable urban environments.

🏙️ The cities of the future won’t be grayer. They’ll be greener.
Building smarter means bringing nature back into our daily lives. Less concrete and stone. More trees and roots. Less heat. More life.

Because sometimes, the answer isn’t high-tech.
It’s soft, green… and growing. 🌱

06/15/2025

We have the wrong target in our sights...

04/20/2025

Living in harmony with Mother Earth has always been a calling for me. Some times I don’t feel like it’s working. But I keep trying.