EDITOR'S LETTER

As we enter the hottest days of summer, it is impossible not to think about global warming, the amount of power it takes to keep our lives functioning in the ways we have become accustomed and to reflect upon what we can do to take better care of our environment. Living in an eco-friendly way does not mean we need to give up the luxuries that have become commonplace in our lives. We are blessed with the technology that lets us live "green" without pitching a tent and going back to the time before electricity.

We live in a glorious part of the world surrounded by water and lush landscapes everywhere. As we look over our terrain and see the open fields being replaced with houses, many of us are becoming more cognizant of how we can live in harmony with our environment. It is important that we live in a more conscious way. Doing something, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is better than doing nothing.

In this issue we visit with three local architects, Maziar Behrooz, Bill Chaleff and Fred Stelle, who discuss the various ways they integrate sustainability/green design into the houses they are building. One thing is evident: Eco-friendly design has different levels. It doesn't need to be all or nothing. Along those lines, we also feature companies and people who are making inroads into green design.