Smart Living

In last week's Wall Street Journal blog, The Wealth Report, Robert Frank wrote about the "paralyzed plutocracy" and how the moneyed class of the country is still quite insecure about its wealth. Meir Statman, behavioral-investment expert at the Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, explains some of the factors contributing to these insecurities.

The big news about former vice president and Nobel Prize and Oscar winner Al Gore is that he and his wife Tipper are separating after forty years of marriage. As surprising as this is, the one part of this "drama" that hasn't been covered is the actual implications in greenhouse gas creation. In other words, the Gores have just doubled their carbon footprint by creating the need for two residences, one for him and one for Tipper.

The Kaufman Astoria Studios (KAS) in Queens, NY, home of Sesame Street and a multitude of other television shows, movies, commercials, and recorded music, has produced much of our cinematic history, hosting such stars as Rudolph Valentino, Gloria Swanson, Woody Allen, and Denzel Washington. A mainstay in New York City since Adolph Zukor opened its doors in 1920, the studio's recent productions include Wall Street 2, Nurse Jackie, and the remake of the Taking of Pelham 123. This New York landmark has begun a transition from traditional heating oil to a blend containing bio-diesel fuel.

As the New Year begins, it's a good idea to take a few steps back and review the year behind us. In 2009, we learned that the consumer isn't dead and is showing signs of regaining purchasing power.

This was certainly evident in the television commercials broadcast over the past month or two. One that comes to mind promotes the automaker, Audi. Known for its sleek designs, good gas mileage and, sometimes, excellent EPA air pollution scores, Audi disappointed with its crass approach to marketing during the holiday season.

"You can either light a candle or curse the darkness." That old saying is finding new relevance in our responses to climate change. There is still debate as to whether climate change is a natural occurrence or a man-made phenomenon. The real answer is, "Who cares?" It's happening and we have to deal with it if we want to live on a healthier planet.

It's amazing how the obvious can grab one's attention.  A recent study of U.S. consumers by Honeywell found that more than half of those planning to purchase a vehicle in the next two years consider fuel efficiency to be more important than it was during their last vehicle purchase. The study also found that more than 80% of American consumers were more likely to consider purchasing a turbocharged vehicle after learning that the readily-available turbocharger helps to increase the fuel efficiency of a gas engine by up to 20% without sacrificing performance or reliability.  The operative line here is "after learning" turbocharged vehicles already exist and can be purchased here.

NEW YORK, NY—Adding to its stable of innovative eco- and family-friendly amenities, One Brooklyn Bridge Park, located at 360 Furman Street in Brooklyn Heights, has added two Zipcars to its amenities package for residents. Zipcar—the world’s largest car sharing service—is providing the building with a luxury BMW and an eco-friendly Honda Civic Hybrid, which are available to residents who are members of the service.

ALBANY, NY-- For New Yorkers on a fixed or moderate income, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and National Grid are offering income-eligible households incentives to make energy efficiency home improvements that will help them save up to 40 percent on their monthly energy bills.

BROOKLYN, NY--This fall, the Center for Urban Environment (CUE) launched the Ikea Walk to School program (IWalk), to over 300 students from these local elementary schools.

NEWARK, NJ-- Mayor Cory A. Booker, former New York Giants football star, NBC journalist, and Chairman of Tiki Ventures Tiki Barber, and Newark dignitaries cut the ribbon to re-open the newly-renovated Boys’ Park, at Sussex Avenue and Duryea Street, in Newark’s Central Ward yesterday.

The 1.291-acre park underwent a $1.2 million restoration, with the City bearing $500,000 of the cost, and the remainder by GreenSpaces. The designer is Neglia Engineering of Lyndhurst. Construction Manager is Mast Construction, and Zenith Construction Services is the contractor.