The other day, I opened the door to my truck, climbed up into the cab and proceeded to experience what a Thanksgiving turkey must experience an hour after going into the oven, extreme, unrelenting heat. After burning my hands on the steering wheel I drove to the job site, got out of my rolling oven and darted around the property scurrying from shade to shade to try to protect my bald head from certain sunburn. As the sweat started to bead on my brow, I strained to remember the beautiful late winter and early spring days of only a few months ago. Needless to say, I am looking forward to those first hints of cool air that will come late this fall. Living in Texas you become accustomed to the extremes that our weather can bring. Extreme heat, cold and pure perfection can all happen in the span of a few short days. It’s no wonder that the early settlers were such hardy souls capable of incredible adaption and creativity. They responded to the land and the extremes by creating structures that used the breezes at hand, created cooling shade and were often built near water and food sources. They created cisterns, built windmills, designed daylight lighting designs and were ever mindful of their loose grip on these resources and were therefore frugal and conservative with their use. As I stand sweating in the shade I can surely appreciate the tenacity and creativity those early Texans must have displayed.
On a daily basis I drive through neighborhoods where responsibility to the site and the environment goes unchecked; charcoal gray roofing, west facing picture windows, small overhangs, aluminum windows and large green garden hoses mindlessly overflow and run their contents into the street. Our Texas ancestors would have been surprised at our carelessness. We all should remain mindful of conservation and sustainability. Simple practices and thoughtful efforts can create the kind of homes where we can be frugal and efficient with our ever dwindling resources. Let us help you create that type of home today.
– J. Bryant Boyd
