Category: Blog

For an easy, luscious appetizer, wrap a semi-firm white cheese like Brie or feta in grapevine leaves and bake or grill it. It’s a delicious way to make the most of a few grapevine leaves left in the jar after you made mushrooms cooked in grapevine leaves or grilled fish.. The cheese becomes subtly flavored […]

The post 2 Recipes: Feta and Brie Cooked in Grapevine Leaves appeared first on Green Prophet.

The European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) in Barcelona, a so-called peace making think tank for the Mediterranean Region, is hosting the twelfth edition of its Aula Mediterrània lecture series—27 talks spanning politics, migration, and culture under the banner of “Thinking about the Mediterranean of the 21st Century.”

At first glance, it looks like a celebration of regional dialogue and academic exchange. But beneath the polished program lies a troubling current of politicized bias that calls into question the values the European Union claims to uphold: fairness, democracy, and balanced dialogue.

This year’s series devotes significant attention to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict—yet the framing of that attention is anything but balanced. One talk is titled “Palestine’s Maritime Rights vs Israel’s Bully Take Over: An Exit Path.” Another accuses the European Union of “Complicity, Silence and Double Standards.” Later in the schedule comes “The Fifteen Wars of Israel against Gaza,” a phrase that reads more like an activist slogan than a scholarly topic.

Not a single lecture explores Israel’s security concerns, democratic institutions, or peace efforts. Or how the Arab world works to combat terror. There are no Israeli speakers, no balance, and no nuance—just repetition of a single narrative that paints one country, and one people, as the villain of the Mediterranean story.

The Union for the Mediterranean, funded by the EU and the UN engages in the same flavor of dialogue when it comes to environmental issues and climate change. See the women on stage in keffiahs meant to virtue signal and intimidate Israelis and Jews. I have written to their directors, and spokesperson multiple times about exclusionary policies against Israelis and Israel data in the Mediterranean. No reply.

That is not dialogue. It’s dogma.

When European taxpayers fund programs through institutions like IEMed, they do so under the promise of promoting mutual understanding and academic rigor.

Instead, Aula Mediterrània has become a platform for the normalization of anti-Israel bias wrapped in academic legitimacy –- and offers credit when you attend these lectures online. By platforming speakers who describe Israel’s policies in loaded, accusatory terms—without offering countervailing voices—the event risks turning the European lecture hall into an echo chamber for politicized grievance.

The EU’s own policies call for cultural initiatives that strengthen democratic debate, not replace it with monolithic thinking. How does a lecture that calls Israel a “bully” advance understanding between “both shores of the Mediterranean,” as the program claims? How can we speak of inclusion when the only Jewish and Israeli perspectives are erased from the conversation?

There is a dangerous irony in a publicly funded institution promoting exclusion under the guise of inclusion. Europe’s academic landscape is increasingly shaped by the politics of one-sided empathy—solidarity for some victims, silence for others. This is not just unfair; it is anti-democratic. True scholarship depends on the freedom to debate, to test ideas against evidence, to listen even when it is uncomfortable. By indulging in moral absolutism, Aula Mediterrània abandons the very foundations of intellectual democracy.

If the EU wishes to preserve credibility as a defender of democracy and dialogue, and the Arab world aspires to become a democracy in any shape and form, it must ensure that the institutions they fund and support reflect those principles. Supporting events that vilify one democratic state while romanticizing its enemies sends a message of hypocrisy, not harmony.

The Mediterranean deserves better—an academic space where truth, complexity, and compassion coexist. Until Aula Mediterrània embraces genuine pluralism, European taxpayers should ask a simple question: why are they paying for propaganda?

The post EU Funds for Academic Bias? Why the “Aula Mediterrània” Lecture Series Undermines Democracy and Dialogue appeared first on Green Prophet.

When European taxpayers fund programs through institutions like IEMed, they do so under the promise of promoting mutual understanding and academic rigor.

Instead, Aula Mediterrània has become a platform for the normalization of anti-Israel bias wrapped in academic legitimacy –- and offers credit when you attend these lectures online. By platforming speakers who describe Israel’s policies in loaded, accusatory terms—without offering countervailing voices—the event risks turning the European lecture hall into an echo chamber for politicized grievance.

The post EU Funds for Academic Bias? Why the “Aula Mediterrània” Lecture Series Undermines Democracy and Dialogue appeared first on Green Prophet.

The European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed) in Barcelona, a so-called peace making think tank for the Mediterranean Region, is hosting the twelfth edition of its Aula Mediterrània lecture series—27 talks spanning politics, migration, and culture under the banner of “Thinking about the Mediterranean of the 21st Century.”

At first glance, it looks like a celebration of regional dialogue and academic exchange. But beneath the polished program lies a troubling current of politicized bias that calls into question the values the European Union claims to uphold: fairness, democracy, and balanced dialogue.

This year’s series devotes significant attention to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict—yet the framing of that attention is anything but balanced. One talk is titled “Palestine’s Maritime Rights vs Israel’s Bully Take Over: An Exit Path.” Another accuses the European Union of “Complicity, Silence and Double Standards.” Later in the schedule comes “The Fifteen Wars of Israel against Gaza,” a phrase that reads more like an activist slogan than a scholarly topic.

Not a single lecture explores Israel’s security concerns, democratic institutions, or peace efforts. Or how the Arab world works to combat terror. There are no Israeli speakers, no balance, and no nuance—just repetition of a single narrative that paints one country, and one people, as the villain of the Mediterranean story.

The Union for the Mediterranean, funded by the EU and the UN engages in the same flavor of dialogue when it comes to environmental issues and climate change. See the women on stage in keffiahs meant to virtue signal and intimidate Israelis and Jews. I have written to their directors, and spokesperson multiple times about exclusionary policies against Israelis and Israel data in the Mediterranean. No reply.

That is not dialogue. It’s dogma.

When European taxpayers fund programs through institutions like IEMed, they do so under the promise of promoting mutual understanding and academic rigor.

Instead, Aula Mediterrània has become a platform for the normalization of anti-Israel bias wrapped in academic legitimacy –- and offers credit when you attend these lectures online. By platforming speakers who describe Israel’s policies in loaded, accusatory terms—without offering countervailing voices—the event risks turning the European lecture hall into an echo chamber for politicized grievance.

The EU’s own policies call for cultural initiatives that strengthen democratic debate, not replace it with monolithic thinking. How does a lecture that calls Israel a “bully” advance understanding between “both shores of the Mediterranean,” as the program claims? How can we speak of inclusion when the only Jewish and Israeli perspectives are erased from the conversation?

There is a dangerous irony in a publicly funded institution promoting exclusion under the guise of inclusion. Europe’s academic landscape is increasingly shaped by the politics of one-sided empathy—solidarity for some victims, silence for others. This is not just unfair; it is anti-democratic. True scholarship depends on the freedom to debate, to test ideas against evidence, to listen even when it is uncomfortable. By indulging in moral absolutism, Aula Mediterrània abandons the very foundations of intellectual democracy.

If the EU wishes to preserve credibility as a defender of democracy and dialogue, and the Arab world aspires to become a democracy in any shape and form, it must ensure that the institutions they fund and support reflect those principles. Supporting events that vilify one democratic state while romanticizing its enemies sends a message of hypocrisy, not harmony.

The Mediterranean deserves better—an academic space where truth, complexity, and compassion coexist. Until Aula Mediterrània embraces genuine pluralism, European taxpayers should ask a simple question: why are they paying for propaganda?

The post EU Funds for Academic Bias? Why the “Aula Mediterrània” Lecture Series Undermines Democracy and Dialogue appeared first on Green Prophet.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~Lao Tzu

I’d known for months that I was burned out.

The kind of burnout that creeps in quietly—behind your eyes, in your spine, in your calendar. I was volunteering in raptor rescue, monitoring eagle nests as the busy season ramped up, juggling consulting work, supporting adoption placements, writing, creating. I was showing up fully in every space except the one I lived in: my body.

And yet I refused to let go. I told myself it was just a busy season. That if I …

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ~Rumi

I didn’t know what it meant to grieve a body that was still alive until mine turned on me.

It began like a whisper—fatigue that lingered, strange symptoms that didn’t match, a quiet fear I tried to ignore.

Then one night, I collapsed. I woke up in a hospital room I didn’t recognize, attached to IVs I hadn’t agreed to, surrounded by medical voices that spoke in certainty while I sat in confusion.

It wasn’t just a diagnosis I was given. It was a line in the sand.

Before that night, I thought I knew who I was. I had moved across the world for love, leaving behind my home, my language, my work, my identity. I thought that leap of faith had already redefined me.

I was wrong.

Illness Doesn’t Just Change Your Health; It Changes Everything

When you live with chronic illness, the world doesn’t change with you.

Everyone else keeps moving. Fast.

Meanwhile, your pace slows to survival mode. Appointments become your calendar. You measure your days in energy—not hours. You go from thinking “I’m strong” to wondering “Am I weak now?” And the hardest part is, people still see you as who you were before.

But inside, you’re unraveling.

I remember standing in the shower, my hands trembling, trying to wash my hair, crying because I couldn’t lift my arms long enough. I remember sitting in a café with friends pretending I was fine, while every muscle screamed. I remember how silence became my shield because explaining felt harder than hiding.

I Had to Mourn My Old Self

No one tells you how much grief comes with getting sick.

Yes, I mourned the physical freedom I lost. But more than that, I grieved who I thought I was. The capable one. The dependable one. The one who could do it all.

I had been that woman.

Now I couldn’t even cook dinner some nights, let alone help others like I used to.

And it made me angry. Sad. Ashamed.

Illness stole not just my stamina but also the image I held of myself. That was the most painful part. I didn’t know where I fit anymore. I wasn’t who I used to be, but I wasn’t sure who I was now.

The Turning Point Wasn’t Dramatic; It Was Quiet

Healing didn’t arrive with fanfare. There was no great epiphany.

It came one small moment at a time.

The first shift happened when I stopped fighting what was. I realized I couldn’t move forward until I stopped clinging to the past. That realization didn’t heal my body, but it softened my soul.

And that softness became the doorway to something new.

I began to see that maybe the goal wasn’t to get back to who I was but to become who I could still be.

That gave me hope—not because things got easier, but because I wasn’t resisting everything anymore.

What Helped Me Rebuild from the Inside Out

If you’re facing a change you didn’t choose, especially one that lives inside your body, I want to offer you what I needed most: permission to become someone new.

Here are a few things that helped me begin again—not as a fix, but as a practice:

Grieve the old version of you. Seriously.

Don’t rush past your sadness. Say goodbye to the “you” who did it all, carried everything, said yes, pushed through. That person mattered. They were real. They deserve your tears.

Grieving isn’t weakness—it’s the beginning of truth.

Redefine strength.

Strength is not being able to run five miles or check every task off your list.

Strength is waking up in pain and choosing to get up anyway—or choosing to rest instead of proving something.

Strength is asking for help when your whole identity was built around helping others.

Stop waiting to feel like your old self.

The truth? You may never feel like your old self again.

But that’s not a tragedy—it’s an invitation. To live differently. To deepen. To slow down. To choose softness over striving.

Some days that will feel like a loss. Other days, it will feel like grace.

Let others in—selectively, honestly.

It’s okay if most people don’t understand. Find the few who do, or who are willing to listen without needing to fix.

Speak even when your voice shakes. Share even when you don’t have a tidy ending.

You’ll be surprised how many people whisper “me too.”

Make peace with the pause.

You’re not falling behind. You’re not broken.

You’re simply in a new season. One that asks different things of you.

Don’t measure your worth by how fast you move. Measure it by how deeply you stay with yourself, especially on the hard days.

I wish I could tell you that I handled all of this with grace from the beginning. But the truth is, I resisted every part of it.

I wanted my old life back. I wanted to prove I was still the same person. So I kept pushing—ignoring symptoms, pretending to be okay, trying to keep up.

That only deepened the exhaustion, physically and emotionally. My body would shut down for days. I would hide in bed, ashamed that I couldn’t ‘push through’ like I used to.

What I didn’t realize then was that trying to be who I used to be was costing me who I was becoming.

There’s a moment I remember vividly: I was sitting at my kitchen table, the afternoon light pouring in. I had a warm cup of tea in my hand. And for once, there was no rush. No guilt. Just a breath. Just presence.

It wasn’t a breakthrough. But it was something. A tiny opening. A softness. I remember thinking: maybe I don’t need to heal back into the person I was. Maybe I can heal forward.

This mindset shift changed everything.

It didn’t fix the illness. But it fixed the part of me that kept believing I had to earn rest, prove my worth, or hide my pain.

Now, when the flare-ups come—and they still do—I try to meet them with compassion instead of frustration. I speak to myself like I would to someone I love.

On the outside, not much has changed. But inside? I’ve made space. Space to be exactly who I am, even in discomfort. Even in uncertainty.

To anyone reading this who feels like their body has betrayed them—who wakes up wondering who they are now—I want to say this: your softness is strength. Your slowness is sacred. Your survival is heroic.

Even if the world doesn’t see it, I do. And I hope someday, you will too.

You Are Still You

There are moments, even now, when I miss who I was before the diagnosis. I miss the energy. The ease. The certainty.

But I wouldn’t trade what I’ve found: A self that is more tender. More present. More aware of what really matters.

Illness taught me to slow down. To let go. To stop living as a checklist.

And it taught me that I’m still worthy, even when I’m not productive.

If you’re in the middle of an identity shift—whether from illness, loss, divorce, or something else—you are not alone. You’re not broken. And you don’t need to rush toward reinvention.

You are still you. Just different.

And that different might be where the real light gets in.

See more posts

Get in the conversation! Click here to leave a comment on the site.

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ~Rumi

I didn’t know what it meant to grieve a body that was still alive until mine turned on me.

It began like a whisper—fatigue that lingered, strange symptoms that didn’t match, a quiet fear I tried to ignore.

Then one night, I collapsed. I woke up in a hospital room I didn’t recognize, attached to IVs I hadn’t agreed to, surrounded by medical voices that spoke in certainty while I sat in confusion.

It wasn’t just a diagnosis I was given. It was a line in the sand.

Before …

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” ~Rumi

I didn’t know what it meant to grieve a body that was still alive until mine turned on me.

It began like a whisper—fatigue that lingered, strange symptoms that didn’t match, a quiet fear I tried to ignore.

Then one night, I collapsed. I woke up in a hospital room I didn’t recognize, attached to IVs I hadn’t agreed to, surrounded by medical voices that spoke in certainty while I sat in confusion.

It wasn’t just a diagnosis I was given. It was a line in the sand.

Before that night, I thought I knew who I was. I had moved across the world for love, leaving behind my home, my language, my work, my identity. I thought that leap of faith had already redefined me.

I was wrong.

Illness Doesn’t Just Change Your Health; It Changes Everything

When you live with chronic illness, the world doesn’t change with you.

Everyone else keeps moving. Fast.

Meanwhile, your pace slows to survival mode. Appointments become your calendar. You measure your days in energy—not hours. You go from thinking “I’m strong” to wondering “Am I weak now?” And the hardest part is, people still see you as who you were before.

But inside, you’re unraveling.

I remember standing in the shower, my hands trembling, trying to wash my hair, crying because I couldn’t lift my arms long enough. I remember sitting in a café with friends pretending I was fine, while every muscle screamed. I remember how silence became my shield because explaining felt harder than hiding.

I Had to Mourn My Old Self

No one tells you how much grief comes with getting sick.

Yes, I mourned the physical freedom I lost. But more than that, I grieved who I thought I was. The capable one. The dependable one. The one who could do it all.

I had been that woman.

Now I couldn’t even cook dinner some nights, let alone help others like I used to.

And it made me angry. Sad. Ashamed.

Illness stole not just my stamina but also the image I held of myself. That was the most painful part. I didn’t know where I fit anymore. I wasn’t who I used to be, but I wasn’t sure who I was now.

The Turning Point Wasn’t Dramatic; It Was Quiet

Healing didn’t arrive with fanfare. There was no great epiphany.

It came one small moment at a time.

The first shift happened when I stopped fighting what was. I realized I couldn’t move forward until I stopped clinging to the past. That realization didn’t heal my body, but it softened my soul.

And that softness became the doorway to something new.

I began to see that maybe the goal wasn’t to get back to who I was but to become who I could still be.

That gave me hope—not because things got easier, but because I wasn’t resisting everything anymore.

What Helped Me Rebuild from the Inside Out

If you’re facing a change you didn’t choose, especially one that lives inside your body, I want to offer you what I needed most: permission to become someone new.

Here are a few things that helped me begin again—not as a fix, but as a practice:

Grieve the old version of you. Seriously.

Don’t rush past your sadness. Say goodbye to the “you” who did it all, carried everything, said yes, pushed through. That person mattered. They were real. They deserve your tears.

Grieving isn’t weakness—it’s the beginning of truth.

Redefine strength.

Strength is not being able to run five miles or check every task off your list.

Strength is waking up in pain and choosing to get up anyway—or choosing to rest instead of proving something.

Strength is asking for help when your whole identity was built around helping others.

Stop waiting to feel like your old self.

The truth? You may never feel like your old self again.

But that’s not a tragedy—it’s an invitation. To live differently. To deepen. To slow down. To choose softness over striving.

Some days that will feel like a loss. Other days, it will feel like grace.

Let others in—selectively, honestly.

It’s okay if most people don’t understand. Find the few who do, or who are willing to listen without needing to fix.

Speak even when your voice shakes. Share even when you don’t have a tidy ending.

You’ll be surprised how many people whisper “me too.”

Make peace with the pause.

You’re not falling behind. You’re not broken.

You’re simply in a new season. One that asks different things of you.

Don’t measure your worth by how fast you move. Measure it by how deeply you stay with yourself, especially on the hard days.

I wish I could tell you that I handled all of this with grace from the beginning. But the truth is, I resisted every part of it.

I wanted my old life back. I wanted to prove I was still the same person. So I kept pushing—ignoring symptoms, pretending to be okay, trying to keep up.

That only deepened the exhaustion, physically and emotionally. My body would shut down for days. I would hide in bed, ashamed that I couldn’t ‘push through’ like I used to.

What I didn’t realize then was that trying to be who I used to be was costing me who I was becoming.

There’s a moment I remember vividly: I was sitting at my kitchen table, the afternoon light pouring in. I had a warm cup of tea in my hand. And for once, there was no rush. No guilt. Just a breath. Just presence.

It wasn’t a breakthrough. But it was something. A tiny opening. A softness. I remember thinking: maybe I don’t need to heal back into the person I was. Maybe I can heal forward.

This mindset shift changed everything.

It didn’t fix the illness. But it fixed the part of me that kept believing I had to earn rest, prove my worth, or hide my pain.

Now, when the flare-ups come—and they still do—I try to meet them with compassion instead of frustration. I speak to myself like I would to someone I love.

On the outside, not much has changed. But inside? I’ve made space. Space to be exactly who I am, even in discomfort. Even in uncertainty.

To anyone reading this who feels like their body has betrayed them—who wakes up wondering who they are now—I want to say this: your softness is strength. Your slowness is sacred. Your survival is heroic.

Even if the world doesn’t see it, I do. And I hope someday, you will too.

You Are Still You

There are moments, even now, when I miss who I was before the diagnosis. I miss the energy. The ease. The certainty.

But I wouldn’t trade what I’ve found: A self that is more tender. More present. More aware of what really matters.

Illness taught me to slow down. To let go. To stop living as a checklist.

And it taught me that I’m still worthy, even when I’m not productive.

If you’re in the middle of an identity shift—whether from illness, loss, divorce, or something else—you are not alone. You’re not broken. And you don’t need to rush toward reinvention.

You are still you. Just different.

And that different might be where the real light gets in.

See more posts

Get in the conversation! Click here to leave a comment on the site.

The TEDxOmid Architecture event in Tehran promised sustainability and social justice but revealed deep contradictions between its rhetoric and reality. This in-depth report exposes how Iran’s star architects—linked to commercial tower projects and weak environmental accountability—reflect a pattern of architectural greenwashing under the guise of “responsive design.”

The post Who Narrates the Narrative at TEDx? Greenwashing in Iranian Architecture’s Spotlight appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sustainability is a smart revenue strategy. Renters want green features where they live, and they’re willing to pay a premium. Some people won’t rent from an apartment building unless they have at least some green practices in place, like LED lights, low-flow plumbing, and smart thermostats. 

That’s great news for landlords who are willing to add sustainability to their rental properties’ features. Practical green amenities equal higher rents, faster lease signings, and happier, long-term tenants. For landlords in major cities, it gives them an edge on the competition. For example, Green Residential – a Houston property management company – helps their clients add eco-friendly amenities to their rentals so they rent faster and to higher quality tenants. 

If you’re a landlord looking for ways to go green, here are the top five features to prioritize. 

1. Plug-and-play appliances

 Swapping out old lightbulbs, washers, and refrigerators for efficient models is the cheapest way to reduce your tenants’ bills. This makes premium rent a lot easier to charge. Lighting alone tends to be around 15% of a home’s electricity use, and just by using LEDs, households save around $225 per year.

ENERGY STAR appliances use around 25% less energy, and washers use 33% less water, which makes them a marketable upgrade for tenants. Where thermostats are concerned, tenants can save a lot of money on their heating and cooling costs just by having a programmable thermostat. These appliances are low-friction upgrades with tangible cost savings that will make your property more attractive. 

2. Heat pumps

 Heat pumps are quickly becoming the new default for energy efficient, electric comfort. They can cut electricity use for heating by up to 75% compared to heat generated by electric resistance. They’re up to 4.5 times more efficient than ENERGY STAR gas furnaces.  

Heat pumps can heat and cool a space, they make excellent dehumidifiers in summer, and work well with ductless installs in older buildings. When prospects get to enjoy comfort and lower bills, charging premium rent is justified.

If you haven’t already switched over to all-electric heat pumps from combustion like gas, it’s worth considering before your hand is forced. States and cities are quickly passing laws that make combustion harder to maintain.

3. EV chargers

 For tenants who own an electric vehicle, having an onsite EV charging station is a big draw. In fact, in some areas, it’s becoming an expectation rather than a convenient amenity. In California, starting in 2026, some landlords will be legally required to install EV charging stations in most new overnight parking spots. 

It’s not easy to find a place to charge an electric vehicle, and having an onsite EV charger will sweeten the deal and get you higher rent. In fact, according to a Multifamily Executive survey 58% of renters planning to buy an EV in the next five years said they’d pay more rent for onsite charging.  

EV-friendly rental listings are still pretty rare, so if you have chargers you’ll stand out in search filters and shorten the time it takes to get leases signed. 

4. Drought-resistant landscaping

 Water is easy to waste, and nothing uses more water than having to maintain a front or backyard full of plants. And you can’t just let them die – that would look awful. The solution is for landlords to install drought-resistant landscaping and smart irrigation controllers for plants that require regular watering. 

A smart irrigation system can reduce water usage by up to 40% and avoid the problem of watering the sidewalk. According to some reports, this translates to saving around 15,000 gallons of water per year per home.

5. A healthy air package (not just an HVAC system)

 Tenants don’t want literal headaches from their homes. But the average American spends 90% of the time indoors, where pollutant levels are 2-5 times outdoor levels. Upgrading your property to MERV-13 filtration, adding balanced ventilation, and using low-VOC paints and flooring is a simple way to support tenant health while justifying premium rent.

Lab tests show MERV-13 filtration can capture around 90% of PM2.5 contaminants and reduce cooking and wildfire particles. This is especially important in areas where air pollution and forest fire smoke are common.

6. Rooftop solar

Rooftop solar power can be a leasing magnet. On the right roof, a solar system can offset a meaningful chunk of electric usage to lower utility bills significantly. For tenants who prioritize green amenities, solar is at the top of the list of features they’ll pay a premium for.

Add eco-friendly features renters value

 When you “go green,” you’re actually building pricing power. By offering tenants amenities and appliances that save money while providing comfort, you’re delivering the kind of value tenants won’t hesitate to pay more for. That means shorter vacancies, faster lease signings, and higher profits.

The post 5 Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Let You Charge More Rent appeared first on Green Prophet.

By exploring forgotten folk dishes like lizard stew, Green Prophet continues to connect the dots between culture, ecology, and the future of sustainable living in the Middle East.

The post Lizard tail stew, dhub mansaf, is a favored folk dish in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sustainability is a smart revenue strategy. Renters want green features where they live, and they’re willing to pay a premium. Some people won’t rent from an apartment building unless they have at least some green practices in place, like LED lights, low-flow plumbing, and smart thermostats. 

That’s great news for landlords who are willing to add sustainability to their rental properties’ features. Practical green amenities equal higher rents, faster lease signings, and happier, long-term tenants. For landlords in major cities, it gives them an edge on the competition. For example, Green Residential – a Houston property management company – helps their clients add eco-friendly amenities to their rentals so they rent faster and to higher quality tenants. 

If you’re a landlord looking for ways to go green, here are the top five features to prioritize. 

1. Plug-and-play appliances

 Swapping out old lightbulbs, washers, and refrigerators for efficient models is the cheapest way to reduce your tenants’ bills. This makes premium rent a lot easier to charge. Lighting alone tends to be around 15% of a home’s electricity use, and just by using LEDs, households save around $225 per year.

ENERGY STAR appliances use around 25% less energy, and washers use 33% less water, which makes them a marketable upgrade for tenants. Where thermostats are concerned, tenants can save a lot of money on their heating and cooling costs just by having a programmable thermostat. These appliances are low-friction upgrades with tangible cost savings that will make your property more attractive. 

2. Heat pumps

 Heat pumps are quickly becoming the new default for energy efficient, electric comfort. They can cut electricity use for heating by up to 75% compared to heat generated by electric resistance. They’re up to 4.5 times more efficient than ENERGY STAR gas furnaces.  

Heat pumps can heat and cool a space, they make excellent dehumidifiers in summer, and work well with ductless installs in older buildings. When prospects get to enjoy comfort and lower bills, charging premium rent is justified.

If you haven’t already switched over to all-electric heat pumps from combustion like gas, it’s worth considering before your hand is forced. States and cities are quickly passing laws that make combustion harder to maintain.

3. EV chargers

 For tenants who own an electric vehicle, having an onsite EV charging station is a big draw. In fact, in some areas, it’s becoming an expectation rather than a convenient amenity. In California, starting in 2026, some landlords will be legally required to install EV charging stations in most new overnight parking spots. 

It’s not easy to find a place to charge an electric vehicle, and having an onsite EV charger will sweeten the deal and get you higher rent. In fact, according to a Multifamily Executive survey 58% of renters planning to buy an EV in the next five years said they’d pay more rent for onsite charging.  

EV-friendly rental listings are still pretty rare, so if you have chargers you’ll stand out in search filters and shorten the time it takes to get leases signed. 

4. Drought-resistant landscaping

 Water is easy to waste, and nothing uses more water than having to maintain a front or backyard full of plants. And you can’t just let them die – that would look awful. The solution is for landlords to install drought-resistant landscaping and smart irrigation controllers for plants that require regular watering. 

A smart irrigation system can reduce water usage by up to 40% and avoid the problem of watering the sidewalk. According to some reports, this translates to saving around 15,000 gallons of water per year per home.

5. A healthy air package (not just an HVAC system)

 Tenants don’t want literal headaches from their homes. But the average American spends 90% of the time indoors, where pollutant levels are 2-5 times outdoor levels. Upgrading your property to MERV-13 filtration, adding balanced ventilation, and using low-VOC paints and flooring is a simple way to support tenant health while justifying premium rent.

Lab tests show MERV-13 filtration can capture around 90% of PM2.5 contaminants and reduce cooking and wildfire particles. This is especially important in areas where air pollution and forest fire smoke are common.

6. Rooftop solar

Rooftop solar power can be a leasing magnet. On the right roof, a solar system can offset a meaningful chunk of electric usage to lower utility bills significantly. For tenants who prioritize green amenities, solar is at the top of the list of features they’ll pay a premium for.

Add eco-friendly features renters value

 When you “go green,” you’re actually building pricing power. By offering tenants amenities and appliances that save money while providing comfort, you’re delivering the kind of value tenants won’t hesitate to pay more for. That means shorter vacancies, faster lease signings, and higher profits.

The post 5 Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Let You Charge More Rent appeared first on Green Prophet.

More than sixty years after France’s nuclear tests in the Algerian Sahara, radiation still lingers in the sand. At Reggane and In Ekker, plutonium traces remain where underground detonations vented into the open air. The sites were never fully decontaminated after France’s withdrawal in 1966. Algeria now monitors them with help from the International Atomic Energy Agency, but vast areas remain off-limits to herders and researchers.

The post The little known nuclear testing sites used by France in Algeria’s Sahara Desert appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sustainability is a smart revenue strategy. Renters want green features where they live, and they’re willing to pay a premium. Some people won’t rent from an apartment building unless they have at least some green practices in place, like LED lights, low-flow plumbing, and smart thermostats. 

That’s great news for landlords who are willing to add sustainability to their rental properties’ features. Practical green amenities equal higher rents, faster lease signings, and happier, long-term tenants. For landlords in major cities, it gives them an edge on the competition. For example, Green Residential – a Houston property management company – helps their clients add eco-friendly amenities to their rentals so they rent faster and to higher quality tenants. 

If you’re a landlord looking for ways to go green, here are the top five features to prioritize. 

1. Plug-and-play appliances

 Swapping out old lightbulbs, washers, and refrigerators for efficient models is the cheapest way to reduce your tenants’ bills. This makes premium rent a lot easier to charge. Lighting alone tends to be around 15% of a home’s electricity use, and just by using LEDs, households save around $225 per year.

ENERGY STAR appliances use around 25% less energy, and washers use 33% less water, which makes them a marketable upgrade for tenants. Where thermostats are concerned, tenants can save a lot of money on their heating and cooling costs just by having a programmable thermostat. These appliances are low-friction upgrades with tangible cost savings that will make your property more attractive. 

2. Heat pumps

 Heat pumps are quickly becoming the new default for energy efficient, electric comfort. They can cut electricity use for heating by up to 75% compared to heat generated by electric resistance. They’re up to 4.5 times more efficient than ENERGY STAR gas furnaces.  

Heat pumps can heat and cool a space, they make excellent dehumidifiers in summer, and work well with ductless installs in older buildings. When prospects get to enjoy comfort and lower bills, charging premium rent is justified.

If you haven’t already switched over to all-electric heat pumps from combustion like gas, it’s worth considering before your hand is forced. States and cities are quickly passing laws that make combustion harder to maintain.

3. EV chargers

 For tenants who own an electric vehicle, having an onsite EV charging station is a big draw. In fact, in some areas, it’s becoming an expectation rather than a convenient amenity. In California, starting in 2026, some landlords will be legally required to install EV charging stations in most new overnight parking spots. 

It’s not easy to find a place to charge an electric vehicle, and having an onsite EV charger will sweeten the deal and get you higher rent. In fact, according to a Multifamily Executive survey 58% of renters planning to buy an EV in the next five years said they’d pay more rent for onsite charging.  

EV-friendly rental listings are still pretty rare, so if you have chargers you’ll stand out in search filters and shorten the time it takes to get leases signed. 

4. Drought-resistant landscaping

 Water is easy to waste, and nothing uses more water than having to maintain a front or backyard full of plants. And you can’t just let them die – that would look awful. The solution is for landlords to install drought-resistant landscaping and smart irrigation controllers for plants that require regular watering. 

A smart irrigation system can reduce water usage by up to 40% and avoid the problem of watering the sidewalk. According to some reports, this translates to saving around 15,000 gallons of water per year per home.

5. A healthy air package (not just an HVAC system)

 Tenants don’t want literal headaches from their homes. But the average American spends 90% of the time indoors, where pollutant levels are 2-5 times outdoor levels. Upgrading your property to MERV-13 filtration, adding balanced ventilation, and using low-VOC paints and flooring is a simple way to support tenant health while justifying premium rent.

Lab tests show MERV-13 filtration can capture around 90% of PM2.5 contaminants and reduce cooking and wildfire particles. This is especially important in areas where air pollution and forest fire smoke are common.

6. Rooftop solar

Rooftop solar power can be a leasing magnet. On the right roof, a solar system can offset a meaningful chunk of electric usage to lower utility bills significantly. For tenants who prioritize green amenities, solar is at the top of the list of features they’ll pay a premium for.

Add eco-friendly features renters value

 When you “go green,” you’re actually building pricing power. By offering tenants amenities and appliances that save money while providing comfort, you’re delivering the kind of value tenants won’t hesitate to pay more for. That means shorter vacancies, faster lease signings, and higher profits.

The post 5 Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Let You Charge More Rent appeared first on Green Prophet.

As world leaders and billionaires descend on Riyadh for this year’s Future Investment Initiative — better known as “Davos in the Desert” — we wonder where the planet fairs in all this political business talk. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan has turned the kingdom into an unlikely global stage for innovation and investment, drawing over 20 heads of state, 50 ministers, and hundreds of financiers, tech executives, and policy shapers.

The post Green finance in Saudi Arabia, can “Davos in the Desert” change the planet? appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sustainability is a smart revenue strategy. Renters want green features where they live, and they’re willing to pay a premium. Some people won’t rent from an apartment building unless they have at least some green practices in place, like LED lights, low-flow plumbing, and smart thermostats. 

That’s great news for landlords who are willing to add sustainability to their rental properties’ features. Practical green amenities equal higher rents, faster lease signings, and happier, long-term tenants. For landlords in major cities, it gives them an edge on the competition. For example, Green Residential – a Houston property management company – helps their clients add eco-friendly amenities to their rentals so they rent faster and to higher quality tenants. 

If you’re a landlord looking for ways to go green, here are the top five features to prioritize. 

1. Plug-and-play appliances

 Swapping out old lightbulbs, washers, and refrigerators for efficient models is the cheapest way to reduce your tenants’ bills. This makes premium rent a lot easier to charge. Lighting alone tends to be around 15% of a home’s electricity use, and just by using LEDs, households save around $225 per year.

ENERGY STAR appliances use around 25% less energy, and washers use 33% less water, which makes them a marketable upgrade for tenants. Where thermostats are concerned, tenants can save a lot of money on their heating and cooling costs just by having a programmable thermostat. These appliances are low-friction upgrades with tangible cost savings that will make your property more attractive. 

2. Heat pumps

 Heat pumps are quickly becoming the new default for energy efficient, electric comfort. They can cut electricity use for heating by up to 75% compared to heat generated by electric resistance. They’re up to 4.5 times more efficient than ENERGY STAR gas furnaces.  

Heat pumps can heat and cool a space, they make excellent dehumidifiers in summer, and work well with ductless installs in older buildings. When prospects get to enjoy comfort and lower bills, charging premium rent is justified.

If you haven’t already switched over to all-electric heat pumps from combustion like gas, it’s worth considering before your hand is forced. States and cities are quickly passing laws that make combustion harder to maintain.

3. EV chargers

 For tenants who own an electric vehicle, having an onsite EV charging station is a big draw. In fact, in some areas, it’s becoming an expectation rather than a convenient amenity. In California, starting in 2026, some landlords will be legally required to install EV charging stations in most new overnight parking spots. 

It’s not easy to find a place to charge an electric vehicle, and having an onsite EV charger will sweeten the deal and get you higher rent. In fact, according to a Multifamily Executive survey 58% of renters planning to buy an EV in the next five years said they’d pay more rent for onsite charging.  

EV-friendly rental listings are still pretty rare, so if you have chargers you’ll stand out in search filters and shorten the time it takes to get leases signed. 

4. Drought-resistant landscaping

 Water is easy to waste, and nothing uses more water than having to maintain a front or backyard full of plants. And you can’t just let them die – that would look awful. The solution is for landlords to install drought-resistant landscaping and smart irrigation controllers for plants that require regular watering. 

A smart irrigation system can reduce water usage by up to 40% and avoid the problem of watering the sidewalk. According to some reports, this translates to saving around 15,000 gallons of water per year per home.

5. A healthy air package (not just an HVAC system)

 Tenants don’t want literal headaches from their homes. But the average American spends 90% of the time indoors, where pollutant levels are 2-5 times outdoor levels. Upgrading your property to MERV-13 filtration, adding balanced ventilation, and using low-VOC paints and flooring is a simple way to support tenant health while justifying premium rent.

Lab tests show MERV-13 filtration can capture around 90% of PM2.5 contaminants and reduce cooking and wildfire particles. This is especially important in areas where air pollution and forest fire smoke are common.

6. Rooftop solar

Rooftop solar power can be a leasing magnet. On the right roof, a solar system can offset a meaningful chunk of electric usage to lower utility bills significantly. For tenants who prioritize green amenities, solar is at the top of the list of features they’ll pay a premium for.

Add eco-friendly features renters value

 When you “go green,” you’re actually building pricing power. By offering tenants amenities and appliances that save money while providing comfort, you’re delivering the kind of value tenants won’t hesitate to pay more for. That means shorter vacancies, faster lease signings, and higher profits.

The post 5 Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Let You Charge More Rent appeared first on Green Prophet.

 When you “go green,” you’re actually building pricing power. By offering tenants amenities and appliances that save money while providing comfort, you’re delivering the kind of value tenants won’t hesitate to pay more for. That means shorter vacancies, faster lease signings, and higher profits.

The post 5 Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Let You Charge More Rent appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sustainability is a smart revenue strategy. Renters want green features where they live, and they’re willing to pay a premium. Some people won’t rent from an apartment building unless they have at least some green practices in place, like LED lights, low-flow plumbing, and smart thermostats. 

That’s great news for landlords who are willing to add sustainability to their rental properties’ features. Practical green amenities equal higher rents, faster lease signings, and happier, long-term tenants. For landlords in major cities, it gives them an edge on the competition. For example, Green Residential – a Houston property management company – helps their clients add eco-friendly amenities to their rentals so they rent faster and to higher quality tenants. 

If you’re a landlord looking for ways to go green, here are the top five features to prioritize. 

1. Plug-and-play appliances

 Swapping out old lightbulbs, washers, and refrigerators for efficient models is the cheapest way to reduce your tenants’ bills. This makes premium rent a lot easier to charge. Lighting alone tends to be around 15% of a home’s electricity use, and just by using LEDs, households save around $225 per year.

ENERGY STAR appliances use around 25% less energy, and washers use 33% less water, which makes them a marketable upgrade for tenants. Where thermostats are concerned, tenants can save a lot of money on their heating and cooling costs just by having a programmable thermostat. These appliances are low-friction upgrades with tangible cost savings that will make your property more attractive. 

2. Heat pumps

 Heat pumps are quickly becoming the new default for energy efficient, electric comfort. They can cut electricity use for heating by up to 75% compared to heat generated by electric resistance. They’re up to 4.5 times more efficient than ENERGY STAR gas furnaces.  

Heat pumps can heat and cool a space, they make excellent dehumidifiers in summer, and work well with ductless installs in older buildings. When prospects get to enjoy comfort and lower bills, charging premium rent is justified.

If you haven’t already switched over to all-electric heat pumps from combustion like gas, it’s worth considering before your hand is forced. States and cities are quickly passing laws that make combustion harder to maintain.

3. EV chargers

 For tenants who own an electric vehicle, having an onsite EV charging station is a big draw. In fact, in some areas, it’s becoming an expectation rather than a convenient amenity. In California, starting in 2026, some landlords will be legally required to install EV charging stations in most new overnight parking spots. 

It’s not easy to find a place to charge an electric vehicle, and having an onsite EV charger will sweeten the deal and get you higher rent. In fact, according to a Multifamily Executive survey 58% of renters planning to buy an EV in the next five years said they’d pay more rent for onsite charging.  

EV-friendly rental listings are still pretty rare, so if you have chargers you’ll stand out in search filters and shorten the time it takes to get leases signed. 

4. Drought-resistant landscaping

 Water is easy to waste, and nothing uses more water than having to maintain a front or backyard full of plants. And you can’t just let them die – that would look awful. The solution is for landlords to install drought-resistant landscaping and smart irrigation controllers for plants that require regular watering. 

A smart irrigation system can reduce water usage by up to 40% and avoid the problem of watering the sidewalk. According to some reports, this translates to saving around 15,000 gallons of water per year per home.

5. A healthy air package (not just an HVAC system)

 Tenants don’t want literal headaches from their homes. But the average American spends 90% of the time indoors, where pollutant levels are 2-5 times outdoor levels. Upgrading your property to MERV-13 filtration, adding balanced ventilation, and using low-VOC paints and flooring is a simple way to support tenant health while justifying premium rent.

Lab tests show MERV-13 filtration can capture around 90% of PM2.5 contaminants and reduce cooking and wildfire particles. This is especially important in areas where air pollution and forest fire smoke are common.

6. Rooftop solar

Rooftop solar power can be a leasing magnet. On the right roof, a solar system can offset a meaningful chunk of electric usage to lower utility bills significantly. For tenants who prioritize green amenities, solar is at the top of the list of features they’ll pay a premium for.

Add eco-friendly features renters value

 When you “go green,” you’re actually building pricing power. By offering tenants amenities and appliances that save money while providing comfort, you’re delivering the kind of value tenants won’t hesitate to pay more for. That means shorter vacancies, faster lease signings, and higher profits.

The post 5 Eco-Friendly Upgrades That Let You Charge More Rent appeared first on Green Prophet.

“What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz

For most of my life, I didn’t fully understand what projection was. I just knew I kept becoming the problem.

I was “too much.” Too intense. Too emotional. Thought too deeply. Spoke too plainly.

Again and again, I was blamed, misunderstood, and cast out for holding up a mirror to things no one wanted to see.

But in my forties, I began doing …

“What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.” ~Don Miguel Ruiz

For most of my life, I didn’t fully understand what projection was. I just knew I kept becoming the problem.

I was “too much.” Too intense. Too emotional. Thought too deeply. Spoke too plainly.

Again and again, I was blamed, misunderstood, and cast out for holding up a mirror to things no one wanted to see.

But in my forties, I began doing shadow work in and out of therapy. At first, I thought the shadow was the broken part. The mess to fix. The thing to hide.

But I slowly realized: the shadow is where the gold lives. It’s the part of us we disown—but it’s also the most authentic expression of who we really are.

As a little girl, I was naive and blunt in the way that children often are. I remember saying I didn’t want to share the toys I’d just received for my birthday. My stepmother called me spoiled. But I wasn’t being selfish—I was just being honest. The toys were mine.

What I didn’t understand then was that my words touched a nerve that had nothing to do with me.

I think, deep down, my stepmother felt she was always sharing my father—with his past, with his pot-smoking, drug-dealing friends—and there wasn’t much left over for anyone else. Adding me into the equation was one more person who might “take” him from her. And when I voiced a desire to keep something all to myself, it reflected something she couldn’t have: all of him.

Rather than face that pain, she projected it onto me. I became the one who was “too much,” “too selfish,” “too entitled.”

My father didn’t know—he was always gone. And I was punished, not for being bad but for mirroring what she couldn’t name in herself.

And so I learned to shrink. To share when I didn’t want to. To give more than I had. To stop being “the problem.”

But I wasn’t the problem. I was just being real. And being real in a family built on denial was dangerous.

Eventually, the truth would always find its way out—on my tongue, in my eyes, in the questions that slipped past my filter. And when it did, I paid for it. With silence. With exclusion. With shame.

Again and again, I internalized it: I talk too much. I am too much.

But the truth is—I was never the problem. I was the mirror.

I reflected what others didn’t want to see in themselves. And people hiding from themselves don’t want mirrors near them.

When someone’s identity depends on a carefully constructed mask, truth feels like a threat. And most people? They’re wearing masks.

Therapy helped me see it differently. I stopped asking, “What’s wrong with me?” And I started asking, “What if this isn’t about me at all?”

That question changed everything.

When someone’s reaction to me was intense or filled with judgment, I learned to pause. To listen more closely.

And most of the time, I realized they weren’t telling me about me. They were narrating their own wounds. Their history. Their fear. I just happened to be standing close enough to reflect it back.

Because that’s what mirrors do. They don’t distort. They reveal.

Eventually, I stopped defending myself. Stopped over-explaining. Stopped pleading to be understood by people who had already cast me in a role I didn’t choose.

I just stood still. Reflected what I saw. Sometimes I might say, “You seem really bothered by what I just said—what’s that about?” Not because I’m better. Not because I’m more evolved. But because my gift is clarity. I see and name what’s real.

I still ask for clarity—and that’s the reason for the question. But the question itself often raises awareness of that person’s own motivations, their own inner truth or knowing. Some people pause and reflect. Most don’t—or at least I don’t get to see it. And that’s okay with me.

I don’t chase belonging anymore. I don’t shrink myself to fit.

Because now I understand: this is my gift. I see clearly. I speak clearly.

My clarity doesn’t always make people comfortable. But it’s mine. And I won’t abandon it anymore.

Because I now know that when someone reacts strongly to me, it’s rarely about me at all. It’s about what my presence reflects. And I don’t need to defend against that—I just need to stay clear, stay kind, and stay me.

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