Doug King in San Jose
@dekgreen.bsky.social
Green building professional. Also post on: affordable housing, sustainability, urban development, NBA, downtown San Jose, and interesting science content.
If you're a real person around the Bay, I'll prob follow back.
#LEED #CMU #EPP #YIMBY #DTSJ
If you're a real person around the Bay, I'll prob follow back.
#LEED #CMU #EPP #YIMBY #DTSJ
What?! This historical marvel? This gem of the city? How dare you.
December 2, 2025 at 6:08 PM
What?! This historical marvel? This gem of the city? How dare you.
Gonna keep hyping heated mattress pads for comfort and #energy savings.
Last night I used a smart plug to measure energy use. Heating my side of the bed for one night used 0.030 kWh. My wife’s side was roughly the same.
The house thermostat was set to 55 degrees and we were toasty all night.
Last night I used a smart plug to measure energy use. Heating my side of the bed for one night used 0.030 kWh. My wife’s side was roughly the same.
The house thermostat was set to 55 degrees and we were toasty all night.
November 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Gonna keep hyping heated mattress pads for comfort and #energy savings.
Last night I used a smart plug to measure energy use. Heating my side of the bed for one night used 0.030 kWh. My wife’s side was roughly the same.
The house thermostat was set to 55 degrees and we were toasty all night.
Last night I used a smart plug to measure energy use. Heating my side of the bed for one night used 0.030 kWh. My wife’s side was roughly the same.
The house thermostat was set to 55 degrees and we were toasty all night.
Another holiday gift for the 10+ kids in your life: the #boardgame Dorf Romantik.
I *love* this game. It's easy to learn but ramps up, it's cooperative, beautiful, and has a reasonable play time (<1 hr). It's also incredibly re-playable, with a brilliant campaign mode.
I *love* this game. It's easy to learn but ramps up, it's cooperative, beautiful, and has a reasonable play time (<1 hr). It's also incredibly re-playable, with a brilliant campaign mode.
November 29, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Another holiday gift for the 10+ kids in your life: the #boardgame Dorf Romantik.
I *love* this game. It's easy to learn but ramps up, it's cooperative, beautiful, and has a reasonable play time (<1 hr). It's also incredibly re-playable, with a brilliant campaign mode.
I *love* this game. It's easy to learn but ramps up, it's cooperative, beautiful, and has a reasonable play time (<1 hr). It's also incredibly re-playable, with a brilliant campaign mode.
Dumpling PSA: there’s buy one, get one 50% off on dumplings at MeiMei on the Paseo (between 3rd and 4th) in San Jose. Deal ends today.
#dtsj
#dtsj
November 28, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Dumpling PSA: there’s buy one, get one 50% off on dumplings at MeiMei on the Paseo (between 3rd and 4th) in San Jose. Deal ends today.
#dtsj
#dtsj
Another #gift recommendation for kids 10+: Roker wood sets. Kinda like a less-expensive Lego set but without all the plastic.
This one was apparently tricky but my son enjoyed making it, and the clock and cuckoo actually work.
This one was apparently tricky but my son enjoyed making it, and the clock and cuckoo actually work.
November 27, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Another #gift recommendation for kids 10+: Roker wood sets. Kinda like a less-expensive Lego set but without all the plastic.
This one was apparently tricky but my son enjoyed making it, and the clock and cuckoo actually work.
This one was apparently tricky but my son enjoyed making it, and the clock and cuckoo actually work.
Here’s the best cranberry relish recipe I’ve ever had. You should try it because it’s easy and much more delicious than the usual cranberry glob
November 27, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Here’s the best cranberry relish recipe I’ve ever had. You should try it because it’s easy and much more delicious than the usual cranberry glob
Have kids 10+ years old and looking for a good gift? I heartily recommend the book What If? by Randall Munroe
@xkcd.com
My 13-yr-old has been re-reading it and he likes to share the weird insights from the book. I also often hear him cackling while reading.
@xkcd.com
My 13-yr-old has been re-reading it and he likes to share the weird insights from the book. I also often hear him cackling while reading.
November 25, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Have kids 10+ years old and looking for a good gift? I heartily recommend the book What If? by Randall Munroe
@xkcd.com
My 13-yr-old has been re-reading it and he likes to share the weird insights from the book. I also often hear him cackling while reading.
@xkcd.com
My 13-yr-old has been re-reading it and he likes to share the weird insights from the book. I also often hear him cackling while reading.
Almost all northern CA is radon zone 2, which is not high risk, so it's not treated as a high priority. I'm not familiar with anyone that's done testing in San Jose, so not sure if there may be hotspots.
Lots of older SJ homes are leaky and also have ventilated crawlspaces, which eliminates risk.
Lots of older SJ homes are leaky and also have ventilated crawlspaces, which eliminates risk.
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Almost all northern CA is radon zone 2, which is not high risk, so it's not treated as a high priority. I'm not familiar with anyone that's done testing in San Jose, so not sure if there may be hotspots.
Lots of older SJ homes are leaky and also have ventilated crawlspaces, which eliminates risk.
Lots of older SJ homes are leaky and also have ventilated crawlspaces, which eliminates risk.
Radon is a chemical element, an odorless but radioactive gas. It’s caused by decay of uranium in soils. It’s heavier than air but does naturally leak out of the ground, and can come up through even very small cracks in your foundation and settle in your home. (2/11)
November 24, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Radon is a chemical element, an odorless but radioactive gas. It’s caused by decay of uranium in soils. It’s heavier than air but does naturally leak out of the ground, and can come up through even very small cracks in your foundation and settle in your home. (2/11)
We were curious about housing availability in/near downtown Boise.
This is from Redfin, all 2 br, 1000+ sqft homes.
Some folks may not believe that more housing = lower prices, but they surely would concede that with this many homes for sale some of the prices are gonna come down.
This is from Redfin, all 2 br, 1000+ sqft homes.
Some folks may not believe that more housing = lower prices, but they surely would concede that with this many homes for sale some of the prices are gonna come down.
November 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
We were curious about housing availability in/near downtown Boise.
This is from Redfin, all 2 br, 1000+ sqft homes.
Some folks may not believe that more housing = lower prices, but they surely would concede that with this many homes for sale some of the prices are gonna come down.
This is from Redfin, all 2 br, 1000+ sqft homes.
Some folks may not believe that more housing = lower prices, but they surely would concede that with this many homes for sale some of the prices are gonna come down.
Maybe we’re not *such* a bad country. I mean, we have our moments.
November 22, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Maybe we’re not *such* a bad country. I mean, we have our moments.
There are a lot of green product labels out there. I figured I'd share some that have credibility among green building professionals.
I'll start with GreenGuard Gold, which is a common certification for paints & coatings. It sets limits on VOC emissions & relies on best-practice test methods. #IAQ
I'll start with GreenGuard Gold, which is a common certification for paints & coatings. It sets limits on VOC emissions & relies on best-practice test methods. #IAQ
November 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
There are a lot of green product labels out there. I figured I'd share some that have credibility among green building professionals.
I'll start with GreenGuard Gold, which is a common certification for paints & coatings. It sets limits on VOC emissions & relies on best-practice test methods. #IAQ
I'll start with GreenGuard Gold, which is a common certification for paints & coatings. It sets limits on VOC emissions & relies on best-practice test methods. #IAQ
This is your friendly reminder to change the air filter in your HVAC system. Ideally the filter should be MERV-10 or higher and must completely fill the housing.
Top: old filter
Bottom: new filter
#IAQ
Top: old filter
Bottom: new filter
#IAQ
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
This is your friendly reminder to change the air filter in your HVAC system. Ideally the filter should be MERV-10 or higher and must completely fill the housing.
Top: old filter
Bottom: new filter
#IAQ
Top: old filter
Bottom: new filter
#IAQ
San Jose State has set up something they call a StoryWalk, with posters around campus w excerpts from their Book of the Year.
Inspired idea to seed student interest in literature.
#SJSU
Inspired idea to seed student interest in literature.
#SJSU
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
San Jose State has set up something they call a StoryWalk, with posters around campus w excerpts from their Book of the Year.
Inspired idea to seed student interest in literature.
#SJSU
Inspired idea to seed student interest in literature.
#SJSU
This reminded me of the famous Duke Zion photo. I showed it to my son and shared stories and it made me sad.
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
This reminded me of the famous Duke Zion photo. I showed it to my son and shared stories and it made me sad.
Guy in HMB saw my shirt and said “what!? There’s a pinball museum in Alameda?!”
I’m pleased to spread the joy.
I’m pleased to spread the joy.
November 9, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Guy in HMB saw my shirt and said “what!? There’s a pinball museum in Alameda?!”
I’m pleased to spread the joy.
I’m pleased to spread the joy.
Republicans really have a type.
Remind me again… how did that regime change go last time?
Remind me again… how did that regime change go last time?
November 7, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Republicans really have a type.
Remind me again… how did that regime change go last time?
Remind me again… how did that regime change go last time?
Happy halloween!
October 31, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Happy halloween!
Tony & Alba's Pizza (on Steven's Creek, near Valley Fair) is stepping up to feed kids who might otherwise go without due to lack of SNAP funding.
October 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Tony & Alba's Pizza (on Steven's Creek, near Valley Fair) is stepping up to feed kids who might otherwise go without due to lack of SNAP funding.
October 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Today's Halloween movie rec: Mr. Vampire (1985). This is (I think) the original Hong Kong hopping vampire (jiangshi) movie. More comedy than scary movie, and a deserving cult classic. I love it because the world is better off with more and varied monsters and jiangshi delivers.
October 23, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Today's Halloween movie rec: Mr. Vampire (1985). This is (I think) the original Hong Kong hopping vampire (jiangshi) movie. More comedy than scary movie, and a deserving cult classic. I love it because the world is better off with more and varied monsters and jiangshi delivers.
Today’s Halloween movie rec: Us (2019). A lot has been made of Jordan Peele's films serving as allegory / racial commentary, but they work as straight-up excellent horror movies. The premise of Us is creepy as hell and the execution is masterful. Just look at that movie poster.
October 22, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Today’s Halloween movie rec: Us (2019). A lot has been made of Jordan Peele's films serving as allegory / racial commentary, but they work as straight-up excellent horror movies. The premise of Us is creepy as hell and the execution is masterful. Just look at that movie poster.
My favorite PSA ever
October 22, 2025 at 3:28 PM
My favorite PSA ever