Our Seeds of Change Award is back again this year! Last year at Sustainable Contra Costa’s Sixth Annual Leadership in Sustainability and Green Building Awards Gala, a number of teams and individuals were nominated to receive recognition for their ha
Read more…Although water conservation has been a hot topic this summer, it’s also important to look
at home energy use and conservation. With sizzling days and foggy nights, Contra Costa’s
summer weather can quickly take a toll on your energy bill. As hard as
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Are you looking for ways to save money and reduce your carbon footprint? Are you ready to take on a project that will have a big impact? Then solar power may be just what you’re looking for! The steep cost of solar power can be daunting, but as the
Sustainable Contra Costa recently hosted a Laundry to Landscape – Greywater Installation workshop at a private home in Antioch. SCOCO contracted with Greywater Action, a collaborative of educators who teach residents and tradespeople about affordable
Read more…by Francesca Cervantes, Community Sustainability Advisor
“Necessity is the mother of invention.” “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” These wise proverbs remind us that creative solutions often grow from difficult circumstances. As we move further
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The hottest months of the year are upon us! With recent increases on water costs due to the severity of the drought, every little drop you save counts. While there are larger water-saving projects you can take on this summer, such as setting up rai
Read more…The drought situation in California is at the forefront of many minds – snowpack levels are at record lows, you’ve probably seen pictures of greatly diminished reservoirs, and if you haven’t got a brown lawn yourself, at least someone on your block d
July's Action of the Month: Know Your Home Water Use
All this talk about drought and water conservation can often feel abstract. Suggestions include taking shorter showers, not washing your car, and so on. But if you really want to cut back on water
Read more…Summer officially begins this month on the 21st, and many of us will be traveling this season. Although vacations are relaxing, traveling itself can be a bit stressful - especially if you’re waste-conscious. As I’ve attempted to go zero waste these p
Read more…Did you pledge to grow food, save water, conserve energy, reduce your waste, or build community during the month of May? June has arrived, and the 2015 Community Resilience Challenge has come to a successful close. Our passionate and dedicated team i
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By now you may have heard of Bea Johnson, the author of the bestselling book Zero Waste Home. She and her family of four have been living a zero-waste lifestyle since 2008, only producing one jar of trash each year. Bea Johnson’s blog explores wast
Read more…For this year's Community Resilience Challenge, there are many different ways you can commit to conserving energy. If you've already read Kerry's article, "Conserve Energy: Complete a Home Energy Audit" and want to know more about getting a home ener
Read more…Kick the chemicals out of your backyard shed and go organic! Making the switch to organic gardening is one of the many pledges you can make for this year’s Community Resilience Challenge, so we want to help you get started. If you’re new to the trade
Read more…Does it make you cringe to see a piece of trash tumbling down the street or floating in a creek? Do you wish there was something you could do about it? One way you can help reduce waste in your community is by participating in a local cleanup event
If you’re considering taking action to reduce your energy use, a great starting point is with a home energy audit. Though a professional will be able to provide a more thorough energy audit, there are resources available to homeowners to complete an
While many local schools have clubs or programs that celebrate the earth year-round, we wanted to highlight some of the thoughtful and exciting events planned around this year’s Earth Day (April 22nd). From Fair Oaks Elementary School’s Family Garde
