The Great Pacific Garbage Patch might as well be considered another Wonder of the World , what with its 1.6 million square kilometers of trash--twice the size of the state of Texas--swirling in the ocean with no signs of becoming any smaller. 1.8 tri
Refrigerants play a vital role in our lives. They keep us cool, prevent food from spoiling, maintain the potency of vaccines and insulin, and so much more. Unfortunately, refrigerators and air conditioners use a lot of energy and contain harmful chem
Read more…Have you heard about “used” water? With drought looming this summer, this is something you should know. Let's begin with recycled water, sometimes called reclaimed or non-potable water, which has been treated to make it suitable for landscaping and g
Spring is in the air! What better way to enjoy the warmer weather than to stroll through your local farmers' market? This month, we're especially excited about cherries, peas and asparagus in season. Here are 4 reasons we love our farmers' markets:
Coyotes are native to California and found in habitats throughout the state all year long. These omnivores feed on a varied diet that includes fruits, berries, insects, mice, voles, birds, amphibians, reptiles, young deer, and even domestic livestock
Scientists measure the effect of carbon emissions by their global warming potential (GWP), which is based on the amount of heat the gas can absorb in the atmosphere. In a sense, the higher the GWP, the higher the “R-value” of the atmosphere. In a bui
As our second pandemic Earth Day quickly approaches, there is much uncertainty as the world slowly but surely returns to pre-pandemic “normal.” Global CO2 emissions have already rebounded above pre-pandemic levels. While Earth Day in 2020 acknowled
Read more…Did you know that April 15 is National Laundry Day? It’s unclear what we’re celebrating because laundry requires a lot of water and energy, but there are several habits that make this necessary task more sustainable. Here are some suggestions, from s
You may have a room that is already heated by an inefficient electric-resistance heater (often built into a wall), which you would like to upgrade. Or a room that is now heated by a fossil-fuel heater (perhaps a natural gas burning wall furnace), and
The California Energy Commission estimates that California uses approximately 20% of its total energy on moving, treating, and heating water. Due to drought and the increasing demand for water for agriculture, domestic and commerical use, our aquife
Read more…
A satellite photo of the earth at night provides a colorful indication of where cities and towns are located. The east and west coasts of the United States are lit up like a swarm of fireflies, along with the big cities of Europe and elsewhere. Th
Read more…
It’s not unusual to talk about being sexually responsible when it pertains to birth control or preventing sexually transmitted infections, but what about when it’s good for you, your partner, AND the planet? According to Hank Green, a blogger at Ec
Did you go through a closet purge or decluttering frenzy to start the new year? Most of us have dropped off bags of clothing culled from our closets over the years to the local Goodwill or Salvation Army and felt pretty good about giving our clothes
Read more…
For many, balloons are associated with celebrations and remembrances. They’re eye catching, festive and often brightly colored. If you think about it, they are a relatively low maintenance decoration, and are more decorative than interactive; that
Read more…
by Abigail Stofer
February's Action of the Month from SCOCO's youth team, Sustainable Leaders in Action is “Turn Stuff Off!” This action is super simple and an efficient way to save money!
The first aspect of this is to turn off lights whenever you
Read more…Let’s explore some popular items associated with love, romance, and sex and see just how sustainable they are!
OYSTERS
Oysters, a well-known aphrodisiac, may be more environmentally friendly than previously thought. Oysters filter up to 50 gallons of
Read more…