Water will be an essential and stressed resource in California, the West, and in any hot, dry climate far into the future. Politics and economic forces are at play regarding water and other natural resources. Besides advocating for local, state, nati
Water is Valuable
This winter’s rain and snow have boosted California’s water supply, at least for now. But given our state’s history of volatile weather patterns, fluctuating from heavy rains to severe drought, water resilience and sustainability is
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California’s recent rainstorms
From December 26 to January 17, the Bay Area and entire state of California have seen massive rains from 9 atmospheric rivers. These storms have resulted in at least 20 deaths, 30K+ evacuations, and cause
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The average U.S. household uses 300 gallons of water daily, with about 30% going to lawns and gardens. In hot, dry areas like the Bay Area, the percentage of household water that is used outdoors is well over 50%. This varies widely by region and ty
Ask a home performance professional what energy measures you should take to maximize comfort and efficiency, and you will probably hear, “It depends.” It depends on the characteristics of the house, the behavior of the people inside it, and, of cours
Swimming pools use a fairly high amount of water and energy. So if you are thinking of installing a pool, you might consider joining a community pool instead. If you already have a pool, you can enjoy it and still claim bragging rights for a sustaina
On September 23 of this year, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 24 bills dedicating $15 billion to meeting the current and future challenges of Global Climate Change in California. That’s scary; that much legislation all at the same time. Imagi
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
Okay, so we now know that plastics are suboptimal, at best. They contain toxics, are not easily recyclable, do not degrade and are an increasing pollutant in our waters and soils.
Now the good news. As awareness of the harms created by plastics contin
Read more…By converting your lawn into a garden, you’ll save water and can create a beautiful habitat. Plus, there are rebate programs available to help with the process! Most lawn rebate programs require an application before starting the lawn conversion pro
Read more…Have you ever thought about your water usage when doing laundry? Older agitator top-loading washing machines use over 40 gallons of water on an average size load of laundry. Wouldn’t it be great if you could divert that water directly to your outdoor
Read more…You did it! We are inspired and awed by our community for rising to the Community Resilience Challenge East Bay this May with 9,415 actions to save water and energy, reduce waste and pollution, and build community! This year’s challenge has resulted
Read more…California’s mandatory drought restrictions have been lifted, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to stop water conservation efforts. According to the State Water Board, approximately 60% of California still remains in a severe drought. Continuing conse
Come to our Hands-on Rainwater Harvesting Workshop on December 12th!
Save water by capturing the rain that falls on your own roof! Participants will learn by installing a rain barrel system in a Walnut Creek backyard. You'll get info about sizing you
Read more…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
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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
The County IPM Advisory Committee will be voting next week, Oct 13th as to whether or not they should include another member from an "environmental organization." The meeting will be held at 2366 A Stanwell Circle, Concord, from 10-noon, Wednesday.
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