There are so many reasons to harvest rainwater. The obvious one is that water is more precious than ever, especially in California during drought, and rain is a freebie! The trick is to learn how to harness and store rain so you can use it as needed.
Read more…Would you like to use your fundraising experience to improve the longterm wellbeing of our environment, economy, and society in Contra Costa County? Sustainable Contra Costa has an opportunity available for a grant writer and development volunteer. S
Read more…Duration: Either Summer Only or Ongoing through 2016
Overview: This is an exciting opportunity for college students and recent graduates to gain valuable skills in the area of energy efficiency while giving back to the community through volunteer work
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…Sheet mulching is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to convert your lawn or underwhelming yard into a beautiful, nutrient-dense, no-hassle garden bed without digging up your yard. Even better? You probably already have enough to get started
Read more…Every other week, in the dead of night, wonderful people leave a cardboard box full of delights on my doorstep. For this service I can thank a farm delivery service commonly known as a CSA, or Community-Supported-Agriculture (also known as Community-
Read more…Can you imagine a BLT without mayonnaise or a hot dog without ketchup? Would salads be nearly as satisfying without that tangy vinaigrette? Our favorite condiments transform dishes from dull to delicious, from ordinary to original! When you take the
Read more…So long tomatoes and watermelon… hello brussels sprouts, apples, and acorn squash! Shop at your local Farmers’ Market to embrace the produce of the fall and winter seasons. If you need some extra motivation to say goodbye to summer fruits and vegeta
Read more…PG&E has agreed with the city of Lafayette to cut-down 272 trees, 216 of which are "protected" by city ordinance. In many cases, these are large oak trees at least a hundred years old that loom over the public and private properties of Lafayette. In
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Trying to figure out what Community Resilience Challenge pledge to make (and complete) to save energy? The perfect opportunity is coming up this month – Bike to Work Day! Not only will it build some exercise into your daily routine, it will help the
Green hillsides, full reservoirs, and flowing creeks are signs that our drought woes may be subsiding (at least for now). Yet, the glorious downpours bring up another issue: stormwater runoff. Aside from what’s collected in rain barrels or absorbed
When we hear the term "permaculture," many of us don't now what that means. There's a lot to learn, and as a movement and philosophy, permaculture is still evolving and expanding. If you'd like to understand more about permaculture, don't forget that
MCE is a Community Choice Aggregation program that provides 50-100% renewable energy as an alternative to PG&E’s electric supply. MCE determines the source and cost of the energy and PG&E continues to manage the transmission and distribution of the e
Read more…Did you know that 500 million plastic straws are used and discarded in the US every single day? That’s enough to wrap around the entire circumference of the earth 2.5 times, and is a lot of waste that can easily roll, drift, or blow into the environm
Do you have a passion for organizing, event planning and sustainability? The Events Committee is a committed group of volunteers responsible for planning and executing Sustainable Contra Costa's annual events including the prestigious Leadership in S
Read more…If you’re still undecided on a pledge for the Community Resilience Challenge, try taking a vow to transform your yard by planting native, drought-tolerant plants! Planting native species will not only decrease your home’s water use, but also encourag
Read more…Lighting typically accounts for more than one third of the energy costs of a business, yet a large number of businesses are operating with outdated lighting systems. Simply upgrading to new, energy-efficient LEDs can reduce the lighting energy needs
Read more…“Is there still a drought?” People continue to ask this question and the simple, definitive answer is “Yes.” The State Water Resources Control Board ordered a mandatory 36% drop in water usage after the state hit official drought status, and counties
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Hooray! Global Student Embassy (GSE) was chosen by 2015 Awards Gala attendees as the winner of our annual Seeds of Change Award, which comes along with a $500 check to help support new and/or current projects. We are proud of the GSE staff and stude
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