San Carlos Farmer’s Market
June 10, 2010
I just love this time of year with our wonderful “Farmer’s Markets”. I ran across these delicious strawberries, hard to resist. What a wonderful way to go.
The San Carlos FM is every Thursday evening. Please come and enjoy the market as well as the music….
Greening Your Home Room-by-Room
April 20, 2010
Making your home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly can be as easy as making simple changes to each room/area of your house, including your kitchen, laundry room, bedroom, bathroom, and landscaping. Making small alterations to these areas can add up to big savings!
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What Is A Green Home?
April 14, 2010
Although certifications are necessary to officially designate a home “green,” anyone can make their home and their lives greener. A home’s individual green features are what make it environmentally friendly or “greener.” An environmentally friendly home is a home that—compared with a standard home—uses less energy, water, and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier for its inhabitants. Homes can be built green-conscious, or they can undergo green enhancements (eco-conscious alterations or remodels) after they are created.
A home that is eco-friendly should encompass one or all of the five key green principles outlined below and should:
* Conserve natural resources
* Use energy efficiently
* Have improved indoor air quality relative to normal building standards
* Create less waste to build and live relative to normal building standards
* Be part of a livable community
The home pictured above, Coachella Valley’s first LEED®-(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified home, includes features that will result in a 75 percent water savings and a 30 percent savings on a typical electric or gas bill. Additional features: ENERGY STAR appliances; efficient glass; extra insulation; paperless drywall; solar electricity; special high-efficiency HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning); a “fresh-air exchange” system that prevents stale air from being kept inside the house; drought-friendly landscaping and regionally native plants; tank-less water heaters in the house and casita; and water-saving faucets and toilets.
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Going Green in the Laundry Room
July 6, 2009
This is the first of several topics with going green. Your laundry room is another place that can consume a great deal of energy. Here are a few ways to reduce that:
Energy-efficient washer: Typical washing machines can use as much as 40 gallons of water a load—energy-efficient washers, such as ENERGY STAR models, can use half of that.
Only wash and dry full loads: Similar to dishwashers, washers and dryers use a great deal of energy, regardless of their contents—so be energy efficient and use full loads (or adjust settings accordingly).
Clean out lint filter: Cleaning out the lint filter in the dryer after each use is an easy way to make sure your dryer is running as efficiently as possible.
Choose eco-conscious products: Look for non-chlorine-based bleach—chlorine can react with environmental organic matter which creates harmful toxins in the environment. Detergents also can contain a plethora of chemicals, so try to choose the simplest product that fits your needs—fragrances, dyes, and brighteners don’t impact how clean your clothes are, so if you can avoid them, do. Organizations that promote or sell eco-conscious products include: Green Seal and TerraPass.
Going Green in the Laundry Room
June 26, 2009
Your laundry room is another place that can consume a great deal of energy. Here are a few ways to reduce that:
Energy-efficient washer: Typical washing machines can use as much as 40 gallons of water a load—energy-efficient washers, such as ENERGY STAR models, can use half of that.
Only wash and dry full loads: Similar to dishwashers, washers and dryers use a great deal of energy, regardless of their contents—so be energy efficient and use full loads (or adjust settings accordingly).
Clean out lint filter: Cleaning out the lint filter in the dryer after each use is an easy way to make sure your dryer is running as efficiently as possible.
Choose eco-conscious products: Look for non-chlorine-based bleach—chlorine can react with environmental organic matter which creates harmful toxins in the environment. Detergents also can contain a plethora of chemicals, so try to choose the simplest product that fits your needs—fragrances, dyes, and brighteners don’t impact how clean your clothes are, so if you can avoid them, do. Organizations that promote or sell eco-conscious products include: Green Seal and TerraPass.
Earth Day in Belmont
April 20, 2009
This year, Belmont is celebrating Earth Day for an entire week! To kick things off, we’re doing a series of energizing and inspiring community improvement projects starting on Sunday, April 19 and finishing on Friday, April 24. Organize your friends and family and come join us!
Then on Saturday, April 25, get out your bicycle or walking shoes and join your neighbors at our first Earth Day festival from 10 am to 3pm at Barrett Community Center in Belmont. The festival will be fun for the whole family, with interactive activities, hands-on demonstrations, and lively presentations to help you reduce, reuse, recycle and save energy and water at home, in school and in the community.
You will discover:
• Fun, “hands-on” activities for kids and adults
• Helpful talks and interactive demonstrations
• Attendees can swap edible and ornamental plants at the “plant exchange”
• Great ideas and valuable giveaways from local green businesses and nonprofits
• Tasty organic food
Before you leave, make a pledge to “go greener” in one aspect of your life by adding your personal touch to our community commitment mural. The mural will remain on display locally for a few weeks, then we’ll pack it up and send it to President Obama.
Admission is free! Come to Barrett Community Center off Ralston Ave at 1870 Ralston Ave. Everyone is encouraged to walk, ride their bicycle, or carpool, as parking is limited. (If you ride your bike or walk from home you’ll get a special gift!) For questions contact Erica Spacher at the Belmont Parks & Recreation Department: (650) 595-7441 or espacher@belmont.gov.
San Carlos “Feed the Pail & Feed the Planet”
February 28, 2009
This is really going GREEN! I did hear of this coming, but was surprised to hear how quickly we can adopt ourselves when we need too.
San Carlos Residents in single-family homes will be able to put food scraps in their green yard trimmings cart for composting. (fruit, veges, coffee grounds, meat and bones, pizza boxes and soiled paper, paper cups and paper plates.
We will get a new green 2-gallon kitchen pail that will be delivered to our home during the week of March 2nd. This will be collected every week. Good thing, I was wondering about the raccoons that already like my garbage.
More info: www.cityofsancarlos.org, www.RethinkWaste.org, www.alliedwastesmc.com, or call Allied Waste Services of San Mateo County at 650-592-2411
Do The Green Thing
December 13, 2008
I have been running into a lot of people asking me about being GREEN! So, I decided to throw some stuff out there. There are a lot of simple, low-cost ways to improve your eco-score card. Here are some low-stress steps to take around the house to reduce your carbon footprint, create a healthier home and lower your monthly bills.
1. Bring your own bag when you go grocery shopping
2. Compost your leftovers
3. Use recycled paper
4. Turn the water off when brushing your teeth
5. Use and re-use rechargeable batteries
6. Unplug electronic devices when not in use
7. Use compact florescent lights
8. Keep your car tuned up
9. Limit car idling
10. Do your laundry after 7:00 pm; use cold water and hang dry if possible
11. Plant a tree
12. Bring your own coffee mug to your favorite coffee shop
13. Buy second hand clothes
14. Use your own newspaper to clean the windows
15. Recycle everything that the recycle bin will take
16. Buy electronics that have the Energy Star logo
17. Install low flow shower heads
18. Walk, bike or use public transportation instead of driving
19. Trip-link! Combine your errands into one trip
20. Plant a garden and grow your own vegetables
21. Don’t turn up the heat – put on more clothes
22. Put a lid on your pot when boiling water
23. Reduce your use of hazardous waste by limiting use of paints, pesticides and fertilizers
24. Purchase carbon offsets to limit your carbon footprint
25. Buy products with less packaging
And, if anyone else has more ideas, I would love to add them.
Do The Green Thing:
25 Simple Acts to Live a Greener Life
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