Archive of posts filed under the Sustainability category.
Native Gardens Save Water and Offer Many Benefits
California just got some relieve from four year of drought with an almost normal rainy season. However we are not out of the woods yet. Water conservation is still on every body’s mind. Many people have told me that they use a bucket to catch the cold water from the shower instead of letting it […]
Planning A Landscape With Drought Tolerant Plants
I have always wanted to redo my own landscape using California native plants and to reduce water usage. The recent 4-year drought here made me look harder into what type of plants to use. Very low watering need is most critical. I also want to avoid using chemical fertilizer, pesticide and herbicide. For an aesthetic […]
New Eco-Friendly Products For Green Homes
I went to several conferences and seminars in the last couple of months. I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are more and more eco-friendly, health and efficiency oriented products on display for green homes. Many of the products are already available on the market, and some are still under development. I like to […]
Safer Sofa Foam Exchange Announced for Bay Area
You may have heard about the problem with flame retardants in polyurethane furniture foams. If you haven’t, I highly recommend reading the Chicago Tribune’s exposé on the flame retardant industry: Playing With Fire. The California flammability standard, known as TB117, in effect required manufacturers to use toxic flame retardant chemicals in polyurethane furniture foams. For […]
Fighting Drought With Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting means capturing and storing rainwater for later use. It should be a consideration of every homeowner, as clean water resources are becoming more and more precious. Many areas have already been drought stricken for several years with continued expectation of rain scarcity. In the western states where the rainy season is approaching, this […]
Saving Water by Sheet Mulching
With the severe drought we have this year, water conservation is in everybody’s mind. Outdoor water accounts for 60% of residential usage. Reducing landscape watering can make significant impact. A couple of weeks ago I volunteered at a Lawn to Garden Party in Livermore, organized by StopWaste of Alameda County. The activities were led by […]
Finding Environmentally Safe Building Materials
Have you been trying to find environmentally safe and sustainable building materials for your project? In March 2014, the Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR) group held a Better Envelope Solutions Showcase in San Francisco to help you find some of these materials. Their goal was to exhibit insulation and weatherization materials and products that provide […]
The Green Countertop Dilemma – Resolved!
About a year ago, I finally did the deed: tackled the partial kitchen remodel that had been a twinkle in my eye for nigh-on 25 years. It was partial because of resource constraints – I didn’t want to spend a ton of money and I also didn’t want to waste a lot of basically sound […]