Southern California Green Real Estate Blog

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1. Well Hose me! I had no idea it would be so easy to save water.

   Comment by cosmo — February 29, 2008 #

2. Water shortages - how irrigating.

   Comment by Plumb Lucky — February 29, 2008 #

3. “Save water…shower with a friend…”

   Comment by Photovoltaic — March 30, 2008 #

4. You can hold my hose anytime.

   Comment by Mean Green Environmentally Sound Machine — April 8, 2008 #

5. If the average three-person household in California replaced its gas-powered hot water heater with an EnviroPlumbing solar hot water system, residents could save:

   155 therms of natural gas per year
   $195.30 per year (based on price of $1.26 per therm)
   1752 pounds of CO2 emissions per year

   Comment by Enviro Plumber — April 26, 2008 #

6. Refreshing.

   Comment by Your Reward — May 4, 2008 #

7. Save Water with the Right Sprinkler

   Rainmakers

   The key to a happy relationship with sprinklers is to own several. Using a select type of sprinkler for a specific area saves you water, time, and money—and helps your yard and garden thrive.

   You may need a large, pulsating sprinkler on a tripod to reach that bed of mature perennials, an oscillating sprinkler to soak the lawn, and a smaller sprinkler to water a problem corner that more ambitious sprinklers seem to miss.

   Fortunately, sprinklers are inexpensive—some sell for as little as $5 and few types sell for more than $30. Which types are right for you and your lawn?
   For tips to help you decide which sprinklers are right for your yard. http://www.gardeningclub.com/Projects/Project.aspx?id=131142

   Comment by National Home Gardening Club — May 8, 2008 #

8. Looming Water Shortage
   by Phil Brier
   Water Program Specialist

   Over the past two months we’ve had many rainstorms and we’re on track to exceed 2007’s meager 3.5 inches of precipitation, the driest year on record in the LA Basin. This ample precipitation seems like great news for our local water supply and it would be if Chevron (the company with record profi ts and smiling cartoon
   vehicles) had not leaked birth defect causing MTBE into Santa Monica’s Charnock Sub-Basin aquifer in 1995-96, rendering that vast water supply totally unusable. Since this clumsy debacle, we’ve depended almost entirely on the Colorado River for our water.

   The Colorado is over-tapped. She no longer reaches the Sea of Cortez and Southern California’s incessant urban expansion is consuming water at a rate faster than the winter Sierra Nevada snows can replenish. Also, drastic global climate changes are raising real doubts on the reliability of future snowpack levels. Currently, one third of the water we take from the Colorado comes from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an area that now has federal water diversion limits due to the endangered delta smelt and other habitat concerns. The federal limits are expected to cause higher water prices, water supply cutbacks, and water
   shortages in our region as soon as this summer.

   We must prepare for this summer’s water shortages and we should keep in mind that this problem will not disappear in September. Water shortages are not expected to go away and will likely become more frequent and severe. Every resident who cares about our fresh water supply should inspect their water consumption
   habits at home and at work and see where they could conserve. It is also important to stay abreast of current water conservation ordinances and new water saving technologies and devices.
   And last, as always, if you must hose off any paved areas, be sure to direct the water onto a permeable absorbent surface area with rocks or landscaping. Whatever gets into the streets and storm drains gets to our beach.

   Rebates on water effi cient devices: http://www.mwdsaveabuck.com
   Santa Monica’s current water conservation ordinance: http://www.smgov.net/epd/residents/Water/waste_ordinance.htm

   Comment by Phil Brier — May 8, 2008 #

9. A small drip, even five drips per minute, from a leaky home or office faucet can waste more than 250 gallons of water annually and boost water bills. The American Water Works Association’s Water Wiser Drip Calculator can help you calculate your home’s or office’s water loss.

   For more information, please visit http://www.awwa.org/awwa/waterwiser/dripcalc.cfm

   Comment by American Water Works Association — May 28, 2008 #

10. The Hillary Institute of International Leadership in New Zealand has marked its first operational year of working on Leadership in Climate Change Solutions by appointing Global Green USA President and CEO Matt Petersen as a Hillary Senior Fellow. Matt will serve as an ambassador for the Institute’s search for exceptional mid-career Leadership.

    Comment by Matt Petersen — July 7, 2008 #

11. Water Less

    * Fix leaky faucets and toilets (A small leak from a faucet can waste 50 gallons of water a day and a leaky toilet can waste 260 gallons a day.)
    * Always wash full loads of clothes and dishes. (Washing machines use 30 to 60 gallons of water for the wash cycle)
    * Install high efficiency showerheads, faucets and toilets. (High efficiency showerheads, which cost about $15, can reduce water use by 50%. Water efficient toilets use 50 to 80% less water.)
    * Water lawns and gardens in the evening or early in the morning to avoid excessive evaporation. (On average, about 35% of household water goes to tending yards)
    * Replant your yard with native wildflowers, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers.(Native plants are less-water intensive especially in arid climates)
    * Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly and carefully. (Residential use of pesticides accounts for about 8% of all pesticide applications. Urban runoff accounts for about 14% of common water pollution and just over half of that is due to residential use of fertilizers).

    Comment by Global Green — July 15, 2008 #

12. The Board of Supervisors
    unanimously approved a resolution this
    week seeking to increase water conservation
    efforts within the county, with the goal of
    achieving a significant reduction in overall
    water usage.
    The resolution declares a countywide
    Water Supply and Conservation Alert, and
    urges residents, businesses, water suppliers,
    and cities to intensify water conservation
    efforts. In addition, all county departments
    now have the directive to immediately
    implement conservation measures to
    achieve a 15 to 20 percent reduction in water
    demand.
    Santa Monica already has a water conservation
    plan in place that has reduced
    the number of gallons used by 400,000 per
    day. Santa Monicans are on track to use
    12,974,000 gallons of water this year,
    down from the 13,400,000 gallons used
    last year.

    Comment by SMDP — August 10, 2008 #

13. Special announcement for
    Santa Monica Residents
    Would you like to share what you are doing to help the environment? Are you a Santa Monica resident? If you answered yes to both questions this is for you.

    Natalie Horton, the producer of Be Green with City TV is looking for Santa Monica residents that are doing their part to help the environment.

    They are shooting the first episode this coming Monday the 9th, and need your help. So if you are composting or have you just installed solar panels or energy star appliances or any other green lifestyle changes, help inspire others. Please contact Natalie Horton ASAP.
    Email nataliejhorton@gmail.com
    Call (310) 780-8737

    Comment by Natalie Horton — February 14, 2009 #

14. Hi! I like your srticle and I would like very much to read some more information on this issue. Will you post some more?

    Comment by GarykPatton — June 15, 2009 #

15. C.A.R. Green Tip of the Week: The two-minute test
    If you aren’t sure about the flow rate of your showerhead, you can test it using a five-gallon bucket and a stopwatch. Turn the shower on full blast (hot and cold). Place a five-gallon bucket under the shower and capture all of the flow. Fill the bucket for exactly two minutes. If your showerhead uses 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) or less, the bucket will not overflow during the two-minute test. If the bucket overflows during the test, you do not have a functioning low-flow showerhead.

    Comment by C.A.R. Green Tip of the Week — July 22, 2009 #

16. #1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
    (Likely applies to half the world population)

    #2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak
    that it is mistaken for hunger.

    #3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as 3%.

    #4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs
    for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of
    Washington study.

    #5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

    #6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of
    water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain
    for up to 80% of sufferers.

    #7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term
    memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on
    the computer screen or on a printed page.

    #8.. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of
    colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast
    cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop
    bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water
    you should drink every day?

    Comment by rsumm90328 — March 2, 2010 #

17. Fast-Growing groOrganicâ„¢ Announces Franchise Opportunities Now Available throughout
    California

    January 27th 2010 - Califonia—groOrganic™ announces that franchise opportunities for
    its groOrganicâ„¢ concept of enabling environmentally conscious consumers install and
    maintain customized organic vegetable gardens and vineyards are now available in
    locations throughout the California. Their approach is by far the most convenient
    way for newcomers — who make up 21% of the 43 million homes with home gardens in
    2009 - to begin organic gardening at home. groOrganic is positioned to franchise
    throughout America in 2010, and founder, Karen Cancilla, is realizing her dream of
    cultivating healthy lifestyles by bringing organic gardens to as many people as
    possible.

    groOrganic is a family of companies committed to cultivating healthy lifestyles in
    every community they serve with their passion and dedicated team of Certified
    groOrganic Gardeners who offer their personal pledge of excellence. They believe
    there IS an economical, healthy way to eat organically and can provide that with the
    sense of self sufficiency for you and your family.

    groOrganic supports small American businesses and they proudly offer superior
    merchandise from only the best USA suppliers. Their promise is to support the local
    business community by first seeking out custom hand-built and hand-painted products
    from local contractors and artists.

    They offer a diverse gardening curriculum for adults, children, and those with
    special needs who can benefit from educational and horticultural therapy programs.

    Whether you live in a house or apartment, you can enjoy the benefits of home grown
    organic produce. Their custom-built raised planters and space-saving barrels are
    designed to give you the advantage of incorporating vegetable gardens into your
    landscape, patio, or balcony.

    Karen Cancilla, the founder of groOrganic, established her first business in 1985.
    She went on to open several more businesses before retiring from the insurance
    industry to pursue her passion and next major venture, groOrganic. Karen Cancilla,
    business woman and mother of six founded the company when she noticed a growing
    demand for fresher foods and healthier lifestyles. The companies mission is to
    enhance peoples lives through „gro-ing‟ green, fresh, and responsibly.

    The Los Angeles-based organic gardening company has a growing list of fans and
    customers, thanks in part to the “Slow Food Movement” and its devoted supporters,
    and word-of-mouth generated by people all over the country. Even Hollywood
    celebrities have generated a lot of buzz for groOrganic, many of whom enjoy their
    own groOrganic gardens and are excited about the prospect of having their very own
    organic produce in their yards. groOrganic has been featured in articles, blogs, and
    on the television shows “The Biggest Loser”, “Keeping with Kardashians”, “Tori &
    Dean, Home Sweet Hollywood”, and “Access Hollywood”.

    As a groOrganic Franchisee, you will install and maintain home organic gardens in
    backyards in your territory. This is wonderful news to those of us who wish to begin
    a healthier lifestyle and rid our families of the chemicals that are being put on
    and in our produce. In addition to the numerous health benefits, a groOrganic garden
    offers environmental and financial benefits, educational opportunities, disaster
    preparedness, and many social aspects that affect our communities in a positive way.
    We believe the groOrganic Concept can be spread through franchisees throughout the
    nation and beyond.

    More Info: To learn more about groOrganic franchise opportunities in the states of
    California, Arizona and Nevada, contact Karen Cancilla directly at 888-947-6674
    karen@groOrganic.com
    http://www.groOrganic.com

    Comment by Jennifer DeWitt — March 18, 2010 #

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