There are more ways to save our natural resources than most people can imagine. Thank goodness there are inventors like Alec Ramsey who keep imagining ways to conserve as much as possible. Ramsey’s latest idea saves water, trees and reduces waste. An act as simple as drying your hands can add to the burden on the environment. 51,000 tress are cut down daily to make paper … [Read more...]
emPower Introduces New Energy Coach
The County of San Luis Obispo emPower Home Energy Efficiency Program is pleased to introduce its new Energy Coach, Troy Spindler. Spindler brings more than 35 years of experience as a contractor in San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County. As an emPower Energy Coach, Spindler provides free home energy site visits to look for energy efficiency issues that are … [Read more...]
American Clay Plaster to the Rescue!
Why Do You Need Rescuing? By Dana Cumings O.K. So you just built that dream home ( or remodeled ) and everything looks so clean and fresh. The problem is, looks can be deceiving. It is said that the average home has about twenty-five gallons of toxic chemicals, off-gassing deadly fumes (most of which are under your sink and in your garage) and that the air quality inside … [Read more...]
State Plastic Bag Ban Goes into Effect in July 2015
To keep up with the growing number of local governments in California -- including those on the Central Coast -- Gov. Jerry Brown signed the nation's first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in September. The ban will go into effect in July 2015 in those areas that don't already have such ordinances. “This bill is a step in the right direction – it reduces the torrent … [Read more...]
What Exactly Is Permaculture? Organic Gardening 2.0
The organic food movement is sweeping the nation. Farmers markets are springing up in nearly every county nationwide. The slow food movement is bringing people together at their dinner tables to share homegrown produce. Chefs are now demanding to source their food stuffs direct from regional growers. Victory gardens are making a resurgence as people choose to become beacons of … [Read more...]
Laundry to Landscape Greywater: The Invisible Reservoir
Everyone is talking about the extreme drought in California and the harsh sanctions imposed on wasteful water users. “We are out of water,” is heard constantly. It is important to realize that this isn't the whole story. Instead of talking about the water we don't have, I'd like to talk about the thousands and thousands of gallons of water we do indeed have, but waste by not … [Read more...]
Solar Energy Casts Shadow on Nuclear Plants
Finally a Positive Reaction The Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) determined that Solar energy is finally putting nuclear power plants in its shadow, as noted in PvBuzz’s article. Albeit, a small step, solar installations increased by 32% in 2013. Consequently, five nuclear reactors in the U.S. were shut down permanently. For the first time in two decades, the U.S. is … [Read more...]