San Francisco residents may soon be able to buy a 100 percent green power plan, for about $9 a month more on average, under a public power program approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
Tags: · green power, green power plans, renewables, San Francisco
Looking for something to do on Oct. 10, also known as 10/10/10? Take the fight against climate change into your hands with a “global work party” on that once-in-a-lifetime date. The efforts are coordinated by 350.org, an action-oriented non-profit focused on creating solutions to global warming. The group’s name is a reference to 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide, which scientists say is the safe limit in the atmosphere for humans, the group says. Right now, we’re at 390 parts per million. Not good.
Tags: · 10/10/10, 10/10/10 global work party, 350.org, 350.org global work party, climate change event, global work party, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco
San Francisco knows how to not waste an opportunity. In case you missed the news, the Golden Gate city recently surpassed it’s goal of diverting 75 percent of its trash from the landfill by 2010. It’s already at 77 percent trash diversion by the city’s last estimation.
The side of a Recology truck makes the point that "Recycling changes everything." In San Francisco, it has dramatically changed how much trash goes to waste. (Photo: Recology)
Tags: · Fresno, Gavin Newsom, landfills, Long Beach, New York City, Portland, Recycle & Reuse, San Francisco, San Jose, trash, trash diversion, waste, zero waste
California stands ready to be the first state to ban disposable plastic bags, a move that supporters say would help staunch plastic waste on land and in the ocean.
The Bag Monster, festooned in 500 plastic bags, will ride in San Francisco next week.
Tags: · Ban the Bag, California, Los Angeles, plastic bag ban, Plastic Pollution Coalition, San Francisco
California Attorney General Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. is suing mortgage companies over their refusal to allow PACE funding for clean energy improvements on homes.
PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) money allows homeowners to finance energy efficiency projects like solar panels through their property taxes. Cities that offer the plans can sell bonds to generate the money for PACE loans, which are then attached to a homeowners’ property tax bill. The plan provides homeowners with the upfront money they need for big improvements, and allows them to stretch out their payments over 20 years, making large capital improvements like solar arrays possible.
Tags: · Attorney General Edmund Brown, California, clean energy financing, Jerry Brown, lawsuit, mortgage rules, PACE, Property Assessed Clean Energy, San Diego, San Francisco, Sonoma County
San Francisco, the city that banned plastic bags, bottled water and Styrofoam, is taking another big step down the path to sustainable urban living. In March 2011, the City of San Francisco will begin installing more than 17,000 LED street lighting fixtures, effectively replacing most city-owned street lamps.
Tags: · Anchorage, CFLs, Davies Symphony Hall, fluorescents, LED lights, LED street lights, LEDs, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, San Francisco environmental program, San Francisco green, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Seattle, street lamps, street lights
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and North Little Rock, Ark., Mayor Patrick Henry Hays have been selected to receive the 2010 Mayors’ Climate Protection Awards, a program sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Tags: · Anaheim Calif, Burlington Vt., Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago’s Climate Action Plan, Dallas, Denton Texas, Evanston Ill., Frisco Texas, Lake Oswego Ore., Lauderhill Fla., New York City, North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays, San Francisco, the U.S. Conference of Mayors
The California Public Utilities Commission today approved a Pacific Gas and Electric Company plan for a new solar photovoltaic program. Once complete, the utility company said the initiative will generate up to 500 megawatts of clean energy, enough to meet the needs of about 150,000 homes in PG&E’s Northern and Central California service area.
Tags: · California Public Utilities Commission, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, PG&E, San Francisco, solar photovoltaic program, Steve Malnight
With the 40th anniversary of Earth Day approaching, Cars.com evaluated car shopping behavior nationwide to name the most eco-friendly cities. In the site’s 3rd annual Green Cities Index, San Francisco topped the charts, beating out all other cities based on its interest in hybrid vehicles as a percentage of total car shopping activity on Cars.com.
Tags: · 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Cars.com, Greatest Hybrid Shopping Activity as a Percent of Vehic, Green Cities Index, San Francisco
The Nature Conservancy, which has worked over the years to preserve California’s 278 state parks, wants residents to visit and enjoy these resources, especially as waters warm and flowers bloom this spring and summer.
So this week, the Nature Conservancy presented its picks for the “Ocean Oscars,” highlighting some of the best public beach spots in the state. Here, by category, with descriptions written by the Nature Conservancy, are the winners:
Point Lobos Natural Reserve
Tags: · Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur, California State Parks, Eastshore State Park, Huntington State Beach, Manchester, Manchester State Park, Montana de Oro State Park, Nature Conservancy, Orange County, Point Lobos State Reserve, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Tomales Bay State Park, Will Rogers State Beach
From Green Right Now Reports
Thousands of events will commemorate this 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. In the U.S., many gatherings will focus on making environmental progress by cleaning up a wildlife area or prepping a community garden. Some cities will host festivals, with info booths and giveaways, live music and food.
In Washington D.C., a rally on the National Mall on April 25 aims to show broad support for climate legislation, which has been stalled in the Senate. Speakers will include the Reverend Jesse Jackson; film director James Cameron; AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong; producer Trudie Styler; author Margaret Atwood and others. Performers will include Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Passion Pit, Bob Weir, Patrick Stump, Mavis Staples, Q-Tip, Booker T and others
Tags: · Austin, Berkeley, Boulder, Chicago, Denver, Earth Day at the National Mall, Earth Day events, Houston, James Cameron, Jesse Jackson, John Legend, LA Earth Day, Los Angeles, Margaret Atwood, New York City, New York City Earth Day, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Earth Day, San Francisco, Sting, Washington D.C. Earth Day, Washington D.C. Earth Day Rally
From Green Right Now Reports
Ode magazine, known as the “international magazine for intelligent optimists” has received an award from the Earth Society Foundation, which encourages peaceful care of the Earth.
The magazine, based dually in San Francisco and Rotterdam, covers global politics, clean tech, spirituality and solutions to world problems.
Tags: · Earth Society Foundation, Helene de Puy, Ode magazine, San Francisco
Barbara Kessler
Andrew Winston
Danielle Nierenberg
Anthony Swift