| Action | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing Paved Surfaces on Your Property | Palo Alto -- Permeable Paving Rebates |
Standard paving materials (such as concrete and asphalt) used for driveways, patios, walkways, and parking lots prevent water from being absorbed in the ground. Thus, the water that falls on these materials becomes runoff that can cause flooding and pollute the Bay. Rebates are available for installing permeable paving materials. Rebates of $1.50 per square foot, up to $1,000 are available. |
| Preparing Several Days' Food Stores * | LA - CERT |
CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) provides intensive in-person training on several issues, including Personal & Family Preparation. Here, you can learn the specifics regarding recommended food storage. |
| Energy-Efficient Driving | Palo Alto - Library - Fuel-Efficient Driver Privileges |
Carpool Vehicle parking and Electric Charging Stations are available at the Mitchell Park and Rinconada Libraries in Palo Alto. |
| Getting Cars to Slow Down | LA - Traffic Safety Tool Kit |
See section on ‘Effective Ways to Reduce Speeding in Residential Neighborhoods’ where you can find contact information on where you may request signs and speed bumps for your street. |
| Participating in Community-Supported Agriculture as a Block | LA - South Central Farmers Cooperative |
Vegetable boxes from South Central Farmers Cooperative are sold on a sliding scale of prices based on ability to pay. This CSA has pick up locations throughout LA. |
| Planting Trees | LA - Koreatown Youth + Community Center |
We provide training and resources for residents to beautify their neighborhood, to increase open space for families and to grow tree-lined streets in Koreatown. Environmental Services provides fee-based services–such as landscaping, pressure washing, irrigation and native habitat plantings–to local businesses, schools and community groups. |
| Reducing Your Household Waste | SF - Urban Ore |
This San Francisco Bay Area business is dedicated to promoting reuse and recycling to reduce materials sent to landfill. |
| Washing and Drying Clothes Efficiently | SF - High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate |
The SF-PUC and PG&E are offering a streamlined rebate process to customers who purchase high-efficiency clothes washers. Applicants can receive a combined water and energy rebate for the purchase of a qualifying clothes washer. Energy Star Most Efficient (ESME) models qualify for a combined rebate of up to $150. |
| Finding and Fixing Water Leaks in Your Home | SF – Water-Wise Evaluation |
Participate in SF Public Utility Commission's free Water-Wise Evaluations and receive a site visit from a water efficiency specialist tailored to meet each property’s individual water-efficiency needs. For more info or to schedule an appointment contact the SF PUC’s Water Conservation Section (415) 551-4730. |
| Helping Property Managers and Boards Adopt Water Stewardship Practices | HUD - Retrofitting Apartment Buildings to Conserve Water |
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published this water conservation guide for managers, engineers and contractors. Use this guide to teach your property management company about the steps necessary for good water stewardship practices. With a greywater system you will be able to save water in your building and water the surrounding garden with drained water from kitchen sinks. See also Greywater Action which holds workshops in various locations in California.
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Our neighborhood. Our planet.
Resources
“Cities are the platform for change in our world today. The Cool Block links the challenges facing our planet to the intimate, personal, social scale of the city block. This program starts and ends with the premise and promise—that the individual, household, and neighbors are the way forward in the face of seemingly insoluble global problems.”
