Resources

A rainwater harvesting system can be as simple as using a small home-made rain barrel or installing a large cistern or underground storage tank. Capturing rainwater at your home or business reduces the use of drinking water for irrigation, and helps reduce runoff from entering our combined sewer system during storm events. This resource from the SF Public Utiities Commission includes a link to the SF Rainwater Harvesting Manual and information about the recently expanded rainwater harvesting program.

Check out this primer on virtual net energy metering. VNM increases access to renewable energy to many homes and businesses that previously could not directly benefit from a renewable energy system, such as renters. VNM helps occupants of multi-metered residential (and commercial) buildings receive direct benefits of the building's renewable energy system, rather than all of the benefits going to the building owner. This material was prepared by SF Environment under a U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge grant managed by SolarTech.

Through the legislation AB551, LA set up the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone (UAIZ) program.  A flow-chart to the process can be found here. If there is a vacant, non residential lot in your neighborhood you may appeal to the landlord to turn it into a community agriculture project and they will receive a 70% reduction in property tax; this is a new LA county-wide incentive to encourage urban agriculture. Start a community garden in unused space and raise the sense of community in your neighborhood.

The City of Palo Alto Public Works Department offers a number of Storm Water Rebates: An underground or above-ground cistern is a large tank that holds significantly more water than a rain barrel; a cistern is usually equipped with an electric pump for connection to an automated landscape irrigation system;  rebates of 15 cents/gal up to $1,000 are available.