My Green Sonoma - For a Healthier Lifestyle and More Sustainable World

Be Proud Sonoma County!  Our Governmental Agencies are proactive leaders in the areas of conservation, environment, and green building and in many cases are acting as role models for the other similar programs nationwide.

Sonoma County and all of its cities have made a major commitment to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in a worldwide effort led by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - ICLEI.  Cornell University researcher Bogdan Vasi noted that Sonoma County is in the midst of making history with its climate protection activities. For additional information about the progress of the GHG Inventory for Sebastopol and the other Cities and County, visit www.skymetrics.us.

The County's Business Environmental Alliance (BEA), established in 1995, is charged with implementing an integrated program of voluntary responsible environmental practices by local business. The BEA is one of the first initiatives of its kind. This business-driven community partnership, coordinated by the Sonoma County Economic Development Board, centers on the use of business-to-business communication to promote voluntary responsible environmental practices as a means toward economic profitability.  http://www.sonoma-county.org/bea/index.htm 

Cotati:  Cotati is proud of its trend toward mixed use development and "Green Building." They envision continuing a leadership role in Green Building with our future Rail Station and Walkable designs.  For more information about their sustainable building program send an email to: sustainablebuildingprogram@ci.cotati.ca.us

Santa Rosa:  "The Environmental Projects team is helping the City reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and  helping facilitate the reduction of community-wide GHG emissions. The City's objective to reduce its emissions is being accomplished by encouraging the use of renewable energy through implementing solar, biomass, wind,  and alternative fuels into their every day operations.

As well as encouraging the use of renewable energy the City has reduced its energy demands and water consumption  through various conservation projects. beneficial reuse of recycled wastewater and biosolids. The City is also in the process of educating staff about Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, and encouraging  municipalities and residents to build green."

For more information, visit the following pages:  http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=2226 and http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=2012.

Sebastopol:  Who's the greenest city of all?  I'd say Sebastopol is a leading contender for that title.  Here's what they have going on:

The City of Sebastopol is dedicated to the enhancement and protection of the immediate and long-term wellbeing of the City, its citizens, and its natural environment. Sebastopol, while a very small City, is at the forefront of nation-wide efforts to implement new technologies and address critical environmental policy issues, which take on particular urgency in light of serious global environmental concerns. http://www.ci.sebastopol.ca.us/sustainablesebastopol.shtml

"Adopted a mandatory sustainable building criteria based on the County of Sonoma Waste Management Agency Green Building Guidelines. The program is for new residential, commercial and commercial remodels 1800 square feet and larger. A total of a minimum 60 overall points in the rating system with 15 points minimum in Indoor Air Quality, Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficiency categories is required to receive a certificate of occupancy."

Windsor:  The Town of Windsor has adopted a voluntary Green Building program. For more information go to:  http://www.ci.windsor.ca.us/3074.html

I chose the Civic GX NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) over the Prius.  Its more money for a much less luxurious car but the savings on fuel (for someone that drives as much as I do) makes it come out to about the same price.  IF gasoline prices go up, I win, if they go down I lose.

Beyond the financial consideration, I really like:

• the fact that it uses natural gas fuel reducing my dependence on gasoline and reducing carbon emissions
• the convenience of refueling overnight in my own home
• safety considerations of front, rear, and side air bags and active head restraints
• I like the style a bit more...and they just happened to have my favorite color (guess!).

The biggest drawbacks of the vehicle are:

• a REALLY small trunk - forget about Costco Runs, or storing Open House signs in the trunk!
• a small gas tank (8 gallons)
• the limited number of refueling stations for longer trips.  Its really only practical if you plan on driving it locally or plan your routes based on access to fueling sites.
• no frills...this is a basic Civic with none of the fun stuff, but maybe that makes it a safer vehicle and me a safer driver (maybe).

On Demand Hot Water Circulation Pumps move hot water from the water heater to most remote fixtures in seconds significantly reducing water wasted by waiting for hot water to arrive.

 They are easy to install, generally do not require plumping modifications, reduce wear and tear on your water heater and return their investment quickly by lowering water and energy bills.  For more information go to www.GotHotWater.com .

www.StopWaste.org is a great resource for landscaping ideas that minimize consumption of fossil fuels, reduce burdens on landfills, save water, improves soil and air quality & more...

Using landscaping materials that are local and avoid planting invasives at all costs. (www.cal-ipc.org)

Nurturing the Soil by protecting it from erosion, using organic compost, mulching to enrich the soil, and avoiding synthetic fertilizers.

Conserving Water by minimizing lawn space and selecting water conserving plants

Conserving Energy by moderating temperatures with vegetation, reducing the heat island effect, and careful lighting designs.

Protecting Air & Water Quality by keeping in mind that what you put in the earth may eventually wind up in watersheds, and adopting Integrated/sustainable Pest Management Practices http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ipm.htm

Creating/Protecting Wildlife Habitats by choosing native plans, providing water and shelter for animals, conserving or restoring natural areas and wildlife corridors.

Take advantage of some nice rebates available on water saving devices throughout Sonoma County.  Here's a list!

Smart Controller Rebates:

• North Marin Water District

• City of Petaluma

• City of Rohnert Park

• City of Sonoma

Santa Rosa  also has a Green Exchange Program that provides rebates for removing turf and installing water conserving irrigation hardware.  http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/default.aspx?PageId=2308

High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Participating Water Providers:

Forestville Water District (707) 887-1551

North Marin Water District (415) 897-4133 ext. 8421

City of Petaluma (707) 778-4507

City of Rohnert Park (707) 547-1906

City of Santa Rosa (707) 543-3985

City of Sonoma (707) 547-1968

Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (707) 547-1968

Town of Windsor (707) 838-5357

Valley of the Moon Water District (707) 547-1968

High Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebates:

City of Cotati

Forestville Water District

North Marin Water District

City of Petaluma

City of Rohnert Park

City of Santa Rosa

City of Sonoma

Valley of the Moon Water District

Town of Windsor has a $75 high-efficiency clothes washer rebate program.  Program information is available here.

California American Water – Larkfield has a $150 high-efficiency clothes washer rebate program.  Program information is available here.

For more information about these rebates go to:

http://www.scwa.ca.gov/water_conservation/rebates/

Also check the PG&E website for Rebates on Water Conserving Clothes Washers and Dishwashers.  http://www.pge.com/res/rebates/

Low flow shower heads and faucet aerators can save as much as 50% of the water consumed by your household.  They are inexpensive, readily available and easy to install.

 To check if you already have low flow fixtures installed do the following:

Place a 2 qt saucepan in the middle of the shower.  Turn the water on full and count how many seconds it takes to fill.  If it fills in less than 12 seconds you could use a low flow shower head.

For faucets, simply look on the side of the aerator.  If its low flow it will provide a flow rate and should be 2.75 gpm (gallons per minute) or less. 

Garages can contain airborne toxins that can be drawn into the household air supply, therefore, Its important to seal walls and openings between the house and garage.

Some items to consider:

• Sill plate, wall edges, penetrations, seams
• A spray foam covering the entire wall
• weatherstripping all doors and thresholds
• installing passive open or power vents

Monitor air pressure differences between the house and the garage so that airborne toxins cannot be unintentionally pulled into the home.

Also keep in mind the distance from and exposure to garage toxins for toys, bikes and other active life items may experience as a result of sharing the same space...and keep poisons and toxins out of reach of children.

Consult with a local HVAC and/or Air Quality expert to ensure you make the right decisions about how to protect yourself and your family from toxins stored in the garage.

American Lung Association
Website: Air Quality Information

Indoor Air Quality Association
Website: www.iaqa.org

The Inside Story to Indoor Air Quality
Website: Consumer Product Safety Commission and EPA Information

Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Website: Air Quality Information

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Website: Lead Hazard Control Information

U.S. Department of Energy Building America Program
Website: Indoor Air Quality Research and Development Information

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Website: Indoor Air Quality Information

Ready to replace your air conditioning system?  Current government standards recommend that new air conditioning systems be rated 13 SEER or better and represent that if you have an air conditioner that is 10 Seer or less, the difference in price between a 13 Seer system and a lower rated system will probably cost justify itself in about 3.5 years.

SEER is a measurement of the efficiency of a cooling system.  In addition to the potential for savings for the owner of an installed system, converting to a 13 Seer minimum increases efficiency by 30% and is represented to be able to avoid the construction of 39 400-megawatt power plants.  This has the potential reduce smog forming nitrous oxides (NOx) emissions by up to 85,000 metric tons and cutting greenhouse gas emissions (the gases responsible for global warming) by up to 33 million metric tons (Mt) of carbon. (source:  http://www.eesi.org/publications/Fact%20Sheets/acfactsheet.htm)

Other actions you can do to reduce the cost of cooling your home:

Ceiling Fans Standing in moving air under a ceiling fan can make the body feel as much as 4 degrees cooler, thereby reducing the need to run the air conditioner.  Choose Energy Star rated fans for maximum efficiency.

Whole House Fans Install a whole house fan and at night, open the windows furthest away from the run the fan to flush hot air and cool the home.

Seal Air Ducts Have your home inspected for leaky air ducts.  This can improve your the energy efficiency of your home by as much as 20%

Additional steps:

• Hire a qualified energy rater.  For a fairly low cost you can have your home checked for leaks and opportunities for more savings.  They'll tell you where the greatest opportunities for savings may be.
• Go to http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac for more information on what you can do to improve the efficiency of your cooling system.
• Contact a qualified HVAC consultant - make sure they know how to properly test and size an HVAC system.  Do not oversize your system.

Often the air inside a home is 10 times worse than outside air on the worst smog days.

Improving indoor air quality requires a combination of the following:

• Eliminating sources contributing to poor air quality, namely products that offgas into the living space such as products containing formaldehyde, paints, chemical cleaning products, pest control substances, carpets, engineered wood products, etc.
• Ventilating the home through natural and/or mechanical ventilation.  This can be as simple as opening the windows for a few hours a day to pull a fresh supply of outdoor air into the home or as sophisticated as controlled mechanical ventilation.
• Filtrating the air to take micro particulates out.  There are 5 levels of efficiency of filters for forced air systems that

A target figure for the amount of ventiliation needed is 20 CFM (cubic feet per minute) per person where sources of interior pollutants are present. 

When evaluating or desigining a system for air quality in your home, its best to consult with a qualifed HVAC prefoessional to address your specific needs.  

For more information about indoor air quality risks and what actions you can take to improve indoor air quality go to:  http://www.epa.gov/iaq/

GIVEN THE FACTS, who wouldn't chose to live in a home that has better air quality, consumes less Energy and Water so it costs less, is healthier, safer and more comfortable?

As a certified Green Building Professional and EcoBroker, I'm building a website that can help you learn more about what green living in Sonoma County can mean to you.   Please let me know what you think!

Cindy Brandon, MBA, CGBP, Ecobroker, CRS, GRI, Sotheby’s International Realty

Sonoma County Averages 351 out of 365 Good Air Quality Days a Year

The air quality index has a rating scale between 0 to 500.  The higher the number the higher the agitation of heat and lung ailments.  Sonoma County has averaged 351 out of 365 days of the year when the air quality index air quality was at or below 50. Of the 14 days on average, that Sonoma County's air qualilty scored moderate to unhealthy, most were probably wildfire or heat related.

GIVEN THE FACTS, who wouldn't chose to live in a home that has better air quality, consumes less Energy and Water so it costs less, is healthier, safer and More comfortable? As a certified Green Building Professional and EcoBroker, I'm building a website that can help you learn more about what green living in Sonoma County can mean to you.   Please let me know what you think! Cindy Brandon, MBA, CGBP, Ecobroker, CRS, GRI, Sotheby’s International Realty