Oakland's Earthquake Retrofit Ordinance

Oakland has a new ordinance for rebating recent homeowners up to $5,000 toward the bolting and retrofitting of their seismically insecure foundations.

The new homeowner pays a $250 permit fee for the work and will receive up to $5,000 toward the work to be done based on the price of the home. The most important thing to remember here is that the homeowner has only 180 days to apply for the permit or they lose the incentive, as one of my colleagues sadly discovered.

Six months may seem like a long time but while you are doing the fun stuff like buying furniture and painting green walls, you're retrofitting rebate could be expiring. Call me if you have questions or follow the links on the Oaklandnet website.

http://www.oaklandnet.com/

Recycling Your CFLs at Emeryville Ikea

If going to Ikea, scares you because of parking and traffic, I just want to reassure my readers. I took my old florescent bulb there for a test run. I parked in the loading zone and the recycle box is the first thing you encounter on the left hand wall as you walk into the "Customer Returns" area of the store. It took just a few seconds, and I didn't have to walk through the maze that is Ikea.

:)

Green Recycling in Emeryville IKEA of CFL Bulbs

Energy Efficient Light Bulbs

IKEA, the world’s largest home furnishings retailer, understands the value of CFL lights, as well as the need for recycling them. IKEA has been offering these energy-saving light bulbs for over ten years. Consumers buy them for their affordability (only slightly more than regular incandescent bulbs), and their energy-saving capabilities. While they use 80 percent less energy than incandescents, they provide the same amount of light and reduce electric bill costs.

Compact florescent light bulbs (CFLs) can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent. In these times of environmental responsibility, this translates into better everyday energy practices and big cost savings.

Recycle Information
Bring your used mercury containing lightbulbs to the IKEA store for free disposal. Since our CFL bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, they should not be simply tossed out. IKEA offers the perfect solution: a ‘Free Take Back’ program offering recycle bins in all IKEA stores. Or for lamp disposal information for your state, please go to www.lamprecycle.org to obtain more information.

Directions to Temescal's Farmer's Market

It's an awfully rainy day and my thyme and rosemary in pots at my front door are kicking up their roots in glee over the extra water they have to drink. Yippee!!!!

So it might be an odd day to talk about the Farmer's Market, but I've wanted to repost the directions. It is just as important to support our local farmers and merchants in the rainy weather as the fine! :)

Bake Sale Betty's Street Front

Directions to Temescal Farmers' Market

Location: 5300 Claremont Ave. (DMV) Oakland, Ca.Alameda County (Map)
Open: Sundays 9:00am to 1:00pm

All year 'round!
Sponsored By: Temescal Telegraph Business Improvement District

Directions:
Highway 24 Eastbound:Exit Claremont Avenue, go left 100 yards.
Highway 24 Westbound:Exit Telegraph Ave, left on Telegraph (1/2 mile), left on Claremont Ave (1/4 mile).

Green Household Cleaning Tips

From time to time I publish informational tips to cut and paste. This is part of a series on household cleaning.

Faucets and Sinks

Wipe the basin and fixtures at the end of each day with a soft cloth, warm water, and a mild dishwashing liquid.

Clean crevices around the faucet with a soft toothbrush. Buff water spots with a dry, soft cloth. For mineral deposits, mix one part white vinegar with one part water; apply with a soft cloth, rinse, and then dry.

Don't let dishes pile up in the sink. Even during meal preparation, try to wash pots, pans, and other implements as you go.

Keep drains clog-free by flushing them with boiling water once a week. Boil one gallon of water. Pour half down the drain, wait a few minutes, and then pour in the rest. Never put oils or animal fat down the drain, as they're a major cause of clogs.

Deodorize drains twice a year by pouring in one-half cup baking soda, followed by one-half cup white vinegar; cover tightly with a plug or wet rag. Let the mixture sit for five minutes, and then flush with boiling water.

Sanitize the garbage disposal and sharpen its blades by grinding frozen cubes of vinegar (made in an ice tray) or citrus peels while flooding the disposal with boiling water.

AB 1470 Signed by the Governor

This week, Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007, AB 1470 by Assembly member Jared Huffman, which provides incentives to attain the goal of installing 200,000 solar water heating systems in the state by 2017.

This represents another giant step, in addition to AB 1, Million Solar Roofs bill passed last year, toward bringing about a mainstream solar power market in California. The bill would launch the nation’s largest solar water heating program, creating a $250 million fund to provide rebates to homeowners and businesses who invest in solar water heating technologies. Hopefully was we go, so will the nation.

AB 1470 Signed by the Governor With our Federal Government unable to provide leadership on this important issue, it has been incumbent on California and the loose affiliation of western state governors to legislate and create a vision for the nation of possibilities to slow global warming. Californians will respond to their lower energy bills and our new market for affordable energy will be encouraged!

Encourage Your Green Habits in Rockridge!

Okay, I'll admit it. I've actually been afraid to calculate my carbon footprint. But now that I've done it, I am happy because it wasn't as bad as I thought, and I got ideas for cutting further. It was amazing to see the score go down for eating less meat and buying organic food.

I also realize that by driving just a bit less I can do even better. Try it yourself! It just takes a few minutes. Encourage your friends, neighbors and family to do it as well. Join the conversation!

http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

Hillside Club's 2nd Annual Arts and Crafts Sale

Saturday November 17th, 2007
Berkeley's Historic Hillside Club is hosting their second annual Arts and Crafts Sale to benefit the Club and its activities. Located at 2286 Cedar Street in Berkeley, the cost to get in is $5.00 from 11:30am -5pm and if you want the "early bird special," the fee is $20 for a 10:30am ticket.

If you are not aware of this extraordinary community asset,
Visit the web site.

www.hillsideclub.org