One Lawn at a Time
Even with an El Ninõ predicted, North Bay communities are continuing to address the long-term effects of California’s ongoing drought—and that’s a good thing. One popular move is replacing thirsty turf with native and drought-tolerant plants, and an innovative collaboration has helped some residents do just that. In August, Daily Acts partnered with the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps (SCYEC) to convert 50 lawns in Rohnert Park and Cotati; the program was funded by the Sonoma County Water Agency.The work was done by the SCYEC crews, which employs 16- to 24-year-olds to work on ecosystem restoration and conservation-related projects. In addition to a paycheck, SCYEC workers receive training, environmental education and certification as Qualified Water Efficient Landscapers. Says Daily Acts Executive Director Trathen Heckman, “We cover the lawn with compost, cardboard and mulch, which, over time, breaks down into healthy soil that will be ready for planting before the rains.”
The program was an instant hit. Within one week of its announcement, more than 100 people had signed up, leading to a lengthy wait list and talk of extending the program.
For more information, visit www.savingwaterpartnership.org/nolawn.
Earth to Earth
Sometimes it’s the crazy ideas that make the most sense. Case in point: estudimoline, a product design company in Barcelona, has begun marketing Bios Urn, a smart, sustainable and ecologically friendly way to approach what’s, probably, one of the most important moments in life. Basically, it’s a fully biodegradable urn designed to convert posthumous ashes into a tree (you can choose among pine, ginko, maple, oak, ash and beech). Available for humans or pets, it’s being marketed as “a return to life through nature.”
Turn It Off!
According to a groundbreaking study released in May by the Natural Resources Defense Council, approximately $19 billion worth of electricity, equal to the output of 50 large power plants, is devoured annually by U.S. household electronics, appliances and other equipment when consumers aren’t actively using them. The annual cost for this vampire energy drain, which provides little benefit to consumers, ranges from $165 per U.S. household to as high as $440 under some utilities’ top-tier rates.
These always-on but inactive devices account for nearly 23 percent, on average, of the electricity consumption of homes in California. The NRDC study is the first large-scale analysis of idle load use, combining usage data from electric utility smart meters in 70,000 Northern California residences with field measurements concentrating on idle loads (an average of 65 devices were found in NRDC’s onsite audit). Idle consumption includes devices in off or “standby” mode but still drawing power (such as furnaces and garage door openers); in “sleep mode” ready to power up quickly (like game consoles); and left fully on but inactive (computers).
