It's a lot easier being green these days with environmentally friendly choices at every turn. For Sierra Club members who have been green since way before it became so easy, there’s always room for fine tuning. In this ever-evolving area, it’s important to check in occasionally to find out if we are recycling correctly, or if we need to revisit past choices made when green products were still in their development phase. There are so many different brands to choose from right at the local supermarket.
The only hard part about a green behavior is trying it out long enough for it to become a habit. Then it is just as easy to do as whatever you were doing before. Those who were living in Marin in the mid-1970’s remember living through a long drought, and probably think back with a certain amount of pride to the stringent conservation habits we developed back then, and remember that it was not a painful sacrifice, but a good common cause. And we did it with humor and spirit.
Of course, being green can become yet another opportunity to beat ourselves, or someone else, over the head with expectations of perfection. No matter how dire we predict the future will be if people keep burying their heads in the sand, we can be sure that ranting statistical doom will only make them bury their heads deeper to avoid listening. Instead, if we live our eco-actions with joy, chances are others will follow our lead. Because conservation is fun, delicious and economical. Not exactly a hard sell!
If all of the 7000 Marin Sierra Club members did some fine tuning of our daily habits, the effect would be enormous. And if each member inspired others, who knows what kind of ripple effect there would be.
This page will help to keep members current on living green with links to the sites that have the most up to date information.
If you know of a site that should be here, if you find a link on this page is broken, or if you visit a linked site, and find that it is not accurate, please let us know.
Put 'cloth bags' on the top of your grocery shopping list to remind you to take them next time you shop. Rinse and reuse plastic bags or buy (or make) cloth produce bags.
Buy energy saver light bulbs.
Drink tap water. Marin’s water is better regulated than bottled water. You can always install a filter if you want. Fill your own reusable bottle instead of using plastic. Get info on MMWD water.
Take a walk around your neighbor-hood & meet your neighbors! Stronger community relationships make for a happier life and – who knows? -- might result in carpools, movie nights, pot lucks, equipment sharing, and all sorts of other things that are good for the planet and you.
Power down your computer when you walk away from it. You can pick up right where you left off.
Get a smart power strip to plug in your electronics like WattStopper and Smart Strip .
Turn off the water while you lather up in the shower or brush your teeth. You'll feel free to spend more time massaging your scalp or gums.
Visit the library. Do you really need to own every book you read?
Turn down the thermostat at night. You'll sleep better in a cool room.
Dance to raise your body temp! Fun!
Watch & Share:
'Story About Stuff' video
Why We Must Ban Plastic Bags
Patronize Green Businesses
RE-USE & RECYCLE
Can you recycle it? Find out here.
What does your trash collector accept?
Mill Valley
Sausalito
San Rafael
Novato
Dispose of old pills responsibly to avoid putting toxins in the Bay or landfill.
Keep hazardous electronics waste out of the landfill: San Rafael Novato
CA Integrated Waste Management Board
Not ready for the trash heap? Check your favorite charity’s needs list. If they don't want it, then you can:
Swap books, music, DVDs, and video games for ones you want.
Post your item on Marin Max, IReuse, craigslist or ebay.
Medical equipment re-use service -- free to anyone who needs it. Walkers, toilets, crutches, canes, etc. Donate for deduction.
Easy One Step Catalog Reduction
Purchase Recycled Products
Avoid all the clutter in the first place through simple living, aka voluntary simplicity.
GARDEN
Planning a garden? Check out these water wise gardens for inspiration.
Choose native plants
Native Plant Nursery
Native Seeds
Alternatives to invasive garden plants
Creating a beautiful and healthy Bay-Friendly garden
Save our threatened gardening heritage by planting heirloom seeds.
Set your irrigation settings right for the season
WATER CONSERVATION
Water conservation tips from MMWD
A handy tool for fine tuning water conservation from H2ouse.
TOILET REBATE from MMWD
Water Waste Prevention
Stop or report the practice of hosing down hard surfaced areas, significant run-off from irrigation, and leakage.
Build your own rain barrel! Why let that winter rain go to waste?
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY STAR
Federal program.
PG&E Flex Your Power
Incentives/rebates, technical assistance, retailers, product guides.
BUILD/ REMODEL/DESIGN
Except for energy upgrades, of course the most environmentally friendly choice is to simply maintain your property as is. But if you are set on doing something, here are some good resources.
Marin County Green Bldg/Biz Programs
BuildItGreen.org
Find qualified green building professionals.
Considering bamboo flooring? Things to know.
Construction Waste Recycling and Salvage
California Materials Exchange
Ohmega Salvage, Berkeley
Other Bay Area Salvage Yards
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainable Marin
Sustainable Fairfax
Sustainable Mill Valley
Sustainable Novato
Sustainable San Rafael
EDUCATORS
Terrain for Schools
Lower your school’s energy costs.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Marin County Solar Energy Program
The Solar Living Institute
Promotes sustainable living through inspirational environmental education through workshops, etc. at their Hopland center.
TRANSPORTATION
Take the bus, ferry or shuttle
Golden Gate Transit Bus & Ferry Schedules
Walk or ride a bike! Two organizations make it easy to find routes and more information:
Marin County Bicycle Coalition
and Walk Bike Marin
Find a Carpool
eRideShare.com or RideshareOnline.com
Transportation Authority of Marin
Have a car only when you need it.
See when Zip Cars will be available near you.
Compare vehicle emissions and mileage.
Go electric!
North Bay Electric Auto Assn.
Plug in America
Green Motors (electric car dealer)
Alternative Fuel
Find a biodiesel station
MORE TIPS FOR LIVING GREEN
The Green Life - Sierra Club National page full of ideas.
Ask Mr. Green - Sierra Club National answer man for all things green.
FOOD
All that energy used for transporting, processing and raising animals for consumption makes what we eat a huge environmental choice. Fortunately locally grown foods taste infinitely better than foods that have to travel from great distances in refrigerated transport, and small farmers can grow varieties for their taste rather than for how easily they can fit in a box or how well they tolerate abuse. Children who get to eat fresh local vegetables in season are much more enthusiastic and healthy eaters. And people who shop at farmers' markets have many more healthy social exchanges, leading to overall well being!
Marin Farmers Markets - Fairfax, Novato & Civic Center
Downtown San Rafael Farmers Market
Sausalito Farmers Market
Call (415) 382-7846 to verify following info on the following Southern Marin Certified Farmers' Markets:
Ross Valley
Thurs 4 – 8 pm
Ross CommonsMill Valley
Tues 3:30 – 7:30 pm until Oct
205 Tennessee Valley RoadSausalito
Fri 4 – 8 pm until Oct
Ferry LandingLarkspur
Sat 10 am – 2 pm
until Oct
Larkspur Landing Shopping CtrCorte Madera
Wed 12 – 5 pm
year round
Town Center Courtyard
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Can you be a green carnivore?
A 2006 report from the UN says, ‘The livestock sector emerges as one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.’ Read the beef about beef.
Delicious alternatives abound:
Marin Vegetarian Education Group
Marin Organic
Other good food links:
Recipes for seasonal eating from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle -- Kingsolver
Find Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea, sugar, rice, or fruit at these stores.
Used coffee grounds have lots of uses: Click here and here for ideas.
Sustainably harvested seafood guide.
CLEANING
Buy non toxic products or make your own household cleaning solutions.
CLOTHES
Avoid clothes that require dry cleaning. These days, there are even machine-washable suits (look for ones that haven't been treated with wrinkle- or stain-repellents, which often use formaldehyde). And many cotton, linen, and silk clothes can be safely hand-washed in cold water even if they say "dry-clean-only." Learn more about dry cleaning chemicals.
For clothes you already own that require dry cleaning, look for alternative cleaners that don't use PERC.
EXERCISE
Rethink your exercise regime. What if, as in olden days, your physical workout was a natural part of your daily life. In other words, instead of driving to the store and then walking on a treadmill in a gym, you walk or bike to do your errands. The packages you carry or pull home will help build muscles. Use your muscles to dig up your lawn and plant a vegetable garden!
But if you really love the gym:
Don’t take long showers just because you’re not paying for the water.
Bring your own water bottle and fill it at the tap.
Encourage management to reduce waste by turning off lights in vacant rooms, shutting off the sauna/steam room/hot tub at night, minimizing use of the heater and A/C, and installing recycling bins.
Choosing a new gym? Ask environmental questions as part of your research.
Recyle your old running shoes.
(any brand, 10 prs or less at a time) Take to:
NIKETOWN
278 Post St. at Stockton, SF
(415) 392-6453 (Call first, in case program is discontinued.)
GREEN VACATION TIPS
When deciding where to stay, choose accommodations close to the attraction. Even if it’s more expensive, it may be cheaper if it lets you skip renting a car.
When making a reservation, ask a few questions to see how green the hotel is. Your concern could have a big effect on future choices made by the management. Express a desire to stay at a hotel that has such features as low-flow showerheads, compact fluorescent lights, and recycling bins. Some boutique hotels not only have detailed energy- and water-saving programs but also pledge to use nontoxic cleaning supplies. Best Western recently broke ground for a LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) hotel near Denver. Still, green policies remain hit and miss. Many national chains, for example, leave it to local managers to decide what to do. So make sure to ask when looking for a reservation.
Some tricks for not needing a car at your destination. Doing without a car definitely takes more planning. Combining field trips may make it possible to rent a car for just a few days. If you rent a hybrid, you also can discover why owners love them. Passing on a car entirely doesn't mean you have to hoof it everywhere. Take the subway, hail a cab, or rent a tandem. You may cover less ground but have more fun. And you can bet the kids will remember that horse-drawn carriage ride more than squabbling over the backseat of their own car.
Judging a ‘Green’ destination can be tough. How do you find out whether a destination is truly sustainable? Development without limits is usually a warning sign that all is not green. Another rule of thumb: Look for destinations where local communities are directly involved in conservation efforts. Download this National Geographic booklet to help you separate the green and not-so-green spots:
Take a vacation without leaving town. Start by not telling everyone you'll be staying in town. To avoid the same-old same-old, consider decamping to a local hotel: It'll have a pool and still be cheaper than gas to get out of town. No shuttling between your home and the in-town hideaway, however, or you'll get sucked back into your everyday life. As for what to do, think how common it is for all of us to skip local sights that tourists come across the country to visit. Why not start by taking a gander at your home place with fresh eyes?
Mixing up the routine is why we take vacations. Maybe that's why it's called re-creation. Be sure to involve the whole family in planning your in-town adventure. Unplug from your usual rat race, recharge a bit, and spend real time with loved ones. It could be your best vacation ever.
