Environmental Tips

Water Conservation Update

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:45:06 +0000

Residents and businesses throughout San Diego County are all conserving water! According to data from the San Diego County Water Authority, total water use for the months of July, August and September was down 11% compared to the same period in 2008. The Port is doing our part to contribute... we reduced our irrigation in Port-maintained landscaped areas by 35% this summer compared to the same period in 2008!

Unfortunately, water supplies are still being limited by drought and court-ordered pumping restrictions, and mandatory water-use restrictions still remain in effect. Here's a few tips to consider for the upcoming winter months:

Replace high-water-use plants with some that use less water. San Diego County's semi-arid climate means that this time of year is the best time to replace your plants, because they can take advantage of winter storms to help get established. View the Nifty Fifty Plant List to get some ideas
Turn off your irrigation systems as rainy weather approaches. Systems can be left off for up to a week following storms, depending on the amount of rainfall.
Only run your dishwasher when it's full. This is especially important to keep in mind if you're planning to entertain friends and family in your home during the holidays.

Try Composting!

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:33 +0000

Ever thought about starting up your own composting bin? The composting process turns organic material such as leaves, grass clippings and kitchen scraps into a nutrient rich soil product. The Port has had a composting program in place for over a year, and is currently preventing about 300 pounds of our food waste from entering the landfill every month! Composting has several benefits for both the homeowner and the environment:

It reduces waste from your kitchen and/or yard.
It benefits your yard by improving soil health without the use of chemical fertilizers (which can enter the storm drain system if not used properly).
It conserves water by helping the soil hold more moisture, which reduces the need for frequent irrigation.
It saves money by reducing the need to purchase chemical fertilizers and soil amendments.

Composting is easy and inexpensive, and you can even forego the cost of buying a compost bin by building your own! Check out the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, a local non-profit organization that provides education and resources about composting. Their Guide to Backyard Composting provides a great introduction to how composting works and explains how you can easily get your own project started at home.

How to Repel Energy Vampires

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:41:38 +0000

Did you know that in the average home, up to 40% of the energy you're paying for is used to power devices you're not even using? A vampire load is the energy that's used up by appliances when they're plugged in, but not in use. Simply by being plugged in, many of your gadgets are sinking their teeth into your energy bill (and your carbon footprint). TVs, DVD players, stereos, computers, and cell phone chargers are notorious energy suckers (basically, any device with a charging light that remains on when the device is off).

There's no need to wear garlic to keep the vampires away... simply stock up on some "smart" power strips, which prevent your appliances from draining energy. Or, if you don't want to buy new power strips, simply unplug your current power strips or appliances when you're not using them.

Visit your local electronics store or search "smart power strips" online for a variety of options.

100% Biodegradable Dog Waste Bags

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:52:16 +0000

Did you know that dog waste is a significant contributor to bacterial pollution in our beaches and bays? Dog waste that is washed into creeks, rivers and the storm drain system introduces bacteria into our region's waterways, resulting in those menacing "Beach Closed" signs you may have seen at your favorite beach.

Be sure to pick up your dog's waste in a bag and dispose of it properly in the trash! Better yet, consider using 100% biodegradable dog waste bags, because the plastic in conventional bags can take hundreds of years to break down in our landfills. 100% biodegradable dog waste bags meet rigid specifications in all 50 states, which require the material to degrade at the same rate as an apple without leaving any remaining plastic fragments behind.

Click here to learn more about 100% biodegradable dog waste bag options.

Green Apps for iPhone Users

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:13:35 +0000

Are you one of the 6.4 million people in the United States who are addicted to their iPhone? If so, consider downloading a few applications that can help you be green! Here's a list of some handy applications that you may want to add:

iRecycle: Finds recycling and disposal locations anywhere in the country using Earth911's database. Search by item or location to find drop-off sites near you. FREE!

GoodGuide: Contains information about the ingredients of over 75,000 household products. It provides ratings of the products' health, environmental and social impacts. FREE!

Seafood Guide: Lists most commercially sold seafood in North America and rates them on the sustainability of their populations. FREE!

Carbon Calc: Calculates your personal carbon footprint. FREE!

Get Green: Sends you a green tip every day on your iPhone. $.99

3rd Whale: Finds a wide variety of green businesses near you, ranging from organic restaurants to bicycle shops. You can specify businesses within walking, biking or driving distance. $1.99

GreenMeter: Uses the iPhone accelerometer to measure your vehicle's fuel consumption, efficiency, and costs to help you save money. It also provides detailed information about your vehicle's carbon footprint and presents graphs of fuel consumption. $5.99

If you're not an iPhone user, please pass this tip along to a gadget-geek friend!

Water-Wise Tree Care

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:38:38 +0000

Have you ever considered the numerous economic, environmental and social benefits that are provided by trees? Here's a few interesting facts:

The presence and beauty of properly planted and maintained trees can increase a home's resale value by as much as 15%.
Tree roots stabilize soil, which reduces erosion.
Trees cool parks and buildings by providing shade, which reduces energy costs.
Trees improve air quality by removing pollutants. They also play a vital role in creating the air we breathe... two mature trees produce enough oxygen for a family of four!

In this time of drought throughout the San Diego region, it's important to preserve any trees on your property while using a minimal amount of water. If you'd like to learn more about proper tree-care during a drought, check out this fact sheet published by the San Diego Regional Urban Forests Council... it's full of tips to help you maximize the benefits of your trees.

Reduce Waste and Energy by Stopping Unwanted Mail

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:46:30 +0000

Did you know that each American receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail per year? That's enough to drive anyone nuts... but did you ever think about the environmental impacts of all this unwanted mail? Annually, the production and transport of junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars, and uses 100 million trees. Want to help put an end to this madness?

Sign up for an unwanted mail reduction service, which will not only reduce your environmental impact, but will bring you some peace of mind each time you visit your mailbox. Here's a few options:

Mailstopper - a paid service that stops your junk mail and actively keeps you from getting back on mailing lists. They promise to stop 90% of your junk mail in 90 days for $20/year.
Do Not Mail Registry - a free way to add yourself to DirectMail.com's National Do Not Mail Registry, where you can pick and choose which lists you'd like to opt in or out of.
Catalog Choice - a free way to opt out of paper catalogs and choose which catalogs you wish to subscribe to online through iCatalogs.
Opt Out Prescreen - a free way to opt out of preapproved credit card and insurance offers. You can choose whether or not you'd like to provide your social security #.
Yellow Pages Go Green - a free way to remove your name from the phone book mailing list if you prefer to use online directories instead.

Water Conservation Rebate Program

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:33:04 +0000

Did you know that the San Diego County Water Authority has recently issued an 8% cutback on the water they supply to their member retail agencies? Many water agencies throughout the region are escalating to Level 2: Drought Alert, which includes mandatory conservation requirements. Find the website of your water agency to learn about specific requirements in your neighborhood by clicking here .

To help residents prepare for the start of these mandatory conservation requirements, the San Diego County Water Authority is providing $450,000 to establish a Water Conservation Rebate Program. The rebates will be available now through June 30 or until funding runs out. They're available on a first-come, first-served basis and include:

High-efficiency clothes washers
High-efficiency toilets
Weather-based irrigation controllers
Rotating sprinkler nozzles

If you're interested, be sure to contact the program by phone or online to reserve your rebate before you make any purchases! Visit 20 Gallon Challenge for more information on the rebate program.

The Nifty 50 List of Watersmart Plants

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:32:58 +0000

Did you know that 30% of the typical American family's water is used outdoors? The EPA reports that nationwide water use for irrigation is highest in the southwest region of the country due to our arid climate. With increasing water rates potentially forthcoming, selecting plants for your yard that use less water is a win-win... these plants will save you up to 15% on your water bill and reduce your environmental impact!

Check out the San Diego County Water Authority's new Nifty 50 List, which showcases 50 watersmart plants including shrubs, succulents, vines, groundcover, grass, perennials, and trees. It was created to make it easy for you to enhance your landscape and save water. The brochure provides many options for attractive, readily available, non-invasive and drought tolerant plants that will look great in your yard.

To view the Nifty 50 List, click here.

Or, to learn more about upcoming water regulations expected to take place in San Diego County, visit The 20 Gallon Challenge.

Choose a Greener Cleaner

kmakley@portofsandiego.org (Kelly Makley) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:46:16 +0000

Did you know that the chemicals used at your local dry cleaner could be harming the environment? Most traditional dry cleaners use a solvent called perc (Perchloroethylene), a chemical that has been classified by the EPA as a groundwater contaminant and a potential human health hazard.

Choose a greener cleaner! Use dry cleaners that specialize in one of these two EPA-supported cleaning methods:

Wet cleaning: The EPA considers this to be one of the safest professional cleaning methods. It involves the use of computer-controlled washers and dryers with specialized detergents that are milder than most home laundry products. Visit http://www.ecovian.com/s/sandiego/green-dry-cleaners-wet-cleaning for a list of businesses in San Diego that offer wet cleaning services.
Carbon dioxide cleaning: This process involves the use of non-toxic, liquid carbon dioxide (the same form used to carbonate soda) as the cleaning solvent. In case you're wondering, the impact on climate change is minimal and this method actually uses less energy than traditional dry cleaning. Visit www.findco2.com for a list of businesses in California that offer carbon dioxide cleaning services.

**Don't be deceived by a business that touts their use of the Green Earth cleaning method, which is a non-perc solvent that is also noted as a potential carcinogen by the EPA.