don’t be tricked by the rain

 

California is still expected to have its worst drought in history, despite the rain we are seeing over this weekend.  A warning this week by Energy Secretary Steven Chu was quickly followed by statements from farmer’s that they are abandoning their crops due to water shortages.  

Please remember to turn off your sprinklers during this rainy time, as well as continue to conserve water as much as possible.

And as another reminder, we found this quote that is thought to be appropriate:

“Angelenos committed communal suicide by watering lawns as usual … The taps remained open, trickling away the life blood of the desert paradise.” Robert Heinlein, 1952

nice move

A few weeks ago, Los Angeles Mayor Villarigosa announced city wide plans to increase the source of power from traditional energy methods to solar. As if Burbank was waiting for the announcement, today it unveiled the very first solar airplane hangar.

The new 60,000-square-foot structure at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank is believed to be the industry’s only solar-powered airport hangar. Its rooftop photovoltaic panels provide enough juice to operate the building’s lights and to recharge electric-powered ground equipment such as forklifts and tow vehicles. The array can also keep an airplane’s electrical system humming inside the hangar while mechanics perform their chores.

Airlines are a leading cause of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere accounting for 12% of emissions from all U.S. transportation. While this hangar does little in terms of reducing airplane emissions, it is nice to see an airport trying to offset the damage done by its industry. Especially when you consider that buildings, and all things involved making a building, account for 33% of U.S. emissions.

All in all, it appears as though Los Angeles will be a leader in dictating how cities are becoming sustainable. You can read the whole article HERE, via the Los Angeles Times.

file under: what in the F*@K?

I love this! Leave to LA to be the example of absolute hypocrisy.

We are in the middle of a drought. Check.
The mayor has asked us to do “whatever” we can to conserve water. Check.
The Public Works department is citing people for planting drought resistant plants. Chec…. WHAT?!?

Yep. You did read that correctly.

It was also after Krieger and his wife Sandy faced a supervisor and two Public Workers inspectors over the citation they were given ordered to immediately remove their drought-resistant plants and replace them with grass or pavement or leave the parkway as dirt — or face prosecution.

You can read the whole article HERE.

drought 101

In case there is anyone out there that does not know… Los Angeles is in a DROUGHT.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power says very clearly on their website that certain actions are “illegal” and will be cause for a heavy fine. The list is posted in their website, but I am posting it here, as well.

In Los Angeles, you CANNOT:

*Use water to wash any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways or parking areas, unless flushing is needed to protect health and safety;

*Use water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is part of a recirculating system;

*Serve water to customers in eating establishments unless requested;

*Permit leaks from any pipe or fixture to go unrepaired;

*Allow for the washing of a vehicle without using a hose with a self-closing, shut-off device;

*Permit watering during periods of rain;

*Irrigate landscaping between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.;

*Water outdoors for more than 15 minutes per watering station, 10 minutes for other irrigation systems;

*Allow runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering;

*Install single-pass cooling systems in new buildings;

*Install non-recirculating systems in new car wash and commercial laundry systems;

*Permit large landscape areas to water without rain sensors that shut off irrigation systems

If you see someone breaking any one of these, you are HIGHLY encouraged to rat ‘em out!
Drought Busters at 1-800-DIAL DWP or droughtbusters@ladwp.com

disposal or dispose

Really interesting quandry posted on Slate today…. to disposal or dispose? What is better for the environment?

click HERE for the summary. But, here is the conclusion:

The research is unambiguous about one point, though: Under normal circumstances, you should always compost if you can. Otherwise, go ahead and use your garbage disposal if the following conditions are met: First, make sure that your community isn’t running low on water. (To check your local status, click here.) Don’t put anything that is greasy or fatty in the disposal. And find out whether your local water-treatment plant captures methane to produce energy. If it doesn’t—and your local landfill does—you may be better off tossing those mashed potatoes in the trash.

Los Angeles….WE ARE IN A DROUGHT!!

We’re number one… in the future

To all my Los Angelino’s… we should be very grateful. I think we live in a great city. And, if things go the way the mayor wants, it will be even more fantastic.

Mayor Villaraigosa has been wanting for a long time to turn Los Angeles into the most sustainable city in the country. I, for one, am behind him 100%

HERE is an article posted in February about his plans. And HERE are some pictures of our involvement in Park(ing) Day LA. And HERE is his website and some links to Green LA, as well as his just announced plan for environmentally friendly affordable housing for our city!

LA Heat

click HERE for an article by NASA about how we can just expect more heat.

An excerpt:
The team forecasts that in coming decades, we can expect 10- to 14-day heat waves to become the norm. And because these will be hotter heat waves, they will be more threatening to public health.

This whole global warming thing has become a vicious circle. The hotter it gets the more we want to use our air conditioning, water, buy cooler clothes, and the list goes on. But what we really, really need to get behind and understand is that by doing those things we are going to make it worse.

What is the one thing you can do today to shrink your footprint? What are you willing to give up, if it means saving the world?

conservative

and no I am not talking about politics. I am talking about water usage. This is the only time in my life where I may extol the virtues of being conservative….

A great article from Planet Save was posted this morning that I want to make sure you all see. Click HERE.

In Los Angeles, we are in drought!!!!! It is easy to forget sometimes, with our well manicured lawns, but we do live in a desert and are very lucky that our neighbors in Colorado are sharing their supply with us. But that too is limited. Read the article and CUT BACK!!

Here are some excerpts on how you can reduce:

Bath

* 15 gallons (21 less)–Take showers instead of baths.

5-minute Shower

* 5 gallons (20 to 30 less)–Use the water to get wet and lather up, scrub with it off, and turn it on again to rinse off. Replace your shower head with an ultra low-flow version (I use one–there is no noticeable difference in shower quality at all!). Put a bucket in the shower to catch some of the water and use that water to water thirsty plants. Consider going gray.

Brushing Teeth

* .5 gallons (1.5 less)–Turn the water off while you brush.

Shaving

* 1 gallon (19 less)–Use only a bowl. I use a cup–then again, I’m not the hairiest man in the world.

Toilet

* 2 gallons (3-5 less)–Buy a low-flow model. Put a jug of water in the cistern (I use a large glass pasta sauce jar, filled with water). This reduces the amount of water lost with each flush (amount depends on the size of the container). Don’t flush every time. If it’s yellow let it mellow–if it’s brown flush it down. Finally, don’t use the toilet simply to dispose of tissues; put them in the trash.

Dishwasher

* 7 gallons (8 less)–Use the “short cycle”.

Washing Machine (front loading)

* 24 gallons (16 less)–Only run machines when they are full.

Washing Dishes by Hand

* 5 gallons (15-25 less)–Use a wash sink and a rinse sink. Also, replace the washers on dripping faucets. One drop per second wastes 27,000 gallons per year!