Living Lighter in 2023
A.J. Jacobs writing for the New York Times - January 11, 2023
A.J. Jacobs is a journalist and author known for writing about lifestyle experiments. Some of his better-known books include The Year of Living Biblically: One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible and The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, which chronicles his unsuccessful attempt to read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica from A - Z. Both humble and hilarious, Jacobs illustrates the absurdity of these tasks (the first thing he does on his day without plastic is put his bare feet on his nylon carpet - oops! plastic!) While pointing out the ubiquity of plastic in our lives and all the ways we benefit from it, he illustrates ways we reduce some of the more extreme problems created by over consumption of plastic, such as the presence of microplastics in our air and water. After consulting with numerous environmental experts, he discovers that the real issue is single-use plastic. And as Gabby Salazar, a social scientist who studies what motivates people to support environmental causes, states, “It’s not about perfection, but about progress.” It’s a great article. Click on the photo above to read the whole thing.
Living Lighter Locally
If one of your 2023 resolutions is to live a little lighter on the planet, here are some local resources that can help.
With these torrential rains, you may be wondering how you can capture some of this to use in the summer when we really need it. Marin Water has a ton of free resources for water conservation, including hose shutoff nozzles, faucet aerators, showerheads, shower timers and leak detection dye tablets. Rebate programs include Laundry to Landscape grey water systems, hot water recirculating systems and something that would be great to have right now, rain barrels and cisterns to capture and hold rainwater for future use. The rebate is $.50 per stored gallon of water, up to $1,000, not to exceed the cost of the system. It’s something I’m going to check out this year for the 100th Birthday Project.
San Francisco Water Power Sewer has a similar program where SFPUC customers can receive $100 for each rain barrel or up to $350 for the installation of a cistern. Click on the buttons below for details.
Rising Sun is a Bay Area-wide organization working at the intersection of economic equity and climate resilience. They offer free Green House Calls where young adults are trained to come to your home and provide energy and water efficiency services. In addition to the free assessment, you receive the following items at no cost:
Up to 16 LED light bulbs, standard and floodlight
High-efficiency bathroom and kitchen faucet aerators and high-efficiency showerhead(s) (same pressure, less water)
A smart power strip ($70 value)
A toilet leak detection test
Information about other energy-saving programs
Click the button below for details and to schedule a visit.
The Bay Area Recycling Outreach Coalition (BayROC) is a collaboration between staff representing over 40 San Francisco Bay Area cities, counties and other public agencies working together on waste reduction and buy-recycled concepts through a variety of media campaigns which promote personal action and behavior change. The website is packed with resources, including an easy way to stop junk mail, creating kits to reduce the use of to-go containers and single use plastics, and resources for reducing food waste. Click on the button below to see some quick videos on how to store and use up extra food.
Finding and choosing a solar provider is a difficult proposition. With a huge number of solar providers in the marketplace, it can be hard to get quotes in a straightforward format that allows you to compare the proposed equipment, cost per watt of energy, and financing options. Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Sage is a nationwide organization where you can receive and compare quotes from multiple pre-screened local solar installers. After receiving numerous quotes in a clear, easily understood format, you can schedule a phone appointment with their counselors to help choose the best option. Our family used Energy Sage in addition to getting several quotes from installers recommended by friends. There was a $12,000 range in the prices that were quoted to us, so it was great to work with an impartial professional to help us make a selection. We’re thrilled with the outcome! Click the button below to find out more.
Whatever you do this year, remember that every little bit helps and it can be fun. Like A.J. Jacobs, we don’t have to take ourselves too seriously in our quest for a more sustainable planet. Happy 2023!
