Entries Tagged as 'Green Living in SF'

Open Shutter to the Past: San Francisco in Pictures - Ocean Beach Cleanup (1948)

 

Welcome back to Photo Friday - my little way of taking a break from San Francisco Real Estate and instead blogging about our great City’s past instead. All photos are published with permission from the San Francisco History Center and San Francisco Public Library.

The word around the weather channels is that this weekend is going to be NICE in the City!  Today, the weather is supposed to hit the mid 80’s in parts of SF.

And when the weather heats up around SF,  people in flock to Ocean Beach to cool down.  Unfortunately, these same beachgoers bring with them trash, bottles, cigarette butts and general filth.  A photo I took with my cameraphone on a hot April day gives you an idea of the aftermath. 

And apparently, people have been trashing the beach since long before I was born. 

Today’s Photo Friday shows the “Sand Cleanup Machine!”  The newscopy that went with the photo in 1948:

“BEACH CLEANUP STARTS-There shouldn’t be any broken glass, cigaret [sic] butts or other annoying refuse in the sands of Ocean Beach any more, now that the city’s new sifting and cleaning machine is in action. The device, which cost $9433, went to work yesterday afternoon. It will take a month to go through all the sand from the zoo to the Cliff House.”

Hmmm… I’m not sure how well the machine really worked, but if people trashed the beach then like they do now, I’m guessing that machine wore out after just a few days of cleaning. 

Anyhow - it’s too nice outside to be writing long blog posts, so this about wraps things up for the day.  Get out there and enjoy the nice weather!

Oh, and please, if you do come to the beach to escape from the heat in the rest of the City, please - be coureous and take your trash with you when you leave. 

Thanks and Happy Friday! :-)

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Tags: Green Living in SF, Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, SF Historical Photos, San Francisco History, San Francisco Neighborhoods, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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There’s Still Room to Register for the NEN Clean and Green Summit

Come join the Neighborhood Empowerment Network  this Saturday morning for the first Clean and Green Summit!

According the the NEN Web Site ”the NEN is a collaborative platform that serves as a central engagement point for communities to find and share information that will empower them to make their neighborhoods a better place to live. The NEN helps both established and up and coming community leaders learn of new ways to help their neighborhoods become safer, greener, cleaner, stronger, and ultimately be better prepared for natural disasters.”

The Clean and Green Summit will be held this Saturday on May 31st. 

Space is limited. The Summit will feature a resource fair with dozens of agencies and non-profits ready to help you to clean and green your community, breakout groups and a NEN first – walking tours of the Mission to see first hand how this neighborhood is greening itself.

You can register for the summit and find out more by clicking here or by calling 551-7111.

Hope to see you there! :-)

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Tags: Green Living in SF, San Francisco Local Resources, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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What’s Hot in “Green?”

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Occasionally, I like to invite a guest blogger to share some insights about their field of expertise. Sometimes it’s about San Francisco real estate, and sometimes, it’s just about stuff that San Franciscans care about. Today’s guest blogger is Chris Connors of San Francisco’s Design Solutions, a team of Certified Green Building Professionals. He’s been kind enough to post here before in “How to Save Money by Remodeling Green” and “How to Keep it Green Underfoot”. But this time, well be discussing what’s in demand in the world of green building. Read on for Chris’s commentary about “Greening” your remodel.

Knock on wood (sustainable wood of course) that even with the current economic woes, being a green remodeler in SF is a good thing these days.   According the latest Remodeling Cost Vs Value Report, you can currently recoup 100% of your costs if you do a remodel of your kitchen, bathroom, basement as well as a deck addition and replacement of windows. 
 
And while greening your remodel may not increase your return on your investment (at least not yet), more and more people are asking that we “green their remodel” anyway.  
Here’s a list of what people are either asking for or what we are recommending:
 
Green Cabinets - Since most of our projects include a kitchen and/or bathroom, most of our clients have cabinets at or near the top of their list.  Bamboo is a popular choice but also a risky one due to the temptation to harvest the trees before they are mature enough which can lead to an inferior product.  Ask for FSC-certified bamboo now that is available.
 
Green Windows - Also referred to as “Low-E” windows, they have special glazing for using sunlight were it is needed (free heat and natural light) and deflecting the sun’s power when it’s not needed as well as glazing to minimize heat loss.  Specifying which window to use in which part of your house or building is called Passive Solar Design.  Most of the leading window manufacturers now offer a green window option.
 
Lighting - 50% of your lighting in your kitchen and bathroom must be energy efficient as required by the state’s Title 24 code.  We have been installing LED light strips under cabinets and LED light trim kits in recessed ceiling fixtures as an alternative to fluorescent fixtures since they don’t carry mercury which is a problem when it comes time to dispose of fluorescent bulbs. LED’s are also now available in different light spectrums including a warm option which is close to incandescent. 
 
Tankless Water Heaters - Also referred to as “On Demand” water heaters, they are more expensive than traditional water heaters but last longer and in most cases, more energy efficient and save water.  They come in different sizes based on usage so make sure to order the correct one or you could run out of hot water.


I hope that some of these ideas excite you.  If you have questions about green remodels or need advice on how to go green, contact us, we’re happy to help.
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Tags: Green Living in SF, SF Real Estate Info for Buyers, SF Real Estate Info for Sellers, San Francisco Local Resources by Luba
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Free Canvas Grocery Bags for Luba’s SF Real Estate Blog Readers

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A while ago I noted that San Francisco had put a ban on plastic grocery bags. Since then, many cities have followed suit, or at least have contemplated following suit.

The problem is that stores aren’t using the biodegradable starch based bags and instead are using paper bags - a big problem for tree lovers and trees alike. The problem is that while a paper bag won’t sit in landfill for thousands of years like a plastic bag will, it actually takes more energy to make a paper bag than a plastic bag.

My suggestion, although probably controversial, is stop selling paper bags too.

Stores can then charge anywhere from $0.10 to $0.25 a bag for the starch based bags. People will learn that you either need to pay up or bring your own bag. And stores can stop bitching that the starch based bags are too expensive and cut into their profits.

In Europe, everywhere I went I wasn’t handed a bag unless I asked for it, and paid for it. And no one complained.

My suggestion - bring your own grocery bags to the store with you.

What? You say you don’t have any reusable grocery bags? Give me a holler - I’ll hook you up with a free canvas grocery bag while I’ve got ‘em.

I apologize, but I am no longer shipping the bags outside of the San Francisco Bay Area. (I actually no longer ship the bags – I either drop them off locally, or leave them at my office for people to pick up.)

The bags are to help people “go green” but the amount of energy it takes to ship something as small as a canvas bag across the country is very wasteful, as is the packaging required to ship it.

I hope you understand and I apologize for any inconvenience.

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Tags: Green Living in SF, Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, San Francisco Local Resources, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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Open Shutter to the Past: San Francisco in Pictures - Golden Gate Bridge Toll (1955)

Welcome back to Photo Friday - my little way of taking a break from San Francisco Real Estate and instead blogging about our great City’s past instead. All photos are published with permission from the San Francisco History Center and San Francisco Public Library.

So I have been keeping up with the news about the Golden Gate Bridge toll increases, and thought I’d see if I could find some fun photos of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Lo and behold - I found a photo of from September of 1955 when the toll was actually decreased to $0.25!

The newscopy read:

“HERE’S GOOD NEWS FOR MOTORISTS–Gale Bei points to new toll which goes into effect on the Golden Gate bridge at 11 o’clock tonight.”

When the bridge first opened for transit in 1937, toll was 50 cents each way, $1 roundtrip, with a 5 cent charge if more than three passengers.  Over the next several years, toll slowly decreased until it had dropped to a mere $0.25 in each direction! 

Remarkably, that low toll was in place for 13 years until the policy was changed to $0.50, but that was just Southbound (like it is today).  It remained at that low price for another 6 years, until 1974 when toll started to creep upward ever faster. 

Today - the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District is moving towards a plan that will (they say) decrease traffic during peak times and encourage people to either go to work earlier or later, or to take public transportation. 

However, with bus fares and ferry fares not exactly being dirt cheap, I don’t forsee North Bay dwellers giving up the convenience of their vehicles to avoid paying the increase in toll and riding taking public transit instead.  (Although I can think of lots of other reasons to take public transit, especially with the reduced impact on the environment public transport can have, the high gas prices and  the fact that the ferry is just plain fun!)

For now though, frequent bridge crossers need not worry.  The increase isn’t scheduled to kick in until September 1st, so for now, you’re free to cross for the bargain price of $5. 

If you’re reading this and dreaming about the weekend - we won’t be having record breaking temperatures, but the forecast calls for sunshine and temperatures in the low to mid 60’s, which is still nice enough to back away from the computer and get outside and play! :-)  Have a great weekend!

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Tags: Green Living in SF, Misc Musings from Your San Francisco Realtor, SF Historical Photos, San Francisco History, San Francisco Local Resources, San Francisco News and Events by Luba
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