Building & Remodeling • Transportation & Community Planning • Food & Garden
Save Energy & Water • Healthy Home, Healthy Living • Business Careers
The East Bay is one of the most eco-oriented communities in the world. We enjoy doing our part to help people live with the planet in mind. In our real estate work, we help our clients plan and execute Green remodeling projects and energy-efficiency upgrades. Realty Advocates is a member of the Sustainable Business Alliance, and agent Brett Weinstein is a member of the Green Resource Council and holder of the National Association of Realtors Sustainable Property Designation.
Here are some local resources to help you live Green:
REGREEN grew from a partnership of The American Society of Interior Designers' Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council to develop best practice guidelines and educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects.
Build It Green — Based in Berkeley, Build It Green is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote healthy, energy- and resource-efficient building practices in California. Their website offers extensive resources including a directory of Green building/remodeling professionals and a Green product directory. They offer workshops and events locally.
Building Concerns is committed to fostering a better understanding of ecologically appropriate designing, building and development principles and standards. Their directory of Northern California professionals includes architects, engineers, landscape designers and more.
Green Home Guide has articles, tips and listings of local professionals.
The ReUse People provides recycled building materials and helps contractors who decommission and reuse buildings rather than demolish and landfill them. They have a warehouse in San Leandro.
U.S. Green Building Council is the go-to organization on the national LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification requirements and process, as well as other Green building info.
TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNITY PLANNING
BART and AC Transit make it easy to take public transit and drive less.
East Bay Bicycle Coalition has routes and resources to help you ride safely and efficiently around the East Bay, and utilize BART and AC Transit with your bike.
Ecology Center is an excellent local resource center that has workshops, events, a store and much more. They are involved in many eco projects and services, from curbside recycling to the Berkeley Farmers' Markets.
Ecocity Builders — Founded by Richard Register in Berkeley, Ecocity Buildings is a non-profit organization dedicated to reshaping cities, towns and villages for long term health of human and natural systems.
Oakland Farmers' Markets include Rockridge/Temescal, Montclair, Old Oakland and Grand Lake where you can buy local and organic food fresh from the farm. Berkeley has several farmers' markets, too.
Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour is an annual tour of local gardens that feature native plants. More than 50 gardens located throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties will be showcased on this tour, which will take place on Sunday, May 2, 2010.
Berkeley Horticulture Center is a treasured garden center in North Berkeley where you can find an extensive selection of native plants and other plants that are appropriate for East Bay micro-climates.
SAVE ENERGY & WATER — SAVE MONEY AND REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Flex Your Power provides information about how you can save energy at home — by small changes in your behavior and by investing in energy-efficient appliances and heating/cooling systems.
PG&E's Solar Guide helps you determine if solar power might make sense for your home.
The Solar Map shows existing solar installations in Berkeley. They have a calculator that helps you estimate the potential size and cost for solar electric and hot water systems on any rooftop within the City and estimate a solar energy system to meet your energy needs.
Berkeley's office of Energy and Sustainable Development has energy info for residents and businesses.
East Bay Municipal Utility District provides our drinking water and helps us use water more efficiently, which can free up more water for the fish and other aquatic creatures — and save you money on your water bills.
The Greywater Guerrillas are a collaborative group of educators, designers, builders and artists who educate and empower people to build sustainable water culture and infrastructure. They teach people how to use "greywater" (water that flows down sink, shower and washing machine drains — but not the toilet) to irrigate gardens, saving water and money.
PG&E's Carbon Calculator helps you calculate the approximate carbon footprint of your home's energy use and your annual driving. Of course, your actual carbon footprint is much larger when you consider the CO2 emitted through things like: airplane travel; growing and shipping the food you eat; manufacturing and shipping your clothes, electronics, home furnishings; the energy involved in bringing you clean drinking water; etc.
Hazardous Waste Disposal — Alameda County provides info about household hazardous materials and how to dispose of them safely.
Alameda County Computer Resource Center makes it easy to dispose of old computers and electronics.
41pounds.org will stop your junk mail (including unwanted catalogs) and will make a donation on your behalf to the environmental organization you choose.
Freecycle is like a huge local yard sale — only everything is free!
Biobag sells biodegradable and compostable bags, including customized shopping bags for retailers or organizations.
Environmental Working Group provides scientific information about so many household products and practices, such as sunscreen, pesticides in produce, mercury in tuna and everyday pollution solutions.
City of Berkeley Parks & Recreation Department has park info as well as tree-planting and more.
City of Oakland Parks & Recreation Department is celebrating 100 years of service this year. From local Lake Temescal in Rockridge to Redwood Regional Park in the hills, Oakland offers many opportunities to get out and enjoy the natural world.
Sustainable Business Alliance gathers companies committed to greater environmentally and socially responsible business practices — including Realty Advocates.
Green job opportunities can be found at GreenBiz.com, TreeHugger, Green Jobs Network, Green Job Search and other sites that are springing up amid the Green wave.