Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sustainable Fairfax

Water Conservation Resources

by

Getting Started

Marin Municipal Water District Logo
MMWD –  Water Conservation Resources -check them out!!!
MMWD is a public agency that provides drinking water to 185000 people in a 147-square-mile area of south and central Marin County. Their website has great information about reservoir levels, conservation techniques, rebates, and more.

Are you looking for ways to reduce your water use and your water bill? Through MMWD’s Conservation Assistance Program (CAP), you can find personalized water use consultations for your home or business. Click here for more information.

How much water do YOU use?  Can you do Better? 

Explore water conservation with the water use calculator from the  Alliance for Water Efficiency

Tips from fellow Fairfaxians:

  1. Use a plate scraper instead of running water to scrape plates.  This is huge!
  2. Keep a wash bucket in your sink.  Use dirty water to pre-wash dishes.  Save clean rinse water to use for wiping counters.  (you also realize how much water goes down the drain when you collect it to make every drop count).
  3. Keep a large container in your shower to fill up waiting for the water to get hot.  You can save 2 gallons of water per shower!  Use it to flush toilets or water plants.
  4. Turn off your shower when soaping up.  You can easily install a quick cut-off valve right at your showerhead.  Seriously, it’s easy.
  5. ONLY run full laundry loads AND full dishwasher loads.
  6. Plant only drought tolerant plants.  Use lots of mulch to retain moisture.
  7. Replace water guzzler toilets with low-flush.  Still though, “If it’s yellow, let it mellow”.  You’ll save 10-20 gallon of water per day per person.

Water Conservation in the Home Landscape

Marin Master Gardeners  – Receive a free residential garden evaluation from a Marin Master Gardener. Get expert advice on water-wise planting and tips for a beautiful, healthy landscape. Click here for more info  

Marin Water – Green House Call .Receive a free indoor efficiency evaluation from one of California Youth Energy Services’ friendly and professional young staff, plus free installation of energy- and water-saving equipment. To learn more, go to www.marinwater.org 

Graywater

Greywater Action A collaborative group of educators, designers, builders, and artists who educate and empower people to build sustainable water culture and infrastructure. Using water from sinks, showers and washing machines to irrigate plants is a way to increase the productivity of sustainable backyard ecosystems that produce food and clean water

The County of Marin provides information on gray water systems with a “Laundry to Landscape” pamphlet.

Community Chats – Download materials on How to Electrify your Home!

by

Did you know that 88% of residential natural gas use in CA if for water and space heating? Electrify Marin is a county-wide effort that encourages Marin residents to replace gas powered appliances with electric ones to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve indoor air quality! 
But when your hot water or space heater implodes,  you don’t have time to think so you need to have a plan in place!
Sustainable Fairfax hosted 4-educational chats that overviewed the steps you can take to electrify, including understanding the rebates available today!  Download all of the session materials below.
Inspiration — Learn about why a family in Oakland made the commitment

CHAT DOWNLOADS:

Sept 3rd – WHY electrify and understanding the critical steps to replacing gas appliances. Video Recording of Zoom Chat – Click here to watch!! Download copies of Presentations – Ann Edminster’s great presentation; Electrify Marin’s presentation [great overview of available rebates!]

Sept 10th – We learned some of the components of putting a plan in place to replace your hot water and space heating systems; the importance of making your home energy efficient, and the rebates available. Video Recording of Zoom Chat – Click here to watch!!  Download copies of Presentations – Electrify Marin Chat #2; BayRen.

Sept 17th – We learned about battery as a back-up energy storage; the role of solar in resiliency, and benefits of Induction stoves.  Video recording of Zoom chat – click here! Online Guidance for Home Batteries.  Electrify Marin presentation.

Sept 24th – We reviewed the importance of phasing out all gas appliances and discussed heat pump clothes dryers, spas&hot tubs.  We reviewed the new technologies around electric fireplaces.  Video recording of Zoom chat – click here!   Electrify Marin presentation.

Thank you to Mark Chhabria from Electrify Marin and all our other contributors for making this a fun and informative series! Let us know if you have any questions at info@sustainablefairfax.org.

Past Chat: Recycling and Waste Minimization. Zoom and presentation links available.

by

Sustainable Fairfax Launches Community Chats.  Zoom with us to learn and discuss the ever-present importance of paying attention — to the stuff we buy and to the waste we create every day. Our actions, now as much as ever, matter. Talk to the Sustainability Coordinator from Marin Sanitary (our waste and recycling hauler) and some neighbors about today’s challenges, AND HOW YOU CAN HELP! We can ALL do better.

Date: Thursday, August 27th, 7:00-7:45 – PAST

PAST ZOOM CHAT LINK

Copy of Powerpoint Presentation

Are you Generating more Waste at Home During Covid? Bulk bin sections are closed, you can’t bring your own containers, and many people report more online shopping. But we can cook more food with less packaging, and we can do more shopping locally. It’s so important today to support our local stores.

Let’s zoom and chat about some of the strategies we are ALL doing to counter our waste epidemic!

Let us know if you have any questions at info@sustainablefairfax.org.

Changes Afoot at Sustainable Fairfax

by

Lots of changes at Sustainable Fairfax!  

An Opportunity to Renew, Recreate, Re-envision…
Sustainable Fairfax hums along through the generosity of time and commitment from many.

Elizabeth Baker has been a backbone of the organization from its earliest days.  For the last 8  years, Elizabeth has served as President of the Board and to our great sadness, has decided it’s time to focus on other projects and will be stepping down as President this summer.  We are delighted that Elizabeth will remain on the board. Elizabeth will continue to oversee the Free Community Seed Exchange and help organize homesteading workshops, Fairfax on Foot hikes and the Sustainable Film & Lecture series.

Renee Goddard is one of the earliest leaders and to this day, continues to bring new ideas for how we come together with an unfailing commitment to sustainability and community.  She was a main driver in the successful campaign to ban single-use plastic bags and created a new town event, Streets for People. Her vision for safe alternative transportation as well as zero waste education and implementation have contributed to our town’s identity as a leader in tackling climate change.  Renee is just a wee bit busy as our Mayor in this time of Covid-19.  While Renee will remain on the Board as an advisor, she is stepping down as the Vice President. We look forward to her continued vision and guidance for the organization.

We are grateful to these two women and are pleased that they both will continue to be involved.

NEXT STEPS! Sustainable Fairfax is ready to emerge with a new purpose that continues to nurture our families and community and protects our ecosystem. We need your ideas, leadership skills, and fresh perspective to refocus our efforts and create new programs, platforms and projects that meet the demands of these challenging times. Join us to work together AND bring your vision and people power..

If you are interested in participating in a leadership role in this new visioning and planning process, please call so we can chat. Laura Vernon 415-866-5377.

Thank you!

Sustainable Fairfax in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

by

Sustainable Fairfax stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

We are devastated by the gut-wrenching and needless death of George Floyd. The heartbreaking events of the last month have made the truth of present day America quite clear: racism continues to be deeply rooted in our present day society.

For us, this has been a time of deep listening, learning and introspection. Fairfax is 89% white, and Marin County is highly segregated due in large part to the racist housing policies of the past. As a center working toward a better future for all, we must work to dismantle the systems that tolerate racism and violence against people of color. There can be no climate justice without social justice.

What can we do as individuals and as an organization to become effective allies to people of color, and join with them to support the movement towards an equitable and sustainable world for all?  

Diversity, de-segregation and equity can only strengthen our community. Let us work together to make positive change, heal the deep wounds of the past, and honor the memories of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and the many others who have tragically lost their lives.

Stay Safe and Strong,
Sustainable Fairfax

“In a Racist Society it is not enough to be non-racist. 

We must be anti-racist.”

– – Angela Y. Davis

Fairfax Residents: Next Compost Delivery- Sat, June 27th

by

FREE COMPOST FOR FAIRFAX RESIDENTS.  Come and take advantage of the second compost delivery of the year from Marin Sanitary Service. This compost is made from the food and yard waste collected in our green curbside carts.

Date: Saturday, June 27, 2020 (available while it lasts)

Pickup Location: Fairfax Pavilion Parking lot next to the ballpark fence.

Photo Credit: Hana Peck

Masks and 6-foot distancing are required while collecting your compost. Only one person should shovel at a time.

To ensure there is enough to go around, please do not take more than five 5-gallon buckets (which provides a one inch cover for a 40 square foot garden).  Bring your own containers and shovels for collection.

Use of Compost: Compost is a soil amendment that improves the water-holding capacity and structure of your soil, but too much of it can harm your plants. It is recommended that you use no more than 1-2 inches on your annuals & perennials.

This compost is for Fairfax residents only and is not for commercial use.

Let us know if you have any questions at info@sustainablefairfax.org.