How can we know where we're going if we don't know where we are?

Think about all of the indicators we use everyday to make our lives better - the weather page, traffic reports, financial indexes. We hop on the scale to find out how the diet's going (or not going...). Community Pulse provides similarly consistent and easily accessible feedback on environmental issues.

We're excited that within a few short weeks we'll be providing information not only for Sonoma County, but also Napa County, as well as the entire state of California! Until then we'd like to offer you the opportunity to be one of the first to sign up for our new weekly updates. We'll send you a quick, fun email each week about one of the issues.


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Current Data: Sonoma County

May 2008

107 lbs.

Target

Increase diversion by 10%

Key Facts: Every year more than 1 billion plastic bottles that could have been recycled end up in California's landfills. They leach toxins and take 500-1,000 years to biodegrade. Why not buy a stainless steel water bottle and use it for the rest of your life?

Americans use 60,000 plastic bags every five seconds. Buy organic cotton bags you can reuse for years and bring plastic grocery bags back to supermarkets who handle their recycling.

Is this recyclable? Find out at RecycleNow.org

Ready for a few laughs? Check out addressthemess.com

Current Data: Sonoma County

Water Use Per Capita

May 2008

Santa Rosa: 130 gallons PER DAY

Target

Reduce demand 20%

Key Facts: We’ll let you in on a secret:  40% of “pure” bottled water is nothing more than good ol’ tap water. The federal standards for tap water are actually higher than those for bottled water!!

Many faucets use as much as 3-5 gallons/minute and many showers use as much as 5-10 gallons/minute. By installing faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads you can save over 3,000 gallons per year. If you're connected to city water you can get these goodies for FREE!

Need a trendy reusable bottle? Visit mysigg.com

For more water-saving tips: Go to H2ouse.net

Current Data: Sonoma County

CO2 Emissions Per Capita

May 2008

1265 lbs.

Target

Reduce by 20%

Key Facts: How much time do you really save accelerating from 60 to 70 mph? Keep in mind that fuel economy drops 17% between 55 and 70 miles per hour.

It takes a lot of energy to heat water and that energy use translates into CO2 emissions. Keep the knob switched to "Cold" on the washing machine and use concentrated detergent that doesn't contain unnecessary amounts of water and is lighter to transport.

Ensure clean air for kids! biofuels4schools.org

method - people against dirty: Trendy and earth-friendly cleaning products available at Target

Current Data: Sonoma County

Energy Use Per Capita

May 2008

420 kWh

Target

351 kWh (25% below 1990 by 2015)

Key Facts: If your hair can air dry your dishes can too. Turn off the drying cycle on the dishwasher and save 15-50% of its energy use. Before you run the next load make sure your water heater isn't "over-heating" (120 degrees is plenty hot).

Replacing rickety old appliances will repay you down the road. A new front-loading washer can cut the energy you use doing laundry by 50%, plus save you money on water and detergent. PG&E offers rebates for homeowners who choose high-efficiency appliances and light, heating and cooling systems.

PG&E Save With Rebates

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