| Action | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing Paved Surfaces on Your Property | Palo Alto - Green Roof Rebate |
The City of Palo Alto Storm Drain Utility is offering a rebate for Green roofs, also known as vegetated roof covers, eco-roofs or nature roofs, that help to mitigate the effects of urbanization on water quality by filtering, absorbing or detaining rainfall. In addition to their storm water benefits, green roofs also reduce the urban "heat island" effect, reduce CO2 levels, reduce summer air conditioning costs and winter heat demand, and help preserve habitat and biodiversity by providing an oasis of life in an otherwise sterile urban environment. |
| Building Resiliency and Connection on Your Block * | SF - Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN) |
NEN has conducted risk assessment and planning with the following neighborhoods through their Empowered Communities Program (ECP): Sunset, Diamond Heights, Brotherhood Way, Cayuga, Miraloma Park and Bayview. They have been piloting a program that supports communities as they work to achieve a pre-event condition that will allow them to... more |
| Making Your Water Heater Efficient | LA - Winterizing your water heater |
This article provides step by step instructions and youtube videos to show you how to insulate a typical water heater in Los Angeles. |
| Planting Gardens Together | SF - Urban Agriculture Alliance |
The San Francisco Urban Agriculture Alliance (SFUAA) promotes the growing of food within San Francisco through advocacy, education, and grassroots action. |
| Creating a Community Vegetable Garden | SF - Alemany Farm |
Alemany Farm grows food security and educates local residents about how they can become their own food producers. Everyone, young or old, experienced or still learning, is welcome to join the community workdays. New volunteers are encouraged to take an orientation tour of the farm at the beginning of the workday. |
| Cleaning Up After Your Dog | LA - Free Dog Waste Bags |
The City of Los Angeles offers free dog waste bags through this site. |
| Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) | SF - Biking Resources |
Check out San Francisco's Bicycling Coalition for urban cycling resources. Learn also about Bay Area Bike Share, the region’s bike sharing system. |
| Preparing for a Fire * | LA - Fire Safety |
The LA Fire Department provides resources on fire safety, evacuation, and how to respond to a fire. You and your neighbors can get professional advice on fire preparedness as well as help from volunteers in installing smoke alarms in your home. Feel moved to help others prepare? The Los Angeles Region is hosting fire safety events to help families prepare for and prevent home fires. They need volunteers to help install smoke alarms, complete fire safety checklists and create fire escape plans with local families. |
| Eating Lower On the Food Chain | Palo Alto - Library - Support for Vegetarian Eating |
Enjoy free drop-in Master Gardener Programs on third Thursday of the month (calendar). Check out materials on Cookery (645) and Gardening (735): books, DVDs, magazines (at Mitchell Park, Rinconada, Children's, Downtown and College Terrace libraries) and Zinio e-magazines. |
| Getting Cars to Slow Down | LA - Slow Down LA County |
Los Angeles County Neighborhood Traffic Management Program aims to enhance and protect the quality of life throughout the County by making neighborhoods safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, residents living in these neighborhoods and the motoring public by altering the behavior of motorists. These resources show you how to access the city’s programs to make your street a safer place to live. |
Our neighborhood. Our planet.
Resources
“Cities are the platform for change in our world today. The Cool Block links the challenges facing our planet to the intimate, personal, social scale of the city block. This program starts and ends with the premise and promise—that the individual, household, and neighbors are the way forward in the face of seemingly insoluble global problems.”
