Environment

SFSU Seeks to Reduce Water Consumption

Published

11 years ago

February 12, 2014

Despite this past weekend’s rain showers, drought conditions persist in California, and SF State is asking students, faculty and staff to cut back on their water usage.

Prolonged below-average rainfall — 2013 was California’s driest year on record — has depleted the state’s water supplies and led Governor Jerry Brown to declare a drought emergency. In making the declaration, Brown asked Californians to reduce their water use by 20 percent.

SF State is committed to doing its part to conserve water, said Sustainability Coordinator Nick Kordesch, and that conservation can come through a variety of methods. When washing their hands, students, faculty and staff can turn off the faucet while lathering. Students living in the residence halls can take shorter showers and turn off the water while shaving or brushing their teeth. And all members of the SF State community are encouraged to report leaky faucets or pipes to a building coordinator or resident assistant.

“Everything starts with individual actions,” Kordesch said. “If we’re going to get to 20 percent water reduction as a state, all of these conservation activities that people do on their own can make a difference.”

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability, SF State has undertaken a number of initiatives in recent years to reduce the campus’ water use. These include replacing lawns with natural grasses that require less watering; installing low-flow faucets, showers and toilets; and creating landscapes that reuse water, such as bioswales that collect rainwater and use it for surrounding plants.

In addition, said Senior Director of Facilities and Services Enterprises Chuck Meyer, the campus has begun installing modern irrigation controls and worked to fix leaks in underground pipes, and is investigating ways to reuse waste water from the campus fuel cell plant.

Altogether, the University reduced its annual water consumption by roughly a third since 2007.

“Some of the things we’ve already done are going to pay off during the drought,” Kordesch said, adding that SF State’s environmentally friendly mindset is an advantage during such conditions. “If each of our 30,000 students can make some adjustments to their water use, SF State can make a big difference collectively.”

In addition to reducing their own water use, Kordesch is encouraging all students, faculty and staff to spread the word among their friends and colleagues about the drought and reducing water use.

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Related Topics:biowales C governor jerry brown Jerry Brown San Francisco SF State water conservation water consumption

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California Black Media

Gov. Newsom Goes to Washington to Advocate for California Priorities

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation. During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

Published

4 weeks ago

November 26, 2024

Oakland Post

Gov. Newsom visits the White House on Nov. 14. Photo courtesy of Gov.Ca. Gov

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Gov. Gavin Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Biden-Harris Administration officials and members of California’s congressional delegation.

During the week, he pushed for increased resources to improve public safety and quality of life in California.

“California is continuing our work to secure additional tools and resources to improve access to health care, clean air and water, and secure critical funding to support communities recovering from disasters,” said Newsom.

At the White House, Newsom met with President Joe Biden and key officials, advocating for disaster relief funding, healthcare expansion, and environmental protection. He also engaged in discussions with senior Biden-Harris officials, including Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, to address water quality improvements and the San Luis Dam project, which will support water supplies for two million Californians.

“Building on our strong partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, California is working closely with the White House over the next two months to deliver the critical protections and resources our communities need,” Newsom said.

On Capitol Hill, Newsom met with California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, along with other Congressional leaders, to emphasize the need to approve pending disaster funding, healthcare programs, and environmental protections. He also previewed California’s upcoming special session to proactively address potential federal challenges when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn into office.

Newsom’s discussions also focused on securing Medicaid waivers from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to enhance behavioral health services and reduce homelessness. The state seeks approval for the BH-CONNECT waiver, which would address behavioral health and homelessness, and the MCO Tax Waiver, which would provide over $20 billion for Medi-Cal to improve healthcare access.

Additionally, California is pushing for Clean Air Act waivers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which are crucial for enforcing air quality regulations. These measures are projected to prevent 11,000 premature deaths and provide $116 billion in health benefits over the next three decades, according to the Governor’s office.

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Activism

LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

1 month ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
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Business

Gov. Newsom Issues Executive Order to Tackle Rising Electric Bills

Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order to help alleviate the financial burden of skyrocketing electric bills on residents. This directive instructs the state’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Energy Commission to identify strategies to lower electricity costs and prevent rapid increases in the future.

Published

2 months ago

November 6, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Among the key actions proposed, the governor emphasized a closer examination of utility expenditures related to wildfire mitigation, which accounts for about 13% of residential electric bills.

Newsom underscored the state’s commitment to balancing affordability with environmental goals.

“We’re taking action to address rising electricity costs and save consumers money on their bills,” said Newsom. “California is proving that we can address affordability concerns as we continue our world-leading efforts to combat the climate crisis.”

California now has the second-highest electric rates in the country, trailing only Hawaii, with residential bills having surged as much as 110% over the past decade. The largest utilities, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric, have seen rate hikes of 20% to 50% in just the last three years, approved by the state’s regulatory bodies.

The executive order also directs the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to explore increasing the California Climate Credit, which provides some relief on energy costs for residents. Additionally, the PUC is urged to pursue federal funding opportunities to further reduce electric expenses.

While consumer advocates welcomed the governor’s focus on lowering costs, concerns were raised regarding potential cuts to essential clean energy programs. CALPIRG, a consumer group, pointed out that the real issue behind high utility bills is wasteful spending by utilities and urged greater accountability.