Almost everyone in California is talking about the drought: East Bay residents are doing something about it.

Sustainable Contra Costa co-founder and president Tina Neuhausel is using her Walnut Creek home as a proving ground for energy- and water-conservation. Clayton homeowner Linda Cruz recently installed a greywater system. And Oakland-based Greywater Action is leading workshops, presentations and community forums on sustainable water-use practices throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

Greywater systems capture household water from sinks, washing machines, showers and baths, and redirecting the resource to irrigate ornamental plants and fruit trees instead of discharging it into storm sewers.

Using simple plumbing materials, water that contains no toxic substances (like bleach, sodium, boron or shampoos) can also supply essential nutrients to vegetables, as long as it doesn't touch edible parts of the plants.

Laura Allen, Greywater Action co-founder, noted, "Water conservation and reusing greywater is critical this dry year: we must all find ways to use less water in our homes and communities so that we can live in balance with our water supply, and restore and protect our natural water ecosystems."

Now living in Southern California, but still active in the organization, Allen has conducted a study of 83 residential greywater systems in the greater Bay Area and is finishing a book about drought-proofing landscapes, with expected publication by Storey Publishing in January.

For the simplest laundry-to-landscape systems, materials are approximately $200. Depending on how much digging to prepare mulch basins and trenches for burying pipes a homeowner is willing to do, labor for installation of low-tech systems is under $500.

Or, it's entirely free, as it was for Cruz. The 34-year resident agreed to have her home be the site of a Sustainable Contra Costa workshop operated by GWA, after another home presented cement deck problems.

"I was signed up for the workshop and they asked if we'd do it," Cruz recalls. "My husband ... was impressed that there were people who really want to learn. We had people from Sacramento, Half Moon Bay, Salinas -- all over Northern California."

Cruz says she recycled household water during droughts in the '70s and '80s, but then, it was via a hose her husband hooked up to to the washing machine. Every spin cycle, she'd dash out and water the lawn. Now, with arthritis limiting her sprinting days, she's loving the greywater system's three-way valve (allowing her to direct water into sewer channels, or not) and has a small, immersible sump pump to push water from baths to the landscape.

Go here to see the original:
Contra Costa, Alameda counties embracing greywater systems

Syracuse (WSYR) - You could be one of thousands receiving what are being called "thank you" kits from national grid in the mail - some of you want to know what's The Real Deal here.

The kits are mailed to you in little boxes. Inside, you'll get a shower head and an aerator, which goes on your sink faucet. You'll also get directions on how to install both of these, along with information on National Grid's energy efficiency rebates.

National Grid tell says these kits are being sent to around 16,000 Upstate New York customers as a thank you for participating in one of the company's energy efficiency rebate program.

The shower head and aerator are meant to save you money on heating costs. National Grid estimates about $85 in savings over the year for the shower head and about $40 for the aerator. Both are expected to last for 10 years before they need to be replaced.

Along with these cost saving measures, National Grid also recommends you set your hot water heater to 120 degrees fahrenheit.

This kit is also meant to get customers thinking about some of the company's new energy rebate programs. Some are just now starting up and involve incentives for many energy saving measures, including hot water heater equipment. You can go to National Grid's website for more information on how to apply for these programs.

If there's something you want The Real Deal about, give us a call anytime. the number is 446-9900, or you can e-mail: YourStories@LocalSYR.com.

Continued here:
'Thank you' kits for National Grid Customers: The Real Deal

His pilot's license fresh in his hands, an Indiana teenager set out in June for the adventure of a lifetime: an around-the-world flight with

The parents of a construction worker who was killed on Interstate 69 on May 9 are speaking out and hoping for change.

The plane of an Indiana father-son team attempting to fly around the world has crashed after taking off from American Samoa.

Concern was growing for an Indiana group of religious tourists who flew to Israel just before all U.S. airlines were grounded from leaving or

The Indiana Department of Child Services handles cases appropriately most of the time, but "there's always room for change," said a leader

A Lake County judge struck down Indiana's right-to-work ban on certain union fees in a second legal blow to the contentious law passed in 2012.

Originally posted here:
Carmel restaurant faces health dept. violations

The following building permits were issued between March 30-April 5 in Mundelein. They are presented as they appear in public records.

Permit: Commercial Address: 220 Oak Creek Plz, Mundelein Issue date: March 31 Permit covers: Remove drywall to view bottom plate where damage occured. Permit cost: $35 Improvement value: $0

Permit: Single family Address: 1365 Kettering Rd, Mundelein Issue date: March 31 Permit covers: Replacement of a 50 gallon gas water heater. Permit cost: $45 Improvement value: $780

Permit: Single family Address: 445 Hickory St, Mundelein Issue date: March 31 Permit covers: Tear off of roof. Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $6,000

Permit: Single family Address: 229 Dunton Ct, Mundelein Issue date: March 31 Permit covers: Tear off of roof. illinois state roofing license#104.016452 105.006198. Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $3,600

Permit: Single family Address: 418 N California Av, Mundelein Issue date: March 31 Permit covers: Install a low voltage wireless security system Permit cost: $25 Improvement value: $99

Permit: Single family Address: 574 Farina Ct, Mundelein Issue date: April 1 Permit covers: Replace driveway & front walkway. all work to be done in concrete. Permit cost: $35 Improvement value: $5,480

Permit: Commercial Address: 551 N Lake St, Mundelein Issue date: April 2 Permit covers: Modify/upgrade existing hood & duct system to protect (2) hoods, (3) ducts & new appliances Permit cost: $70 Improvement value: $2,800

Permit: Single family Address: 52 S Hawthorne Bl, Mundelein Issue date: April 2 Permit covers: Foundation repair/underpinning Permit cost: $35 Improvement value: $6,700

Permit: Single family Address: 513 E Orchard St, Mundelein Issue date: April 2 Permit covers: Install a subfloor drainage system with existing sump pump and pit Permit cost: $45 Improvement value: $3,000

Read the original here:
Building Permits, March 30-April 5

Think for a second how much energy is literally washed down the drain when you take a shower. Not the water itself just the energy thats lost when you heat up said water, pump it through a series of pipes to your showerhead, and then let all that warm goodness run straight down your body and into a hole in the floor. By some estimates, 80 to 90 percent of the energy it takes to heat that water ends up going straight to the sewer. Considering the fact that the energy required to heat water is one of the biggest energy expenditures at home (right behind heating/cooling/ventilation), thats a monumental waste of juice. But not to worry; theres a new device on the market that could help to recapture some of that wasted energy.

Its called EcoDrain, and while its definitely not a new concept, its a fresh new take on an old idea, and finally makes waste heat recovery a viablepossibility for regular homeowners.

Waste heat recovery systems and drain heat exchangers have been around for years, but unfortunately havent been widely adopted in residential spaces because theyre typically somewhat expensive and difficult to install. To this day, most heat recovery systems are designed to be installed vertically, which limits the places they can be installed to newly-constructed homes, or bathrooms with at least five feet of vertical drain runs. In other words, theyre either difficult or downright impossible to retrofit into your home.

EcoDrain, on the other hand, is designed to be installed horizontally, which allows it to be mounted much closer to the source of hot water, i.e. your shower drain. Because of this, its able to catch waste water much sooner than traditional systems when the water is at its hottest and thereby recycle more energy. EcoDrain is also relatively easy to install according to its creators. It requires no electricity and has no moving parts, so as long as youre a savvy DIYer whos comfortable doing your own plumbing work, putting one under your shower should be fairly painless.

Check out the video below for a simple explanation of how it works.

As you can see, despite EcoDrains radically different design, it works justlike a traditional waste heat exchanger. With traditional systems, as warm water flows down the waste drain, incoming cold water flows through a spiral copper tube wrapped tightly around the copper section of the waste drain. This preheats the incoming cold water that goes to the water heater or a fixture. Ecodrain works in almost exactly the same way, but does away with the spiral tube in favor of a full-on wastewater reservoir, which helps maximize heat transfer to the fresh water pipe. Furthermore, in addition to this large waste heat changer, EcoDrains creators also incorporated their own turbulator design into the unit, which agitates the water and increases the rate of heat transfer even further, but without reducing water pressure.

The company claims that by installing just one EcoDrain heat exchanger in your home, you can recover as much as45% of the waste heat from your shower drain. Theyre currently selling units at a base price of $440, which is a bit on the spendy side, but could definitely be a worthwhile investment in the long term if you use a lot of hot water.

See more here:
EcoDrain recycles the wasted heat from your shower water

There's a new program aimed at helping property owners cut back on pollution, water use, and energy. It's called Home Energy Retrofit Opportunity (HERO) and it's making its way to Monterey.

It's a national program the city of Monterey will offer this December, giving homeowners a chance to cut back on their energy and water bills.

You can fill out an application online and if you qualify, you can upgrade your home's insulation, install energy efficient windows, solar panels and high efficiency toilets and shower heads, even graywater systems for example.

Online: Home Energy Retrofit Opportunity

It's a sustainable opportunity Monterey city leaders are hoping the community will take advantage of, especially, during the drought.

"We all know we're in a drought now and if you can have someone come in your house and say if I can put in an energy efficient water heater, an on-demand water heater and you can reduce your consumption, that's a good thing," Monterey's General Services Superintendent George Helms said.

You must be a property owner to qualify. Once you qualify and take out a low interest loan from the program, you can start upgrading your home. You only make one payment a year that's added to your property taxes and interest from the loan is tax deductible.

Contractors hired to install energy efficient appliances and retrofit your home must be registered with the program.

Read more here:
HERO program coming to Monterey

Step 1

Drain the Tank

1. Turn off the water and gas supply. 2. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve and empty the tank. 3. Turn on a hot water faucet to allow air into the system.

Disconnect the Gas Line and Water Lines

1. Disconnect the gas line using two pipe wrenches - disconnect the gas line at the union fitting if the pipe is galvanized or at the flare fitting if the gas supply line is copper. 2. Using two adjustable wrenches or pipe wrenches, disconnect the water lines above the tank. If the piping has been soldered into place, use a hacksaw or tubing cutter to cut the pipe. Make sure the cuts are straight.

Detach the Gas Exhaust from the Flue Hat

1. Remove the screws connecting the vent to the water heater using a screwdriver ornut driver. 2. Remove the old water heater you may require help for this because older water heaters may tend to fill with sediment and are heavier than new ones.

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How To Install a Gas Water Heater at The Home Depot

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