Why Should 1BOG Members Care about Water Conservation? by jessica

Last week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he would be introducing new renewable energy projects in San Francisco through the San Francisco Sustainable Financing Program (now called GreenFinanceSF).  Legislation like this has typically only addressed solar installations in the past, but GreenFinanceSF will also cover energy and water efficiency.

“San Francisco Sustainable Financing will help residential and commercial property owners finance the next wave of renewable energy development in San Francisco,” said Mayor Newsom. “This innovative program will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it will also fuel the continued expansion of green jobs in San Francisco.”

This is certainly good news for the San Francisco 1BOG community as it provides more financing options for going solar.

Here at 1BOG we are also excited about the water conservation aspect of SF2. In addition to putting solar panels on your home and getting an energy efficiency retrofit from 1BOG partner Recurve, 1BOG encourages homeowners to conserve natural resources. Water is a global issue, not just here in California, where we have limited water resources and a continuously growing population, but around the world.

The rationale behind water conservation is more than the imminent threat of shortages and droughts –the United Nations estimates that by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will face periodic and often severe water shortages.

There are also major energy implications associated with water use. Tap and irrigation water has been filtered, treated, transported and stored for urban use. These processes use energy and therefore impact a home’s carbon footprint. According to the EPA, letting a faucet run for five minutes uses the equivalent amount of energy as leaving a 60 watt light bulb on for 14 hours.

What can homeowners do?
1. Conserve water by being mindful of the amount of water used
2. Invest in water saving water efficient appliances for indoor and outdoor use
3. Have your home audited for water efficiency

While 1BOG’s main focus is solar, we are committed to promoting a lifestyle that supports renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation of natural resources.  In order to truly transition to renewable energy resources, programs like SF2 are essential to increasing awareness and making it affordable for people to adopt energy efficiency practices.