SCOCO INSIGHTS - MARCH 2021
The Birds and The Bees (and The Butterflies!)
STAY CONNECTED:
The Need For Milkweed
In the 1980s, monarch butterflies filled trees from Marin County to San Diego County during their migration season. This year, the Xerces Society reported only 1,914 monarch butterflies overwintering (the process by which organisms pass through or wait out the winter season) on the California coast. This is a 99.9% percent fall from the 1980s, a truly shocking statistic. Following two years of less than 30,000 butterflies, it appears that the western monarch butterfly migration is nearing its demise. 

For decades, the monarch population in the West has suffered most from the loss of habitat, specifically the destruction of their California overwintering sites as well as the loss of both milkweed for caterpillars and the migration fuel provided by flowers. They’re also heavily impacted by climate change and pesticides. Despite these incredibly sobering statistics, it is important to remember that now is a critical time to try and help their population as much as possible. One way to do this is by visiting the Monarch Joint Venture’s Monarch Conservation Plan for ideas on how to conserve the monarch butterfly migration. 

Another way to do this is by planting milkweed. Milkweed is both a food source and the sole host plant for monarch eggs that are laid on the underside of the leaves. There are over 100 native species of this wildflower...
It’s not unusual to talk about being sexually responsible when it pertains to birth control or preventing sexually transmitted infections, but what about when it’s good for you, your partner, AND the planet? According to Hank Green, a blogger at EcoGeek.org, condoms are “the single most important environmental innovation.” He concedes they aren’t solar powered, reusable, or recyclable, “but they’ve made the environmental revolution possible. As simple birth control they leave behind happier, healthier societies with significantly less impact on the planet. That is the power of true innovation.”

Are Condoms Biodegradable?

The break down of condoms in landfills has never been studied, but technically, since latex is a natural substance made from the sap of rubber trees, both latex and lambskin condoms could be considered biodegradable. (See "What Are Lambskin Condoms?") Unfortunately, additives like spermicide or phthalates would impede the process. Washing and reusing condoms is definitely not advisable because it can compromise their efficacy, and neither male nor female/internal condoms made from polyurethane or plastic are recyclable. Neither is the plastic or foil from the packaging. The best rule of thumb is to wrap any type of used condoms in tissue and dispose of in the trash. Never flush condoms down the toilet because they can clog plumbing or, worse, make it to our waterways.

Sustainable Condom Brands

When condoms are manufactured, liquid latex must be heated to the point it becomes solid, and this process produces carcinogenic chemicals called nitrosamines. Factory workers are exposed to especially high levels. The good news is some condom companies are coming up with more environmentally friendly methods of manufacturing condoms...
How And Why To Help Create A Dark Sky
A satellite photo of the earth at night provides a colorful indication of where cities and towns are located. The east and west coasts of the United States are lit up like a swarm of fireflies, along with the big cities of Europe and elsewhere. These images can also indicate when a city or region has “gone dark” because of a power outage. But there is a cost to all that light pointed at the night sky. Bright lights at night pose a threat to animal and plant life and they also represent wasted energy—estimated to be in the billions of dollars for electricity in the United States alone—and also a threat to animal and plant life.

A washed-out night sky makes it harder to get that feeling that we are a part of something enormously bigger than ourselves. Taking a walk at night, you might see two constellations and maybe Venus, Mars and scattered stars on a clear night. The other stars and our edgewise galaxy would be visible but for all the wasted light coming from the streetlights, our neighbors’ security lights, and downtown lighting. Not only does this “light pollution” waste energy and adversely impact the health of living things, but it also robs many of us from seeing the wonder of a star filled night...
Secondhand Technology:
Save Money And Help The Environment
In our last newsletter, we wrote about the importance of buying secondhand, and secondhand clothes in particular. But have you ever considered buying technology like cell phones, computers, or cameras second hand? Purchasing pre-owned technology can save you a lot of money and also drastically reduces the greenhouse gas emissions produced over the life of a device. According to Apple's 2018 Environmental Responsibility Report, 77% of the carbon footprint of their electronics comes from manufacturing, versus the 17% that comes from actual use. 

Of course, any product requires resources to produce, but electronic devices can be harmful to human and environmental health, long after initial users dispose of them. In 2018, the world's population generated about 50 million metric tons of electronic waste--equal to the weight of 6,850 Eiffel Towers. Most of this could be reused or recycled, but the vast majority goes to landfills. Though we may sometimes forget about where our waste goes, electronic waste in particular is especially pernicious. Most e-waste is exported from countries like the United States and the UK to countries in the Global South, which cannot cope with the massive amounts of discarded devices being dumped. In electronic dumps such as in Accra, Ghana, workers wade through piles of waste and sort through it by hand to recover some of the materials. This type of hazardous work environment and toxic air pollution leads to respiratory illnesses and contaminated food sources. Similar issues, such as child labor and life threatening conditions involved in mining for rare metals like cobalt are rampant in the production of devices. 

Electronics retailers also make us think that we need the newest version of their device to stay "up to trend", or access the newest features. According to RESET, a platform sharing digital social and green innovations for sustainable development, "Over 60 percent of mobile phone sales are replacements for already-existing phones, 90 percent of which are still functioning when they are discarded..."
Water Options: Saving A Precious Resource
The California Energy Commission estimates that California uses approximately 20% of its total energy on moving, treating, and heating water. Due to drought and the increasing demand for water for agriculture, domestic and commercial use, our aquifers are being emptied far faster than they are being filled. But we can all be part of the solution to our water conservation challenges.

The Environmental Protection Energy (EPA) has been encouraging water and energy savings through the WaterSense program, which educates homeowners on the most water-efficient practices. It also labels the best fixtures such as showerheads, faucets, and toilets with the WaterSense label, much like the Energy Star label for appliances. And it labels new homes that sip water and use less energy for hot water. House design elements can include placing water heaters in close proximity to fixtures, insulating hot water pipes, or using on demand hot water systems for showers. We use about half of our indoor water in the bathroom!

In general, we use more water on landscaping in the spring, summer, and fall than we use indoors. Combined, home indoor and outdoor water use averages 82 gallons per person. We'll cover outside watering in a future article.

There are resources and encouragement closer to home. The Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge recommends actions to save energy, reduce emissions, and save water inside and outside the home...
Sustainable Leaders in Action

Sustainable Leaders in Action, or SLIA, is the youth leadership branch of Sustainable Contra Costa that is 100% youth-led. Made up of both high school and college students, SLIA works together to promote the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge and to educate youth on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle and encourage cleaner living in our communities.


Make sure to check SLIA's recruitment event on March 22nd. Details below.

New on Instagram!

Sustainable Contra Costa is excited to announce that we now have an Instagram account for the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge! The Challenge is a free online platform where you can work with others to take sustainable actions in your household. This way, you can save money in your home AND fight climate change. Follow us at @cleanercontracosta for action ideas in English and Spanish!

Upcoming Events
You can find virtual and remote-learning options for many wonderful events. Here are a few...  

We all know that wasting less food is good for our wallets and the environment. But if you’re not sure where to start with trying new recipes or meal planning, check out this special event with Chef Alison of Ends+Stems!
 
Chef Alison will share tips and demonstrate recipes to help you prevent food waste, save money, and make cooking easier!

Wednesday, March 3rd
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Online event

Are you a student interested in sustainability, climate change, or the environment? Do you wish you could have a bigger impact on the pressing issues the world faces today? Would you like to reduce your household’s carbon emissions? Join Sustainable Contra Costa’s youth leadership team, Sustainable Leaders In Action (SLIA) for a fun, interactive recruitment event! Come meet the team, see the work we do and get a feel for what SLIA is all about.

This event is open to both high school and college students. 

Monday, March 22nd
7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Online event
FREE

While the mild Bay Area climate allows for year-round gardening, with the first days of spring upon us, new and experienced gardeners are eager to get their hands into the soil. Since 1983 the UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County has been providing research-based information, guidance, and support to Contra Costa gardeners. Our guests will share the amazing array of FREE educational resources the UC Master Gardener Program has available to help you with just about any gardening situation. From drought-tolerant planting to fruit trees, from pest control to patio pots, they can help with all of it. We'll also get a "sneak peek" of an upcoming MGCC webinar. Have you ever wondered about completing the training to become a UC Master Gardener volunteer yourself? We'll talk about that too!

Wednesday, March 24th
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Online event
FREE
Please take a moment to support Sustainable Contra Costa. Donate to help us engage thousands of Contra Costa residents in new and exciting ways to help them reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Together we can make a difference!
 

And remember, if you become a Sports Basement Basementeer, you'll receive 10% off every item every day, while 10% of profits are donated back to SCOCO!

We always encourage you to shop locally when you can, but if you need to shop online, check out GoodWallet or if you use Amazon, don't forget to use AmazonSmile, and your purchases will support Sustainable Contra Costa! AmazonSmile is now available in the Amazon app.




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