• Tap water tipping point?
    There’s something about San Francisco’s common sense move to limit bottled water in favor of tap water that’s captured the nation’s attention.  News stories keep popping up in local newspapers, and it’s been featured on national television.  Even the venerable New York Times has opined in praise of stuff that comes out the faucet.

  • Plastic bags still in the news
    And then there’s San Francisco’s ban on plastic grocery bags.  It comes into effect November 20 for supermarkets, and next May for drugstores.  If the articles like the one in Salon are any indicator, there’s a national change of mind happening around this issue, too.

  • SF Climate Challenge
    San Francisco has made an important U-turn: citywide greenhouse gas emissions have returned close to 1990 levels.  But if we’re going to make our ambitious goal of 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, businesses and residents will need to pitch in.

  • Neighborhood Empowerment Summit
    Join fellow San Franciscans for this first of its kind event, an all day summit that will offer a "one stop shop" for people who want make their neighborhood a better place to live. The Summit will feature a resource fair and break out sessions that are designed to not only raise awareness of great programs, but also explain with real life examples how to implement them to improve your community.

  • September is Green Building Month!
    Throughout the month, there are a host of green building events taking place across San Francisco. Check out our listings for more details.

neighborhood empowerment network

The Neighborhood Empowerment Summit will feature a workshop on what residents can do to fight global warming.



Meetings & Events

Wednesday, September 12
12pm - 1pm
Brown Bag: The Farallon Islands, SF's Hidden National Treasure

Saturday, September 15
9am - 12pm
Green Connect, District 2

10am - 1pm
Seed Saving Workshop

Sept. 20 - Sept. 22
West Coast Green Building Conference & Expo

Sunday, September 23
10am - 5pm
Build It Green Home Tour

Thursday, September 27
8am - 5pm
Green Tools for Healthy Schools Conference

7:30pm
A Gathering of Whales and Dolphins


More info on these meetings and events


Cole Hardware

 

Cole Hardware is a family run hardware retailer that emphasizes social and environmental advocacy in our community. They have received numerous awards including the United Nations Environmental Service Award, Urban Solution’s Neighborhood Business Award, and the Bay Guardian’s Best of the Bay. In becoming a Green Business, Cole Hardware:

  • Encourages the use of reusable shopping bags, has a “bring-your-own bag” incentive, and has discontinued using plastic bags.
  • Provides drop-off locations where SF residents can recycle rechargeable and household batteries, latex paint, fluorescent and CFL bulbs, and expired printer cartridges.
  • Promotes environmentally friendly products, and has created a logo so consumers can easily identify these products on store shelves.
  • Is committed to minimizing its environmental footprint through in-store recycling and composting, using low-mercury fluorescent lighting, earth-friendly cleaning supplies, refilled ink cartridges and paper product with a high percentage of recycled content.
Learn more about San Francisco's Green Business Recognition Program







For more information please visit sfenvironment.org or call (415) 355-3700.
SF Environment: Our home. Our city. Our planet.
SF Environment is the Department of the Environment for the City and County of San Francisco.