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Ecology & Biodiversity

13 02, 2024

2024 Sustainability Award Winner: Byrd’s Filling Station

2024-04-18T13:47:25-05:00

As San Mateo County’s first and only grocer focused on the sustainability of each product and the supply chain, Byrd’s Filling Station has reimagined a grocery store without single-use plastics. Since opening in May 2022, it has already eliminated over 100,000 pieces of single-use plastics. Laura Porter started Byrd’s Filling Station to give busy people one convenient place to find effective plastic-free, natural products. The store focuses on organic and/or non-GMO products and reusable or recyclable packaging. It also prioritizes local vendors to ensure a resilient, community-focused supply chain that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions. Byrd’s is a woman-owned business (WBE) [...]

2024 Sustainability Award Winner: Byrd’s Filling Station2024-04-18T13:47:25-05:00
31 01, 2024

The New Sustainability Ideas Bank: Online, Searchable and Downloadable!

2024-02-02T19:03:09-05:00

Implement new sustainability programs and policies in less time with fewer issues. Doing anything for the very first time is hard. There’s a learning curve. Like when I recently built kitchen cabinets. The first one was a painstaking process to figure out which pieces went together, in what order, which screws to use, how far to drill them in, etc. After the first one, I whipped out five more with ease. The same is true for designing policies and implementing programs to become more sustainable. Establishing a renter equity program, getting people to try an induction cooktop, establishing deconstruction waste [...]

The New Sustainability Ideas Bank: Online, Searchable and Downloadable!2024-02-02T19:03:09-05:00
11 10, 2023

2023 Indicators Report Launch Event

2024-10-02T16:25:34-05:00

The Well-Being of Children, Youth and Families in San Mateo County Sustainable San Mateo County’s 27th Annual Indicators Report was unveiled on October 26, 2023, at a free in-person event at the CZI Community Space in Redwood City. The report takes an in-depth look at the many factors affecting children, youth and families in our county. Read the press release. Read a summary of key facts in the report. At the event, SSMC’s Indicators Report Program Manager, Simone Vallone, shared some of the key findings and highlights of the Indicators Report, along with recommendations for next steps. Other [...]

2023 Indicators Report Launch Event2024-10-02T16:25:34-05:00
25 10, 2022

2022 Indicators Report Launch Event

2022-11-30T19:02:52-05:00

Building Electrification in San Mateo County, IR 2022 Launch Event Sustainable San Mateo County’s 26th annual Indicators Report was unveiled November 10 at a free in-person event hosted by Genentech. This year, we took a deep dive into examining San Mateo County's progress on building electrification, with a special look at the existing building stock. SSMC's Indicators Report Program Manager, Sarah Cassanego, shared some of the key findings and highlights of our Indicators Report, along with recommendations for next steps. Read the 2022 Indicators Report Read our press release Watch videos of the Indicators Launch event: Entire program [...]

2022 Indicators Report Launch Event2022-11-30T19:02:52-05:00
23 11, 2021

Focus on Biodiversity

2021-11-23T11:35:48-05:00

For the October Sustainability Happy Hour, we looked at biodiversity (the variety of life found within a particular ecosystem or habitat) in the Bay Area. We were joined by two knowledgeable experts, Sophie Christel from Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and Annie Burke from TOGETHER Bay Area. They shared strategies being employed by groups across the region to address the many challenges to biodiversity, exacerbated by climate change. Sophie Christel kicked off the evening explaining that the Bay Area is one of only 34 biodiversity hotspots on Earth. The region’s diverse geology and topography, combined with the coastal influence, creates [...]

Focus on Biodiversity2021-11-23T11:35:48-05:00
17 07, 2021

San Mateo County Gets Ready for Wildfire Season

2021-07-17T23:01:08-05:00

In 2020 alone, while nearly 2.5 million Californians were infected by COVID-19, nearly 10,000 fires burned 4.2 million acres across the state (The New York Times 2021, Cal Fire 2020). That is more than one football field’s worth of land burned for each Californian infected by COVID-19. Fire preparedness is pivotal to preserving the health of our surrounding ecosystems and communities. As a local resident, I wanted to learn more about what work is being done to prepare for wildfires this year. I reached out to Samuel Herzberg, a Senior Planner at the San Mateo County Parks Department, and Portola [...]

San Mateo County Gets Ready for Wildfire Season2021-07-17T23:01:08-05:00
30 06, 2021

Just How Bad Is the Drought?

2021-06-30T20:33:25-05:00

On June 22, Santa Clara County’s Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency due to this year’s extreme drought conditions. To date, 2021 ranks as the second driest year for California, with 1977 being the driest year on record. Yet San Mateo County hasn’t asked residents to cut back water use. Why? At our June Happy Hour, Tom Francis explained that San Mateo County’s water reserves are in much better shape than many jurisdictions in the state. As Water Resources Manager at the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), Tom tracks water levels closely. He said 85 percent [...]

Just How Bad Is the Drought?2021-06-30T20:33:25-05:00
30 01, 2021

Virtual Happy Hour

2021-01-30T15:41:22-05:00

For our first Happy Hour of 2021, we welcomed Dr. Mathis Wackernagel, cofounder of the Ecological Footprint and President of  the Global Footprint Network. He explained different ways to view how humans have impacted the planet and we discussed how we can all tread more lightly on our planet. As we add up all the demands we make on our planet, Mathis and his colleagues estimate that we are using more than the earth can renew. In fact, we are using about 1.56 earths when we should actually use half an earth in order to maintain a stable climate and [...]

Virtual Happy Hour2021-01-30T15:41:22-05:00
26 09, 2020

2021 Indicators Report Launch

2021-10-21T12:20:46-05:00

2021 Indicators Report Focuses on Equitable Housing At the launch of our 25th annual Indicators Report on October 19, speakers outlined the challenges facing the need for more affordable, equitable housing as well as some proven solutions that are making it happen.Panelists were:Rick Bonilla, Deputy Mayor, San MateoDiana Reddy, Council Member, Redwood CityMatt Franklin, Chief Executive, MidPen HousingSee a video of the Indicators Report LaunchRead a blog about the eventRead the Indicators Report on Equitable Housing About the Speakers Rick Bonilla joined the San Mateo City Council in 2015 after serving on city commissions since 2001. He [...]

2021 Indicators Report Launch2021-10-21T12:20:46-05:00
27 07, 2020

Indicators Report

2024-07-31T12:57:51-05:00

About the Indicators Report Sustainable San Mateo County has been tracking sustainability progress in the county since 1997 through its annual Indicators Report. This report provides fact-based information on sustainability indicators and local trends impacting San Mateo County’s economy, environment and social equity. Since its inception, the Indicators Report has been welcomed as a credible source of information by governments, businesses, civic groups and nonprofit organizations that use it to set goals, measure progress and prioritize resource allocation. Propelled by the philosophy that “what gets measured, gets managed,” the report presents metrics, success stories and showcases positive changes that [...]

Indicators Report2024-07-31T12:57:51-05:00
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