Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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.

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Contra Costa, Alameda counties embracing greywater systems

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.

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Carmel restaurant faces health dept. violations

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.

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

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Removal of a dead Eucalyptus dunnii performed by The Tree Doctor, Brisbane. Climber - Jack Price. Sawpod.co.uk Theclimbercartel.com.

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The Tree Doctor - Eucalyptus Dunnii Removal - Brisbane, Queensland. - Video

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By Jim Shilander

Following more than two hours of debate and public testimony on a potential view protection and tree removal policy, the San Clemente Planning Commission opted for the development of a comprehensive tree ordinance and then removal policy in conjunction with a larger effort.

The commission voted 5-1, with one member abstaining.

The City Council had asked three city bodiesthe Planning Commission, Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission and Golf Course Committeeto examine a policy that would allow residents to pay for the removal and replacement of trees on public land that block residential views.

The beaches commission voted earlier this month to discuss the proposal further and to develop the proposal with a subcommittee.

In addition, the Planning Commission voted to have city staff examine complaints of Broadmoor tract residents and those near the citys reservoir who had lost their views of the ocean in terms of safety using existing city policy.

San Clemente Times 2014. All Rights Reserved.

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Commission Asks for View Protection Compromise

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ELLICOTTVILLE It has been 18 months since Dal-Tile closed its ceramic tile plant in Olean, putting nearly 200 people out of work.

While there has been some interest shown by companies that have looked at the plant on East State Street near the city line, it remains unsold.

Corey Wiktor, executive director of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), told the IDA Board of Directors on Tuesday he has asked the Empire State Development Corp. to help pay for a consultant to help determine what type of manufacturing might best suit the plant which has rail access.

A real estate consultant would define the building and what it could offer other businesses, Mr. Wiktor explained. They would identify the businesses that need that type of structure. This would make it easier to market.

The taxes are paid (by Dal-Tile) and its kept up to (building) code, Mr. Wiktor said of the plant.

The contract with the real estate firm hired by Dal-Tile to market the plant has expired.

Mr. Wiktor said there are no guarantees Empire State Development Corp. will pay for the study, but it is a similar situation as the closing of two ConAgra plants in Chautauqua County at a cost of nearly 400 jobs. Empire State Development has agreed to fund a study of the best use of those vegetable processing and canning plants.

The IDA board also heard a presentation from John Bay, president and CEO of ENTECCO LLC of Rochester, which offers a mix of energy options to help companies get off the electrical grid and generate their own electricity. It can be done with no capital outlay by participating companies, he said.

The firm is looking to partner with the IDA to find prospective companies that could benefit from stable energy costs. A company would have the provide its electric bills for the past year for analysis to see if it would benefit.

Mr. Wiktor said one possibility might be to provide power to a corporate park near Dresser- Rand in Olean. There are also several Homer Street companies in Olean that might benefit from an independent power provider.

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Dal-Tile building remains unsold

Luke from East Brisbane asks:

I have decided to try my first do-it-yourself tile project. I will be putting a tiled floor in my bathroom, but am not sure which type to choose. I am confused by the various types that are available. Should I use porcelain, ceramic, natural stone, or something else?

Jane says:

Tiles are a product that will be in your home for years after theyre installed, so its worth investigating and understanding your options.

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Tiles are made out of several different materials and each has its advantages and disadvantages. For a bathroom, you will need a tile that is moisture and stain resistant. A tile with texture will be less likely to become slick.

Glazed ceramic tiles are a common type found at your local home improvement store. This material is durable and water resistant, but it also tends to have a slick, glass-like finish that can be slippery when wet.

Porcelain tiles combine the durability of ceramic with a low porosity, which means they will not absorb water and are very stain resistant. This material tends to be a popular choice for bathroom and kitchen floors. Porcelain styles are available that are almost indistinguishable from natural stone, giving you the beauty of stone with the durability and low maintenance of porcelain. This versatile material also comes in tiles that give the appearance of wood, which are ideal for rooms, such as basements, where the look of a wood floor can be combined with the qualities or porcelain.

Natural stone tiles come in a variety of types of rock, so it is vital to look at the specifications of the particular stone you are considering. Two popular stone tiles are travertine and slate. Travertine is popular in hot climates due to its cool feel. Slate is beloved for its colour variations, but it also has a rough, uneven texture that makes it difficult to use for flooring. All natural stone must be regularly sealed because it is not stain resistant.

If you are working in a room that has problems with unevenness, have concerns about tile weight, or you arent quite ready to use a tile saw, vinyl tiles may work for you. Vinyl tiles are light and easy to manipulate in difficult areas but of course cannot be continued through to the shower base as most tiles can.

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What sort of tiles for a bathroom?