Sustainable Moraga

The following websites provide you with general resources and access to local entities dedicated to advancing sustainability:

Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge
Contra Costa County Resource Conservation District
Contra Costa County Sustainability
MCE Community Choice Aggregation Program
Sustainable Contra Costa

Going green does not have to be expensive. Government entities and utility providers offer ways to reduce costs while using renewable energy, installing energy efficient appliances, and hardening your home for climate change. Learn about financial incentives that make sustainable choices affordable:

Rebates and Credits Open to Everyone
East Bay Municipal Utility District Conservation and Rebate Program
Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
Golden State Rebates
MCE Programs and Offers

Income Restricted Programs
MCE Home Energy Savings
Weatherization Program

Businesses face many climate change related risks and can take steps now to become climate resilient. Numerous sustainability incentives and services are available to businesses to encourage and recognize greener business practices.

BayREN Business Upgrades
California Green Business Network
MCE Commercial Energy Savings Program
Recycling and Organics Services for Businesses
Sustainable Contra Costa Leadership in Sustainability Award
TECH Clean California Incentive Lookup For Contractors

Sustainable landscaping helps preserve limited resources, reduce waste, and prevent pollution. A sustainable landscape can also be easier to maintain, requiring less maintenance and promoting a longer lasting natural landscape. The following resources help you discover how you can promote conservation and improve your local ecosystem by making sustainable choices for your lawn:

California Native Plant Society
Moraga Garden Club
UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County

Water scarcity is a global concern and one that sustainability can help fight. Taking steps to reduce water use and protect local waterways helps keep our community healthy and prepared for emergencies. Explore these resources for sustainable water use.

Contra Costa Clean Water Program

Drought & Water Efficiency Resource Center 

Save Our Water

WaterSense

Energy is an essential resource, but also a major contributor to our carbon footprint. Phasing out non-renewable energy and utilizing renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, is clean, easy, affordable, and good for the environment. Find out more about clean energy options below.

Bay Area Regional Energy Network

Contra Costa County Home Energy and Improvement Programs

Home Energy Score

PG&E Clean Energy

Project Sunroof Solar Analysis

The prevention and elimination of waste is a crucial aspect of sustainability. Properly managing waste and no longer wanted items can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy consumption due to manufacturing, and decrease the need for continued extraction of new materials.  Learn more about what to do with your waste to minimize its environmental impact.

CalRecycle

Hazardous Recycling and Waste Disposal

RecycleSmart of Contra Costa County

Reuse, Repair and Thrift Tool

Yard, Garden, and Pet Waste

Greener alternatives exist to fossil fuel powered personal vehicles. Walking, biking, and using public transportation can help the environment and help people by reducing congestion and pollution.  Learn more about transportation in and around Moraga.

Wondering what everyday strategies you can incorporate to live more sustainably? Checkout our list of 50 Everyday Green Strategies:

Energy Conservation Strategies

1. Turn off lights when not in use.
2. Unplug or turn off gadgets.
3. Shutdown or set your computer to sleep mode when not using it.
4. Switch to LED light bulbs.
5. Power your home with up to 100% renewable energy through MCE Community Choice Aggregation Program. (This is one of the most impactful and easiest steps households can take to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support renewable energy.)

Efficient Appliance Strategies 

6. Run the dishwasher on full loads.
7. Run the washing machine on cold water and with full loads.
8. Sun or air-dry items instead of using a dryer when possible.
9. If purchasing new appliances, make sure they are Energy Star.
10. If replacing appliances, consider going all-electric for heating and cooking in place of natural gas, a fossil fuel.
11. Use a WaterSense labeled showerhead.
12. Install water-saving aerators on all your faucets.
13. Turn off the water faucet when not in use, such as when brushing teeth.
14. Time your showers to 5 minutes to save water.
15. Toilet leaks can be silent! Test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.

Waste Reduction Strategies 

16. Recycle plastics, glass, and aluminum in the blue bin.
17. Use RE:Source Guide to find out which items can be composted, recycled, donated, or landfilled.
18. Choose household products with minimal packaging such as shampoo bars or dish soap bars.
19. When crafting, reuse household items when possible and avoid using glitter and other plastic-based materials.
20. Refill hand soap dispensers instead of buying new dispensers.
21. Keep plastic bags out of the trash. Reuse them as much as possible and then collect them for recycling. Grocery stores, like Safeway, offer collection bins for recycling plastic bags.
22. Mend clothing that still has use, donate clothing you no longer wear, and purchase new clothing second-hand or locally.
23. Reuse old towels and sheets as cleaning rags.
24. Collect and store old electronics to recycle in the future. RecycleSmart residents can dispose of unwanted electronics on their “Reuse Day.”
25. Properly dispose of household hazardous waste, including household batteries, at the Central San HHW Collection Facility.
26. Discard unwanted or expired medication at a safe medicine disposal site such as the Moraga Police Department.

Sustainable Eating Strategies 

27. Avoid produce and other foods heavily packaged in plastic.
28. Reduce food waste and rescue unsold food near you with Too Good To Go.
29. Shop natural, organic, and local food at the Moraga Farmers’ Market.
30. Compost food scraps and food-soiled paper products (pizza boxes, paper plates, etc.) in the green bin.
31. Never pour fats, oils, or grease down the drain. Instead, wipe off cooking oil with a paper towel and scrape off grease and deposit in composting bin. For large amounts, pour liquid cooking oil into an old jar and dispose of it in the black garbage bin.
32. Soak dirty pots and pans rather than let the water run while washing.
33. Eat less meat. The meat industry is a giant source of emissions and requires significant amounts of land, water, and resources. Eating less meat is one of the easiest actions people can take that has the largest impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Lawn Conservation Strategies 

34. Replace (or partially replace) your turf lawn with California native and drought-tolerant plants.
35. Grow your own herbs and vegetables.
36. Start a compost pile. Using compost in your garden or flower beds adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
37. Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to help them retain moisture, and save water, time, and money.
38. Use less toxic gardening products in your garden. View a list of approved products.
39. Install a rain barrel to collect rainwater from gutters for watering gardens or install a graywater system to redirect used household water to outdoor irrigation.
40. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. Make sure sprinklers are not running during rain.

Personal Conservation Strategies

41. Never flush wipes in toilets. Toilets are not trashcans. Only flush the 3 Ps: pee, poop, and (toilet) paper. When other items are flushed, they may get clogged and cause unwanted back-ups.
42. Always pick up your pet's waste and throw the bagged waste in the garbage bin.
43. Do not litter. Ever. Pick up litter when possible and report illegal dumping.
44. Use non-toxic cleaning products, such as vinegar, for windows, bathrooms, and kitchens.
45. Avoid washing your car on the street. Oil, metals, dirt and other pollutants flow into the storm drain which leads to the San Francisco Bay untreated. It is best to wash your car at a commercial car wash since they collect and recycle the wash water.
46. Consider a clean air vehicle as your next car, such as hybrids, plug-ins, or electric vehicles, and charge at EV Charging Stations in Moraga.
47. Take public transportation, walk, carpool, or bike when possible. Check out 511 Contra Costa for commute options and incentives.
48. Learn about Moraga’s Climate Action Plan and the strategies the Town is taking on to reduce emissions.
49. Subscribe to Sustainable Contra Costa’s mailing list to receive monthly e-news and updates on sustainability programs in our county.  
50. Join the Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge to track your actions.