Want to save money, help the environment, and support young people all at the same time?

CYES is here to help! The California Youth Energy Services program offers free Green House Calls to residents of the East and North Bay. Our professionally trained Youth Energy Specialists will visit your home, install FREE energy saving equipment like CFL lightbulbs and efficient showerheads, and provide you with a personalized energy plan.

There are a limited number of green house calls available this summer - reserve yours quick! Call 510-665-1501 x10 to sign up, or visit our website at www.risingsunenergy.org

California consumers are not obligated to purchase any full fee service or other service not funded by this program. This program is funded by California utility ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  © 2010 Rising Sun Energy Center

Wow, we had no idea how much we would learn when Green Tours took a group of El Cerrito High School students to visit COO John Harding at Sirona Fuels, in Oakland.  The students' program is Green Automotive and Alternative Energy.  Hopefully, this is just the first in a series of tours we will do to compliment the curriculum of their teacher, Greg Golsan.  The tour started at the West County Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Solar Farm but if you follow our BLOG, you've already seen that and you know how important renewable clean energy is.

So our next stop was to learn about just exactly what is biodiesel and is it really better? What exactly is a carbon footprint and what does that have to do with us driving our cars and using gasoline?  Can each of us do little things to reduce our carbon footprint?  This is the way John Harding began to explain the mission of Sirona Fuels, they are not just any biofuel company.
Biodiesel releases no stored CO2, which gives it a carbon footprint that is significantly lower than its fossil fuel counterpart...gasoline. A U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy study has shown that even virgin soy-based biodiesel emits only 22 percent of the CO2 of conventional diesel, taking into account the entirety of its production cycle. Sirona's use of sustainably produced feedstocks and waste oils reduces these emissions even more significantly.

Where does it come from and what do they do to make it so pure? Biodiesel is a non-petroleum based fuel derived from vegetable oils or animal fats. Yes, the fats that are used for deep frying; you know those fast foods that you want to eliminate from your diet, in order to maintain healthy arteries ! It can be used to power diesel engines either in its pure form or blended with conventional petroleum diesel. It can also be used in all modern diesel engines with little or no modification and has the added benefit of reducing the wear and tear on those engines because of its enhanced lubricity.

John Harding showed us what the oil looks like when they first get it from a restaurant and how clean it gets as it goes through the filter processing stages.  An important consideration when evaluating any biodiesel is the amount of energy used in its production and delivery and the impact its production and use have on the environment. A full life cycle analysis presents these factors in a way that allows meaningful comparisons to be made between fuels.  We got to visit the chemistry lab and learned that they are so committed to quality that they actually have a third party test their final product! You can see us here in the lab..I could go on and on, but I suggest that you read these links to learn about Jatropha  Farming and the oil that is produced. Jatropha is a valuable multi-purpose crop that alleviates soil degradation, desertification and deforestation. The species is considered a candidate to become the most important feedstock for biodiesel production and is being planted around the planet as awareness of it increases. Once the plant is mature, its seeds can be harvested for many years providing income and employment on previously marginal lands where human needs have been consistently underserved.

Sirona is partnering with farmers and cooperatives that have been or will be planting Jatropha in the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and India. By offering long-term contracts for their Jatropha production, Sirona helps create a stable source of income to some of the world's most economically depressed rural communities.

Sustaining lives and giving people the independence that comes with economic empowerment is an integral part of Sirona's mission. The combination of revenue and hope generated through Jatropha farming plays a central role in achieving that mission.

Sirona is currently producing biodiesel that exceeds ASTM standards for biodiesel and is approaching the ASTM standards for petroleum diesel. That fuel is produced under the regulatory oversight of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, who has among the strictest regulations of emissions and pollution controls in the country. Sirona arguably has the best product on the market from both the technical and environmental perspectives.

Sirona’s biodiesel meets the clean diesel standards established by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and has been designated as an alternative fuel by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the US Department of Transportation (DOT). Since biodiesel contains no sulfur or aromatics it already meets the EPA's 2007 diesel fuel sulfur standard of 15ppm or less.

There is still more to learn and ways that we can improve air quality and if anyone is doing it, its Sirona Fuels.  We were fortunate to have the opportunity to tour their plant.  COO John Harding is committed to efficiency and spending time with us was a special favor.  You can read more about the refining process.  You can read more about their exceptional fuel quality and how clean diesel technology is challenging even hybrid electric vehicles on mileage per gallon measurements with some models getting well over 50 miles per gallon. Over 15 new passenger diesel models will be offered by auto makers in the US in 2009 and there is an increasing acceptance of biodiesel blends by automobile manufacturers.

Visit their BLOG and Director Michelle Lacourciere of SIRONA CARES Foundation and understand the difference they are making in the lives of the people of Haiti.   There is a powerful video there, too! This is no ordinary company.  It's not just about making biofuel it is about sustainability and environmental justice.  You will be encouraged and inspired to learn their story...we sure were!  Thanks to all the staff who shared their valuable time and knowledge!

Hats off to Zoe Atlas and Eva Reutinger, two industrious young high school women who after taking an environmental science class became so interested in all aspects of sustainability that they started a Garden Club for 3-4th graders at Cornell in Albany.  They got a grant to teach composting and gardening and asked GREEN TOURS to help celebrate the project with a fantastic Garden Tour.  I have to say, it was one of our best ever !  Here they are at the Alameda Bayworms !  What a visit that was ! Look at the cool sculptures in the garden, all hand made with materials right there on the land!  You have to visit them to experience the rich beds and amazing crops!

Miki Jurcan, Founder and Executive Director, is possibly one of the most knowledgeable people when it comes to worm composting, or what we call VERMICULTURE !  Even Miki said that if someone told him he'd be this fascinated with worms when he first started 6 years ago, he'd have laughed.  Now his soil made from worm castings (black gold to some) is some of the most nutrient dense there is.  And you know what that means...nutrient dense food, which means nutritious body building meals for anyone who grows food in that soil.  These are probably some of the most important aspects of life that we all need to  know.....its what really matters.

Too bad you can't touch and smell just how rich that new soil is, like Eva is doing! mmm good!  BAYWORMS is connected to the Alameda Point Collaborative, another AMAZING project we toured with the help of Evan Krokowski's GROWING YOUTH PROJECT.  You can watch a video here, too.  Here is a picture that shows what it looked like after just 2 years; transforming a vacant lot with a dilapidated basketball court and lots of junk into a vibrant, educational, transformational place for community to support and nourish the people!  This can happen anywhere, if people care !

If you are lucky enough to live there, you can get a box of fresh, nutrient dense, rich fruits and vegetables for just $5.  What a great way to give jobs with a purpose to so many kids whose lives may very well be changed forever.  I tell ya, it's inspiring, for sure!

Another very important aspect of growing food is WATER !  We were lucky to have a tour at the Waste Water Treatment Facility in Richmond, where they also have a Solar Farm.  Another incredible experience, thanks to Donna and Joe who provide educational tours!  Everyone needs to know what goes into the Bay when you flush your toilet or put things down the drain.  The Solar Farm is just another example of ways that we can utilize clean energy, and here's some videos that will educate you to why it is important to know the truth about Proposition 16, so get out and vote!  Here we are learning the 4 processes that eventually dump clean water into our precious Bay.  Did you know the digesters are very similar to what happens in your stomach?

We also visited a 15 year old garden at the Verde Elementary School, thanks to David Meza the Garden Manager and Educator.  And educate us he did, from the early beginnings of the Laotian community's efforts to the abundant gardens they now have and the educational programs that have transformed that community.  If you haven't realized all the powerful community projects and business that exist in Richmond, you are missing out on what might work in your own communities.  It matters!

We also visited Anna Yates Elementary School's Garden and were fascinated with the urban permaculture installations they have there.  Thanks to Josh Simon on the Board and Dr. Carol Balfe the Science Teacher/Garden Coordinator and everything else that needs to get done to make these kids learning experience most unique and valuable!

I could tell you more but you'll just have to join us on our upcoming Food to Fork Tour on June 3, starting with a fabulous breakfast at Gather Restaurant and then experiencing first hand where all that scrumptious, nutrient dense, delicious food comes from.  Shake hands with the farmers and meet great people, you'll love it!

So I asked the kids from Cornell's Garden Club to give me a sign if they enjoyed the tour.  See for yourself here and join us for the time of your life, for real...I'm serious!

And thanks to Michael's Transportation and to Ignacio, our very professional bus driver (quote from Melia Room), they always provide the best service, with the safest and cleanest and well filtered buses!  Here's a few more cool pics !

What comes to mind when you think of St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County?  I bet you didn't know that St. Vincent de Paul has an outlet store (clothing, furniture, books, household goods), wholesale recycling operations and a warehouse sorting for reuse and recycling, as well as as a Food Locker (Alameda County’s second-largest food bank, featuring many reclaimed food items).

You may be even more surprised to learn that they have an Artist in Residence (AIR) and Fashion Artist in Residence (FAIR) program that provides local designers space and opportunity to turn waste into art. The artists work with materials that would otherwise be thrown out or recycled.

The FAIR designer this year deconstructed and reassembled garments, creating one-of-a-kind pieces of high fashion artwork. The end result diverts waste from the landfill and gives existing materials a second chance.

This year's FAIR - Jude Gabbard -- is a California based designer with a global scope. A graduate of the prestigious Kirov Textile Institute in St. Petersburg, Mr. Gabbard balances a classical European fashion education with advanced studies of indigenous cultures in China and Mexico. Social responsibility and innovation are critical factors in his personal design philosophy.

Soon their website will have pics of the amazing fashions that were created.  In the meantime, look at some of their events and their volunteer's Blogs !

In 2008-2009 they salvaged NINE MILLION POUNDS OF GOODS...  2.5M in autos, 1.5M in cardboard, metal, glass, electronics, textiles and 4.5M in furniture, household goods and books.  Yikes, and that was just in Alameda County or was it the whole country?

When it comes to waste, the numbers are so hug it is mind-boggling how much STUFF we all have and then throw away, wherever AWAY is !  Think about it.

Berkeley Earth Day is an annual event held in April to celebrate the environmental movement and creatively challenge the destruction of our planet. Come see cultural performers, speakers and resources to link individuals and groups with each other in community based ecological activities.

We'll have a booth there, so stop by and see us, it'll be great fun!

Bay Area Green Tours needs your support in promoting our FIRST THURSDAY open to the public tours.  We have an Earth Day offer for you...Please tell your friends and if you bring 2 people, you can join us for FREE

May 6

GREEN CORRIDOR TOUR

An inspiring look at the East Bay’s “Green Corridor.” Meet leaders of sustainability face to face, discover what it takes to be green certified, learn about cutting-edge energy and resource efficient buildings and take home a personal action plan.

June 3

FARM TO FORK TOUR

Discover where the food on your fork is grown. Pick fruit straight from the trees in an orchard, learn about local food sources and the nitty-gritty of how sustainable farmers care for the earth while bringing delicious food to your table.

July 1

RE-THINKING WASTE TOUR

One person’s garbage is another one’s gold. Experience first hand how waste is transformed in to valuable products, discover creative re-use and recycling and learn how we can avoid dumping tons of reusable materials into the landfill.

Click here to purchase a ticket now !