East Bay Realty Pro Blog

On April 22nd, a new federal regulation to protect children from lead poisoning is scheduled to be implemented. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate will require “contractors who work in older homes…to become certified by a government-approved trainer and follow certain precautions, such as covering floors with plastic sheeting and dressing workers in protective clothing,” [...]

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Microwaving sponges instead of throwing them away because they contain bacteria and are no longer pristine? Spraying a dry mop with wood cleaner to pick up dust bunnies from your hardwood floors? Creating a home-made disinfectant? These are some ideas from a short San Francisco Chronicle article, “Germ Warfare on the Home Front.”
Also see my [...]

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Two years ago, my wife, Sonia, brought home a packet of Pimiento de Padrón seeds from The Spanish Table in Berkeley, my first experience with planting anything from seed. I guess I did something wrong because only two seedlings made it. From those first peppers, we were able to save lots of seeds. With (some) [...]

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Want an eco-friendly way to clean countertops? Use half a lemon to scrub and create a paste from lemon juice and soda.
How about a green disinfectant? One spray bottle filled with three per cent hydrogen peroxide and another filled with distilled white vinegar will do the trick. Spray either one first and wipe, then do [...]

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Acacia melanoxylon, also known as Australian or Tasmanian Blackwood, is a common tree in the East Bay. Arborists consider it a noxious weed because of its invasive nature. Formerly used to line streets in cities and towns, its use has diminished because it can damage pavement and underground pipes, such as sewer lines.
The Blackwood Acacia’s [...]

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Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) use about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs, which make them an economical and environmentally friendly choice.
There are a few things to remember about them:

As they contain a small amount of mercury, be careful to dispose of them properly in special recycling centers.
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are intended to be left [...]

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Talk about infuriating concepts! I just read this article, “PG&E Wants Rate Hike for Efficient Energy Users” and my blood is boiling.
Seems, in order to give price reductions to some of their biggest energy wasters, PG&E has filed an application to the state requesting a service rate increase of five per cent to the customers [...]

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In the midst of the urban space we call Oakland, runs a creek that covers over 2600 acres, emerging from the Oakland Hills and meandering through the city. About 80,000 folks live in the Sausal Creek Watershed area along with a myriad of birds, animals and plants. There are believed to be over 250 plant, [...]

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In Oakland, water rationing has been lifted and we have been fortunate to have had heavy, early October rains. Some think our water troubles are over. They aren’t. We all need to conserve because population is outstripping our resources.
Having low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators is the best way to save water in your home. [...]

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Yesterday morning, as I was finishing up my shower, the pan started filling with water. It occurred to me it could be either a sewer line backup (bad news), or a simple case of too much goopy stuff in the shower drain.
I eliminated the sewer line as the culprit since we have replaced the lateral [...]

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