Sherry Listgarten
@nsog.bsky.social
Author of A New Shade of Green, a climate blog for Palo Alto and surrounding towns. It focuses on how our local community is thinking about, working on, and feeling the effects of climate change. www.newshadeofgreen.com
Sorry, forgot to post last week's blog. In it I review a discussion at the California Energy Commission, where they were trying to understand the state's economic outlook in order to help estimate future energy demand. But it is impossible to plan these days... www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
Blog: It is impossible to plan right now
The rapid-fire rollout of hastily crafted federal policies is hurting the state's ability to forecast energy demand or more generally do meaningful planning.
www.paloaltoonline.com
March 6, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Sorry, forgot to post last week's blog. In it I review a discussion at the California Energy Commission, where they were trying to understand the state's economic outlook in order to help estimate future energy demand. But it is impossible to plan these days... www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
We hear a lot about electricity rates these days, but not so much about water rates. Here's a post about what is "fair" when it comes to rates (and usage), along with some interesting local discrepancies in rates. www.almanacnews.com/blogs/a-new-...
Water use, water rates, and what is “fair”
What is a household’s “fair share” of our water supply? What is a “fair” bill for that water? And who should pay how much?
www.almanacnews.com
February 9, 2025 at 4:10 PM
We hear a lot about electricity rates these days, but not so much about water rates. Here's a post about what is "fair" when it comes to rates (and usage), along with some interesting local discrepancies in rates. www.almanacnews.com/blogs/a-new-...
As we consider sources for water in our area as precipitation gets less predictable, you can see directly in City staff reports some of the costs imposed by our changing climate. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
What is our best option for water in dry years?
"If you, like me, are not excited about drinking or showering in treated wastewater, then we have two hopes."
www.paloaltoonline.com
January 26, 2025 at 9:32 PM
As we consider sources for water in our area as precipitation gets less predictable, you can see directly in City staff reports some of the costs imposed by our changing climate. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
I am just starting to post here. Here is my most recent blog post. I will be sharing another one tomorrow. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
Do we need to drink our pee to save the fish?
SFPUC is objecting to a plan to protect and restore salmon populations in the Hetch Hetchy watershed, saying it will threaten their ability to serve their customers. Is that true?
www.paloaltoonline.com
January 25, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I am just starting to post here. Here is my most recent blog post. I will be sharing another one tomorrow. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
I learned a few things by hanging out in my backyard... www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
For the birds. And for us.
We can learn to care for birds by providing good canopy, food and water, and safe places to raise their young.
www.paloaltoonline.com
May 14, 2024 at 2:57 AM
I learned a few things by hanging out in my backyard... www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
The Fire Aside guys are doing a nice job on a simple but important problem. Happy Wildfire Preparedness Day! www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/2024/0...
It doesn't have to be rocket science
There are many opportunities for dedicated people to help us avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change. Here are two examples.
www.paloaltoonline.com
May 4, 2024 at 9:55 PM
The Fire Aside guys are doing a nice job on a simple but important problem. Happy Wildfire Preparedness Day! www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/2024/0...
It is really alarming what's going on with the FAIR plan and its impact on the insurance market. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
Wildfires are putting your insurance at risk. Here's why.
The property insurance mess in California is one example of the diffuse impact of climate change.
www.paloaltoonline.com
March 31, 2024 at 3:04 PM
It is really alarming what's going on with the FAIR plan and its impact on the insurance market. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
What does it look like to retrofit your home with geothermal HVAC? See here for one example: www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
Using geothermal energy to heat and cool your home
A ground-source heat pump uses heat from underground to warm your house in winter. What does that look like?
www.paloaltoonline.com
March 17, 2024 at 1:19 PM
What does it look like to retrofit your home with geothermal HVAC? See here for one example: www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
I wrote recently about the conversation in California around land use for renewable energy. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
Does California have enough land for the renewable energy it needs?
With so much demand for land in California, whether for conservation, clean energy, or agriculture, do we have enough to meet our climate goals?
www.paloaltoonline.com
March 11, 2024 at 9:45 PM
I wrote recently about the conversation in California around land use for renewable energy. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
Palo Alto is adjusting the rates it charges for electricity and gas. So I read the utility's financial plans to find out if the new rates would encourage electrification. What did I learn? www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
What I learned from reading Palo Alto Utility's financial plans
Rates are going up. Will that make it easier or harder to electrify?
www.paloaltoonline.com
March 5, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Palo Alto is adjusting the rates it charges for electricity and gas. So I read the utility's financial plans to find out if the new rates would encourage electrification. What did I learn? www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
How much should we be investing in reliablity? How much do people care? www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
February 11, 2024 at 2:02 PM
How much should we be investing in reliablity? How much do people care? www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
Some of you may enjoy reading about this thing I found growing in my yard last week www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
The Embarcadero Media papers changed their backend a week ago. The blogs are no longer easy to find and notifications no longer work. I will use Bluesky to share them.
The Embarcadero Media papers changed their backend a week ago. The blogs are no longer easy to find and notifications no longer work. I will use Bluesky to share them.
February 4, 2024 at 8:35 PM
Some of you may enjoy reading about this thing I found growing in my yard last week www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/a-new-...
The Embarcadero Media papers changed their backend a week ago. The blogs are no longer easy to find and notifications no longer work. I will use Bluesky to share them.
The Embarcadero Media papers changed their backend a week ago. The blogs are no longer easy to find and notifications no longer work. I will use Bluesky to share them.
It's pretty interesting seeing the different approaches cities are taking for their reach codes in light of the Berkeley decision. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/p/2024...
January 21, 2024 at 9:02 PM
It's pretty interesting seeing the different approaches cities are taking for their reach codes in light of the Berkeley decision. www.paloaltoonline.com/blogs/p/2024...