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Using Translation

The County of San Mateo has added a translation feature developed by Google Translate to assist web visitors in understanding information on this website in a variety of foreign languages. Please be aware that Google Translate, a free third party service which the County does not control, provides automated computer translations that may not give you an exact translation. The County cannot guarantee the accuracy of translations through Google Translate so translations should not be considered exact and only used as a rough guide. Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. The County disclaims and will not accept any liability for damages or losses of any kind caused by the use of the Google Translate feature.

Author: rsarvi@smcgov.org

Climate Action in Your Kitchen: How to Prevent Food Waste

Think back to your last trip to the grocery store: maybe you purchased some more veggies to try out a new recipe, or bought extra food in bulk because there was a sale. If you were to take a look in your trash can right now, how much of that purchase would you find? Odds are, it may be more than you expect, and you’re not alone. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a family of four is estimated to lose $3000 each year on food that never gets eaten an average of up to $56 a week. What you may find even more surprising is that the food waste you produce at home is actually a significant contributor to climate change.  

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Need a New Furnace or Water Heater? San Mateo County Is Helping Residents Go Electric

Did you know that heat, air conditioning, and hot water are the top energy users in your home? If your furnace or water heater is suddenly out of order – or even better, if you plan to replace it before it breaks down – consider ditching gas and going electric. You’ll make your home more energy-efficient, and help our community achieve a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future. 

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Engaging Students in Local Climate Solutions

During a warm and windy day at Coyote Point Recreation Area, a group of middle school students sits overlooking the San Francisco Bay on a low wall of concrete built along the shoreline. Planes are flying overhead as they approach the San Francisco International Airport just across the water from San Mateo, and the students gather to watch them fly over the Bay. 

These students are on a Youth Exploring Climate Science (YECS) field trip, hosted by the San Mateo County Sustainability Department and Parks Department. On this trip, they are learning about climate change impacts, sea level rise, and local solutions to environmental issues. The low concrete block that they sit on is a sea wall, which was constructed in 2019 to protect the inland park areas from rising tides and storm surges. Further down the shore, students see a collection of rocks and concrete meant to act as a buffer against large waves that will pull the shoreline further underwater with increased storm surges and higher tides. These infrastructure features protect our communities and ecosystems against the impacts of rising sea levels, and students learn about these meaningful solutions when they attend these County-hosted field trips.  

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Induction Stove Cooking: Sustainable, Efficient, and Safer

When you think of an electric stovetop, you probably picture the slow-heating, spiral coil elements from the 1970s that take forever to warm up and cool down, offering little precision for real culinary endeavors.  

Fast forward to today, and the world of electric cooking has completely changed with induction stoves leading the revolution. Induction stoves use cutting-edge technology to transfer electromagnetic energy directly to pots and pans, not the cooking surface itself, offering unparalleled speed and precision with environmental and health benefits, as well. As more cooks, from novices to professionals, transition to this innovative technology, the appeal of induction cooking continues to grow, promising to change the way kitchens will be designed going forward. Let’s dive deeper into what makes induction stoves the preferred option and explore how they are seamlessly blending modern technology with timeless culinary traditions. 

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