Did you know that dog waste is a significant contributor to bacterial pollution in our beaches and bays? Dog waste that is washed into creeks, rivers and the storm drain system introduces bacteria into our region's waterways, resulting in those menacing "Beach Closed" signs you may have seen at your favorite beach.

Be sure to pick up your dog's waste in a bag and dispose of it properly in the trash! Better yet, consider using 100% biodegradable dog waste bags, because the plastic in conventional bags can take hundreds of years to break down in our landfills. 100% biodegradable dog waste bags meet rigid specifications in all 50 states, which require the material to degrade at the same rate as an apple without leaving any remaining plastic fragments behind.

Click here to learn more about 100% biodegradable dog waste bag options.

Are you one of the 6.4 million people in the United States who are addicted to their iPhone? If so, consider downloading a few applications that can help you be green! Here's a list of some handy applications that you may want to add:

• iRecycle: Finds recycling and disposal locations anywhere in the country using Earth911's database. Search by item or location to find drop-off sites near you. FREE!

• GoodGuide: Contains information about the ingredients of over 75,000 household products. It provides ratings of the products' health, environmental and social impacts. FREE!

• Seafood Guide: Lists most commercially sold seafood in North America and rates them on the sustainability of their populations. FREE!

• Carbon Calc: Calculates your personal carbon footprint. FREE!

• Get Green: Sends you a green tip every day on your iPhone. $.99

• 3rd Whale: Finds a wide variety of green businesses near you, ranging from organic restaurants to bicycle shops. You can specify businesses within walking, biking or driving distance. $1.99

• GreenMeter: Uses the iPhone accelerometer to measure your vehicle's fuel consumption, efficiency, and costs to help you save money. It also provides detailed information about your vehicle's carbon footprint and presents graphs of fuel consumption. $5.99

If you're not an iPhone user, please pass this tip along to a gadget-geek friend!

Have you ever considered the numerous economic, environmental and social benefits that are provided by trees? Here's a few interesting facts:

• The presence and beauty of properly planted and maintained trees can increase a home's resale value by as much as 15%.
• Tree roots stabilize soil, which reduces erosion.
• Trees cool parks and buildings by providing shade, which reduces energy costs.
• Trees improve air quality by removing pollutants. They also play a vital role in creating the air we breathe... two mature trees produce enough oxygen for a family of four!

In this time of drought throughout the San Diego region, it's important to preserve any trees on your property while using a minimal amount of water. If you'd like to learn more about proper tree-care during a drought, check out this fact sheet published by the San Diego Regional Urban Forests Council... it's full of tips to help you maximize the benefits of your trees.

Did you know that each American receives almost 560 pieces of junk mail per year? That's enough to drive anyone nuts... but did you ever think about the environmental impacts of all this unwanted mail? Annually, the production and transport of junk mail consumes more energy than 2.8 million cars, and uses 100 million trees. Want to help put an end to this madness?

Sign up for an unwanted mail reduction service, which will not only reduce your environmental impact, but will bring you some peace of mind each time you visit your mailbox. Here's a few options:

• Mailstopper - a paid service that stops your junk mail and actively keeps you from getting back on mailing lists. They promise to stop 90% of your junk mail in 90 days for $20/year.
• Do Not Mail Registry - a free way to add yourself to DirectMail.com's National Do Not Mail Registry, where you can pick and choose which lists you'd like to opt in or out of.
• Catalog Choice - a free way to opt out of paper catalogs and choose which catalogs you wish to subscribe to online through iCatalogs.
• Opt Out Prescreen - a free way to opt out of preapproved credit card and insurance offers. You can choose whether or not you'd like to provide your social security #.
• Yellow Pages Go Green - a free way to remove your name from the phone book mailing list if you prefer to use online directories instead.

Did you know that the San Diego County Water Authority has recently issued an 8% cutback on the water they supply to their member retail agencies? Many water agencies throughout the region are escalating to Level 2: Drought Alert, which includes mandatory conservation requirements. Find the website of your water agency to learn about specific requirements in your neighborhood by clicking  here . 

To help residents prepare for the start of these mandatory conservation requirements, the San Diego County Water Authority is providing $450,000 to establish a Water Conservation Rebate Program. The rebates will be available now through June 30 or until funding runs out. They're available on a first-come, first-served basis and include:

• High-efficiency clothes washers
• High-efficiency toilets
• Weather-based irrigation controllers
• Rotating sprinkler nozzles

If you're interested, be sure to contact the program by phone or online to reserve your rebate before you make any purchases! Visit  20 Gallon Challenge for more information on the rebate program.