Because we spent a decade on stopping energy and water waste and increasing efficiency, our usage decreased by half. The guiding principle became "Slow the Flow, Catch the Action". At the same time, hundreds of small decentralized energy generation projects of all different kinds came on line, until bit by bit the coast moved toward energy independence, with the added bonus of keeping all the power producing and water management jobs and development here at home. Nearly everyone catches and stores water, and has some kind of grey water reuse on site, reducing municipal demand. We no longer make garbage, just raw materials for the next use. Waste transformation and usable product life extension happens everywhere - creating lively new businesses.

The guiding principle became “Slow the Flow, Catch the Action”. The Energy Commission coordinated with state and federal incentive and loan programs, and revitalized local financial institutions, to capitalize small scale energy projects and household generation efforts. Hundreds of small decentralized energy generation projects of all different kinds came on line, until bit by bit the coast moved toward energy independence, with the added bonus of keeping all the power producing and water management jobs and development here at home. Nearly everyone catches and stores water, and has some kind of grey water reuse on site, reducing municipal demand. We preheat our water with the sun, and store heat in our buildings. We no longer make garbage, just raw materials for the next use. Waste transformation and usable product life extension happens everywhere - creating lively new businesses.