"You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." —Jane Goodall
About Green Stacks
A partnership of San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco Environment and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library, in conjunction with the Wallace Stegner Environmental Center. The Library strives to inspire and inform users about greener living, with enlightening public events, booklists, sustainability resources, and real-world examples from our eco-friendly libraries.
- SF Plant Finder recommends local native and other climate-appropriate plants for sidewalks, backyards, roofs, and open spaces that are adapted to San Francisco's unique environment, climate and habitats.
- Receive 100% renewable energy with CleanPowerSF's SuperGreen program.
- Compost! It's one of the easiest green things you can do, here's why.
- Refuse Plastic Bags. These single use items kill, pollute and put chemicals into our bodies and our earth. 50% of the plastic we use, we use just once and throw away.
- Unused medicine is a threat to public health and the environment, drop it off at these San Francisco locations for safe disposal.
- What can you recycle? Find out here: http://sfrecycles.org.
- Eat sustainable seafood with help from Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch.
- Use the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Healthy Living App when choosing products to buy, or visit the EWG website to search there.
- Use green cleaning products such as castile soap, vinegar and baking soda. Learn more about safe cleaning products at SF Environment.
- Read the City of San Francisco's Climate Action Plan.
- What's Your Watt? The Library circulates home electric metering devices so library users can measure their energy use in home appliances.
- Stop junk mail and unwanted phonebooks by registering at DMAchoice.org.
- Apple will recycle your old smartphone, tablet or computer - Mac or PC - responsibly at no cost to you. You may even be eligible for an Apple gift card.
The Library’s Environmental Efforts
- On the Road: Green Bookmobile
- Growing Green: Gardens, Seed Lending Library, Living Roof
- Signed Up: Our Green Design Virtual Tour
- Gold & Silver & Green: LEED Certified Libraries
- San Francisco Public Library Climate Action Plan
- Green Report Cards for new and renovated libraries