Diamond Certified Blog

Dr. Ross Stein is scientist emeritus at the United States Geological Survey, an adjunct professor of geophysics at Stanford University and the cofounder of Temblor.net, a startup that enables users to freely access data about their natural catastrophe risk.

With the rainy season fast approaching, we sat down with geophysicist Dr. Ross Stein to discuss how Bay Area homeowners can better understand and mediate their risk for landslides. Of course, the Bay Area is known for its beautiful scenery and temperate weather, but it’s also known for frequent seismic activity and landslides. Dr. Stein has been studying the Bay Area for more than four decades, and he says both the region’s beauty and susceptibility to disasters come courtesy of the same force: the San Andreas Fault. Read more

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If you think your property is at risk:

1. Learn about the history of your property. Areas that have experienced landslides in the past are likely to experience them again. Your city may keep records of past landslides, and you can also try this landslide inventory-mapping tool (in beta) from the California Department of Conservation.
2. Hire a professional to evaluate the drainage on your property. You may need to build channels to deflect flow around buildings. Be aware: you are responsible for damage to neighboring properties caused by water diverted from your own.
3. Plant ground cover on slopes—the root networks can help stabilize hilly areas.
4. Consider hiring a professional to build a retaining wall.

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Window tint can make a car look cooler, but did you know it can also make a car literally cooler? Fortified with light- and heat-rejecting properties, tint (aka film) blocks incoming solar energy from entering car windows, keeping the interior environment more comfortable and protecting drivers from harmful UV rays.

Unfortunately, California’s legal limits on tint darkness can make it challenging to get these benefits where you need them most—namely, your windshield and front side windows. Read more

By Christopher Wilhite, chief engineer and co-owner at Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc.

As we approach the rainy season, it’s time to start paying attention to what rain can mean for the Bay Area. While rain may ease our persistent drought, it can also cause issues for Bay Area residents, especially after so many dry years. One consequence of rain after a drought is the increased likelihood of landslides—a familiar problem in this beautiful but hilly region. Debris flows (a type of landslide more commonly known as “mudslides”) have caused millions of dollars worth of property damage in the Bay Area. More importantly, people can and have died as a result of these fast-moving landslides. Read more

Electric vehicles (EVs) have come a long way during the past decade, thanks to automakers like Tesla and Nissan making continual advancements in efficiency and capability. Unlike hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius, which revert to a gasoline engine after the electric battery is depleted, EVs don’t rely on fossil fuels at all, which is why innovation has been so crucial in making them viable for commuter use. As range capabilities rise in excess of 100 miles per charge and public recharging stations continue to sprout up across the metropolitan landscape, there’s no doubting that EVs are more practical today than ever before. What’s more, they offer the following advantages:

Zero emissions
An electric vehicle represents the ultimate eco-friendly means of automotive transportation, Read more

Earlier this week, we posted an article featuring expert tips about residential solar. One tip mentioned a recent financing program available to California homeowners called Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE. To learn more about PACE and its benefits, watch this informative video by Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Randy Zechman of Clean Solar, Inc.

To learn more about solar power and other topics, visit our Diamond Certified Expert Reports at experts.diamondcertified.info. Read more

If you want more privacy at your home, consider the benefits of adding trees to your property. Read more

In the previous installment of our “Low-Impact Floors” series, we talked about flooring made from sustainably sourced materials. In this second half, we’ll cover an even more eco-friendly option: recycled flooring. If sustainable flooring ensures that harvesting and manufacturing are performed in an ecologically sound manner, recycled flooring takes things a step further by eschewing the consumption of new materials in favor of reusing existing ones. Here are a few of the top recycled flooring options: Read more

The Aedes mosquito transmits the Zika virus as well as dengue fever, chikungunya and yellow fever. Photo: CDC/James Gathany, 2016

Return to Pests! A Resource Guide for Bay Area Homeowners

With mosquito season approaching, you may have questions about Zika, the mosquito-borne illness that’s linked to an increase in microcephalyand other birth defects. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhas created a comprehensive website dedicated to Zika. We’ve combed their website for quick answers to your most frequently asked questions.

What is Zika?

“Zika” refers to an illness caused by the Zika virus. Read more