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Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment
Volume 6, Number 10
October / November 2010
In This Issue...
Energy Upgrade California
City of Manhattan Beach Money
A Grateful Grid: Lamp Exchange Results
Water Speaking Series Available
Safe Drug Drop-off Results
The SBESC Speaks Your Language
Watch Out for Energy Vampires
October Events
November Events
Calling Volunteers! 
There has never been a better time to help out and be recognized.

Email Martha, call 310.371.7222, or complete our volunteer application and submit by email or fax.

You make the difference!

Visit Our Cities

Carson
El Segundo
Gardena
Hawthorne
Hermosa Beach
Inglewood
Lawndale
Lomita
Manhattan Beach
Palos Verdes Estates
Rancho Palos Verdes
Redondo Beach
Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills Estates
Torrance

SCE Customers in San Pedro & Harbor City

County Unincorporated Areas in South Bay

2010 Rebate Info
The Gas Company
Southern California Edison West Basin Municipal Water District

En Espa�ol
The Gas Company
Southern California Edison Sanitation Districts of LA County
Metro
County of Los Angeles
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www.sbesc.com
Program Manager's Message

Don't be frightened of your scary utility bills - do something to reduce that Vampire Energy usage around your home and office.  Look around for those creepy little green eyes looking at you in the dark letting you know that your electronic devices and appliances continue to suck energy even after full charging takes place. Learn about how you can reduce energy and save money. Visit our website at www.sbesc.com to learn more.

Be sure and read our article about Manhattan Beach and Money.  Learn how our South Bay cities are reducing their municipal energy use and are being financially rewarded for it!

Have a fun and safe Halloween and watch out for the Vampires. Next up: Holiday Light Exchange!                         

-Marilyn Lyon,
Program Manager

Energy Upgrade Logo 
 
Energy Upgrade California  in Los Angeles County

The Energy Upgrade California in LA County Program is gearing up for a soft launch at the beginning of November.  Shortly thereafter, the EUC program, which offers homeowners incentives for systematic energy efficiency improvements, expects to begin processing incentive reservations.  To participate in the program homeowners will soon be able to contact eligible contractors from the following web page: http://www.lacountyenergyprogram.org/Content/10001/ForHomeowners.html 


Contractors will walk homeowners through their options for program participation. Those options boil down to a basic and advanced path:

Basic- installing a set list of measures to target a $1,000 incentive

Advanced - conducting a customized set of energy efficiency measures to target an incentive of up to $4,000 in value depending on the energy savings as determined by a pre and post home energy assessment. Additional program rebates for homeowners from LA County are being discussed.


If you are part of a non-profit, religious organization, or school you will be interested to know that you can receive incentives for motivating members to take action as part of the Community Energy Champions part of the program.


Stay tuned on the SBESC website for updates at:

http://www.sbesc.com/programs/residential/energy-upgrade-california


City of Manhattan Beach Money
This week the City of Manhattan Beach received a check for $57,398.20 from Southern California Edison due to its partnership with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments/South Bay Environmental Resources Center.

Through Edison's Energy Leader Program and our partnership our south bay cities receive a premium on the incentives they receive by working with the SBESC, which helps them implement energy and water savings
. Cities receive increased levels of incentives by reaching different levels of savings. We commend Manhattan Beach for its ongoing commitment as an Energy Leader!
MBcheckceremony
Here is Marilyn Lyon of the SBESC and Scott Gobble and Larry Sutton, both of Edison, presenting the check on behalf of the partnership. Hopefully, it is one of many more to follow!
A Grateful Grid: Lamp Exchange Results
Southern California Edison and the SBESC would like to thank all of our South Bay Edison customers who helped the grid and the environment last month by taking part in our Annual "Operation Lamp Exchange." Over 5,000 people attended the two-day event and exchanged over 9,000 old lamps for free, energy-efficient ones. An estimated 835,972 kW hours will be saved annually. If you missed this one, stay tuned as our Annual Holiday Light Exchange is coming soon!
OLE Line 2010

WR2020




Water Speaking Series Available Now

The SBESC and its partner West Basin Municipal Water District have launched the "Water Reliability 2020" speaking series. This presentation is available to start booking for your organization today. Learn from an expert what we're doing in the South Bay to reduce dependency on water imported from Northern California and the Colorado River. This series will have a limited number of engagements. Contact us now for information.



SafeDrugDrop
"Safe Drug Drop-off" Results After 1 Year
Last month the LA County Sheriff's Department marked the one year anniversary of this very successful program that provides residents an opportunity to safely and anonymously drop-off expired or unused prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, syringes (sharps), and any other controlled substances. Prior to National Take-Back Day, September 25th, LASD had already collected: 9,546 lbs. of prescription meds, 4,520 lbs. of used syringes (over 500,000), and 6.1 lbs. of illicit drugs. These numbers were anticipated to increase dramatically after Take-Back Day. The environmental impact is significant since wastewater treatment plants are not able to test or treat for pharmaceuticals. Drugs end up in our ground water systems, rivers, lakes, streams and Santa Monica Bay. Click here to learn how and where to drop-off safely.

SBESC.com is Now Multilingual!
On the heels of launching our rapidly growing Facebook page, and creating the ability for users to subscribe to our Calendar, we have now just added a language translator on our website. You can now read sbesc.com in over 50 languages. In addition, we posted a Glossary page for users to reference frequently-used, energy-related acronyms and terms. Let us know if you have a feature you'd like to see at sbesc.com.


Energy Vampire
Watch Out for Energy Vampires!

While you are sitting here reading this, there are electronic devices at your home sucking energy even if you think they are turned OFF!  They are not OFF, they are in "standby" mode. Anything with a clock, timer, or remote control is still drawing power. "Standby" mode charges could add up to 10% of your bill!

The Simple Solution:

Plug your devices into a surge-protected energy strip and turn it off when the devices are not in use. Energy strips do not draw standby power. Do not plug an energy strip into another energy strip because of a potential overload!  If you have questions, call SBESC at (310) 371-7222. 

October Events

Ocean Friendly Gardens Workshop
Saturday, October 23, 2010
9:00am - Noon
George Nakano Theatre
Torrance Cultural Arts Center
3330 Civic Center Drive, Torrance
Registration required. Click here to register.

Ocean Friendly Gardens - Hands On Workshop
Saturday, October 30, 2010
9:00am - Noon
2814 Winlock Road, Torrance
Registration required. Click here to register.
November Events

Eco-Gardening Workshop
Saturday, November 6, 2010
9:00am - Noon
Bixby Marshland
Figueroa Street and Sepulveda Blvd., Carson
Free and open to the public. Click here for flyer.