There has never been a better time to help out and be recognized.
Email Martha, call 310.371.7222, x 209 or complete our volunteer application and submit by email or fax. You can make a huge difference!
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To read the South Bay Cities Council of Governments' latest edition of its newsletter, South Bay Watch, click here |
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Program Manager's Message
Fall is the time for football games, harvests and cooler weather. Now is a great time to think about saving water, energy and money! Think of harvesting all those great rebates and incentives. The Energy Upgrade CA rebate is now up to $8,000! Please take a look at several articles that can help your business, home or city facility reduce its energy costs and leave you a little more money at the end of your month.
- Marilyn Lyon,
Program Manager
[email protected]
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Energy Upgrade California Real Life Success Stories
Have you been reading and hearing about Energy Upgrade California and wondering, what does an Energy Assessment look like, or how much can I actually save in rebates and incentives, or what is the typical budget for improving a home's energy efficiency in Los Angeles County? Well, real-life examples of the dollars and sense of improving your single family home through Energy Upgrade California are now available.
Click here for real-life success stories
Hermosa Beach Energy Upgrade Home Demonstration Block Party a Big Success
Over 50 friends and neighbors joined in on September 15 for the City of Hermosa Beach Energy Upgrade CA Block Party to demonstrate how the program works. "Blower door test" demonstrations of a volunteered home were conducted to identify where the house is leaking energy (and $$$). Since insulation, air ducts, windows, heating and ventilation systems work together, the test and potential upgrades look at how each component can be improved so the whole house is more energy efficient.
Click here for the whole story on September 15
Finance Your Energy Upgrade Project
LA County has launched a financing program to deliver special financing for property owners doing energy upgrades to their homes through Energy Upgrade California in LA County. In partnership with lenders, the program will provide loans at lower interest rates.
To be eligible, property owners must receive an incentive reservation from the SCE and/or SoCalGas Energy Upgrade Whole Home Rebate Program. Coverage includes those customers who receive full or partial rebates from the Energy Upgrade California Whole Home Rebate Program sponsored by SCE and/or SoCalGas.
The program is expected to provide loans from $2,500 to $15,000 with fixed interest rates below 9% and loans from $15,001 to $50,000 at a significantly lower fixed interest rate. There is a 680 FICO minimum requirement for property owner eligibility.
Click here for more information on the finance option.
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Hurry While Funding Lasts ETAP Program Ending in March
Cities, special districts, large non-profits, and public colleges and universities may qualify for energy efficiency rebates to improve their buildings, parking lots, and garages through the Energy Technology Assistance Program (ETAP). ETAP is an Energy Upgrade California Program funded through the California Energy Commission and by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
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Southern California Edison
Top 10 Energy Guzzlers in Your Home
Southern California Edison has a terrific website for residents and the business community. The website is packed with information about how you can save energy in your home, at your business, and has information on special programs and rebates.
In the residential "High Bill Helper" section is a nifty interactive model of a home which points out the top 10 energy guzzlers under your roof. You can find out the cost per month (based on an average - yours may vary) and read tips on how to improve your energy consumption.
Click here to go to the 10 Energy Guzzlers in Your Home
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The Gas Company
Save a Call, Do More Online
This is the perfect time to beat the crowd and contact The Gas Company to request a technician come to your home to service your gas furnace. Did you know that you can make this request on-line? In addition to scheduling service, you can do a lot more through their secure website such as:
- View and pay your gas bill
- Access up to two years of account history
- Request payment arrangements
Click here for more information.
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West Basin Municipal Water District
Cash for Kitchens Program Continues
SBESC is continuing to work with West Basin Municipal Water District to bring the CA$H FOR KITCHENS program to commercial kitchens in the South Bay (public sites also qualify). Restaurants, hospitals, and other businesses with a kitchen will receive a FREE water-use assessment and free training materials to help employees maintain water efficient practices.
Commercial kitchens may also qualify for free water saving devices such as pre-rinse kitchen sprayers, faucet aerators, flow restrictors and waterbrooms. The SBESC is scheduling appointments now. If you, or anyone you know, have a commercial kitchen or restaurant, contact Martha Segovia at (310) 371-7222 x 209, or email Martha at [email protected] for scheduling and to find out about additional rebates.
If your club, community organization or group needs a speaker to round out a program, please give SBESC a call at (310) 371-7222
x 206, and we can arrange for an expert to give a 30 minute presentation on Water Reliability 2020, and explain how each person can contribute to the effort.
Sign up for the next Ocean Friendly Garden Workshop to be held at the South Coast Botanic Garden on October 22. See the link in the October Events section below.
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Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Trash Free Lunch Program a Huge Success
Last month we introduced you to the trash-free-lunch challenge developed by Grades of Green. So far the program is a huge success. In Manhattan Beach, five elementary schools have reduced their lunch trash by 84.2% using the Trash Free Lunch program, saving more than $10,000 a year in supplies and trash hauler expenses!
Are you ready to challenge YOUR school? Can you beat Manhattan Beach? Be one of the first ten qualified schools to register by October 15 and receive an eco-starter kit valued at over $1,500! The starter kit includes:
- Ten Go Green Lunchboxes
- Trash Free Lunch laminated signs
- Hand stamps and biodegradable ink pad
- One set of Trashy Trivia game cards
- One wave board by Street Surfing to be used as a raffle prize
- Plus an eco-audit by a Grades of Green Trash Free Lunch expert!
Click here for more information about the challenge.
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L.A. Metro
Vanpools are People-Friendly
If you have ever arranged to carpool with one of your fellow workers, why don't you look into the possibility of a vanpool. There are many benefits and it doesn't cost anything to find out about how it works. To schedule a Vanpool meeting at your business, or if you would like a copy of a beautiful brochure, call SBESC at (310) 371-7222 and ask for either Martha or Grace.
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City of Torrance
99 Years and Counting
The City of Torrance will be celebrating its 100th anniversary a year from now on October 21, 2012. The City invites the community to be part of this grand milestone in its history by sharing photos and stories on the official centennial website.
Making a Difference
Students at West High are transforming a 12,000 square foot lot into an ocean-friendly site. There will be community hands-on workshops in November and December. The garden will be using recycled water as well. They will be using the services of G3, who teach West Basin Municipal Water Districts's Ocean Friendly Garden Workshops.
The City is currently in the process of completing a water-efficiency study and has completed the water measure retrofits at City Hall. In addition, the City will be training city staff for a five week period on ocean friendly techniques.
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Volunteer Opportunities
We Have One for YOU!
SBESC offers volunteer opportunities for adults as well as college and high school students. Activities range from office support, inventory control, data entry, community outreach, and preparing materials for workshops and events regarding educating South Bay businesses, residents, and public agencies about energy efficiency and water conservation.
SBESC welcomes all participation and is happy to accommodate regular hours or flexible schedules. Inquiries may be directed to Volunteer Coordinator, Martha Segovia, at 310-371-7222 x 209.
Click here for a volunteer application.
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Become An Energy Champion
LA County is teaming up with nonprofit organizations to "champion" the cause of saving energy and raise awareness of the benefits of home energy upgrades through Energy Champions.
How does it work? Participating organizations reach out to homeowners in their community -- a network of family, friends, neighbors, members, donors and sponsors -- to encourage interest in the Energy Upgrade California program. They provide information about energy upgrades and direct homeowners to learn about available incentives and work with Participating Contractors. Now that's some word-of-mouth advertising!
In return, Energy Champion organizations receive $100 for each Basic Upgrade and $500 for each Advanced Upgrade completed by a member of its network.
LA County has set aside more than $2 million in incentives for Energy Champions. The funds will be reserved at the time a participating homeowner starts an upgrade, and sent to the Energy Champion organization once the completed upgrades are verified. There's no limit to how much each organization may receive. The program will last until all funding has been dispersed.
The Energy Champions program is currently accepting applications from nonprofit and faith-based organizations, K-12 public and private schools, homeowner associations, and chambers of commerce located within Los Angeles County. If your organization is interested in bringing important information to the community and raising funds at the same time, please apply at www.EnergyUpgradeCA.org/LAChampions or call 800-439-9339
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Realtors: Energy Efficiency Good for Home Resale
Energy efficiency and sustainability are good for the environment and may lower our utility bills, but what about home value? Can green measures add to the resale value of a home? Yes!
While more comprehensive multi-regional statistics are needed, recent localized research projects in California, Oregon and Washington State point to increased home values and faster home sales as a result of energy efficiency improvements such as solar installations, geothermal heating and cooling, Energy Star appliances, water conservation features and other green improvements.
A study of home sales in the Portland metropolitan area showed that newly constructed homes with third-party certifications for sustainability and energy efficiency (such as LEED, Energy Star and Earth Advantage) sold for 8% more on average than non-certified homes, and existing homes with certifications sold for 30% more. In fact, over the past four years studies of Portland area home sales show a consistent trend that third-party certification continues to result in higher sales price. Homes in Seattle and Portland marketed with energy efficiency certifications sold faster on average too, as compared to homes without certifications.
In San Diego and Sacramento, researchers found that solar panel installations increased appraised home values, leading to a 97% recovery on investment-much higher than typical home improvements such as major kitchen and bathroom renovations.
Now that's some great news to share with your clients! More good news: the Appraisal Institute, the largest group representing the home appraisal industry says it strongly supports efforts to better incorporate energy and environmental factors into mortgage underwriting and home valuations, including a possible congressional mandate. Source: Energy Upgrade California - September Contractors Newsletter
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September Events
City of Manhattan Beach Moving Planet South Bay
Saturday, September 24, 2011
8:00am - 2:00pm
13th St. Between N. Valley & Morningside, Manhattan Beach
A fun, family-friendly celebration of a more bikeable, walkable and liveable Beach Cities presented by: City of Manhattan Beach, South Bay Bicycle Coalition, Transition South Bay LA, Healthways Blue Zones / Vitality City, South Bay 350 Climate Action Group
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October Events
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Bixby Marshland Tour
October 1, 2011
8:00am - 12:00pm
1st Saturday of Every Month
near the intersection of Figueroa & Sepulveda in Carson
Click here for more Bixby Marshland Information
City of Inglewood
District 4 Town Hall Meeting
Saturday, October 1, 2011
10:00am - 12:00pm
Hollywood Park Casino - Breeder's Cup Room
3883 W. Century Blvd, Inglewood
AES' 3rd Annual Power Harvest
Saturday, October 1, 2011
11:00am - 4:00pm
1100 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach
West Basin Municipal Water District
13th Annual Water Harvest
Saturday, October 8, 2011
10:00am - 2:00pm
Edward C. Little Recycling Facility 1935 S. Hughes Way, El Segundo
Fun for the whole family!
Click here for a Water Harvest flyer
South Bay Cities Green Task Force Meeting
Thursday, October 20, 2011
2:00 - 4:00pm
LEDtronics - Seating is very limited this month.
Call SBESC at (310) 371-7222 x 206 to register
Senior Awareness Health Fair
Friday, October 21, 2011
10:00am - 1:00pm
Neighborhood Church
415 Paseo Del Mar, Palos Verdes Estates
West Basin Municipal Water District
Ocean Friendly Garden Workshop
Saturday, October 22, 2011
10:00am - 1:00pm
South Coast Botanic Garden
26300 Crenshaw Blvd, PV Peninsula
Click here to register for October 22 Workshop
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