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Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

Volume 7, Number 10

October / November 2011

IN THIS ISSUE
Calling Volunteers!
EUC in Hermosa Beach
Energy Vampires
Realtor Workshop Dec 5-6
Malibu Visits SBESC
$400 / Mo. Subsidy
HHW / E-Waste Event Tips
Torrance Farmers' Markets
Staff Spotlight on Jeremy Hyde
What is the SBCCOG?
11 Energy Champions
October 2011 Events
November 2011 Events

Calling Volunteers!
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!
 


 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

 

 

 

2011 Rebate Info 

The Gas Company

Southern California Edison West Basin Municipal Water District
 
 

Energy Upgrade California

 

 

 

 

En Espa�ol
The Gas Company
Southern California Edison Sanitation Districts of LA County
Metro
 
County of Los Angeles 

 

 

Find us on FacebookFollow us on Twitter

 

 

www.sbesc.com 

  
  
To read the South Bay Cities Council of Governments' latest edition of its newsletter,
South Bay Watch,
click here

Program Manager's Message

 

 

October brings us an opportunity - Energy Awareness Month! All across our nation people are turning words into action and those actions are having positive results earning residents, businesses and public agencies lower utility costs and healthier buildings.

 

At the South Bay Environmental Services Center, we believe our slogan captures the essence of Energy Awareness Month - Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment. Actions you can take locally would be to purchase Energy Star appliances and equipment; "flip the switch" off when lights are not in use; beware of the energy "vampires" (see article below), combine trips, share rides, use mass transportation and reduce your consumption, reuse or repurpose discards, and recycle.

 

Click here for the 2011 Energy Awareness poster. Take a look at our articles in this issue and on our website www.sbesc.com to see how you can take action today.

 

- Marilyn Lyon,

 Program Manager

[email protected]

 

 

Energy Upgrade Logo
Energy Upgrade California
Hermosa Beach Homeowners Benefitting
from Energy Upgrade California
 

Hermosa Beach homeowners gathered at an Energy Upgrade California "Block Party" in Hermosa last month to witness how an Energy Assessment works and learn how Energy Upgrade can benefit Hermosa homeowners.   The program is sponsored by Los Angeles County and local cities, including Hermosa Beach, to save money and reduce energy use.

More about the Block Party (with pictures!)

 

Hermosa Beach helped to let our South Bay neighbors know about Energy Upgrade California with a great banner that was strung across Pacific Coast Highway earlier this month.  On average, an estimated 55,000 vehicles travel PCH through Hermosa Beach each day.  It will be back!  After it moves on to other destinations in Los Angeles County, the banner will be making another appearance over PCH, so watch for it

 

Southern California EdisonEnergy Vampire

Energy Vampires

 

While you are reading this, there are energy vampires in your home sucking energy through appliances that you
think are turned off.  They do that all year long, not just during Halloween!

 

They are not turned off, they are in "stand by" mode.  Anything with a clock, timer, or remote control is still drawing power.  "Standby" mode charges could add up to 10% of your electric bill!  This includes computers, power tools, flat screen TVs, CD Players, and more.  Time to act!

Click here for the simple solution! 

 

holiday lights

 2011 Holiday Light Exchange

 

SBESC will again offer South Bay residents a chance to exchange two strands of their old energy inefficient holiday lights for two strands of brand new multi-colored LED holiday lights.

 

The Exchange will take place in these cities:

The City of Torrance (November 30 - 7:30-11:30am)

The City of Palos Verdes Estates (November 30 - 1:00-5:00pm)

Lennox (November 1 - 5:00-6:00pm). 

Please check our calendar for more details.

 

Limit two strands per household, must be an SCE customer - please bring either your SCE bill or drivers license with you.  First come, first served, while supplies last.

 

The Gas CompanyThe Gas Company

CG-REP Workshop December 5-6 

 

Realtors:  Join the Green Revolution!

 

The Gas Company will be hosting a two-day workshop for realtors on December 5 and 6 entitlled  "Certified Green Real Estate Professional Training" (CG-REP).

 

A recent LA Times article reported that homes with third-party certifications for sustainability and energy efficiency sell for more and spend less time on the market than non-certified counterparts.

 

This workshop is a comprehensive two day course that covers California-specific green building standards (this is important!),  California-specific disclosure regulations, mortgage options and green lending programs (203K, Energy Efficiency Mortgages), and will teach realtors everything needed to help clients understand green features, make cost-saving decisions, and navigate statewide rebate programs.

 

There will be information on Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles County, which is offering up to $8,000 in energy upgrade rebates and up to $1,000 in green label rebates to Los Angeles County homeowners.  Real estate professionals can get a $200 referral fee for any project they refer that results in a green label. 

 

The workshop is not free, however there are scholarships available;  just click on the 'Register Now' link for more information and other workshop particulars.

 

Register Now

  

Course Overview

 

Flyer

 

West Basin Municipal Water DWest Basinistrict
SBESC's "Collaborative Partnership" Model Attracts Visitors
  

On Tuesday, October 4, The South Bay Environmental Services Center (SBESC) welcomed visitors from the City of Malibu, the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, the Los Angeles Department of Public Works, North Santa Monica Bay IRWMP, a representative of LA County Supervisor Yaroslavsky's office, and West Basin Municipal Water District for an office tour and to get a glimpse of all the projects in which we are involved.

More about October 4

 
Two 'Request for Proposals' from West Basin
West Basin has released two Request for Proposals for work to be done by qualified contractors, "Landscape Irrigation Efficiency Program" and high-efficiency equipment installation work for "North Santa Monica Bay Region".

 

Contractors who are interested in submitting a proposal should register at www.westbasin.org and click on "Doing Business with Us".  The system requires that the contractor enter codes to indicate interest in receiving bid information about specific topics.   The codes are listed on these flyers:

 

 

 

L.A. Metro
Vanpools are Great$400 / Month Subsidy Still Available
 

If you have ever arranged to carpool with one of your fellow workers, why don't you look into the possibility of a vanpool.

 

Qualified vanpools receive $400 subsidy every month to help defray the cost; they are a more efficient and economical way of commuting to work and they save you money!  Metro will help coordinate the details for you.

 

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.

 

Sanitation Districts of LA County

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

What Can I Bring to a Household Hazardous Waste Event

 

El Segundo HHW - EWaste

Saturday, November 19, 2011

9am - 3pm 

Raytheon Company

Hughes Way Off of Sepulveda

Click here for a list of what to bring and what to leave at home.

 

 

City of Torrance
City of Torrance

Shopping Locally Helps Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

 

It's true - shopping at neighborhood Farmers' Markets saves gasoline, which reduces emissions and produces a smaller carbon footprint than if you drove all over town making multiple stops.

 

The City of Torrance has not one, but three weekly Farmers' Markets featuring top quality California-grown produce brought in each week direct from 60 California farms.  The markets feature a year-round selection of fruits, nuts, vegetables, eggs, honey, baked goods, fish, cut flowers and nursery stock.  Start stocking up for your Thanksgiving table while you reduce carbon emissions and contribute to both the local and California economies - its a win-win for everybody!

 

Tuesdays and Saturdays, 8am - 1pm

FREE produce raffle every Tuesday

Charles H. Wilson Park
2200 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance

 

Thursdays, 4pm - 8pm

Downtown Old Torrance

Corner of Sartori & El Prado

 

For more information, visit the City of Torrance's website

 

 

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.

 

Staff Spotlight

Jeremy Hyde
Environmental Services Analyst

 

With a BS in Environmental Science and Master of Public Administration, Jeremy Hyde has a strong science and policy background that gives him a broad range of skills in energy, water, resource planning, waste, atmospheric science, and strategic planning.  

 

He has worked for many years in the energy sector, mainly for energy utilities, regulatory agencies, and local governments, where he took on challenges of renewable energy, energy efficiency, providing affordable electric power, meeting regulatory requirements, and helping local governments provide cost effective means of creating more sustainable and healthy livable communities.  This has given him a practical outlook towards serving a diverse range of communities and providing unique solutions to a wide range of energy efficiency challenges.

 

Here at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), Jeremy has taken on the task of completing climate action plans for all cities in the South Bay.  The SBCCOG has already helped cities reach their first goal of the climate action process by completing greenhouse gas emissions inventories for all South Bay cities. 

 

Jeremy's next step is to help cities establish goals and develop a plan of action outlining how cities can lower their greenhouse gas emissions, save money, and help achieve other important goals that make for more livable communities.

 

Jeremy is a terrific contributor here in the offices of the SBCCOG and SBESC.  He is a real team player, great conversationalist and raconteur, all the while he is figuring out how to make the South Bay a better place. 

 

We are very glad Jeremy landed in the South Bay.

 

 

COG Logo

South Bay Cities Council of Governments

Partnership, Persuasion, Performance 

 

Did you know that the South Bay Environmental Services Center (SBESC) is a program of a larger organization -- the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG)? And that the SBCCOG oversees a range of projects from transportation to energy and water efficiency and conservation?

 

Since the 1970's South Bay Mayors and Councilmembers have met to discuss how their cities could work together on transportation projects. In 1994, they decided to broaden their focus and create a legal Joint Powers Authority - the SBCCOG was formed.

More about the SBCCOG

 

 

Energy Upgrade Logo

Eleven Energy Champions in the South Bay!

 

Energy Champions, part of the Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles County program, is an innovative way for nonprofits to raise money by introducing energy efficiency upgrades to homeowners in their community network. An enrolled Energy Champion will earn up to $500 for each homeowner they contact and who completes an Energy Upgrade in Los Angeles County.
 
 Who can be an Energy Champion?  To be an Energy Champion, you must:
  • have an LA County office or address;
  • be a 501(c)3, 501(d), a K-12 public or private school, a homeowners association, or a chamber of commerce; and
  • designate an individual from your organization to oversee the program.

Energy Champions in the South Bay
Fox Hills Ladera Healthy Family Association Inc., Inglewood
IAAAACAME, Inglewood

Leadership Hermosa Beach

Train EM Up Academy Inc, Torrance

First Christian Church of Torrance

Recycling Black Dollars, Inglewood

Manchester Community Technologies, Inc., Inglewood

Environmental Charter Schools, Lawndale

Harbor Rose Lodge, San Pedro

Tech Go Green, Torrance

The United States Green Building Council - Los Angeles Chapter

 

Energy Champion Spotlight
US Green Building Council - LA Chapter
 
We will be introducing you to South Bay Energy Champions in the coming months.  This month we are highlighting the United States Green Building Council - Los Angeles Chapter (USGBC-LA) which now has a new branch in the South Bay!

The USGBC-LA is a nonprofit, mission-based organization with a commitment to making the Los Angeles area a better place to live by promoting sustainability in the community and the built environment. As an official Energy Upgrade California Energy Champion, the organization's goal is to build a network of energy smart and efficiency savvy individuals.

The new South Bay branch will offer the same great events (including tours of green building projects, workshops, trainings, conferences, networking mixers and volunteer opportunities) as the LA chapter, in your own South Bay backyard!

If you are interested in joining, send an email to [email protected] and your name will go on the mailing list for the next Energy Champions event on Tuesday, November 15th from 6-8:00pm (location TBD).

 

October Events

 

City of Manhattan Beach

Energy Efficiency 101 for Manhattan Beach Residents

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

5:30 - 7:00pm

Police & Fire Community Facility Conference Room

420 15th St., Manhattan Beach

Register for Manhattan Beach Energy 101 

 

 

November Events
SBESC Office will be closed November 11 and 24th-25th
   

2011 Holiday Light Exchange

Lennox Park Community Center

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

5:00 - 6:00pm

10828 Condon Avenue, Lennox

see article above for conditions

 

Lawndale Historic Society

Energy Upgrade / Water Reliability 2020 Presentation

Saturday, November 5, 2011

2:00pm - Part of the scheduled meeting

14717 Burin Avenue, Lawndale 

  

National Association of Realtors Expo
Friday, November 11, 2011

Anaheim Convention Center

8:00am - 7:00pm

Visit us at the TEC Booth #1570

800 W. Katella Ave, Anaheim

 

US Green Building Council-LA

Energy Champions Event

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

6:00-8:00pm

Location TBD

Check our calendar for more details

 

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County / LA County

Hazardous Household Waste - EWaste

Saturday, November 19, 2011

9:00am - 3:00pm

Raytheon Company

Hughes Way Off of Sepulveda 
Click here for a map to the El Segundo HHW

 

2011 Holiday Light Exchange

City of Torrance - West Annex

November 30, 2011

7:30 - 11:30am

3031 Torrance Blvd., Torrance

See article above for conditions

 

2011 Holiday Light Exchange

City of Palos Verdes Estates

City Hall Public Works Office

November 30, 2011

1:00 - 5:00pm

340 Palos Verdes Drive West, Palos Verdes Estates

See article above for conditions