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May 2012 May 12 Festival in the Park May 19
May 19
May 19
May 25
Ocean Friendly Gardens Assistance Party
June 2012 June 2
June 16
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 | GET A GREAT DEAL ON RAIN BARRELS - SUPPLIES LIMITED!
by Christine Wied
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A rain barrel discount program for City of Ventura residents is now available through Environmental Sustainability and Ventura Water. Working in cooperation with Smith Pipe and Supply at 3060 Sherwin Avenue in Ventura, the Channel/Bushman 60-gallon rain barrel with a retail value of $85.oo will be available for $42.oo plus tax at their store with a Rain Barrel Discount Voucher.
READ MORE.
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Commercial Business Recycling - It's THE LAW as of July 1, 2012
What every Ventura Business Needs to know!
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Conserving our natural resources is essential for the health and wellbeing of our community and our planet.
In keeping with this sentiment, beginning July 1, 2012, the State of California has made business recycling mandatory. According to the newly enacted legislation (AB341), businesses that generate 4 cubic yards or more of trash per week (the equivalent of a large commercial dumpster) and all multifamily complexes with five or more units (regardless of the amount of trash they generate), will be required to recycle.
Compliance is determined by solid waste service capacity. Businesses that share trash service accumulating the 4 cubic yards or more of trash per week must comply even if individually, the businesses do not generate that amount of trash. READ MORE.
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What Can YOU Do To Help Preserve Ventura's Environment?
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 Ventura's Natural Beauty
Let's keep it that way!
May 2012
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| Embracing ECOnomics & ECO-Friendly Practices with the Green Task Force's Best Practice Workshop Series
By Maryann Ridini Spencer
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The Green Task Force was formed as a joint effort through the Ventura Chamber of Commerce, the City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability Division, and local businesses with a green environmental mission. The Green Task Force aims to empower the local business community to think and work in sustainable and eco-conscious ways through Chamber-led projects and educational events.
A sampling of the initiatives and educational outreach include the areas of waste diversion, water efficiency, energy conservation, transportation, green tips for sustainable businesses and public education & awareness.
In a recent GREEN TASK FORCE "Best Practices Workshop Series" held April 10, James Panagoti and Mike Bitola, Franchise Owners of Red Brick Pizza Café (4990 Telephone Road, #100, Ventura), spoke about "Best Environmental Practices in the Food Service Industry" and their venues' environmental practices, products, the importance of staff education, and management buy-in.
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Red Brick Pizza's James Panagoti talks to the Green Task Force and local business owners "Best Practices Workshop Series"
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"When we opened in March 2010, we knew we wanted to embrace a stronger eco-initiative," said Panagoti, "Working to constantly achieve a greater level of sustainability is part of our core values," adds Bitola, "We appreciate that many of our customers also appreciate and support us in our efforts."
Some of the sustainable practices utilized at Red Brick include tankless water heating that heats on demand and saves energy and water and a triple filtered water system hooked within the soda machine area, to encourage drinking tap water.
"We actually have people coming in telling us all the time how much they love the taste of our water!" said Panagoti.
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Sampling of Red Brick Pizza's sustainable products
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The restaurant uses certified environmentally friendly cleaning supplies, recycled content paper products, and re-purposed wine bottles for their wine and beer glasses. To consume less electricity, LED TVs were installed in the café, as well as LED lights on the patio, lobby and in the pendant hanging lights (the light covers of which are made from recycled wine bottles). Reclaimed bricks decorate the walls, and reclaimed barn wood is used for the café's tabletops and on the bar and menu board. Even the floors and walls have an enviro-friendly finish using low VOC eco-safe paints.
"We have a lot of other initiatives we'd like to employ," continued Panagoti. "Such as a compost program with other restaurants and adding solar panels as an energy source. We also work to educate our staff on why these choices make a difference."
Being eco-mindful not only of their environment, but of their café's fresh, organic sauces and dishes, Panagoti and Bitola beam, "Being healthy and connecting with the environment is truly what it's all about."
For more information on the next Best Practices Workshop, contact: Courtney Lindberg, clindberg@cityofventura.net
If you're interested in finding out about the FREE Green Job Summit on Saturday, May 19 in Ventura, CLICK HERE.
Also Visit:
SustainableVentura.Wordpress.com
VenturaChamber.com
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 | Low Waste Spring Entertaining
by Christine Wied
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Get Creative with Low Waste Entertaining
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Spring is a busy time for parties and entertaining with graduations, bridal showers, weddings, Mother's and Father's Days and a great time to get together with friends. These are also events that have the potential to generate a lot of trash. Although disposable tableware may save a little time in clean up, their actual cost in price and environmental impact is quite high. Take paper plates for example, it took close to 50 years for a tree to grow to maturity to be used for paper products! Once the tree is cut, it is no longer giving off oxygen and taking in carbon dioxide.
 | | Use Reusable, Recycled & Recyclable |
Fuel, which may contribute to greenhouse gases, is used to ship the tree to the mill for processing. In making paper goods, large amounts of water, chemicals and bleach may be used to produce the product. The paper plates are then packaged using more resources and shipped to stores using more fuel. After using a paper plate for maybe fifteen minutes, it is then tossed into the trash and ultimately buried in the landfill. Many people do not realize that things do not breakdown or biodegrade in a modern landfill due to insufficient oxygen, light and moisture. Twenty-five years from now that paper plate will likely still be sitting in the landfill looking exactly like the day it was tossed.
In hosting events, strive for low waste entertaining.
Here are a few ideas to consider:
*Send invitations by e-vite or e-mail when possible. If printed, use recycled-content paper that may be foldable so an envelope isn't needed.
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Reusable Bamboo Plates
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*Use reusable tableware as much as possible.
Items do not need to match. Thrift stores are a great source of nice reusable plates, cups, glasses and silverware. Renting tableware is an alternative and in some cases less costly.
*Use cloth napkins instead of paper.
For casual parties use bandanas or fabric cut with pinking shears into cocktail or regular size napkins. No sewing necessary. Cloth will absorb greasy or messy foods better than paper and can be washed and used again.
*If you must use paper or plastic goods, look for those made with the highest postconsumer recycled content.
Most of these items cannot be recycled after use. Since we do not yet have a commercial composting facility that can take them, do not use so-called "biodegradable" plastics or plant-based plastics. They still go in the trash. They will not compost in a home composting bin.
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Serve finger foods that don't need a plate!
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*Serve finger foods or items that don't need a plate.
*Use food as serving containers - a carved out watermelon can hold a fruit salad, a bell pepper as a bowl for dip or lettuce cups can serve as a bowl or plate.
*Decorate with reusable items - colorful fabric, flower pots, plants, pails and vases. Use your imagination and creativity and what you may already have.
*For large parties, purchase in bulk with minimal packaging.
*Provide labeled recycling containers next to trash containers for your guests' convenience. If guests are not local or familiar with what can be recycled, label or show pictures of what items can go into the recycling container and trash.
*Try to plan food wisely to minimize leftovers. Send home what is left with guests or compost it.
Most people will remember the fun they had at your party, not so much the décor or what type of plate they ate of off. So keep Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in mind when you entertain.
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SUSTAINABLE, MONEY-SAVING PRACTICES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES
An Interview with Environmental Specialist Courtney Lindberg
By Maryann Ridini Spencer
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Ventura's YMCA
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"Most businesses want to do the right thing when it comes to protecting the environment," says Courtney Lindberg, Environmental Specialist for the City of Ventura." "My job is all about being a resource that provides local businesses with free information and materials that assist them in implementing environmental friendly practices to help keep Ventura beautiful and thriving, as well as save them money."
In a recent appointment with Ventura's YMCA, (3760 Telegraph Road), Courtney met with the Executive Director to assess current recycling programs and offered helpful suggestions for improvement.
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L to R: Environmental Specialist Courtney Lindberg talks to Margo Byrne, Executive Director of Ventura's YMCA
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"When I go out on an appointment, I assess and discuss current programs and offer recommendations to suit the businesses needs and size. We also have a host of free collaterals and materials that can also be used as an effective means to educate employees. The important thing to remember is that each business makes their own decisions on what works best for them, our objective is to educate and support their environmental initiative."
YMCA Sustainable Programs
Some of the environmental programs being implemented at the YMCA include retrofitting of their lighting to greatly reduce their energy use, increased recycling, , a focus on waste diversion, specifically by installing a 5-gallon water tank and encouraging employees to bring their own reusable water bottles, thus eliminating the need for cups and plastics, and using drought tolerant landscaping to reduce the need for irrigation.
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The YMCA's Native Garden along the side of the building
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A Native, Waterwise Garden Saves Money
One of the more creative environmentally-friendly, money saving programs at the YMCA is their outside native garden installation. Plants, native to the area, and requiring less water were deliberately ensconced. As a result, when it rains, water is captured in rain barrels and directed to the garden. When it's hot, condensation from the air conditioning units is also transported to the succulent-lush landscape enabling it to thrive.
The City offers many events and best practices networking workshops to help your business increase their environmental behavior. SUBSCRIBE to and read our monthly Sustainable Ventura newsletter for more information. Also visit us online at CityofVentura.net/environmental.
Schedule a Business Assessment, Get Featured in Our Newsletter
To schedule a FREE Business Assessment
and/or if you'd like to tell us about your company's sustainable practices so we can feature you in an upcoming newsletter, Email: Courtney Lindberg@clindberg@cityofventura.net.
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Second Green Job Summit
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 10:00am-2:30pm at City Hall
Environmental and sustainable
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California State Assemblyman Das Williams speaking at last year's Green Job Summit at Ventura College
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practices have become an essential part in the planning, design and operations of companies and businesses in the public, private and non-profit sectors throughout the United States. This growth has also opened up a new area in the job market - a Green workforce.
Sustainable careers span the areas of energy efficiency, green building, natural resource management, recycling and renewable energy and more.
As this area of business grows, so too does its need for a qualified workforce. In an effort to network the potential work force candidates with educators and employers, California State Assembly Member Das Williams, along with the City of Ventura, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and the Ventura County Community College District for a Green Jobs Summit, present the second Green Job Summit at City Hall (501 Poli Street) in Ventura on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 10:00am-2:30pm.
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Ventura's City Hall, 501 Poli Street
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The Green Job Summit, which functions as a job fair, is free to the public and takes place in City Hall's Community Room. Vendor booths and exhibitors will be on hand to answer questions. Additionally, panel discussions with educators, business leaders and government officials will be held in City Hall Council Chambers throughout the day. A calendar of panel discussions will be available shortly.
"The green jobs available require different levels of
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Ray Olson (Center), Manager of the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division, speaks at last year's Green Job Summit
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education, training and certification," says Ray Olson, Manager of the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division. "The summit functions as a great information source as well as providing an opportunity for those interested to network for potential jobs. We encourage those attending to bring their resumes and come prepared to meet potential employers."
A light breakfast and lunch will be served at the Summit. For more information, Search "Events" @ VenturaChamber.com
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| NEWS Highlights from April
Earth Day Eco-Fest in Promenade Park, April 14, 2012
Hundreds of people braved the wind on April 14 to celebrate Earth Day.
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Environmental Specialists Courtney Lindberg (Left) and Christine Wied (Far Right) teach little members of the
Community about Sustainable Practices at the Earth Day Eco-Fest
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Ray Olson, Environmental Sustainability Manager, talks to a guest in the Environmental Sustainability booth
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Educator Paul Vaksvik talks to a crowd of over 70 people. Environmental Specialist Christine Wied assists.
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Over 70 people attended the Compost Workshop and Rain Barrel Demonstration at Cornucopia Gardens on Saturday, April 21. Educator Paul
Vaksvik spoke assisted by Environmental Specialist Christine Wied.
Listen to Sustainable Ventura podcasts on iTunes.
Ventura Botanical Garden's First Annual Garden Festival held in Grant Park on April 21 was enjoyed by a lively crowd. There were local vendor booths, music, food, garden workshops & more!
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Environmental Specialist Jill Sarick spins the Compost Wheel talking to enthusiastic little guests in the
Environmental Sustainability booth about
"What Goes In The Compost Bin?"
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Environmental Sustainability
is Everyone's Responsibility! 
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