 | 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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A Zero Waste Program
to reduce unwanted
mail & phone books
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Did you know that 11 billion pounds of mail was delivered in the US in 2008? That equals 900 pieces (100 lbs) for every household. Out of that amount, only 40% is recycled.
Over 660,000 tons of phone books enter the waste stream annually. Only 20% get recycled. Nearly 70% of adults in the U.S. "rarely or never" use the phone book.
If you are tired of getting tons of junk mail in your mailbox and would like to save trees, reduce the waste that goes into our landfills and care about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there is a way you can make a difference.
Join along with the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division and sign up with Catalog Choice to opt-out of getting junk mail deliveries to your home and business.
Catalog Choice is the largest independent mail preference registry in the United States. When you sign up, it's FREE and you get to opt-out of receiving all forms of advertising mail and unwanted phone book deliveries. The great thing about Catalog Choice is that with a database of more than 5,500 titles (and increasing daily) that you choose what you want to opt-out of receiving.
Under the Fair Information Practice (FTC), your information will also be kept private and be protected.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
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VENTURA'S GREEN TASK FORCEDedicated to Preserving Ventura's Environment
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The Ventura Chamber of Commerce Green Task Force, in collaboration with the City of Ventura and local agencies, is dedicated to a "greener" environment. Their mission is to empower the local business community to work "green" through Chamber-led community projects and educational initiatives that will positively impact the environment.
"Workshops are designed to give in depth information on specific environmental subjects," said Diane de Mailly, Green Task Force co-chair and President of DDM Metering Systems. "So far, our workshops have included Best Practices for restaurants, and now lighting retrofits. What's great about the hands-on is that business owners get real time information on the cost to go green. We also offer many other events and outreach"
The guiding principles of the Task Force include: promoting economic development through green principles and sustainability, developing community-based projects and events to raise awareness and generate support for environmental concerns and sustainable practices, fostering and creating green business practices to be adopted and used by the Chamber and local businesses, act as a central repository for information for local programs, events, projects, incentives, and resources related to environmental sustainability, and creating green business tools and opportunities to educate and support local businesses.
For more information, visit: VenturaChamber.com
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Ventura's Natural Beauty
Let's keep it that way!
July 2012
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| Green Business is Smart Business
Get Local and Statewide Recognition for your business
By Maryann Ridini Spencer
It's become even easier for local businesses to be green.The City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability division is now offering Ventura businesses the opportunity to be recognized for their excellent environmental practices through a free Green Business Certification Program. "Green certification offers Ventura businesses local and statewide recognition for being a leader in protecting and preserving our environment and natural resources," says Environmental Specialist, Courtney Lindberg. "The program provides businesses with a unique opportunity to be recognized for their green practices. Venturans value our environment and appreciate businesses that share the same ethic." The City worked closely with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce Green Task Force to get input from the local business community and to make sure the process was business friendly. The Green Business Certification Program is currently available to office/retail and restaurant businesses within the City of Ventura, but other sectors will be added as the program gains traction. Although the certification requirements differ for each sector, the main environmental categories are waste, energy, water, pollution prevention, wastewater, and general staff education.  "Any interested business can sign up online to start the certification process," continued Lindberg. "If they choose to, I can meet with them at their place of business and walk them through the registration process as well as discuss steps that need to be taken to become certified." Once a business is certified, they are given a decal to display on their window and a logo that can be used in their electronic and hardcopy PR and marketing materials. Since the Ventura certification is affiliated with a statewide program (@greenbusinessca.org), businesses will also be entered into a statewide database with other certified green businesses. Certification is good for two years, at which time the business would need to recertify. The City of Ventura plans to coordinate a press release announcing their work with the first sampling of local businesses. To get local and statewide recognition for your business, Contact: Courtney Lindberg, 805-667-6502 or email: clindberg@cityofventura.net
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 | Impact on the Environment: Reduce vs. Recycle
by Christine Wied
We know that recycling reduces the use of natural resources, energy, may lower greenhouse gas emissions and usually makes people feel good about not throwing something in the landfill where it will stay unchanged for hundreds of years. These are good things and we don't want to diminish them but what if the easy availability of recycling actually increases a person's consumption of goods using even more resources? Is that environmentally sustainable? A recent study by Jesse Catlin of the University of California Irvine and Yitong Wang of Tsinghua University in Beijing, China found that the ability to recycle may lead to increased resource usage compared to when recycling in not available. In one experiment, subjects were told they were testing out a new style of scissors when they were actually being observed about how wasteful they would be if they had the option to recycle the paper used in the test. The subjects snipped nearly twice the amount of paper when a recycling container was in the room as opposed to just a trash can. One of the conclusions from the researchers was that "The option to recycle may function as a means of reducing the guilt associated with consuming and disposing of a product which therefore increases consumption through mitigation of the guilt associated with over consumption." 
The lesson we can learn is that recycling is far better than landfilling items but it is the last word in the hierarchy Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We don't need to worry about disposal of items in the trash or recycling if we don't use them in the first place. Here are a few ideas to help focus on REDUCE so we don't use the recyclability of a product to justify over consumption. - Use a refillable water bottle or a glass instead of buying bottled water. It is a lot less costly and fewer bottles to manufacture in the first place. (Remember the bottled water is usually someone else's filtered tap water at a premium price. Filling and processing the bottles uses energy. Fuel is used to transport them to the warehouse and store.)
- When it comes to printing, ask first if you really need a hard copy of this? If yes, be sure to print on both sides of the paper. Remember there are also ink, toner and energy use to consider along with the paper.
- For things you must buy, try to find them with the least amount of packaging. Does buying this item in bulk make sense and less waste?
- If you need a bag at all, reusable bags are far better than single-use plastic or paper bags even though both are made from recyclable materials and can be recycled in most places. (Plastic bags are only recyclable at grocery and other stores in Ventura).
- Do I really need the latest gadget, cell phone, appliance or whatever? What will I do with the item it is replacing? How many resources went in to making this new product? Does it justify the environmental as well as financial cost?
The conclusions by the researches is "Merely emphasizing the positive aspects of recycling and enhancing the availability or recycling options may not be sufficient to save natural resources or at least does not always yield the maximum environmental benefit." Recycling although environmentally very helpful is not a perfect solution. Reducing overall consumption is also desirable. |
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Make A Difference: Become a Volunteer for Volunteer Ventura  "Volunteering to help clean up our beach and parks is a great way to enhance the beauty and quality of life in Ventura," said Rosie Ornelas, Coordinator for City of Ventura's Volunteer Ventura programs. With the slogan, "Together we can make a difference!" Volunteer Ventura's mission is to mobilize local residents to volunteer their time and expertise in meaningful ways for activities that will promote a better quality of life in Ventura. The programs vary and cover a wide variety of topics from summer reading programs at the library to park and beach cleanups to protect and prevent pollution in our watershed. "Volunteering is a great way to meet other like-minded members of the community and create lasting friendships while taking a positive stance in the community where we all live," continued Ornelas. "Families and students can also use these activities as a time to learn, share and give back." Some upcoming volunteer activities include: Friends of the Leo Robbins Sailing Center Friday, July 6, 2012  10:00am to 12:30pm Leo Robbins Sailing Center, Marina Park, 1400 Greenock Lane, Ventura Online registration required The City is looking for volunteers, ages 12 and older, to assist in maintaining sailing and kayaking equipment at the Leo Robbins Sailing Center at Marina Park. Activities to include: Cleaning boats, kayaks and equipment, hose off decks, light painting. Friends of Ventura Aquatic Center Saturday, July 7, 2012  9:00am to 11:30am Ventura Aquatic Center, 901 S. Kimball Road, Ventura Online registration required The Ventura Aquatic Center is looking for volunteers, ages 12 and older, to assist in maintaining the beautiful, state-of-the-art aquatics facility the first Saturday of every month from 9:00am-11: 30am. Activities to include: Hose the deck and courtyard, clean hand rails, guard towers, trash cans, tables, walls, pool tiles and more.  Arroyo Verde Park Clean up Saturday, July 15, 2012 2:00pm to 4:00pm Arroyo Verde Park, 5011 Foothill Road (Foothill & Day)
Online registration required
Volunteers are invited to join the Ventura Hillsides Conservancy (VHC), in partnership with the Volunteer Ventura! Program for an afternoon of fun during the clean up of the park trails and play areas. VHC will supply gloves, bags and litter pickup tools. Saturday, July 14, 2012 10:00am to Noon Marina Park, 1400 Greenock Lane, Ventura Online registration required Celebrating our local parks and recreation, JOIN the Marina Park Beach Cleanup. Afterwards they'll be a sponsored BBQ/picnic for all helping hands. Grab your family and friends to spend the morning beautifying one of the most-utilized parks and enjoy an array of family friendly activities! To view all online volunteer Opportunities: Visit: http://www.cityofventura.net/volunteeropportunities Sign up for the Volunteer Ventura! Monthly newsletter: URL: http://www.cityofventura.net/cm/civicengagement Contact Rosie Ornelas at rornelas@cityofventura.net Or call (805) 652-4555. CLICK here for other volunteer organizations helping to beautify our waterways! SAVE THE DATE: The 28th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day Saturday, September 15, 2012 9:00am-Noon http://vccoastcleanup.org If you are interested in becoming a Business sponsor for Coastal Cleanup Day, call Christine Wied at (805) 652-4584.
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It's A Bird. It's A Plane - It's Ventura's GREEN TASK FORCE!Best Practices Workshop: Lighting RetrofitsBy Maryann Ridini SpencerOn Thursday morning, June 14, the Ventura Chamber of Commerce Green Task Force held the second in a series of Best Practices Workshops. This workshop focused on an energy efficient lighting retrofit completed at the Ventura Family YMCA located at 3760 Telegraph Road. The YMCA recently underwent a series of indoor/outdoor lighting upgrades thanks to a special grant dedicated to supporting energy efficiency projects. "The City received one million dollars in federal grant money to apply to energy efficient projects," said Joe Yahner, Supervisor of the City's Environmental Sustainability Division. "Portions of the grant funds went to upgrading street lights and conducting a |
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Joe Yahner and Courtney Lindberg at the Best Practices Workshop Series: Lighting Retrofits.
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study to look at ways to reduce the City's greenhouse gas emissions." "However, since many local non-profits have been hit hard by the recession," continued Yahner. "We felt that a program aimed at reducing electricity use and operational costs would provide a significant and long lasting benefit to the non-profits that are so vital to our community." In fact, the program, in partnership with the Ventura County Regional Energy Alliance and aided by an additional $25,000 in rebates from Southern California Edison, will cut the collective electricity bills of the YMCA and 18 other local non-profits by about $45,000 per year. Executive Director of the YMCA, Margo Byrne, who presented the workshop, indicated that in the month of May for the past two years, the facility averaged 42,500 kilowatt hours (kWh) at a cost of about $4,600. This May, with the energy efficient lights full installed, the YMCA's electricity use was 32,750 kWh and cost about $3,500. "At those rates," said Mike Evans, YMCA Facilities Manager, "we expect to well exceed the $9,000 per year expected savings. In addition, the aesthetics of our building has improved. All the lights now have a uniform balance and hue. It's very attractive."  | |
Margo Byrne shows attendees at the Best Practices Workshop the YMCA's new energy efficient light.
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"We offer so many different types of programs to families and individuals who come from Ventura, Fillmore, Ojai and Port Hueneme," said Byrne. "So the fact we can now save on our energy costs is huge. We're planning on putting those funds to good use to support vital programs that might have been in jeopardy otherwise." For the workshop, after a PowerPoint presentation delving into energy efficient lighting options, the case to replace or retrofit lights, cost savings and return on investment (ROI), Byrne led a tour around the facility to show off the new retrofits. A sampling of the YMCA's other sustainable practices include an extensive recycling program, a water efficient landscape, native garden, and saving on paper products with the distribution of electronic newsletters and driving new members to the company's website to register. "We're always looking for ways to be green," said Byrne. "We've got to preserve and protect where we live." The City has worked with the YMCA offering information and education on sustainable practices via the Business Assessment Program. To schedule a FREE Business Assessment appointment for your business, and/or to find out about the new Green Business Certification, Contact: Courtney Lindberg,(805) 667-6502 (clindberg@cityofventura.net).  | |
LtoR: Janis Shinkawa, Mike Evans, James Davis, Margo Byrne, Courtney Lindberg, Diane de Mailly and Ed Summers at the Green Task Force's Best Practices: Lighting Retrofit Workshop.
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| NEWS Highlights from June
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Environmental Specialist Christine Wied, in the Environmental Sustainability booth at "Summerfest," talks to a Father and daughter about environmentally friendly practices.
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June 2 - SummerfestThe Ventura Unified School District annual "Summerfest," aimed at combating the problem of childhood obesity, poor dietary habits and lack of exercise, partners with local health, school and busineses to raise funds for nutrition and exercise programs. The result is a day of fun, music, physical activities, sporting events, healthy living information and nutritious food offerings to celebrate the community.
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Environmental Specialist Jill Sarick talks to local children about "Where Do All the Recyclables Go?"
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June 7 - Business Olympics at the Four Points Sheraton | |
Business Olympics Expo at the Four Points Sheraton
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 | | LtoR: Environmental Specialist Courtney Lindberg and Advocate's Kristen Davis rally for the Green Task Force at the Business Expo |
The Ventura Chamber of Commerce held the semi-Annual Tabletop Business Expo "Olympics by the Ocean" at the Four Points Sheraton (1050 Schooner Drive in Ventura) from 4:30-7:30pm. On hand were 59 local Exhibitors including the City's Environmental Sustainability Division and Ventura Water. The City was also one of the event sponsors. Listen to the Event Podcast and interviews with James Davis, Co-Chair of the Ventura Chamber's Green Task Force, Glenn Morris (Auto Lube Care), Susan Rieder (Crowne Plaza Hotel). CLICK HERE. | June 14 - Best Practices Workshop - "Lighting Retrofits"
The Ventura Chamber's Green Task Force and the Environmental Sustainability Division presented "Lighting Retrofits" another Best Practices Workshop from 10:00am-11:00am at the Ventura Family YMCA (3760 Telegraph Road in Ventura). Attendees got to tour the facilities energy efficient lighting and retrofit project. The Best Practices Workshops, presented once a quarter, are FREE for Chamber Members and $10 for non-members. For more information, contact Charlene at (805) 643-7222.
June 16 - Household Hazardous Waste Event
Every third Saturday of the month (except in December), the City hosts Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Events at Gold Coast Recycling. To make an appointment, call 805-652- 4525. Also visit: CityofVentura.net/HHW ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
BILLBOARDS IN VENTURA
WATCH for Environmental Sustainability billboards around town focusing on recycling used motor oil and preventing stormwater pollution.
GREEN THUMB POP DISPLAYS
 If you happen to be wandering down the isles at Green Thumb Nursery at 1899 Victoria
Avenue, take notice of the "Less Toxic Pest Management" tags (for ants, snails and weeds), that direct consumers to more eco-friendly choices for their home, lawn and garden maintenance.
 Listen to Sustainable Ventura
podcasts on iTunes.
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Environmental Sustainability
is Everyone's Responsibility! 
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