Sustainable Santa Monica e-Newsletter March 2009
Greetings!

Thank you for receiving the monthly Sustainable Santa Monica e-Newsletter - Keeping you Informed of Santa Monica's current Events, News and Resources!

Please help to grow our sustainable community by forwarding this email to your friends and co-workers!  There is a sign-up link at the bottom of the page. Or, you can always sign up at www.sustainablesm.org
In This Issue
LEED for Existing Buildings
Earthday Poster Contest
Sustainable Quality Awards Luncheon
How to Green Your Garden
7th Annual Permaculture Design Course
Green Living Workshops
March for Water
LA's New Low Carbon Diet: AB 32
Earth Hour 2009
LEED for Existing Buildings
Case Studies Presentation

USGBCLEED for Existing Buildings
Case Studies Presentations and Discussion

It is a given that all new buildings should be built to the highest standards of sustainability. But what about the millions of existing buildings?

This event will detail the LEED for Existing Building process, benefits, and challenges. Commercial office and hospitality case studies will include the MGM offices and The Ambrose Hotel (the first LEED-EB certified hotel). Brief presentations will be followed by discussion and Q&A where our experienced panelists can offer advise and input for your own current and future LEED-EB projects.

Panelists:
Greg Reitz, REthink Development, The Ambrose Hotel project
Anne Carmack, The Ambrose Hotel
Blair Seibert, Verde Concepts, MGM project

When:

Thursday, March 12, 6:30PM-8:30PM

Where:

Santa Monica Main Library, 2nd Floor
601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401

FREE

RSVPs appreciated but not required.
Contact Traci Reitz with any questions: [email protected]

Hosted by Sustainable Works and Global Green USA

Announcement: Earthday Poster Contest
SSM logo
The City of Santa Monica and Sustainable Works are sponsoring an Earthday Poster Contest open to all K-12 aged students who live or attend school in Santa Monica. This year's theme is "My Sustainable Community."

The purpose of this contest is to engage students in sustainability education and action, and to offer them an opportunity to share their vision for a clean, green, healthy community.
   
Educators are encouraged to schedule an in-class or assembly presentation on sustainability where students will be given the information to inspire contest submissions. Presentations can range from 10-20 minutes and will be adapted to specific K-12 age levels. Spanish language presentations are available.  

All students and their families will be invited to an art opening where all students will be recognized for their artistic contributions, posters will be displayed and prizes will be awarded. Selected posters will also be displayed at community events and at traveling exhibits in public sites.

All entries are due by April 2, 2009.

Download the flier at www.sustainablesm.org

For more information please contact Traci Reitz: [email protected]

Sustainable Quality Awards
OPA parade

Sustainable Quality Awards Luncheon

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, the City of Santa Monica, and Sustainable Works have developed the Sustainable Quality Awards (SQA) to identify and recognize businesses in the Santa Monica area that are successfully incorporating sustainable practices into their operations.

The SQA promotes the efforts of local businesses that have made significant achievements in the areas of sustainable economic development, social responsibility, and stewardship of the natural environment. By recognizing these achievements, this awards program educates and inspires other businesses to adopt their own sustainable practices, thus helping Santa Monica become a model sustainable community, providing its residents and visitors with a healthy economy and environment.

Featuring Guest speakers:

Sheila Kuehl, former State Senator
Andy Lipkis, Tree People Founder and President

When:
Wednesday, March 25th,
11:30AM - 2:00PM

Where:

Sheraton Delfina

Purchase Tickets Online:
smchamber.com

How To Green Your Garden:  Class Series
garden/garden
Everything you wanted to know about greening your garden!

This series of classes is for the Santa Monica gardener that wants to grow a beautiful and sustainable garden. Each class will walk you through a different topic to help make your garden a success and envy of your neighbors.

When:
Classes will be held on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 9:00 to 12:00.

Where:

Santa Monica College, Main Campus

Cost:

$35 per class

Class Scheudle:
March 21 - Plant Palette: Mediterranean Plants
Choosing climate-appropriate plants from the Mediterranean plant palette that offer a variety of colors, textures and fragrance.

April 11 - Water Wise Gardening
I've picked my plants but how and when do I water them? Learn the basics of water wise irrigation.

May 16 - Veggie Gardens 101
Learn how to incorporate edibles into your garden, including raised vegetable beds and planters.

June 20 - Good Bugs, Healthy Plants
Learn which plants attract good bugs and how you can reduce your maintenance and chemical use in the garden.

July 18 - No Sweat Gardening
A "green" garden requires 60% less maintenance. Find out how and when to prune your plants, mulching and composting.

September 19 - Plant Palette: Native Plants
Choosing climate-appropriate plants from our California native plant palette that offer a variety of colors, textures and fragrance.

October 17 - Showers to Flowers
How to use rainwater and graywater to water your garden.


Register:
Online Registration

Telephone Registration: 310.434.3400. 

Questions: Russell Ackerman, 310.458.2213; [email protected]

For more information about this series, visit www.sustainablesm.org or call (310) 458-8972
7th Annual Permaculture Design Course
Earth Flow logo



Series begins April 4th & 5th!


The Permaculture Solution (R)Evolution
EcoUrbanism and A Society of Sustainability...


The Los Angeles Permaculture Guild has one of the largest and most dynamic City Permaculture groups in the world -who now work beyond the garden to bring sustainable solutions to city planning, community activism and more. 

Permaculture is a world-wide movement detailing the most inspiring examples of human ingenuity of the most practical solutions toward a sustainable society ever documented!

This course is packed with how-to solutions, community actions and activities.
W/ Special Focus on a Permaculture Economic Stimulus Plan!
Save Money and Save the Earth's Precious Resources
� Natural Patterns & Reading the Landscape
� Lawns into Gardens -Localizing Food
� Water Harvesting -Water Conservation
� Green Building -Sustainable Living
� Economics of a Sustainable Society
� Easing off Oil & More!

Instructors include some of the most experienced permaculture designers in the world. The teaching team is led by Larry Santoyo and includes Scott Pittman, Toby Hemenway and others...

Find all the dates, details and payment options at: 
Earthflow Course Page

downlaod a PDF Flyer:
LA course flyer
 
Green Living Workshops Starting
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Green Living Workshop by Sustainable Works


Get the latest eco-info!
Save Money and Resources!
Lower your Ecological Footprint!


Classes meet 1.5 hours per week for 6 weeks

Workshop addresses Planetary Problems then shares Sustainable Solutions. Progress is tracked through a comprehensive Life Style Survey encouraging real sustainable change, making this a true interactive workshop.

New Workshops Starting:

Tuesday, March 3, 7-8:30PM
Lincoln Middle School

Wednesday, March 4, 7-8:30PM
Santa Monica Main Library

Thursday, March 5,  7-8:30PM
REI Santa Monica

Classes have been filling up so register early!

Register Online

Suggested Donations:
$25 Santa Monica residents/$50 Los Angeles residents

More Info:Sustainable Works

Email:Nancy Barba
March for Water
March for Water
This march seeks to help bring attention to the present water crisis taking place all over the world, our nation, the state and the City of Los Angeles. 

There is no denial that we are in a critical time as it relates to water resources. Only about 2.5 percent of the Earth's water is fresh and suitable for drinking. Climate change, pollution, and the unsustainable use of water are depleting this limited supply.

Through this march we take on the commitment to bring people together on this most important topic and resource.

When:

World Water Day, March 22, 2009, 9:00AM

Where:

Starting at Los Angeles State Historic Park, Ending at Rio del Los Angeles State Historic Park

This event is FREE and open to everyone.  However, we would like to keep track of the number of people expected at the march.  Your contact information will allow us to keep you informed of march updates. Please sign up to march at: Register

March for Water


For more information please contact:

Miguel A. Luna

818-568-9139

[email protected]
LA's New Low Carbon Diet: what AB 32 means for Los Angeles

This day-long symposium at UCLA will focus on the response of actors in the L.A. region and identify the open questions faced by governments, industry, and communities. The goals of this event are to explore the specific responses of the region and to lay the groundwork for future collaborative initiatives and research that will help all of us in the Los Angeles region to meet our obligations.

The California Air Resources Board recently adopted the proposed Scoping Plan for implementing AB32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act. We in Southern California are at a critical point in determining how businesses, government agencies, and community organizations will respond, and we face new and unprecedented challenges in making required greenhouse gas reductions.

Keynote Address by:

Mary Nichols, Chair of the California Air Resources Board

Fran Pavley, State Senator & Author of AB 32

Panel discussions will focus on

  • Emissions reduction measures for key regulated sectors, highlighting regional challenges and opportunities
  • Emissions reduction measures for key production sectors, highlighting regional challenges and opportunities
  • Identifying the region's key needs for improving AB 32 implementation
  • Identifying ways for public, private, non-profit and academic sectors to work together to achieve carbon emission reductions, including what UCLA can do to help.
When:
Friday, March 6, 8:30AM-4:30PM

Where:
UCLA, De Neve Commons Auditorium

Register Onine:
Event registration
Admission FREE

For more information, please visit the event website or contact:
Paul Bunje ([email protected]) or Cara Horowitz ([email protected])

Earth Hour 2009
Earth Hour
Turn out. Take action.
Be part of this historic event.

World Wildlife Fund is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

When:
March 28, 2009, 8:30PM

Learn More:
Earth Hour US
Thank you for your commitment to a Sustainable Santa Monica!
 
Sincerely,

Traci Reitz

www.sustainablesantamonica.org
 

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Santa Monica's Environmental Programs Division is Renamed the Office of Sustainability and the Environment - A new office of the City Manager  
 
The move and the name change were made to elevate and centralize the role of sustainability in the municipal organization and allow for greater integration and coordination of green programs and initiatives throughout the city.  Sustainability has been a City Council priority for many years and Santa Monica is nationally and internationally recognized for its leadership in this area. 
 
 
The Office of Sustainability and the Environment may be a new name, but rest assured we still offer the same great programs and serve as your sustainable city resource.  To learn more about our programs and policies, and find ways to participate in realizing a Sustainable Santa Monica, visit us online. 

Our website has a new name too: 
www.sustainablesm.org 
 
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