A Worthy Read
Interesting Domestic and International Articles Discussing the Environment, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation
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CALLING VOLUNTEERS!
There has never been a better time to help out and be recognized.
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 |
Where Does Your City Rank in the
SCE Energy Leader Partnership Program?
Platinum Tier
20% Energy Reduction
Stay Tuned
Gold Tier
10% Energy Reduction
City of Hawthorne
City of Lomita
City of Manhattan Beach
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Silver Tier
5% Energy Reduction
City of Carson
City of El Segundo
City of Hermosa Beach
City of Inglewood
City of Redondo Beach
City of Torrance
Valued Level
City of Lawndale
City of Palos Verdes Estates
City of Rolling Hills
City of Rolling Hills Estates
City of Gardena
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Did You Know?
An ENERGY STAR qualified light bulb: - Saves money about $6 a year in electricity costs and can save more than $40 over its lifetime
- Meets strict performance requirements that are tested and certified by a third party
- Uses about 75% less energy than a traditional incandescent bulb and lasts at least 6 times longer
- Produces about 75% less heat, so it's safer to operate and can cut energy costs associated with home cooling
- Learn more about the difference of ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs
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Message From the Deputy Executive Director of  Environmental Programs
Summer solstice is upon us once again. Summer officially begins on June 21, the longest day and the shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Whether you celebrate it in any formal way, school is out and summer adventures begin. This is the season to embrace being outdoors!
Some spend time at the beach building sandcastles, body surfing in the ocean or collecting sea shells. Others travel by car with family members to explore new sights. There are those who paint picket fences like Huckleberry Finn, catching up on chores around the house. And as outdoor temperatures soar, cool air is a precious commodity indoors.
It is no coincidence that June is designated National Safety Month. If the beach is closed, there is good reason for it - don't swim in contaminated water. Trash in the sand is dangerous for sand castle builders and Frisbee throwers so "search and destroy" unwanted debris. Be careful with levels of air conditioning, heeding the guidance from the Southern California Edison Company as to when and what degrees are prudent so that there is no brownout emergency. And for travelers, did you know that for safety reasons, there are expiration dates on children's car seats? Check out more information here.
On a more enticing note, why not celebrate summer solstice in the community with fresh fruit and vegetables from a local Famers' Market? Be safe and be well.
Catherine Showalter
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SBESC Online Survey
Congratulations to Catheryn Pu and Ben Fujimoto for Winning the Electricity Usage Monitor Drawing!
Over here at SBESC, we are constantly trying to engage our South Bay communities. Recently, we released an online survey to our entire database, asking how you found out about us and what environmental subject matter you think we should be covering. We had a randomized drawing for two contestants to win a free electricity usage monitor and, with resounding enthusiasm, you responded that you were interested in such energy efficiency freebies! We want to thank all those who participated in addition to the winners of the drawing. Your input drives us to become more "efficient" in using our "energy" to help you "save water, energy, money and the environment".
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Southern California Gas Company
What is the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program?
Eligible customers of SoCalGas may receive a 20 percent discount on their monthly gas bill at their primary residence through our California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program. New customers, who are approved within 90 days of starting new gas service, may also receive a $15 discount on their Service Establishment Charge. You will receive your discount once your completed application is approved by Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).
See If You Qualify
Save Money, Improve Quality and Reduce Emissions? Where Do I Sign?
Sign up for a no-cost energy-efficiency assessment. Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGasŪ) will visit your facility at no charge and make recommendations for saving energy and improving operations.
"I'm very impressed with the money my company is saving after SoCalGas' assessment," said Tony Glassman, plant services manager at California Amforge. The assessment recommended a burner upgrade and a new refractory, which ended up saving about 10,200 therms per year. The changes also improved product quality and reduced emissions-and SoCalGas provided a $10,200 incentive as well.
Learn More
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California: "Epicenter of the US CleanTech Market"
Clean Energy Future is Seeing California Leading the Charge
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Southern California Edison
SCE Permanently Shuts San Onofre Nuclear Plant
Utility Southern California Edison has decided to permanently retire its San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.Units 2 and 3 of the plant, which is also known by the abbreviation SONGS, have been shut down since January 2012. Unit 1 was retired in 1992.
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EARN FINANCIAL REWARDS THIS SUMMER!!! Good News for Pool Pump Retailers, Contractors and Residents
Southern California Edison ("SCE") is offering a $100 incentive to pool pump retailers or contractors for installing qualifying residential variable-speed pool pumps at SCE customer residences during 2013. This incentive is for you, the retailer or contractor, to help promote customers to upgrade their pool pumps to more energy efficient variable speed models.
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Dear Valued Customer SCE's Energy Education Center - Irwindale announces the 2013 3rd Quarter classes and workshops are now available. You can print a copy of this calendar for your use or go online to ww.sce.com/workshops and register for any of the 3rd Quarter classes and workshops. Click here to view the pdf calendar. Return to Top |
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Test Your Energy IQ
What You Don't Know About Energy Can Cost You
If you're like the typical American, you know a thing or two about energy efficiency, but you're also leaving serious savings on the table. That's clear from our 2012 Energy IQ Quiz, a nationally representative survey of 1,035 Americans conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. No one got every question right, and only a third answered most correctly. Test your own Energy IQ, then read through our answers to learn the latest efficiency news and advice, which could lower your utility bills by hundreds of dollars. Take the Quiz! Return to Top |
L.A. Metro 
Vanpool - Additional Benefits
Both employers and employees can benefit by participating in Commuter Benefits, a program outlined in the federal tax code, that offers employers tax breaks for subsidizing vanpools for employees. In addition, your employees may benefit when they set aside pre-tax dollars for vanpool commuting expenses.
Participating vanpool leasing agencies accept TransitChek vouchers which can make providing vanpool subsidies to employees easier.
Employer sponsored vanpool lease agreements with an authorized partner leasing agent are also eligible applicants for the Metro Vanpool Program.
Employer sponsored subsidies can lower vanpool fares even more.
Employer sponsored Guaranteed Ride Home Program programs can supplement these programs.
Give SBESC a call (310) 371-7222 and ask to speak with Melissa to learn more about how your business can take advantage of a vanpool today! Metro Extends Period to Pay ExpressLanes Violations Metro has become aware of an issue impacting those who receive violation notices for the ExpressLanes on the 10 and 110 freeways: some people are receiving the notices in the mail very close to the due date. Metro is also aware that many people don't open their mail right away - by the time they do, the notices are due.
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California Carbon Price Hits Record High
California Raised More than $280 Million Selling Greenhouse Gas Emissions Permits in its Third Auction
All 14.5 million available allowances for use this year sold, the California Air Resources Board says. The $280 million includes the state's sale of 7,515,000 carbon allowances for 2016 at the minimum price of $10.71 a metric ton, according to the state.
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Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Insect Walk at Bixby Marshland
Saturday, July 6 at 10 am
Discover insect life at the marsh. Learn about beetles, dragonflies, butterflies and more!
RSVP Here
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SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.
SAFE and GREEN Expands to the South Bay
An innovative, award-winning program to protect kids from riding in unusable safety seats while keeping the seats out of the landfills is picking up steam in the South Bay. SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. has partnered with South Bay businesses, hospitals, and agencies from San Pedro and Redondo Beach to become drop-off sites for the seats before TMC Horizon, Inc. of Pomona fetches them for disposal. TMC is the only LA Co. company that pledged to repurpose all parts of these items which, otherwise, would overload the landfill.
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West Basin Municipal Water D istrict
Water Reliability 2020
Water Reliability 2020 is a program to reduce dependence on less reliable imported water to coastal LA from 66% all the way down to 33% by the year 2020.
West Basin's Water Reliability goals will be achieved by more than doubling their effort to recycle water, double their conservation efforts, increase their programs to educate our youth about conservation and begin an ocean-water desalination program. Learn More
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 City of Torrance
Catch Up on What's Happening in Torrance
Watch THIS WEEK IN TORRANCE with anchors Jin Chun and Ben McCain. Make sure to tune in every week for news reports that affect our community!
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| U.S. Department of Energy's New Secretary of Energy: Ernest Moniz
Promises to Focus on Energy Efficiency
The argument for energy efficiency is simple. Every year, much of the energy the U.S. consumes is wasted. That's why during his first public speech today at the 2013 Energy Efficiency Global Forum, Dr. Ernest Moniz said he was making energy efficiency a focal point during his tenure as Secretary of Energy. Read More  | | Secretary Moniz Speaks at the 2013 Energy Efficiency Global Forum |
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Legislation Corner
Leveraging Private Capital to Boost Prop 39 Energy Savings
In November 2012, California voters approved Proposition 39, which is anticipated to generate approximately $1 billion per year in corporate tax revenue, with approximately half of this revenue over the first five years dedicated to energy efficiency and advanced energy projects in schools and public buildings.
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| Cities in the News
Car2Go Gets Green Light in Hermosa Beach
Car2Go, the South Bay's first regional car share program was approved by the Hermosa Beach City Council making Hermosa Beach the first of the three beach cities to approve the proposed nine-city eco-friendly car sharing model.
The program, which would span a 40-mile geographic area, distributes vehicles throughout the designated region and allows members of the program to rent them for as long or as little as they want. When they are finished, members leave the car at their last destination.
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