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
City of Lomita
Gold Tier
10% Energy Reduction
City of El Segundo
City of Hawthorne
City of Manhattan Beach
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Silver Tier
5% Energy Reduction
City of Carson
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?
The average Californian uses about 192 gallons per day. Typical water-use patterns vary according to geography, climate, lot size and other factors. As a general rule, per capita water use is higher in hotter, inland regions than in cooler, coastal locations. If you live in a single-family home, 50% or more of the water you use every day may be going to your lawn or landscaping. Since a thirsty lawn can be the largest user of water in a home, finding ways to save water outdoors can make a big difference in your water bill. Indoors, activities such as bathing, cleaning and flushing toilets account for more than half of all water used inside the home. Toilets alone account for about 32% of typical residential water use.
- Association of California Water Agencies |
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Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG
"To meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must work to ensure a clean, safe and sustainable energy future."
- President Barack Obama's proclamation of October as National Energy Action Month.
This proclamation turns our attention to the importance of sustainable energy and leads to the question, "What can we do as individuals to help ensure a sustainable energy future?" Answers to this question provide the theme of this month's newsletter. Opportunities to respond to this challenge are addressed in articles about the transportation choices that we make, the kind of fuel that we use in the car that we drive and how we use water, gas and electricity. In each of these areas, YOU can make a difference.
Attending one of our workshops, coming to our Holiday Light Exchange to get energy efficient holiday lights and looking at our website to learn more about electric cars will all provide direction to making decisions that will contribute to a more sustainable, clean and safe energy future for you and generations to come.
National Energy Action Month is a time to look at the choices we are each making and build on the progress we have already made by re-committing to do what we can to increase our energy security, strengthen our economy, combat climate change and improve the environment.
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Energy Quote of the Day
Presidential Proclamation -- National Energy Action Month, 2013
To meet the challenges of the 21st century, we must work to ensure a clean, safe, and sustainable energy future. This National Energy Action Month, we can build on the progress we have made by recommitting to increasing our energy security, strengthening our economy, combatting climate change, and improving the environment.
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Southern California Gas Company
Receive Rebates and Reduce Gas Bills with Solar Water Heating
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas�) is giving rebates of up to $500,000 per business site for qualifying solar water heating systems.
Both new systems and retrofits can qualify, and tax incentives may also be available.
"I received a $52,300 rebate on a solar water heating retrofit system," said Jeff Weiss, who installed the system on a 60-unit apartment building. "I jumped at the chance because I figured the tax benefits and rebate amounts won't be this high for long."
Solar water heating helps save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, making it a valuable part of your "green routine."
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Save on Energy Costs with Continuous Energy Improvement
Sign up for the Continuous Energy Improvement (CEI) program, offered at no cost to qualifying customers. Your business could save up to 20 percent on both gas and electricity costs.
CEI's energy experts help you engage and empower your employees to make maintenance and behavior changes, leading to efficiencies you can't achieve through capital improvements alone.
To qualify, you must be a customer of both SoCalGas and Southern California Edison (SCE), and you need to make a commitment to long-term energy-efficiency improvements.
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Energy Efficient Restaurants Seminar: October 22nd from 9am - 12pm
"Keep Your Equipment Running Efficiently" Learn how to plug your most common "energy leaks" and how much money you could save in the process.
While it is difficult to catch every energy waster in a restaurant, there are some items that are so cheap and easy they should be treated as standard practice. Much of the focus on greening foodservice has been placed on sustainable food options and sourcing, but the truly green restaurant must also be energy and water efficient. Restaurants are like leaky boats: they harbor scores of "energy leaks" that drain energy and water dollars making foodservice one of the least efficient commercial operations. Fortunately, the Food Service Technology Center (FSTC) has performed hundreds of site energy audits over the last twenty years Based on this extensive field experience, the FSTC has developed a collection of no-cost/low-cost best practices that apply to most commercial kitchens.
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Why Efficiency Is So Much Harder in Industrial Facilities Than in Commercial Buildings
"There's a Myth in the Industry that Energy Efficiency is Always Easy"
Energy efficiency is often compared to picking up dollar bills off the ground. It is, in theory, one of the simplest ways to save money in a facility.
In commercial buildings, those dollar bills can be hanging around within close reach. As a recent analysis from FirstFuel pointed out, nearly half of the efficiency opportunities in commercial buildings can be realized through changes to behavior or tweaks to equipment operation schedules. That doesn't mean equipment retrofits aren't needed, but it illustrates the relative simplicity of savings potential.
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Southern California Edison
Time-Of-Use Rate Periods
Unlike one flat rate, there are now different rates depending on the season and the time of day the energy is used. The summer months, June through September, are divided into three periods: On-Peak, Mid-Peak and Off-Peak. During the winter months, October through May, there are only two periods: Mid-Peak and Off-Peak. With Time-Of-Use (TOU) rates, when you use electricity is just as important as how much you use.
Learn More About TOU Rates
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L.A. Metro 
Attention LA County Residents: Effective 10/25/13, the Waiver to the Monthly Account Maintenance Fee Will Expire
Visit https://www.metroexpresslanes.net/en/home/index.shtml to keep up with any developments and keep up to speed with future updates.
What is a Vanpool?
With gas prices rising, traffic congestion increasing, and energy resources dwindling, smart long-distance commuters are seizing the opportunity to turn an often costly and frustrating daily commute into a more pleasant experience. It's called vanpooling.
Vanpools are similar to carpools, except they generally involve more people. A vanpool is a group of 5 to 15 people who regularly travel together to work 30 miles or more (roundtrip) in a comfortable van. Typically, riders pay a monthly fare and maintenance fee, while drivers ride at a discounted rate in exchange for driving and maintaining the van.
Vanpoolers can shave an average of 20 minutes off of their commute time by using carpool lanes, and lower the stress and expense of driving alone. And now, with the Metro Vanpool Program, new and existing vanpools will save even more money. Get in.
Sharing the ride and expenses in a vanpool has always been a convenient, reliable and economical way to get to work. The typical vanpooler saves as much as 70% in commute costs when switching from driving alone to vanpooling. And now, the Metro Vanpool Program makes vanpooling more affordable than ever before by saving each vanpool up to $400 per month. That equates to an additional 20 - 30% savings - What a deal!
Give SBESC a call (310) 371-7222 to learn more about how your employer can organize a vanpool and qualify for Metro's subsidy.
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Electric Vehicles
California's Sustainable Transport Incentives Leave Other States in the Stone Age
California has more electric vehicles per capita than any other state in the nation, in part because policymakers seem to love them. Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed a whole sheaf of bills intended to hasten their adoption, and the city of Palo Alto - home to Tesla Motors - will require every new home to be wired for EV charging hardware. Read More Return to Top |
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Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Puente Hills Landfill Closing on October 31, 2013
The Puente Hills Landfill will close on October 31, 2013, in accordance with commitments made by the Sanitation Districts in 2003 when it accepted the Conditional Use Permit for the landfill. Residents and businesses can use other Sanitation Districts' facilities for disposal and recycling of their solid waste-including the nearby Puente Hills Materials Recovery Facility, Downey Area Recycling and Transfer Facility, South Gate Transfer Station, Commerce Refuse-to-Energy Facility, and the Southeast Resource and Recovery Facility.
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Mojave Mirrors:
World's Largest Solar Plant Ready to Shine
More than six years in the making, the Ivanpah plant is now slated to begin generating power before summer's end. It was designed by BrightSource Energy to use more than 170,000 mirrors to focus sunlight onto boilers positioned atop three towers, which reach nearly 500 feet (150 meters) into the dry desert air. The reflected sunlight heats water in the boilers to make steam, which turns turbines to generate electricity-enough to power more than 140,000 homes. Return to Top |
West Basin Municipal Water D istrict
15th Annual Water Harvest Festival
When: Saturday, October 26th from 10am - 2pm
Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility
1935 S. Hughes Way | El Segundo, California 90245
FREE family event! West Basin will be offering tours of the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility, interactive games, costume contest, stage shows presented by Discovery Science Center, pony rides, reptile petting zoo, food, and the chance to enter into our grand prize giveaway. You don't want to miss this event!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: If you are interested or know someone who is, please call SBESC (310) 371-7222 to find out how to volunteer at the Water Harvest Festival.
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First WaterSense Labeled Product Available for Commercial Kitchens
Pre-Rinse Spray Valves Will Help Restaurants Save Water, Energy, and Money
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the first WaterSense specification for a commercial kitchen product. EPA estimates that approximately 51 billion gallons of water is used every year to rinse dishes by close to 1 million food service establishments in the country. Pre-rinse spray valves-which remove excess food waste from dishes prior to dishwashing-are now eligible to earn the WaterSense label and help food service establishments save water, energy, and money. Read More Return to Top |
 City of Torrance
The Friends of the Madrona Marsh Present: Moonlight Magic: Saturday, October 19th, 2013 at Ken Miller Recreation Center Torino Plaza
The Madrona Marsh Preserve is a safe haven for birds, reptiles, plant life, and all types of living creatures. It is also a place for families to reconnect with nature or to partake in all the fun and educating activities the Marsh has to offer. On October 19th, 2013 the Marsh will be hosting its annual fundraising celebration to help sustain and protect all of its programs. There will be live music, silent and live auctions, gift baskets, and excellent food! Tickets are available with cash or check at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center and at Wild Birds Unlimited in the Rolling Hills Plaza. |
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First Come, First Served!
Holiday Light Exchange: November 18, 19, 20th
Mark your calendars, it's almost that time of year again to start thinking about upgrading to LED Christmas lighting! Trade up to two working strings of old electricity-guzzling incandescent holiday lights for two new, energy-efficient LED strings.
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Legislation Corner
Governor Brown Signs AB 8
Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 8 into law, extending the programs that accelerate the turnover of older vehicles and equipment and invest in the development and deployment of advanced technologies that are necessary to achieve the California's air quality, climate, and energy goals until January 1, 2024. The bill includes a provision to fund at least 100 hydrogen stations with a commitment of up to $20 million a year from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.
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California and Quebec Sign Cap-and-Trade Linkage Agreement
On October 1, 2013, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Government of Quebec signed an agreement defining the steps and procedures to link California and Quebec cap-and-trade programs. The agreement, a result of more than five years of joint efforts of CARB and Quebec, defines procedures to harmonize and integrate their respective emissions trading programs. By November, CARB must submit a progress report to the California Environmental Protection Agency and California Governor Jerry Brown.
Public Utilities Set Statewide Regs For Phone App Rideshares
Companies operating phone app rideshare services such as Lyft, UberX and SideCar will now be allowed to operate across the state under a set of regulations approved this week by the California Public Utilities Commission.
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| Cities in the News
'Walking School Bus' Coming to Beach Cities Schools
With the goal of decreasing childhood obesity, Beach Cities Health District will again launch its "Walking School Bus" program on Wednesday in elementary schools throughout Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
More than 700 elementary-age children from 14 area schools are expected to participate in the walk-to-school initiative, which is launching for the third straight year during International Walk to School Week.
Read More
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October / November 2013 Events & Workshops
Click Here to See a List of Upcoming Workshops & Trainings
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