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Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

Volume 9, Number 12 

December 2013 
IN THIS ISSUE...
Calling Volunteers!
SCG
Christmas Card Projects
SCE
Why You Should Give LED Light Bulbs for Christmas. Seriously
L.A. Metro
Waste Management Energy Production Rivals Solar Industry
Sanitation Districts
West Basin
City of Torrance
Legislation Corner
Cities and Other Public Agencies in the News
December 2013 Events & Workshops
A Worthy Read
Interesting Domestic and International Articles Discussing the Environment, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation





 

Upcoming HHW/E-Waste Collection Events


City of Hermosa Beach - 1/25/14

City of Gardena - 2/8/14

CALLING VOLUNTEERS!

There has never been a better time to help out and be recognized.  

Complete our volunteer application and submit it by email or mail.   
You can make a huge difference! 
 

 Visit Our Cities


Carson
El Segundo
Gardena
Hawthorne
Hermosa Beach
Inglewood
Lawndale  
Lomita
Manhattan Beach
Palos Verdes Estates
Rancho Palos Verdes
Redondo Beach
Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills Estates
Torrance

SCE Customers in
San Pedro, Harbor City
 / Harbor Gateway & Wilmington

County Unincorporated Areas in South Bay 

2013 REBATE FORMS 

  

Southern California Gas Company  

 

Southern California Edison

 

West Basin Municipal Water District  

 

 En Espa�ol

 

Southern California Gas Company
Southern California Edison Sanitation Districts of LA County
Metro

  County of Los Angeles 

 

 

Find us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterView our profile on LinkedIn

 

 

www.sbesc.com 

  
To read the South Bay Cities Council of Governments' latest edition of its newsletter, 
South Bay Watch,

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

Did You Know?

More than 150 years ago, inventors began working on a bright idea that would have a dramatic impact on how we use energy in our homes and offices. This invention changed the way we design buildings, increased the length of the average workday and jumpstarted new businesses. It also led to new energy breakthroughs - from power plants and electric transmission lines to home appliances and electric motors.

 

Like all great inventions, the light bulb can't be credited to one inventor. It was a series of small improvements on the ideas of previous inventors that have led to the light bulbs we use in our homes today (Check out a timeline here).

 

- Department of Energy

Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG

 

As 2013 draws to a close and the holiday season is in full swing, the occasion does not just present us with a reflection of what we are thankful for, but an opportunity to think about the gift of saving as well. For all of the items that will be purchased and the resources required to produce and package them, this is a good time to think about what can be reused and saved for future holiday celebrations. From wrapping paper and ribbons to holiday cards and wreaths, there are lots of opportunities for reuse and even upcycling ideas for these products. Upcycling is reusing (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of a higher quality or value than the original.  For example, taking something that no longer has a useful life for its original purpose, but can be reused in another capacity to achieve some other utility (i.e. refashioning a suitcase into a nightstand). This holiday season, here's one gift idea: exchange incandescent holiday lights for LED ones as a gift for yourself, or you can gift LED light bulbs to a friend or family member to spark their interest in the latest energy efficiency technology.

 

2014 will bring us more innovation and ideas that will allow us to use our resources more efficiently and sustainably. For example, we expect to see many more companies coming to market with electric vehicles with increasing driving range.  Residents of the South Bay are buying these vehicles in larger proportion than other areas so look for more on our streets.  South Bay cities will continue to lead by example in municipal energy efficiency projects.  And, each of us can look at what we can do to save water such as fine tuning our sprinkler systems and focusing on the types of plants that we are using.  2014 will present other new avenues for us to help preserve our South Bay environment.

 

Please read the articles below, which I hope will inspire you to think about what you can do to positively impact the environment and to finish off the year ready for the challenges and opportunities to come. And throughout the year, I encourage you to send us your ideas for ways that the SBCCOG can promote a sustainable South Bay. 

 

My mom always used to send me off saying, "Walk in with your right foot!"  So that's my message to you as we walk into 2014! 

Happy New Year!


Jacki Bacharach

 
Southern California Gas CompanyThe Gas Company

 

Upcoming Seminars at the Energy Resource Center

  

The resource center for energy and environmental decision-makers opened in the spring of 1995 in Downey, California, the heart of the Greater Los Angeles and Orange County metropolitan areas.

 

The Energy Resource Center is your energy efficiency partner. The building is an award-winning model of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly technologies. And an array of practical seminars, demonstrations and consulting services can help businesses find the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions to their energy needs.

 

A visit to the Energy Resource Center can expedite your search for new equipment, while ensuring you have the information you need to make wise choices. And, there's never a charge for equipment demonstrations.

 

See when the latest sustainability, HVAC and industrial seminars are being held at the Energy Resouce Center here.  

 

Give the Gift of Warmth

 

Caring customers like you have the power to provide immediate aid and hope for those in need by helping less fortunate members of our communities stay warm this winter.

 

How it works
The Gas Assistance Fund enables local nonprofit agencies to provide emergency bill payment assistance to seniors, disabled individuals or newly unemployed with a one-time grant for the amount of their gas bill (not to exceed $100).

Donate Here 

 

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Christmas Card Projects
Decorative Ways to Recycle Christmas Cards

If Christmas cards are piling up and you're running out of ways to display them, start crafting! These creative Christmas card projects are easy-to-make and will put holiday greetings to good use.

Read More

 

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Southern California EdisonSCE  

Don't Let Utility Phone Scams Ruin Your Holiday Season

 

It's easy to get distracted during the holiday season, whether at your business or in your personal life, but it's important to remain vigilant against utility phone scammers during this busy time of the year.

 

More than 2,000 Southern California Edison (SCE) customers have received calls from phone scammers posing as utility employees threatening to cut service due to unpaid bills. Unfortunately, more than 300 of them have fallen victim to the scam, many of them mom and pop business owners and entrepreneurs whose first language is not English.

Read More 

Starting 2014, SCE Business Customers Begin to Transition to Time-Of-Use Rates

 

Starting January 2014, most businesses on a GS-1, GS-2, PA-1 or PA-2 rate will start transitioning to new Time-of-Use (TOU) rates.  TOU is part of a statewide initiativedesigned to keep the electric grid reliable and make sure everyone will have power when they need it. Unlike flat rates, TOU rates vary by the time of day the energy is used.

 

TOU breaks down to summer and winter rates.

With TOU rates, when you use electricity is just as important as how much you use.

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.

 

TOU helps keep the grid reliable.

TOU rates more accurately reflect the costs of energy at the time it is used. During On-Peak periods, there is the greatest demand on the grid. When customers shift energy use, if possible, to Off-Peak or Mid-Peak times, it helps reduce strain on the grid.

 

SCE is keeping customers informed during the transition.

SCE is making sure its customers have the information they need to make this change go as smoothly as possible. All business customers transitioning to TOU in 2014 will receive a personalized rate analysis that explains their TOU rate options.

 

Get the tools to manage this change. 

We have a suite of tools and services that can help you with this transition, such as

  • Viewing your energy usage on a monthly, daily, or even hourly basis with My Account.  Now you can know, at a glance, when and how much energy you are using.
  • Setting monthly spending goals and automated alerts with Budget Assistant.  It's a free online tool that helps you stay on top of your energy spending.

Smart energy for today and tomorrow.

TOU is just one of the many ways SCE is helping deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy to its customers.  SCE services over 50,000 square miles and 14 million people. TOU is helping make sure everyone has all the power they need, when they need it.

 

Learn more about TOU rates.

Visit sce.com/tou to learn more and find free online tools that help manage the transition to TOU. 

 

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Why You Should Give LED Light Bulbs for Christmas. Seriously.
Give the Gift of Light This Year! 

Most people would regard a light bulb in their stocking with the same enthusiasm with which they'd greet a lump of coal. But they shouldn't. For this year, when you give the gift of an expensive, highly-efficient, LED, you'll be bringing light-and an annuity that could pay out a couple hundred dollars of dividends over the next decade.

Read More

 

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L.A. Metro
Metro Addressing Billing Errors on the ExpressLanes

 

According to the KNBC report, some motorists in Southern California have received citations for failing to pay tolls in the ExpressLanes - even though they have never driven in the ExpressLanes. It appears that in some cases, cameras are misreading license plates and, therefore, the citations are sent to the wrong owner of a vehicle.

Read More

 

Vanpool: Where to Begin?

 

Get started with at least five (5) commuters ready to share the ride and save. Whether just starting a vanpool or a vanpool group already on the road -both new and existing vanpool groups with a valid vanpool leasing agency agreement are eligible to participate in the Metro Vanpool Program. Program requirements are detailed in the Metro Vanpool Program Participation Guidelines (pdf) and Metro Vanpool Participation Agreement (pdf). Individuals or groups under 5 can still participate.

Metro's Vanpool Program

 

Give SBESC a call (310) 371-7222 if your employer is interested in learning about the incentives for starting a Metro vanpool.   

 

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Waste Management Energy Production Rivals Solar Industry
South Bay Trash Hauler Serves as Energy Leader

By utilizing various methods for creating energy from refuse, Waste Management generates almost as much energy as the nation's entire solar industry, The Motley Fool reports.

 

Waste Management generates the equivalent of 9.8 GW of power through waste-to-energy projects and harvesting landfill gasses. In contrast, the US' entire solar industry generates around 10 GW of power, the website reports.

Read More

 

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Sanitation Districts of LA County

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

Solid Waste Facilities

 

The Sanitation Districts operate a comprehensive solid waste management system serving the needs of a large portion of Los Angeles County. This system includes sanitary landfills, recycle centers, materials recovery/transfer facilities, and energy recovery facilities. In every operation, the first order of business is to insure a "good neighbor policy" that strives for a safe balance with surrounding communities.  

Read More

 

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West Basin Municipal Water DWest Basinistrict 
West Basin and the City of Lomita Toast Their Way to Water Efficiency with First Drinking Water Filling Station

 

West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) and the City of Lomita dedicated Lomita's first drinking water filling station on November 26, 2013. Located at Lomita Park, the filling station allows the public to refill their water bottles with reliable, safe tap water. Lomita Mayor Michael Savidan, former Lomita Mayor Margaret Estrada and West Basin Board President Carol Kwan were on-hand for the ceremony. 

Read More

 

City of Torrance 
City of Torrance

Eco Gardener Instructional Workshop: Sustainable Landscape Care

 

The city of Torrance cordially invites you to attend the last feature in a series of 5 "Eco Gardener" Instructional Workshops that will be taught on Wednesday, December 18 (sustainable landscape care) from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Madrona Marsh Nature Center. This program is brought to you be Water Replenishment District of Southern California. Free! Pre-registration is strongly recommended. To register and for more information please call 562-275-4235 or register on line at www.ecogardener.org.

Legislation Corner 

Prop 39 Monies Flow to California Schools

  

Last year, California voters approved Proposition 39, which will provide as much as $500 million annually for energy efficiency upgrades at California public schools, and some of those projects are gearing up, reports the Business Journal.

 

Proposition 39 was passed in November 2012 to close a corporate tax loophole that benefited out-of-state corporations. It will generate about $1 billion annually for California with half of the money going to the general fund and half toward measures designed to save energy at schools. The energy efficiency funds will be available for five years.

Read More

Cities and Other Public Agencies in the News 
Exploring the South Bay Metro Green Line Extension

 

 

One of Metro's highly anticipated metro rail projects is the South Bay Green Line Extension. The Green Line's current western terminus is Redondo Beach Station, located on the edge of Hawthorne and Redondo Beach's North Redondo Beach section. If all goes according to plan -- and there's little to believe that it won't -- the Green Line will be extended further southeast along the old Harbor Subdivision Transit Corridor right-of-way, into the small city of Lawndale, through northern portions of Redondo Beach, and finally on down to Torrance's planned Transit Center. 

Read More

 

Energy-Efficiency Heroes: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School

 

Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified High School Districts received over $19,000 in rebates for energy-efficient pool covers and a pool heater at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School. They'll save an estimated $25,000 per year in gas costs. According to District Energy Specialist, Kris Stafford, "The rebates cut our payback period on the pool covers/pool heater to less than one year." 

 

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas�) thanks public agencies and small businesses that are leading the way in energy efficiency. SCG is pleased to share news of their successes with SoCalGas' energy-efficiency programs. They're showing how saving energy can also save money, improve operations and help the environment - all at the same time. 

 

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December 2013 Events & Workshops 
Click Here to See a List of Upcoming Workshops, Trainings & Events On Our Online Calendar