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,
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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?
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Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG
Happy New Year! At the South Bay Cities Council of Governments, our resolutions this year are to bring you more energy saving tips and opportunities as well as ways to save water through the programs, services and projects of the South Bay Environmental Services Center. But beyond that, there are ways that we can all work together to improve our environment.
January is not just notable for starting our new year, but it also reminds us of our collective ability to make our communities better places to live. Monday, January 20 marks the
National Day of Service where we honor the life and legacy of
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by doing something for others whether at home, at school, at work, or in the community.
January is also National Mentoring Month.
At the South Bay Environmental Services Center, we learn from each other and our volunteers about new and better ways to improve our environment and our personal use of resources. Some of our greatest inspirations have come from our volunteers, who contribute significant time and effort to serve the South Bay communities. Whether you have the time to volunteer or just a thought about making the South Bay a more sustainable place, let us know.
Besides service and mentoring, let's make 2014 a year for dialogue and accomplishment!
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Blog to Save Energy
Add Energy Efficiency To Your New Year's Resolutions
Happy New Year! The Alliance to Save Energy is thinking about energy efficiency 24/7. So they put together a list of some of the most common New Year's resolutions, and revamped them with an energy-efficient spin.
Not only will these resolutions help you save energy and money in 2014, but many of them are so easy to adopt that we're willing to bet you'll still be following them come February.
Read More
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Southern California Gas Company
Natural Gas Part of the Clean Transportation Solution
Tired of high gasoline prices? Natural gas is a domestic fuel source that is clean, cheap and abundant. Choose Natural Gas.
More Info Here
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Many Consumers in the Dark About Jan.1 Start of Light Bulb Phase Out
Most Plan to Switch to CFLs, some plan to Stockpile Incandescent 60- and 40-Watt Bulbs
Only 4 in 10 consumers are aware that the most popular light bulbs in the U.S. will be phased out at the begging of this year as production of the products ends on Jan. 1, 2014.
The popular 60-watt and 40-watt incandescent light bulbs join their energy-wasting cohorts, the 75-watt and 100-watt bulbs, which were phased out in 2013.
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Southern California Edison
Rebates for Your Home in 2014
Thinking about upgrading your appliances? Maximize your savings by taking advantage of the numerous rebates and savings programs SCE offers to help you save on your electric bill.
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Bright Lights, Big Savings: Just a Click Away!
For a limited time, we're offering discounts of up to $15 each on select light-emitting diode (LED) and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. If you live in a qualifying ZIP code, you can save at participating online retailers now, and see energy savings for years to come.Read More
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Purchasing Energy Efficient Homes Important to Young Buyers
Selling Your Home? Then Consider Upgrades to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient to Attract More Buyers
"I recently attended a segment on Eco Friendly homes. This is a subject I have not mentioned in my weekly articles, but most home buyers consider energy efficient systems as a part of their buying decision."
"This is especially important to the 40 and under buyer. They want to see steps have been made to have a greener home."
Specific items that are viewed as eco-friendly are...
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L.A. Metro 
ExpressLanes: Receive $10 in FREE tolls for each referral that signs up!
Don't miss the moments that matter. Metro ExpressLanes commuters on the 10 and 110 freeways save as much as 30 minutes in drive time. Now you can save time in traffic and earn rewards with Metro ExpressLanes. Refer your friends and family to sign up for FasTrak®, and you'll receive $10 in free toll credits for each referral that signs up! No limit.
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Vanpool - Benefits to Driving the Van
Since every vanpool group sets its own rules and policies, the benefits of driving will vary based on how you choose to organize your vanpool. In exchange for driving and handling routine maintenance (fueling, cleaning, etc.), it is customary for drivers to ride at a discount or free and have use of the van on evenings and weekends where the vanpool lease agreement permits. Some vanpools may split the driving duties between several people, giving each of them a discount. Or, your vanpool may prefer to run more like a "co-op" with everyone taking a turn at driving, collecting fares, handling maintenance responsibilities, etc.
Read More
Learn more about setting up a vanpool for your employer by giving SBESC a call (310) 371-7222.
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Shopping Green
How to Go About Being Cost Savvy While Minding the Environment
As a consumer, you generally need to go to the mall or to the nearest supermarket to buy your food and other household essentials. A myriad of choices usually confront you at the supermarket and it becomes difficult to make the right decision as to which product to purchase. The present environmental condition would tell you to ask yourself one thing whenever you plan to buy - are you engaging in green shopping? Read More Return to Top |
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Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste Program
The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program (HHW) gives Los Angeles County residents a legal and cost-free way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals that cannot be disposed of in the regular trash.
What You CAN & CANNOT Bring
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California Water Blog
Resistance is Futile: 10 Inevitable Changes to Water Management in California
Water policy in California has always been about making and resisting change. The gold mining period, the growth of agriculture and cities, and today's environmental priorities all led to fundamental changes in water and land management, law and regulation. These changes were driven by environmental degradation and the evolution of California's economic structure and societal priorities. Change has rarely happened quickly, and it has usually been controversial (Hundley 2001; Pisani 1983; Hanak et al. 2011). Return to Top |
West Basin Municipal Water D istrict
California Friendly Landscape Training (CFLT) in Hawthorne: Tuesday, January 28th, 9 am - 12 pm
At the class, learn to create an ocean friendly garden using the latest sustainable materials and techniques. Course covers use of:
- native plants and edibles
- water-efficient irrigation devices (drip irrigation,"smart" sprinkler controllers)
- rain water capture and permeable materials
- on-site water retention
Register Here
Cash for Kitchens 2014
Owners and managers of restaurants/commercial kitchens in the West Basin or Torrance water service areas can call 310-371-4633 to schedule a Cash for Kitchens visit today.This week marks the launch of the 2014 program featuring some new and exciting items on the menu. West Basin Municipal Water District and the South Bay Environmental Services Center have been helping restaurants and commercial kitchens save water by offering free assessments and devices since 2009. Participants receive free education materials including a brandnew children's activity placement (crayons included), a water-saving display poster and a training manual to implement the program (poster and manual available in English, Spanish and now Mandarin Chinese). Sites may also be eligible to receive new water-saving devices to replace older, inefficient equipment. Eligibility is determined during site assessment. Make your reservation today.
Visit www.westbasin.org/C4K to find out more. Are you a customer of a restaurant/caterer you think would like to know more about Cash for Kitchens? Refer them, they will thank you!
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 City of Torrance
Electronic Waste Collection Event:
January 18th, 10 am - 3 pm
West High School, Student Parking Lot
20401 Victor St., Torrance, CA 90503
The West High Environmental Club is hosting an e-waste collection across the street from the school on Saturday, January 18th. Participants will have their e-waste unloaded from their vehicles for them upon arrival. EWC (eWaste Center) located in Commerce, CA will be providing the collection service. All electronics will be accepted with the exception of large appliances (e.g. refrigerators, washing machines). Batteries other than alkaline will also be accepted. Any computer hard drives that are recycled will be wiped by the e-waste company.
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Legislation Corner
Gov. Brown Wants to Tap Cap-and-Trade Funds for Bullet Train
Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to provide urgently needed new funding for California's bullet train project from corporate fees on greenhouse gases melds two of his political passions: building the nation's first, truly high-speed rail system and putting the state at the forefront of the battle against global warming.
The bullet train system suffered a series of legal blows last year that blocked $9 billion in state funding, sending Brown and his allies on a search for a new source of funds. This week, Brown plans to announce a new strategy to keep the project moving: dipping into hundreds of millions of dollars in fees collected from businesses whose carbon dioxide emissions exceed state limits.
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South Bay in the News
Unincorporated L.A. County residents can leave Christmas trees curbside
Unincorporated Los Angeles County residents can leave ornament-stripped Christmas trees curbside for pickup on regular garbage-pickup days through Jan. 18.
Trees taller than 6 feet should be cut in half, according to the county's Department of Public Works, which turns the trees into mulch for composting.
Christmas trees can also be cut up and put in green-waste containers.
New Study Pinpoints L.A. Coastal Areas Vulnerable to a Sea Level Rise from Climate Change
San Pedro, Wilmington, Venice and other low-lying areas of Los Angeles are vulnerable to future flooding that could damage buildings, erode beaches and impair roadways in the event of a storm like Hurricane Sandy, which devastated parts of the East Coast in 2012, according to a new report by USC researchers.
Read More Hawthorne Gets Recycling Boost for Business Community As of January 2014, the City of Hawthorne is home to a Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ)! The RMDZ program is administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) as a way of encouraging the use of recycled or reused materials in manufacturing. The program offers attractive loans, technical assistance and free product marketing to eligible businesses. City staff are here to assist you in this process. For more information, contact Public Works at 310-349-2987. Return to Top |
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January 2014 Events & Workshops
Click Here to See a List of Upcoming Workshops, Trainings and Events on Our Online Calendar
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