ApprovedSBESClogoTOC

 


Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

Volume 10, Number 7

 July 2014 

IN THIS ISSUE...
Calling Volunteers!
SCG
SCE
L.A. Metro
Sanitation Districts
West Basin
City of Torrance
Legislation Corner
Cities in the News
July 2014 Events & Workshops
A Worthy Read
Interesting Domestic and International Articles Discussing the Environment, Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation




 

Upcoming HHW/E-Waste Collection Events


 
 
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 

2014 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 - "El Pasajero"

 

 

 

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,
click here

Where Does Your City Rank in the 

SCE Energy Leader Partnership Program?

 

Platinum Tier
20% Energy Reduction 
City of Lawndale
City of Lomita
City of Manhattan Beach

 

Gold Tier
10% Energy Reduction 
City of El Segundo
City of Hawthorne
City of Inglewood

City of Rancho Palos Verdes

 

Silver Tier
5% Energy Reduction 
City of Carson
City of Hermosa Beach
City of Redondo Beach
City of Torrance 
 
Valued Level
City of Gardena
City of Palos Verdes Estates
City of Rolling Hills
City of Rolling Hills Estates

Did You Know?

In honor of the great energy pioneer, Nikola Tesla, and his birthday this month, here is a lesser known fact about the inventor: 

According to Alcorn, Tesla was "very concerned about the fact that we were using up the Earth's resources too quickly, and he wanted to make sure that we were using nonfossil, renewable fuels."

 

So Tesla researched ways to harvest the natural energy in the ground and in the sky. He created artificial lightning in his lab, and probed electrical potential differences in the Earth and across tall objects.

J. P. Morgan reportedly took exception to that line of research, arguing that he wasn't interested in funding a power source that he couldn't meter.

 

- National Geographic


Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG

 

In celebrating our independence as a nation this month, let this occasion lead us to think critically about what independence means in terms of our reliance on natural resources. As a densely populated region, we demand large amounts of power and water that rely on resources from beyond the confines of our locality. In pursuit of a sustainable South Bay, how can we become less tethered to distant resources and more creative in providing for our community with what is locally available? With solar energy from above, geothermal energy potential right under our feet and the State Water Resources Control Board considering slapping fines on irresponsible water users, it is time to take matters into our own hands.

 

Read the articles below to see how you can do your part in discovering how independence applies to your everyday decisions. With summer coming into full swing, enjoy the amenities here in the South Bay and take a moment to appreciate what it takes to maintain them. 
  

 

Jacki Bacharach

 

Southern California Gas CompanyThe Gas Company

Upcoming Seminars

  

SoCalGas is offering a variety of seminars with a sustainability, HVAC and industrial focus during the third quarter of 2014. View the complete list here.

  

A Gathering of Green Teams: August 14, 2014

 

Our climate, like our society, is dynamic. As such, there is a need for businesses to develop climate adaptation plans. Doing so would reduce environmental degradation while protecting long-term profits.


This conference will bring together California green teams, community organizations, and subject-matter experts to create conversation and promote innovative action towards a sustainable business model. Corporate green teams will be able to build a network of like-minded colleagues who can help build the better brands of tomorrow. Keynote speaker Nurit Katz (Chief Sustainability Officer, UCLA) will address the importance of including climate resilience in your company's plan. In three sessions, respected speakers will equip your team with the tools needed to overcome some of the major barriers to implementing successful sustainability strategies. Special focus will be given to green office buildings, green team funding, and employee transportation.  

 

Return to Top

Southern California EdisonSCE  

Pump Up Your Pool's Efficiency

 

As fun and refreshing as pools can be, they can have a huge impact on energy consumption.

 

And so it should come as no surprise that your pool presents one of the biggest opportunities for energy savings.
Pool pumps are the largest consumers of outdoor electricity. In fact, some simple steps like downsizing your pool pump, reducing the time it runs, and lowering water temperature can reduce your annual pool energy consumption by up to 75 percent! You might also want to consider a variable speed pump. SCE is offering a pool pump rebate! 

Read More 

 

Quality Installation Program (QI)

 

More efficiency means more savings. With SCE's Quality Installation Program, you can lower your electric bill, improve the air quality in your home, and make sure your A/C is in top working order.

 

Did you know that 70% of air-conditioned homes have A/C units that exceed the home's cooling needs? A unit too large for your home costs more to run and uses more electricity. Plus, incorrect sizing or installation puts undue stress on components and shortens equipment life.

Read More

3 South Bay Cities Reach Highest Level for Energy Leader Program

The cities of Lomita, Lawndale, and Manhattan Beach obtained the Platinum level status in the Energy Leader Partnership (ELP) program collectively achieving 1,540,689 kWh saving at their municipal buildings reaching well above the 20% energy savings required to become Platinum.  They each saved 39.62%, 34.66%, and 23.33% respectively above their 2006 baseline usage!  

Read More 
 

Return to Top

L.A. Metro
FAQs: How Much Does It Cost to Vanpool?

 

Fares vary depending on the size of van, van features, commute distance, number of riders, fare subsidies, etc. The average monthly fare for a Metro Vanpool Program rider with a 70-mile roundtrip commute is about $140 per month, saving each rider around $50 per month in comparison to a non-participating vanpool.

Metro Vanpool Program subsidies must be distributed equally among all vanpool members. The monthly payment covers the van lease, insurance and maintenance costs. Participating partner leasing agencies accept TransitChek vouchers.

More FAQs

 

Return to Top

Sanitation Districts of LA County

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

Sign Up for the Trash Free Lunch Challenge

 

The Sanitation Districts are partnering with environmental nonprofit Grades of Green to sponsor the Trash Free Lunch Challenge. In this program, schools compete to reduce waste, saving money and protecting the environment. To find out how to sign up your school or for more information, please click here

  

"Moving Toward A Zero Waste System: Minimizing Your Impact on the Environment" Workshop on Monday, September 29th

 

This class explores the concept of zero waste, source reduction, with an introduction to composting, and features experts from the
Sanitation Districts of LA County and Grades of Green.
Register Here

 

Return to Top

West Basin Municipal Water DWest Basinistrict 
5 Tips for a Water-Wise Lawn

 

For some people, getting rid of grass is just not possible - whether it's prohibited by HOA rules, or it requires a lot of time and expense in re-landscaping a large yard.

 

But even in the middle of the drought, you can still be a responsible steward of the lawn. Follow these five simple tips for saving water and saving money, whether you're establishing a new turf or preserving an existing one.

Read the List Here

West Basin Metropolitan Water District also provides water conservation programs to help you save water and money when maintaining your property's landscape. Visit their website here and see what programs are applicable. 
 
Metropolitan Water District is offering a $2 per square foot rebate, maximum of $2,000 for removing and replacing your lawn with a California friendly landscape. Visit socalwatersmart.com for more information and to apply.

City of Torrance 
City of Torrance

Successful High Efficiency Toilet Exchange

 

On June 8th, the City of Torrance exchanged 305 toilets for high efficiency ones. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's "Water Sense" Program, by replacing old, inefficient toilets with high efficiency models, the average family can reduce water used for toilets by 20 to 60 percent--that's nearly 13,000 gallons of water savings for your home every year! They could also save more than $110 per year in water costs, and $2,200 over the lifetime of the toilets.
 
The success of the exchange has promoted the City to consider hosting another one in the fall. The City will be bringing back the availability of free low-flow shower heads for Torrance residents as drought conditions make it imperative that water must be increasingly conserved. 

Legislation Corner 

California Bill Approved in Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee to Advance Geothermal
 

On June 23, the California Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce approved SB 1139 by a 8-5 vote and now heads to Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill requires energy retailers to procure a combined 500 MW of geothermal power by 2024, and has been passed in the Senate.

Read More

Cities in the News 
Pacific Avenue Makeover in San Pedro Making Way for New Bike Lanes


A year after two San Pedro thoroughfares were narrowed to make way for new bike lanes - a move that drew widespread criticism - city officials are prepping Pacific Avenue for a similar makeover.


A Rising Tide: Global Climate Change Threatens South Bay Beaches

Climatologists are projecting that in coming decades, the beaches of the South Bay and the first block of homes and development could be inundated by storm surges hugely intensified by increases in sea level.

 

Such scenarios are part of global climate changes that last month reached a watershed moment when scientists reported that a swath of the West Antarctic ice sheet has begun an irreversible melting which will raise global sea level by at least 2 feet by 2050, and 10 feet or more in coming centuries.

Read More

 

Return to Top

July 2014 Events & Workshops 
Click Here to See a List of Upcoming Workshops & Events