ApprovedSBESClogoTOC

 


Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

Volume 11, Number 4

 April 2015 

IN THIS ISSUE...
Calling Volunteers!
Energy Upgrade California
SCG
SCE
Sanitation Districts
West Basin
City of Torrance
L.A. Metro
Legislation Corner
South Bay in the News
April 2015 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.
  

Check out our volunteer program and learn how to get involved.   
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

Residents in San Pedro, Harbor City / Harbor Gateway & Wilmington

County Unincorporated Areas in South Bay 

 

 

Find us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterView our profile on LinkedIn

 

 

www.sbesc.com 

Did You Know?

Water-Energy Nexus facts: 

  • 4% of U.S. energy is used for transporting, treating, and pumping water
  • 19% of California's energy is used for transporting, treating, and heating water
  • 27% of U.S. nonagricultural water is used by the energy sector

Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG

 

It may be hard to imagine that before 1970, a factory could spew black clouds of toxic emissions into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into a nearby stream, and that was perfectly legal. They could not be taken to court to stop it. How was that possible? Because there was no Environmental Protection Agency, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment.

In spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities, and it worked! In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Even though April 22nd is Earth Day this year, we celebrate the preservation and betterment of our environment all month-long. And for us, April is arguably the busiest time of the year. Look out for us at your community's Earth Month celebration and visit our table to see the latest rebates, incentives and ways to save water, energy and money. There is so much that you can do to impact our planet and there has never been a better time to act! And if each of us does our part, we can make every day Earth Day!
  


Jacki Bacharach


 

Energy Upgrade California
What is the California Climate Credit?

You may notice something called a California Climate Credit on your electricity bill. This credit is your share of money from a state program that is fighting climate change. It happens automatically in April/May and October/November for most California homeowners and monthly for most California small businesses - and it's yours to keep. 

Read More

 

Southern California Gas CompanyThe Gas Company

Upcoming Seminar Schedule

  

Register for sustainability, HVAC and industrial-focused seminars in the second quarter of 2015. 

Read Full List Here

 

Return to Top

Southern California EdisonSCE  

How to Get About 30 Percent Off Your Electric Bill
   

How do you spell relief? If you're a qualifying Southern California Edison (SCE) customer, you'd spell it C-A-R-E or F-E-R-A.

 

If you're having trouble making ends meet, SCE offers two programs - California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) - to provide income-qualified customers with much-needed bill relief of about 30 percent.

Read More

 

Return to Top

Sanitation Districts of LA County

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

Docents Needed for Bixby Marshland Tours

  

Volunteers are needed to guide tours on the first Saturday of the month and by appointment. Sanitation Districts are looking to add to their active service crew who contribute their time and talents to making Bixby Marshland an educational and fun place to visit. 


Weekend and weekday opportunities are available, depending on the docent's schedule. Docents are asked to commit to help at one tour/education program per month (2 hours/month) but will appreciate any amount of time you have to offer. 


If you are interested in participating as a docent, please call Wendy Wert (562) 908-4288, extension 2308 or email: [email protected].
  

Return to Top

West Basin Municipal Water DWest Basinistrict 
Statewide Mandatory Water Restrictions

 

On April 1, California Governor Jerry Brown issued an Executive Order requiring the State Water Resources Control Board to implement measures to cut the state's overall water usage by 25%. West Basin is well-suited to respond to this order and will be assisting its cities and retail water agencies in their efforts to implement the water-saving programs called out by the Governor, such as Turf Removal. To read the complete statement from West Basin Board President, read their press release

 

City of Torrance 
City of Torrance

Torrance Leads the Way Among South Bay Cities in Cutting Water Usage

 

Several South Bay cities are taking a wait-and-see approach to the governor's order for mandatory 25 percent cuts in water consumption, but the city of Torrance is moving to tighten its restrictions as soon as next week. If the unprecedented plans are adopted in Torrance, sprinkler use on landscaping would be limited to 10 minutes a day - between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. - two days a week.


Wyland Foundation Mayor's Challenge

Mayor Furey and the Torrance City Council invite you to help save water at the Wyland Foundation Mayor's Challenge! Sign up at www.mywaterpledge.com between April 1 - 30. 

One Person's Trash Is Another Person's Treasure -- Torrance Premieres E-Newsletter on Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling

 

The City of Torrance Public Works Department has a new e-newletter, "One Person's Trash...," which is now posted on the City's website. In it, you'll find information about commercial and multi-family recycling programs, details on recycling old electronic gadgets and properly disposing of hazardous waste, announcements on upcoming events and workshops, and so much more. To request that future issues be sent directly to your inbox, please send your name and email address to [email protected]. In the subject line, type: "Add me to e-newsletter list." (Your email address will only be used for purposes of this e-newsletter.)

Read Newsletter Here

L.A. Metro
Comparing Transportation in Our Region: 1985 and 2015

 

In preparation for being on AirTalk's 30th anniversary show last week, Metro collected a few numbers to compare traffic and transportation in our region in 1985 and 2015. They mentioned a couple of them on the air, but here is the entire list - which is compelling...
Read More

 

Vanpool - Maintaining Enrollment

 

Requirements for maintaining enrollment include: (a) Follow program guidelines and terms of agreement as detailed in the Metro Vanpool Program Participation Guidelines, (b) Submit a complete and valid Metro Vanpool reports when due, (c) Respond to Metro and leasing agent requests for information, (d) Maintain a minimum 70% rider occupancy rate each month, (e) Respond to public requests to join the vanpool.

Read More

 

Return to Top

Legislation Corner 

Read Governor Brown's Executive Order On Water Restrictions
   
The governor issued an executive order calling on the state's Department of Water Resources to work with California's 411 urban water agencies to find reductions of 25 percent by the end of next February.
South Bay in the News 
South Bay Garden Tour Offers Look at Beautiful Native, Drought Tolerant Plants

 

It seems as though there are more garden tours every year. The increasing popularity of the garden tour phenomenon may be attributed, in large part, to the gradual demise of the lawn. When lawns disappear, there is simply a lot more territory to cover with plants. Gardeners of all stripes, whether new or more experienced, flock to garden tours in search of garden design alternatives to green grass, which typically includes native or drought-tolerant plants.

Read More

 

West Basin Landscape and Gardening Programs

 

Return to Top

April 2015 Events & Workshops 
Click Here to See a List of Upcoming Workshops & Events