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Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

Volume 14, Number 2

 February 2018 

IN THIS ISSUE...
Calling Volunteers!
SCG
SCE
LADWP
WRD
Sanitation Districts
West Basin
City of Torrance
L.A. Metro
South Bay in the News
February 2018 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
( District 2  or   District 4


SBESC Social Media

 

Find us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterView our profile on LinkedIn

 

Don't forget to follow our Partners on social media as well: 

 

SoCalGas - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

 

Southern California Edison - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

 

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr

 

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County - Facebook

 

Water Replenishment District - Facebook, YouTube

 

West Basin Municipal Water District - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest

 

L.A. Metro - Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube

 

City of Torrance - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Periscope

 

 

 

www.sbesc.com 

Did You Know?

California passed SB 32, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.


Message From the Executive Director of SBCCOG

February is a very busy month at the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) preparing for our 19th Annual General Assembly, which is this Friday, February 23 , at the Juanita Millender-McDonald Carson Community Center.

Exhibits open at 8:30 am and you won't want to miss them. The Program starts at 9:45 am. We end the day at 3 pm with a raffle for those that are present with some great prizes.
 
The event will feature expert speakers and fun exhibits on a topic of great importance to the South Bay region -  "The Evolution of Retail & Its Challenges for Cities." Experts will address impacts on South Bay Cities resulting from technological changes disrupting the retail sector; behavioral changes in shopping; retail businesses closing leaving buildings vacant; less sales and property tax revenue disrupting land use planning and municipal finance; delivery impacts of online sales; and the retail sector anticipated decline in employment.
 
The General Assembly is free thanks to our many sponsors.  Here is a link to the flyer with more details about the day. Registration is required so we know how many people to plan for. So since it is just 3 days away  you need to register today to reserve your seat at www.southbaycities.org!  
 
I hope to see you there. 
 

Jacki Bacharach
 
SoCalGas
SoCalGas Smart Thermostat Program Offers Customers Up to $75 in Incentives to Conserve Natural Gas this Winter
  
SoCalGas is offering customers up to $75 in incentives to participate in its Smart Thermostat Program. The program is designed to help households that have purchased, installed and registered an ecobee or Nest smart thermostat conserve natural gas for home heating this winter. Residential owners of ecobee or Nest-registered devices with gas heating in SoCalGas' service territory, except those who are currently enrolled in Southern California Edison's (SCE) Save Power Days electric demand response program, are eligible to participate in the Smart Thermostat Program. SoCalGas and SCE are working on a process that will allow dual-enrollment across both programs by next winter.
 
Southern California EdisonSCE  
SCE Marketplace
 
SCE has launched a new website for that helps residential and small-business customers research energy efficiency information on products such as refrigerators, pool pumps, electric water heaters, thermostats, etc. These are some of the features that the website offers:
  • User personalized accounts
  • Product energy scores
  • Energy savings calculator
  • Product ownership calculator
  • Saved searches
  • Pricing alerts
  • Rebate information
  • Customer reviews
  • Product availability at local retailers
Read More
 
LADWP
New Groundwater Treatment Project Will Help L.A. Reduce Dependence On Imported Water

Mayor Eric Garcetti broke ground recently on the North Hollywood West Groundwater Treatment Project, a $92 million project to clean up and restore the use of groundwater as a safe, high-quality source of drinking water in the San Fernando Valley. He was joined by Councilmembers Nury Martinez and Paul Krekorian as well as officials from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and the California State Water Resources Control Board.

Water Replenishment District
What is WIN?

In 2003, WRD's Board of Directors began the Water Independence Now (WIN) program to protect the security of the region's groundwater supplies. WIN is not a single program or project, rather WIN is a suite of projects aimed to maximize local stormwater and recycled water sources to replenish, preserve and protect two of the most utilized urban groundwater basins in the nation. Historically, a large percentage of imported water was used to replenish groundwater basins in the WRD service area. However, through the implementation of components of the WIN program to date, WRD has significantly reduced its dependence on imported water and is on-track to be completely independent of imported water by 2018.

Sanitation Districts of LA County
Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
Earth Day is Coming!
 
Join Sanitation Districts on Saturday, April 14 as they celebrate their 12th Earth Day Community Festival at their main office in Whittier. The Festival features fun and educational activities for the whole family, including 50 eco-friendly exhibitors with giveaways, tours of our facilities, arts and crafts, live entertainment, food, and of course a chance to see your neighbors. 

West Basin Municipal Water DWest Basinistrict 
44% of California is Now Experiencing Moderate Drought Conditions, Report Says

California is rapidly plunging back into drought, with severe conditions now existing in Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties - home to one-fourth of the state's population - a national drought monitor said on February 1st.
The weekly report released by the U.S. Drought Monitor, a project of government agencies and other partners, shows 44% of the state is now considered to be in a moderate drought. It's a dramatic jump from late January, when the figure was 13%.

Click here to learn about
 West Basin's water conservation programs.

City of Torrance 
City of Torrance
California Friendly Landscape Training Class - Saturday, March 10th (9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.)
 
Learn how to create a California friendly garden using the latest sustainable materials and techniques. Learn about:
  • Use of native plants & edibles
  • Water-efficient irrigation devices
  • Rain water capture & permeable materials
  • On-site water retention to reduce run-off & pollution to the ocean

Register Here 


L.A. Metro
Change to ExpressLanes Toll Rates
 
Effective March 1, 2018, the maximum toll rate will be increased from $1.90 per mile to $2.00 per mile. These changes are necessary to continue to manage congestion and provide a safe, reliable and predictable commute for customers of the ExpressLanes. There will be no change to the minimum toll rates of $0.35 per mile during peak hours and $0.10 per mile during the off-peak hours. ExpressLanes operate 24/7 on the I-10 and I-110. Peak hours are Monday through Friday 5 am - 9 am and 4 pm - 7 pm. Non-peak hours are Monday through Friday 9am - 4pm and 7 pm - 5 am; all day Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Remember you must have a FasTrak transponder in your vehicle to use the ExpressLanes.

Also, learn about other Metro programs such as Vanpool and ExpressLanes.

South Bay in the News 
Southern California Water District Christens Desalting Plant that Treats Salty Water Trapped in Aquifer
 
At a time when droughts occur more frequently and winters can be hot and bone dry, Southern California water agencies are scrambling for new water sources.
When the Water Replenishment District of Southern California located a 30-year supply trapped between the ocean and an aquifer, it was like a prospector finding gold.
About 650,000 acre-feet (one acre-foot equals 325,000 gallons or the amount a family of four uses in two years) of salty, undrinkable water lying in the Silverado Aquifer in the South Bay for decades waited to be tapped. A pilot project that began in 2002 proved new technology could turn brackish water into drinking water.

February 2018 Events & Workshops 
Click Here to See Upcoming Workshops  & Events