News from the South Bay Environmental Services Center: May 2021

May 2021

Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment

LA Metro Offers Bike Month Safety Tips

Every May LA Metro celebrates bicycling as a sustainable and healthy transportation mode with Bike Anywhere Day on Friday, May 21, and Bike Week from May 17 to 23.

With bike sales off the charts over the last year, this is a great time to learn to ride more safely and get out there. They have plenty in store for Bike Month, including events, promotions and more.

First, a few safety tips:

The pandemic isn’t over. The CDC says that face coverings and masks are not necessary when outdoors in uncrowded areas — but it’s good to keep with you for stops and if riding in close proximity to others.
If you haven’t ridden in a while, make sure your bicycle is in good working condition. Check the tire air pressure and other components such as brakes, handlebars, chain and seat are properly secured and adjusted.
Follow the rules of the road by riding in the direction of traffic and obeying stop signs and lights. LA Metro also recommends wearing a helmet and having lights on the front and rear of the bike.

For more information and access to bike-related resources from LA Metro,

please click here.

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

Click graphic below to learn about how bicycling fits into SBCCOG's recent Route Refinement Study for a South Bay Local Travel Network.

Get a First-Hand Look at How Garbage Disposal is Managed

Click flyer below for information about the upcoming virtual tour.

Water Lab: A Digital Learning Experience

West Basin is excited to continue offering a collection of free online classes and family-friendly resources available to the community. A full listing of programs and schedules is provided below. All webinars will be live-hosted by West Basin staff or in partnership with other subject-matter experts and participants will be given the opportunity to ask questions during and after each presentation.

Upcoming Water Recycling Facility Virtual Tour on June 5.

Let Your Local Municipal Representatives Know that SCE Incentive Opportunities are Expiring Soon!

This year, Southern California Edison (SCE) is transitioning their energy efficiency programs to statewide third-party programs in accordance with California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) requirements. New third-party programs have already launched and will continue to become available over the course of 2021 and 2022. SoCalREN is keeping track of all the program changes to understand how they will affect municipalities and public agencies and their projects. SoCalREN will continue to fill gaps and support our agencies’ projects after the existing programs close and new ones become available and help ensure energy efficiency and climate goals are achieved. Share this information with your local municipal representatives so they can learn more about the expiring SCE programs.

SoCalGas Offers No-Cost Energy Improvement Program

Residential Direct Install (RES DI) Program is a no-cost energy assistance program for SoCalGas customers, this program replaces the Middle Income Direct Install (MIDI) program and has no income requirements.

The Program provides no-cost energy improvements to eligible customers to help make their homes more comfortable and help conserve energy, which could lead to lower utility bills. And should the customer decide to further their energy savings efforts, the Program reduces the amount of money a customer needs to invest in order to participate in the single-family or multifamily home upgrade programs.

The program is available to renters and homeowners living in single-family and multifamily dwellings. Program services are provided by authorized vendors who are not employees of SoCalGas® or Sempra Utilities, but are under contract to SoCalGas to deliver program services.

SoCalREN Multifamily Program Simplifies Energy Upgrades

With the SoCalREN Multifamily Program, property owners and managers can add value to property and reduce maintenance costs—even while social distancing! Learn how the Comprehensive Common Area approach can help make energy efficiency upgrades in a safe and simple way. For more information on eligibility requirements for property, please click link below.

Learn How to Design a Sustainable Garden and About Irrigation Basics Virtually - May 18 and 20

With more time for home projects, why not plant a garden that saves

water while creating a productive ecosystem? The WRD Eco Gardener

program teaches participants about the multiple benefits of planting a

sustainable garden through a series of 1-hour classes. Classes will be

held online and led by a live instructor who can answer questions.

Click flyer below to RSVP.

Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Help is Here

LACSD is happy to announce that their household hazardous waste and electronic waste roundups have resumed. Please adhere to all COVID-19 safety precautions for these events. Upcoming events in the South Bay listed below:

No South Bay events scheduled at this time

S.A.F.E. (Solvents / Automotive / Flammables / Electronics) Center locations and days/hours of operation in Los Angeles can be found here.

Provide Feedback on Torrance Downtown Revitalization Plan

Interested in participating in City of Torrance's survey for the Downtown Torrance Vision and Revitalization Plan? The City has heard a lot of great feedback on needs and ideas for Downtown through community conversations conducted in 2020. The City has now created a set of draft goals and associated initiatives to aid the City in advancing a collective revitalization vision.

Click Here for May 2021 Calendar of Events and Workshops

On the Go

News for Southern California Commuters: May / June 2021

Learn about opportunities for ridesharing, public transportation, and the benefits that an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) can offer your workplace. This monthly newsletter addresses the broad audience of commuters that rely on transportation agencies from Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and Ventura County.

Read Latest Edition Here