The OPEN Daily : Eco-Living

New UCLA study finds Gold Line and Orange Line produce less smog and fewer greenhouse gases in both near- and far-term

May 20, 2013 at 1:06 pm
thesource.metro.net -

transitpassengers2

One of the arguments frequently made for building more mass transit — in particular rail projects — is that it will help reduce pollution and, as a byproduct, greenhouse gases that are contributing to climate change. The above chart comes from a Federal Transit Administration report updated in 2010 that considers the impacts of cars versus transit. Although in some circles this remains a disputed issue (mostly by critics of rail transit), the FTA finds transit is the clear winner.

Comparing the emissions of cars versus transit is not always a clear-cut issue because of the number of variables involved. Which brings us to a new study by several UCLA researchers that drills down deeper on the subject by comparing the Orange Line, Gold Line and average automobile in Southern California. The study was published in Environmental Research Letters and is posted below.

The study found that in both the near term and long-term, the Orange Line and the Gold Line produced less smog and greenhouse gases than the average auto driven in L.A. County. In addition, the Orange Line and Gold Line used less overall energy than cars and will create less particulate matter than cars in the long-term, although the Gold Line currently produces about the same as cars, due mostly to its electricity coming from coal-fired power plants used by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Four key points from the new study:

•Both cars and transit are expected to get cleaner over time as fuel mileage increases for cars and transit relies on cleaner energy sources, i.e. solar, wind, thermal and natural gas.

•Construction remains a big challenge for transit projects because things such as pouring concrete and the use of heavy equipment tends to result in high emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollution — and it can take years, if not decades, for transit to make up for the big cost in terms of greenhouse gases made up front.

•Transit vehicles spend far less  of their time parked than cars, which spend 95 percent of the time sitting around. That means that the energy and emissions needed to manufacture, transport, and park transit vehicles are spread over a lot more passenger miles and hours of operation.

•Transit needs to shift 20 percent to 30 percent of its riders from cars to transit order to have less impacts than cars and, as the study says, “the larger the shift, the quicker the payback” when it comes to meeting environmental goals.

Getting people out of their cars onto trains is crucial to improve efficiency of transit. Photo of Expo Line by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Getting people out of their cars onto trains is crucial to improve efficiency of transit. Photo of Expo Line by Steve Hymon/Metro.

I think that last point is crucial for policymakers. To put it another way: if transit agencies and politicians want transit projects that truly improve air quality and such, they have to build projects that will appeal to motorists and pry them out of their cars.

It’s always difficult to compete with the door-to-door convenience of the automobile, but I think it’s do-able but it means building projects that stop where people want to go, making it easy to get to and from stations by car, foot or bike and either designing projects that are fast and/or operate frequently enough to reduce the time-munch that is standing around and waiting at a station.

One other point: earlier this month, it was reported that levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere probably haven’t been this high in the past three million years. Carbon dioxide is a primary greenhouse gas and it’s a byproduct of burning fossil fuels for things such as transportation, heating, construction etcetera. Seems to me that transit agencies across the world — many of which shun being political — could market transit as a way to help people perhaps make a difference when it comes to climate change.

Sermon over. The study is below. Kudos to Mikhail Chester, Stephanie Pincetl, Zoe Elizabeth, William Eisenstein and Juan Matute for putting this together. Finally, Metro issues an annual sustainability report that details its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases used by the agency’s transit vehicles and facilities. In fact, Metro cut its greenhouse gas emissions five percent between 2007 and 2011, the last year numbers are publicly available. 

<p  style=” margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;”>   <a title=”View Infrastructure and automobile shifts on Scribd” href=”http://www.scribd.com/doc/142093378/Infrastructure-and-automobile-shifts&#8221;  style=”text-decoration: underline;” >Infrastructure and automobile shifts</a></p>

transitpassengers2

One of the arguments frequently made for building more mass transit — in particular rail projects — is that it will help reduce pollution and, as a byproduct, greenhouse gases that are contributing to climate change. The above chart comes from a Federal Transit Administration report updated in 2010 that considers the impacts of cars versus transit. Although in some circles this remains a disputed issue (mostly by critics of rail transit), the FTA finds transit is the clear winner.

Comparing the emissions of cars versus transit is not always a clear-cut issue because of the number of variables involved. Which brings us to a new study by several UCLA researchers that drills down deeper on the subject by comparing the Orange Line, Gold Line and average automobile in Southern California. The study was published in Environmental Research Letters and is posted below.

The study found that in both the near term and long-term, the Orange Line and the Gold Line produced less smog and greenhouse gases than the average auto driven in L.A. County. In addition, the Orange Line and Gold Line used less overall energy than cars and will create less particulate matter than cars in the long-term, although the Gold Line currently produces about the same as cars, due mostly to its electricity coming from coal-fired power plants used by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Four key points from the new study:

•Both cars and transit are expected to get cleaner over time as fuel mileage increases for cars and transit relies on cleaner energy sources, i.e. solar, wind, thermal and natural gas.

•Construction remains a big challenge for transit projects because things such as pouring concrete and the use of heavy equipment tends to result in high emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollution — and it can take years, if not decades, for transit to make up for the big cost in terms of greenhouse gases made up front.

•Transit vehicles spend far less  of their time parked than cars, which spend 95 percent of the time sitting around. That means that the energy and emissions needed to manufacture, transport, and park transit vehicles are spread over a lot more passenger miles and hours of operation.

•Transit needs to shift 20 percent to 30 percent of its riders from cars to transit order to have less impacts than cars and, as the study says, “the larger the shift, the quicker the payback” when it comes to meeting environmental goals.

Getting people out of their cars onto trains is crucial to improve efficiency of transit. Photo of Expo Line by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Getting people out of their cars onto trains is crucial to improve efficiency of transit. Photo of Expo Line by Steve Hymon/Metro.

I think that last point is crucial for policymakers. To put it another way: if transit agencies and politicians want transit projects that truly improve air quality and such, they have to build projects that will appeal to motorists and pry them out of their cars.

It’s always difficult to compete with the door-to-door convenience of the automobile, but I think it’s do-able but it means building projects that stop where people want to go, making it easy to get to and from stations by car, foot or bike and either designing projects that are fast and/or operate frequently enough to reduce the time-munch that is standing around and waiting at a station.

One other point: earlier this month, it was reported that levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere probably haven’t been this high in the past three million years. Carbon dioxide is a primary greenhouse gas and it’s a byproduct of burning fossil fuels for things such as transportation, heating, construction etcetera. Seems to me that transit agencies across the world — many of which shun being political — could market transit as a way to help people perhaps make a difference when it comes to climate change.

Sermon over. The study is below. Kudos to Mikhail Chester, Stephanie Pincetl, Zoe Elizabeth, William Eisenstein and Juan Matute for putting this together. Finally, Metro issues an annual sustainability report that details its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases used by the agency’s transit vehicles and facilities. In fact, Metro cut its greenhouse gas emissions five percent between 2007 and 2011, the last year numbers are publicly available. 

<p  style=” margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;”>   <a title=”View Infrastructure and automobile shifts on Scribd” href=”http://www.scribd.com/doc/142093378/Infrastructure-and-automobile-shifts&#8221;  style=”text-decoration: underline;” >Infrastructure and automobile shifts</a></p>

" addthis:title="New UCLA study finds Gold Line and Orange Line produce less smog and fewer greenhouse gases in both near- and far-term" addthis:description="

transitpassengers2

One of the arguments frequently made for building more mass transit — in particular rail projects — is that it will help reduce pollution and, as a byproduct, greenhouse gases that are contributing to climate change. The above chart comes from a Federal Transit Administration report updated in 2010 that considers the impacts of cars versus transit. Although in some circles this remains a disputed issue (mostly by critics of rail transit), the FTA finds transit is the clear winner.

Comparing the emissions of cars versus transit is not always a clear-cut issue because of the number of variables involved. Which brings us to a new study by several UCLA researchers that drills down deeper on the subject by comparing the Orange Line, Gold Line and average automobile in Southern California. The study was published in Environmental Research Letters and is posted below.

The study found that in both the near term and long-term, the Orange Line and the Gold Line produced less smog and greenhouse gases than the average auto driven in L.A. County. In addition, the Orange Line and Gold Line used less overall energy than cars and will create less particulate matter than cars in the long-term, although the Gold Line currently produces about the same as cars, due mostly to its electricity coming from coal-fired power plants used by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

Four key points from the new study:

•Both cars and transit are expected to get cleaner over time as fuel mileage increases for cars and transit relies on cleaner energy sources, i.e. solar, wind, thermal and natural gas.

•Construction remains a big challenge for transit projects because things such as pouring concrete and the use of heavy equipment tends to result in high emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollution — and it can take years, if not decades, for transit to make up for the big cost in terms of greenhouse gases made up front.

•Transit vehicles spend far less  of their time parked than cars, which spend 95 percent of the time sitting around. That means that the energy and emissions needed to manufacture, transport, and park transit vehicles are spread over a lot more passenger miles and hours of operation.

•Transit needs to shift 20 percent to 30 percent of its riders from cars to transit order to have less impacts than cars and, as the study says, “the larger the shift, the quicker the payback” when it comes to meeting environmental goals.

Getting people out of their cars onto trains is crucial to improve efficiency of transit. Photo of Expo Line by Steve Hymon/Metro.

Getting people out of their cars onto trains is crucial to improve efficiency of transit. Photo of Expo Line by Steve Hymon/Metro.

I think that last point is crucial for policymakers. To put it another way: if transit agencies and politicians want transit projects that truly improve air quality and such, they have to build projects that will appeal to motorists and pry them out of their cars.

It’s always difficult to compete with the door-to-door convenience of the automobile, but I think it’s do-able but it means building projects that stop where people want to go, making it easy to get to and from stations by car, foot or bike and either designing projects that are fast and/or operate frequently enough to reduce the time-munch that is standing around and waiting at a station.

One other point: earlier this month, it was reported that levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere probably haven’t been this high in the past three million years. Carbon dioxide is a primary greenhouse gas and it’s a byproduct of burning fossil fuels for things such as transportation, heating, construction etcetera. Seems to me that transit agencies across the world — many of which shun being political — could market transit as a way to help people perhaps make a difference when it comes to climate change.

Sermon over. The study is below. Kudos to Mikhail Chester, Stephanie Pincetl, Zoe Elizabeth, William Eisenstein and Juan Matute for putting this together. Finally, Metro issues an annual sustainability report that details its efforts to reduce greenhouse gases used by the agency’s transit vehicles and facilities. In fact, Metro cut its greenhouse gas emissions five percent between 2007 and 2011, the last year numbers are publicly available. 

<p  style=” margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;”>   <a title=”View Infrastructure and automobile shifts on Scribd” href=”http://www.scribd.com/doc/142093378/Infrastructure-and-automobile-shifts&#8221;  style=”text-decoration: underline;” >Infrastructure and automobile shifts</a></p>

">
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San Pedro care center flooded by influx of sea lions opens its doors Sunday

May 18, 2013 at 1:24 pm
www.dailybreeze.com -

This year has proven particularly busy for San Pedro’s Marine Mammal Care Center, which for the past several months has taken in and released hundreds of sea lions, many of them young and fighting for their lives.

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Los Angeles First Graders Traveled to Sacramento to Shine Spotlight on Solar Power

May 15, 2013 at 10:00 pm
20130515-223338.jpg
blogs.gosolar.la -

Holding signs reading “I Heart Solar Power” and “Go Solar CA,” the children held back-to-back events with Sen. Kevin de León and Assemblymember Gomez to rally for solar power, clean air, and environmental responsibility. Before a crowd gathered under the Capitol Rotunda, the children sang “Here Comes the Sun” and “Solar Power to the People,” conveying their vision for California, including Los Angeles, to be powered by clean energy.

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Margot Ocanas: A Voice for Pedestrians

May 15, 2013 at 6:00 am
blogs.laweekly.com -

One of the fascinating Angelenos featured in L.A. Weekly’s People 2013 issue. Check out our entire People 2013 issue here.

When she arrived in Los Angeles as a new mom 11 years ago, Margot Oca…

No Comments »

Council Passes Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban in Culver City

May 14, 2013 at 8:00 pm
culvercity.patch.com -

City Council approves ban on plastic shopping bags.

The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously passed a new ordinance that will ban the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and require retailers to charge customers a minimum of 10 cents for any single-use paper bags.

Councilmembers and supporters said they hope the new ban will help reduce plastic bag pollution in the waterways and encourage consumers to start using reusable bags while shopping.

“This issue has been a long time coming,” said Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells. “There are so many reasons to support this ban… The cost of single-use plastic bags is just too great for us to bear anymore.”

The ordinance, which was initially drafted in December 2012, mimics a similar ordinance being considered in Los Angeles County. When it takes effect, larger retailers such as Albertsons or Vons will have six months to comply with the new rules while smaller stores will have a year to reach compliance.

While the ban stops the use of carryout plastic bags at food retailers, the ordinance exempts plastic bags used for items such as fresh produce or bread. Restaurants that provide plastic carryout bags are also not affected by the ban.

When it takes effect, city staff said that approximately 72 retailers in Culver City will be affected by the ban. Those retailers would also be required to post signage clearly indicating the charge for paper bags and keep records of how many bags they sell.

During Monday’s meeting, 16 people spoke to the proposed ordinance, with the majority of speakers supporting the ban. Local environmental organizations including Surfrider, Heal the Bay and Ballona Creek Renaissance were among those voicing support.

Also supporting the ordinance was Sarah Sheehy, who spoke on behalf of the California Grocers Association which represents the food industry across California.

“We are pretty comfortable with this type of ordinance at this time… We have found that the ban-charge model is the most effective in promoting reusable bag use,” Sheehy said. “We have found that about 94-percent of customers bring in reusable bags within about a month of the ordinance taking effect.”

Those who spoke against the plastic bag ban expressed concerns over the hygiene of reusable bags and said the ordinance will not go far enough in reducing the amount of plastic waste in the city.

“I don’t really think it solves a problem,” said resident Paulina. “To me, what I really want is a commitment to do better because people need to be educated… Our real problem is the throwaway mentality.”

Multiple councilmembers, while supporting the ordinance, agreed that while the plastic bag ban does not solve a larger problem, it is still a small step forward.

“Yes, it is not enough, but it is a message… It won’t solve the problem, but I believe it will create the awareness issue,” said Councilman Micheál O’Leary. “We are doing less than what we should be doing if this passes and we can do more later.”

Councilman Andrew Weissman also said that the ban is not the final solution to the larger problem but added that it is a good place to begin fixing it.

“It may only be low-hanging fruit, but it is a starting place,” Weissman said. “It is pragmatic; it is responsible; it is reasonable and it is a good of place as any to start.”

The plastic bag ordinance will now return to the council at a later date for a final reading and final vote to put it into effect.

As for other possible solutions to plastic pollution, Councilwoman Sahli-Wells sent out a warning to another plastic product.

“Watch out styrofoam, you are next,” she said.

 

 

 

 

The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously passed a new ordinance that will ban the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and require retailers to charge customers a minimum of 10 cents for any single-use paper bags.

Councilmembers and supporters said they hope the new ban will help reduce plastic bag pollution in the waterways and encourage consumers to start using reusable bags while shopping.

“This issue has been a long time coming,” said Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells. “There are so many reasons to support this ban… The cost of single-use plastic bags is just too great for us to bear anymore.”

The ordinance, which was initially drafted in December 2012, mimics a similar ordinance being considered in Los Angeles County. When it takes effect, larger retailers such as Albertsons or Vons will have six months to comply with the new rules while smaller stores will have a year to reach compliance.

While the ban stops the use of carryout plastic bags at food retailers, the ordinance exempts plastic bags used for items such as fresh produce or bread. Restaurants that provide plastic carryout bags are also not affected by the ban.

When it takes effect, city staff said that approximately 72 retailers in Culver City will be affected by the ban. Those retailers would also be required to post signage clearly indicating the charge for paper bags and keep records of how many bags they sell.

During Monday’s meeting, 16 people spoke to the proposed ordinance, with the majority of speakers supporting the ban. Local environmental organizations including Surfrider, Heal the Bay and Ballona Creek Renaissance were among those voicing support.

Also supporting the ordinance was Sarah Sheehy, who spoke on behalf of the California Grocers Association which represents the food industry across California.

“We are pretty comfortable with this type of ordinance at this time… We have found that the ban-charge model is the most effective in promoting reusable bag use,” Sheehy said. “We have found that about 94-percent of customers bring in reusable bags within about a month of the ordinance taking effect.”

Those who spoke against the plastic bag ban expressed concerns over the hygiene of reusable bags and said the ordinance will not go far enough in reducing the amount of plastic waste in the city.

“I don’t really think it solves a problem,” said resident Paulina. “To me, what I really want is a commitment to do better because people need to be educated… Our real problem is the throwaway mentality.”

Multiple councilmembers, while supporting the ordinance, agreed that while the plastic bag ban does not solve a larger problem, it is still a small step forward.

“Yes, it is not enough, but it is a message… It won’t solve the problem, but I believe it will create the awareness issue,” said Councilman Micheál O’Leary. “We are doing less than what we should be doing if this passes and we can do more later.”

Councilman Andrew Weissman also said that the ban is not the final solution to the larger problem but added that it is a good place to begin fixing it.

“It may only be low-hanging fruit, but it is a starting place,” Weissman said. “It is pragmatic; it is responsible; it is reasonable and it is a good of place as any to start.”

The plastic bag ordinance will now return to the council at a later date for a final reading and final vote to put it into effect.

As for other possible solutions to plastic pollution, Councilwoman Sahli-Wells sent out a warning to another plastic product.

“Watch out styrofoam, you are next,” she said.

 

 

 

 

" addthis:title="Council Passes Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban in Culver City" addthis:description="

City Council approves ban on plastic shopping bags.

The Culver City Council on Monday unanimously passed a new ordinance that will ban the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and require retailers to charge customers a minimum of 10 cents for any single-use paper bags.

Councilmembers and supporters said they hope the new ban will help reduce plastic bag pollution in the waterways and encourage consumers to start using reusable bags while shopping.

“This issue has been a long time coming,” said Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells. “There are so many reasons to support this ban… The cost of single-use plastic bags is just too great for us to bear anymore.”

The ordinance, which was initially drafted in December 2012, mimics a similar ordinance being considered in Los Angeles County. When it takes effect, larger retailers such as Albertsons or Vons will have six months to comply with the new rules while smaller stores will have a year to reach compliance.

While the ban stops the use of carryout plastic bags at food retailers, the ordinance exempts plastic bags used for items such as fresh produce or bread. Restaurants that provide plastic carryout bags are also not affected by the ban.

When it takes effect, city staff said that approximately 72 retailers in Culver City will be affected by the ban. Those retailers would also be required to post signage clearly indicating the charge for paper bags and keep records of how many bags they sell.

During Monday’s meeting, 16 people spoke to the proposed ordinance, with the majority of speakers supporting the ban. Local environmental organizations including Surfrider, Heal the Bay and Ballona Creek Renaissance were among those voicing support.

Also supporting the ordinance was Sarah Sheehy, who spoke on behalf of the California Grocers Association which represents the food industry across California.

“We are pretty comfortable with this type of ordinance at this time… We have found that the ban-charge model is the most effective in promoting reusable bag use,” Sheehy said. “We have found that about 94-percent of customers bring in reusable bags within about a month of the ordinance taking effect.”

Those who spoke against the plastic bag ban expressed concerns over the hygiene of reusable bags and said the ordinance will not go far enough in reducing the amount of plastic waste in the city.

“I don’t really think it solves a problem,” said resident Paulina. “To me, what I really want is a commitment to do better because people need to be educated… Our real problem is the throwaway mentality.”

Multiple councilmembers, while supporting the ordinance, agreed that while the plastic bag ban does not solve a larger problem, it is still a small step forward.

“Yes, it is not enough, but it is a message… It won’t solve the problem, but I believe it will create the awareness issue,” said Councilman Micheál O’Leary. “We are doing less than what we should be doing if this passes and we can do more later.”

Councilman Andrew Weissman also said that the ban is not the final solution to the larger problem but added that it is a good place to begin fixing it.

“It may only be low-hanging fruit, but it is a starting place,” Weissman said. “It is pragmatic; it is responsible; it is reasonable and it is a good of place as any to start.”

The plastic bag ordinance will now return to the council at a later date for a final reading and final vote to put it into effect.

As for other possible solutions to plastic pollution, Councilwoman Sahli-Wells sent out a warning to another plastic product.

“Watch out styrofoam, you are next,” she said.

 

 

 

 

">
No Comments »

E-Waste Recycling Event in Culver City May 19th

May 14, 2013 at 7:20 pm
culvercity.patch.com -

Location: 8758 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
When:
May 19, 2013

Time: 10:00 am–2:00 pm

WHAT: E-Waste Recycling Event!

WHEN: Sunday, May 19th, 2013 from 10am to 2pm.

WHERE: Helms Bakery, 8758 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles 90034

Get rid of the clutter in your home and garage and recycle your old TV’s, computers, cell phones, cords, and basically anything else that was powered by electricity! We will recycle your items for you and together we can keep these items out of our landfills.

The equation is pretty simple: First, people bring their ancient Mac Classic or dusty old stereo to our collection event, where we make sure that their discarded electronics and all its components end up in the right place- and not in our landfills. Our staff will wipe the data, and then either refurbish them for reuse, or take them apart to be properly recycled. It’s that simple. By recycling electronics you’ll be doing the right thing for the planet, for your community, and for Southern California.

Website: http://www.isidorerecycling.com
Phone: (323) 222-3322
Email: lulu@isidorerecycling.com
Price: $0
Location: 8758 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
When:
May 19, 2013

Time: 10:00 am–2:00 pm

WHAT: E-Waste Recycling Event!

WHEN: Sunday, May 19th, 2013 from 10am to 2pm.

WHERE: Helms Bakery, 8758 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles 90034

Get rid of the clutter in your home and garage and recycle your old TV’s, computers, cell phones, cords, and basically anything else that was powered by electricity! We will recycle your items for you and together we can keep these items out of our landfills.

The equation is pretty simple: First, people bring their ancient Mac Classic or dusty old stereo to our collection event, where we make sure that their discarded electronics and all its components end up in the right place- and not in our landfills. Our staff will wipe the data, and then either refurbish them for reuse, or take them apart to be properly recycled. It’s that simple. By recycling electronics you’ll be doing the right thing for the planet, for your community, and for Southern California.

Website: http://www.isidorerecycling.com
Phone: (323) 222-3322
Email: lulu@isidorerecycling.com
Price: $0
" addthis:title="E-Waste Recycling Event in Culver City May 19th" addthis:description="

Location: 8758 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
When:
May 19, 2013

Time: 10:00 am–2:00 pm

WHAT: E-Waste Recycling Event!

WHEN: Sunday, May 19th, 2013 from 10am to 2pm.

WHERE: Helms Bakery, 8758 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles 90034

Get rid of the clutter in your home and garage and recycle your old TV’s, computers, cell phones, cords, and basically anything else that was powered by electricity! We will recycle your items for you and together we can keep these items out of our landfills.

The equation is pretty simple: First, people bring their ancient Mac Classic or dusty old stereo to our collection event, where we make sure that their discarded electronics and all its components end up in the right place- and not in our landfills. Our staff will wipe the data, and then either refurbish them for reuse, or take them apart to be properly recycled. It’s that simple. By recycling electronics you’ll be doing the right thing for the planet, for your community, and for Southern California.

Website: http://www.isidorerecycling.com
Phone: (323) 222-3322
Email: lulu@isidorerecycling.com
Price: $0
">
No Comments »

Farmers Markets: A CSA model for seafood in Santa Monica

May 13, 2013 at 7:00 pm
www.latimes.com -

Fishermen selling their own catch at Southern California farmers markets are vanishing. An attractive alternative is Community Seafood, a “community-supported fishery” that started selling last Sunday at the Santa Monica Main Street farmers market ….

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Shared Renewables Bills Moving Forward In California

May 6, 2013 at 3:30 pm
blogs.gosolar.la -

A lot of people can go solar today and get a very good return on their investment, while also feeling great that they are doing something to help protect our climate, air, and water. However, many people cannot. Have a roof covered by trees? Rent your home? Live in an apartment building? You know know what I’m talking about.

California is no exemption to this problem, and with its strong and successful California Solar Initiative (CSI) sunsetting, renewable energy leaders in the state have been looking to jump to the next step of the solar revolution by making solar power (and wind power) a possibility for people in homes like those mentioned above. The effort to offer such an option is running under the name “Shared Renewables.”

Image Credit: California Shared Renewables

Image Credit: California Shared Renewables

As you can see on the interactive map on the Shared Renewables site, not many states have shared renewables laws in place, and just a handful have campaigns in place to try to enact such laws. Naturally, though, California has one law in place and has a campaign aimed at getting a much stronger one. The website for the campaign is called California Shared Renewables.

I’m not a resident of California, but I’ve been keeping up with the news there, and I’ve got some good news to share with you.

But wait, I still need to give you a little more background…. There are two bills working their way through California’s legislative process — SB 43 and AB 1014. In the end, presuming both make it through the various hurdles required, a single proposal will be hashed out. For now, though, the two bills have to take things one step at a time.

From a previous article about these bills, Silvio Marcacci writes:

If passed, SB 43 and AB 104 would allow the 75% of California utility customers who can’t install their own on-site generation to subscribe to “shared” renewable energy projects of up to 20 megawatts (MW).

Advocates say a 500MW shared renewables pilot program within the state’s three largest utility service territories would create 7,000 green jobs, earn $60 million in state sales tax revenue, generate $2 billion in economic activity, and voluntarily surpass the state’s 33% renewable portfolio standard.

A lot more details regarding the benefits of shared renewables are discussed in that post, if you want to learn more. But let’s get back to the news at hand….

This week, AB 1014 “passed though the Assembly Utility and Commerce Committee on a vote of 9-0, with no opposing testimony” (but with some significant amendments made beforehand), California Shared Renewables Policy and Market Strategies Director Tom Price informed me. Tom noted:

This is tremendously positive news. While it’s not the bill we started with, it does help us advance the goal of broadening access to renewable energy.

As an indication of the sweeping changes, and how that effected the politics, PGE asked to be the second speaker on the bill, so they could speak in favor.

The bodies speaking out in favor of the bill included:

  • Coalition for Adequate School Housing
  • US Department of Defense
  • Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
  • Vote Solar
  • Solar Energy Industries Association
  • Large Scale Solar Association
  • TURN
  • Scott Wetch/Utilities Employees Union
  • Southern California Edison

The day after this success, SB 43 also made it through a vote, this one in the California Senate Energy Committee. Vote and testimonial details are below.

Votes in favor:

  • Hill
  • DeSaulnier
  • Pavley
  • De Leon
  • Wolk
  • Corbett

Testimony in favor from:

  • California Environmental Justice Alliance
  • Vote Solar
  • League of Cities
  • Department of Defense
  • Coalition for Affordable School Housing
  • Schools Energy Coalition
  • Recurrent Energy
  • Solar Electric Industry Association
  • Large Scale Solar Association

Testimony against from:

  • Southern California Edison
  • PG&E
  • SDGE
  • TURN
  • Farm Bureau
  • Coalition of California Union Employees

“It was close, but we got the votes when it counted,” Tom noted.

“With both AB 1014 and SB 43 passed, we now have two ways to broaden the availability of renewable energy in California, and thanks to your support and help, we’ll get there.”

As stated above, each bill still has several hurdles to get past: “they need to then get through their respective Appropriations Committees, then full chambers, then pass over to the other side and go through the opposite chamber.”

The keys now are to fight for the most important details in each bill and to make more people aware of what’s going on in order to stimulate more public support for the proposals. Hence, this article.

We’ll be following up soon with discussion regarding the differences between the bills and the most important components. Stay tuned!

Shared Renewables Bills Moving Forward In California was originally published on: CleanTechnica. To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 30,000 others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free!), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage (yep, free).

go solar today and get a very good return on their investment, while also feeling great that they are doing something to help protect our climate, air, and water. However, many people cannot. Have a roof covered by trees? Rent your home? Live in an apartment building? You know know what I’m talking about.

California is no exemption to this problem, and with its strong and successful California Solar Initiative (CSI) sunsetting, renewable energy leaders in the state have been looking to jump to the next step of the solar revolution by making solar power (and wind power) a possibility for people in homes like those mentioned above. The effort to offer such an option is running under the name “Shared Renewables.”

Image Credit: California Shared Renewables

Image Credit: California Shared Renewables

As you can see on the interactive map on the Shared Renewables site, not many states have shared renewables laws in place, and just a handful have campaigns in place to try to enact such laws. Naturally, though, California has one law in place and has a campaign aimed at getting a much stronger one. The website for the campaign is called California Shared Renewables.

I’m not a resident of California, but I’ve been keeping up with the news there, and I’ve got some good news to share with you.

But wait, I still need to give you a little more background…. There are two bills working their way through California’s legislative process — SB 43 and AB 1014. In the end, presuming both make it through the various hurdles required, a single proposal will be hashed out. For now, though, the two bills have to take things one step at a time.

From a previous article about these bills, Silvio Marcacci writes:

If passed, SB 43 and AB 104 would allow the 75% of California utility customers who can’t install their own on-site generation to subscribe to “shared” renewable energy projects of up to 20 megawatts (MW).

Advocates say a 500MW shared renewables pilot program within the state’s three largest utility service territories would create 7,000 green jobs, earn $60 million in state sales tax revenue, generate $2 billion in economic activity, and voluntarily surpass the state’s 33% renewable portfolio standard.

A lot more details regarding the benefits of shared renewables are discussed in that post, if you want to learn more. But let’s get back to the news at hand….

This week, AB 1014 “passed though the Assembly Utility and Commerce Committee on a vote of 9-0, with no opposing testimony” (but with some significant amendments made beforehand), California Shared Renewables Policy and Market Strategies Director Tom Price informed me. Tom noted:

This is tremendously positive news. While it’s not the bill we started with, it does help us advance the goal of broadening access to renewable energy.

As an indication of the sweeping changes, and how that effected the politics, PGE asked to be the second speaker on the bill, so they could speak in favor.

The bodies speaking out in favor of the bill included:

  • Coalition for Adequate School Housing
  • US Department of Defense
  • Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
  • Vote Solar
  • Solar Energy Industries Association
  • Large Scale Solar Association
  • TURN
  • Scott Wetch/Utilities Employees Union
  • Southern California Edison

The day after this success, SB 43 also made it through a vote, this one in the California Senate Energy Committee. Vote and testimonial details are below.

Votes in favor:

  • Hill
  • DeSaulnier
  • Pavley
  • De Leon
  • Wolk
  • Corbett

Testimony in favor from:

  • California Environmental Justice Alliance
  • Vote Solar
  • League of Cities
  • Department of Defense
  • Coalition for Affordable School Housing
  • Schools Energy Coalition
  • Recurrent Energy
  • Solar Electric Industry Association
  • Large Scale Solar Association

Testimony against from:

  • Southern California Edison
  • PG&E
  • SDGE
  • TURN
  • Farm Bureau
  • Coalition of California Union Employees

“It was close, but we got the votes when it counted,” Tom noted.

“With both AB 1014 and SB 43 passed, we now have two ways to broaden the availability of renewable energy in California, and thanks to your support and help, we’ll get there.”

As stated above, each bill still has several hurdles to get past: “they need to then get through their respective Appropriations Committees, then full chambers, then pass over to the other side and go through the opposite chamber.”

The keys now are to fight for the most important details in each bill and to make more people aware of what’s going on in order to stimulate more public support for the proposals. Hence, this article.

We’ll be following up soon with discussion regarding the differences between the bills and the most important components. Stay tuned!

Shared Renewables Bills Moving Forward In California was originally published on: CleanTechnica. To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 30,000 others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free!), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage (yep, free).

" addthis:title="Shared Renewables Bills Moving Forward In California" addthis:description="

A lot of people can go solar today and get a very good return on their investment, while also feeling great that they are doing something to help protect our climate, air, and water. However, many people cannot. Have a roof covered by trees? Rent your home? Live in an apartment building? You know know what I’m talking about.

California is no exemption to this problem, and with its strong and successful California Solar Initiative (CSI) sunsetting, renewable energy leaders in the state have been looking to jump to the next step of the solar revolution by making solar power (and wind power) a possibility for people in homes like those mentioned above. The effort to offer such an option is running under the name “Shared Renewables.”

Image Credit: California Shared Renewables

Image Credit: California Shared Renewables

As you can see on the interactive map on the Shared Renewables site, not many states have shared renewables laws in place, and just a handful have campaigns in place to try to enact such laws. Naturally, though, California has one law in place and has a campaign aimed at getting a much stronger one. The website for the campaign is called California Shared Renewables.

I’m not a resident of California, but I’ve been keeping up with the news there, and I’ve got some good news to share with you.

But wait, I still need to give you a little more background…. There are two bills working their way through California’s legislative process — SB 43 and AB 1014. In the end, presuming both make it through the various hurdles required, a single proposal will be hashed out. For now, though, the two bills have to take things one step at a time.

From a previous article about these bills, Silvio Marcacci writes:

If passed, SB 43 and AB 104 would allow the 75% of California utility customers who can’t install their own on-site generation to subscribe to “shared” renewable energy projects of up to 20 megawatts (MW).

Advocates say a 500MW shared renewables pilot program within the state’s three largest utility service territories would create 7,000 green jobs, earn $60 million in state sales tax revenue, generate $2 billion in economic activity, and voluntarily surpass the state’s 33% renewable portfolio standard.

A lot more details regarding the benefits of shared renewables are discussed in that post, if you want to learn more. But let’s get back to the news at hand….

This week, AB 1014 “passed though the Assembly Utility and Commerce Committee on a vote of 9-0, with no opposing testimony” (but with some significant amendments made beforehand), California Shared Renewables Policy and Market Strategies Director Tom Price informed me. Tom noted:

This is tremendously positive news. While it’s not the bill we started with, it does help us advance the goal of broadening access to renewable energy.

As an indication of the sweeping changes, and how that effected the politics, PGE asked to be the second speaker on the bill, so they could speak in favor.

The bodies speaking out in favor of the bill included:

  • Coalition for Adequate School Housing
  • US Department of Defense
  • Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
  • Vote Solar
  • Solar Energy Industries Association
  • Large Scale Solar Association
  • TURN
  • Scott Wetch/Utilities Employees Union
  • Southern California Edison

The day after this success, SB 43 also made it through a vote, this one in the California Senate Energy Committee. Vote and testimonial details are below.

Votes in favor:

  • Hill
  • DeSaulnier
  • Pavley
  • De Leon
  • Wolk
  • Corbett

Testimony in favor from:

  • California Environmental Justice Alliance
  • Vote Solar
  • League of Cities
  • Department of Defense
  • Coalition for Affordable School Housing
  • Schools Energy Coalition
  • Recurrent Energy
  • Solar Electric Industry Association
  • Large Scale Solar Association

Testimony against from:

  • Southern California Edison
  • PG&E
  • SDGE
  • TURN
  • Farm Bureau
  • Coalition of California Union Employees

“It was close, but we got the votes when it counted,” Tom noted.

“With both AB 1014 and SB 43 passed, we now have two ways to broaden the availability of renewable energy in California, and thanks to your support and help, we’ll get there.”

As stated above, each bill still has several hurdles to get past: “they need to then get through their respective Appropriations Committees, then full chambers, then pass over to the other side and go through the opposite chamber.”

The keys now are to fight for the most important details in each bill and to make more people aware of what’s going on in order to stimulate more public support for the proposals. Hence, this article.

We’ll be following up soon with discussion regarding the differences between the bills and the most important components. Stay tuned!

Shared Renewables Bills Moving Forward In California was originally published on: CleanTechnica. To read more from CleanTechnica, join over 30,000 others and subscribe to our free RSS feed, follow us on Facebook (also free!), follow us on Twitter, or just visit our homepage (yep, free).

">
No Comments »

L.A. Cleantech Incubator Has First Exit

May 4, 2013 at 7:05 pm
labusinessjournal.com -

Electric vehicle charging station operator 350Green announced Thursday that it has been acquired by Car Charging Group for $5.2 million.

No Comments »

How Can We Make Every Day Earth Day?

May 4, 2013 at 4:50 pm
-

Kevin Barry, owner of the Woodbury Saw and Mower business in Woodbury, CT, wears his beekeeper equipment as he demonstrates how to become a beekeeper, his other business. He is holding a sample beehive panel from one of the many beekeeper starter kits he is selling at the Woodbury Earth Day Event on April 27, 2013. Credit: Paula Antolini

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day?

On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day.

How can we make every day Earth Day?

Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of our lack of knowledge. Let’s start there. Remember that children learn from what we do.

There are some wonderful family activities you can do together while learning about the environment. Make a “to do” list and make it fun! Do as many hands-on projects as you can each day to help save the earth in little ways. Have the children keep a chart or journal about everything they do.

Here are some suggestions:

Indoors: Learn more about the earth with your kids – surf the web, read books, magazines, and newspapers. Conserve energy and save water by letting children find (and a parent fix) dripping faucets; only running the dishwasher when full; taking short showers; turning the water off while brushing your teeth; turning off electrical items when not in use; doing full loads of laundry only. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers.

Outdoors: Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Clean up roadside litter. Create a habitat by putting up a birdhouse. Build a compost for food scraps, leaves and lawn clippings. Save rainwater and reuse for outdoor gardens.

At School: Urge teachers and administrators to do activities for Earth Day and every day. Suggest ideas for projects: write poetry; create environmentally-themed music; have an environmental poster contest. Check to see which sources of electricity you can conserve in your school (electric pencil sharpener, lights on in rooms not used, etc.) and keep a chart about how many ways you saved energy.  

At Work: Make a company Earth Day resolutions list. Conserve paper and electricity. Close shades in the summer to prevent high heat in offices. Don’t use air conditioning all the time. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers at the office.

While Traveling: Visit parks and nature centers. Visit a maritime museum. While on a drive, have children count how many things might be polluting the air, land or water, and then research if anything is being done to correct the problem.    

For Pets: Attend a dog-friendly Earth Day event. Organize a dog park cleanup. Take a hike on a dog-friendly trail. Use natural flea control. Buy organic pet food. Avoid plastic and synthetic toys and dog beds, and use natural fiber products. Scoop up the poop, compost it, or use biodegradable poop bags if you live in the city. Adopt a pet from a shelter. Spay or neuter your pet.

Join a Group: Join organizations that help save endangered animals. Adopt an endangered species online. Join any group that supports Earth Day issues. 

Community Service: Volunteer your time in any way that will improve the environment.  Does your community have a nature center? Maybe you can volunteer there.

How do you make every day Earth Day? Tell us in the comments!

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day?

On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day.

How can we make every day Earth Day?

Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of our lack of knowledge. Let’s start there. Remember that children learn from what we do.

There are some wonderful family activities you can do together while learning about the environment. Make a “to do” list and make it fun! Do as many hands-on projects as you can each day to help save the earth in little ways. Have the children keep a chart or journal about everything they do.

Here are some suggestions:

Indoors: Learn more about the earth with your kids – surf the web, read books, magazines, and newspapers. Conserve energy and save water by letting children find (and a parent fix) dripping faucets; only running the dishwasher when full; taking short showers; turning the water off while brushing your teeth; turning off electrical items when not in use; doing full loads of laundry only. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers.

Outdoors: Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Clean up roadside litter. Create a habitat by putting up a birdhouse. Build a compost for food scraps, leaves and lawn clippings. Save rainwater and reuse for outdoor gardens.

At School: Urge teachers and administrators to do activities for Earth Day and every day. Suggest ideas for projects: write poetry; create environmentally-themed music; have an environmental poster contest. Check to see which sources of electricity you can conserve in your school (electric pencil sharpener, lights on in rooms not used, etc.) and keep a chart about how many ways you saved energy.  

At Work: Make a company Earth Day resolutions list. Conserve paper and electricity. Close shades in the summer to prevent high heat in offices. Don’t use air conditioning all the time. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers at the office.

While Traveling: Visit parks and nature centers. Visit a maritime museum. While on a drive, have children count how many things might be polluting the air, land or water, and then research if anything is being done to correct the problem.    

For Pets: Attend a dog-friendly Earth Day event. Organize a dog park cleanup. Take a hike on a dog-friendly trail. Use natural flea control. Buy organic pet food. Avoid plastic and synthetic toys and dog beds, and use natural fiber products. Scoop up the poop, compost it, or use biodegradable poop bags if you live in the city. Adopt a pet from a shelter. Spay or neuter your pet.

Join a Group: Join organizations that help save endangered animals. Adopt an endangered species online. Join any group that supports Earth Day issues. 

Community Service: Volunteer your time in any way that will improve the environment.  Does your community have a nature center? Maybe you can volunteer there.

How do you make every day Earth Day? Tell us in the comments!

" addthis:title="How Can We Make Every Day Earth Day?" addthis:description="

Kevin Barry, owner of the Woodbury Saw and Mower business in Woodbury, CT, wears his beekeeper equipment as he demonstrates how to become a beekeeper, his other business. He is holding a sample beehive panel from one of the many beekeeper starter kits he is selling at the Woodbury Earth Day Event on April 27, 2013. Credit: Paula Antolini

Very few events are celebrated around the globe, but Earth Day is. This year, it’s come and gone. But we’re here to ask: What can we do to show our love of the earth on that day, and every day?

On May 31st, Sony will release After Earth, an action-packed movie that takes place 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity to leave. It’s the kind of scenario that makes you want to donate to Greenpeace, recycle everything, and start biking every where, immediately. So, in honor of Earth Day, Patch has teamed up with Sony to present these ideas for making every day Earth Day.

How can we make every day Earth Day?

Begin with little things. Easy things. Obvious things. Things we take for granted each day, and use and/or abuse because of our lack of knowledge. Let’s start there. Remember that children learn from what we do.

There are some wonderful family activities you can do together while learning about the environment. Make a “to do” list and make it fun! Do as many hands-on projects as you can each day to help save the earth in little ways. Have the children keep a chart or journal about everything they do.

Here are some suggestions:

Indoors: Learn more about the earth with your kids – surf the web, read books, magazines, and newspapers. Conserve energy and save water by letting children find (and a parent fix) dripping faucets; only running the dishwasher when full; taking short showers; turning the water off while brushing your teeth; turning off electrical items when not in use; doing full loads of laundry only. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers.

Outdoors: Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Clean up roadside litter. Create a habitat by putting up a birdhouse. Build a compost for food scraps, leaves and lawn clippings. Save rainwater and reuse for outdoor gardens.

At School: Urge teachers and administrators to do activities for Earth Day and every day. Suggest ideas for projects: write poetry; create environmentally-themed music; have an environmental poster contest. Check to see which sources of electricity you can conserve in your school (electric pencil sharpener, lights on in rooms not used, etc.) and keep a chart about how many ways you saved energy.  

At Work: Make a company Earth Day resolutions list. Conserve paper and electricity. Close shades in the summer to prevent high heat in offices. Don’t use air conditioning all the time. Recycle cans, bottles and newspapers at the office.

While Traveling: Visit parks and nature centers. Visit a maritime museum. While on a drive, have children count how many things might be polluting the air, land or water, and then research if anything is being done to correct the problem.    

For Pets: Attend a dog-friendly Earth Day event. Organize a dog park cleanup. Take a hike on a dog-friendly trail. Use natural flea control. Buy organic pet food. Avoid plastic and synthetic toys and dog beds, and use natural fiber products. Scoop up the poop, compost it, or use biodegradable poop bags if you live in the city. Adopt a pet from a shelter. Spay or neuter your pet.

Join a Group: Join organizations that help save endangered animals. Adopt an endangered species online. Join any group that supports Earth Day issues. 

Community Service: Volunteer your time in any way that will improve the environment.  Does your community have a nature center? Maybe you can volunteer there.

How do you make every day Earth Day? Tell us in the comments!

">
No Comments »

Environment California raises over $20,000 to rescue LA sea lion pups

May 4, 2013 at 8:25 am
www.environmentcalifornia.org -

Calabasas, CA – Environment California has delivered over $20,000 for California Wildlife Center to rescue stranded sea lion pups along the coast. The money will help cover the cost of building temporary sea lion and seal housing at the Center and provide for the care, feeding, and rehabilitation of stranded sea lion pups.

No Comments »

Rooftop Solar Seen Protecting U.S. Power Grid From Attack

May 3, 2013 at 5:00 am
blogs.gosolar.la -

The U.S. power grid is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, and the growing use of rooftop solar panels will provide protection against lengthy blackouts, the chairman of the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said.

No Comments »
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