SBESC

Southern California Gas currently has cash rebates for its business customers in the food industry including qualifying ovens, fryers and other foodservice equipment. We can help you determine the most energy efficient model before you buy. Give us a call at (310) 371-7222 and we'll help you get the most value for the money you spend in these tough economic times.

There are several things you can do during a heat wave to save money and energy.  Use less electricity!   Avoid using household appliances (ie. dishwashers, washers, dryers and air conditioners) during the peak hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.  You can also:  Turn off all unnecessary lights, use electric fans instead of air conditioning if practical, avoid cooling unoccupied rooms, limit the reopening of a refrigerator or freezer, which are major users of electricity in most homes, use drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and that goes for kids and pets, too.

This is an exciting time to be thinking about remodeling your home. There are many new financial rebate and incentive programs on the federal, state, and local levels available to homeowners that will ultimately provide you with a healthier home in which to live that is energy and water efficient an...

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If you have an electric storage water heater and are planning to replace it with another electric unit, purchase one with an Energy Factor of .93 or greater, and you can receive a $30 rebate from Southern California Edison.    If you replace a gas storage water heater, you can receive  a $30 rebate from the Gas Company if the energy rating of the new unit has an Energy Factor of .62 or greater.   Call us for details at (310) 371-7222.

If you have central air conditioning, it’s not too late to take advantage of SCE's Summer Discount Plan during the summer season (June 1 – Sept 30) and receive a credit on your energy bill up to $200 every summer! Sign up and SCE will install (at no cost to you) a remote-controlled device on the A/C.   During periods of peak demand or a power emergency, they will cycle it on and off based on the intervals you choose.   Give us a call to find out how to enroll at (310) 371-7222.

Despite the rainfall this winter, drought conditions still exist in California.  Unlike past droughts, the limited water supply may continue over the next decade.    It is so important that we all practice the wise use of clean drinking water, a limited resource we cannot afford to waste.  You can achieve substantial savings by following simple conservation practices.   Check with your city for local ordinances and conservation programs, and check this website and our calendar for conservation workshops, or give us a call at (310) 371-7222.

The Gas Company is offering a $200/unit rebate on Energy Star® qualified central natural gas furnaces.   The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of the new unit needs to be a minimum of 92%.  If your water heater needs to be replaced (don’t wait for it to fail – if it’s several years old it’s probably time to replace it) the Gas Company will give a $30/unit on models that have an Energy Factor (EF) of 0.62 or greater.  For both rebates, make and model number must be included with a copy of the receipt.   Call us for the rebate application form at (310) 371-7222.

A whole house fan installed in your attic will pull hot air up and out, allowing you to quickly and efficiently cool your entire house - an ancient principle with modern rewards.  Whole house fans use about 1/10th the electricity of comparably sized air conditioners. SCE will help you pay for the installation with a $50 rebate. Using a whole house fan to pre-cool or cool your home instead of using central A/C is good for your pocketbook and good for the environment (a lot less greenhouse gas.)

What do you do with your unused prescriptions?  It was once common practice to flush unused or expired prescription, over-the-counter, and pet medications down the toilet.  Medications can include hormones, antidepressants, antibiotics, pain relievers, cold/flu remedies and antiseptics.   We learned the hard way that this practice is very bad because they end up in our ground water and ruin our environment.   Now you can safely and anonymously dispose of unused drugs and sharps (needles) at specified drop off points in the South Bay, no questions asked.   For the nearest location, give us a call at (310) 371-7222.

Southern California is using water reserves to supply everyday water. California's main water sources have been severely impacted by record dry conditions despite the rainfall this winter.  To reduce dependence on less reliable imported water to coastal Los Angeles by one third by the year 2020, West Basin Municipal Water District has a new program called “Water Reliability 2020”.  Call SBESC at (310) 371-7222 today to arrange for a Water Reliability 2020 speaker to come to your next club or organization’s meeting and talk about this important issue.

Ceiling fans have been around for almost 150 years for one good reason:  they work!  During hot sticky weather they circulate the air and help achieve a comfortable environment even if you don’t have air conditioning.  If you do have an air conditioner, you can set it at a low fan setting and let the ceiling fan do the rest of the work at a much lower rate ($$).  SBESC will have a booth at FIESTA HERMOSA over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend and will raffle off a ceiling fan.  Be sure to stop by our booth and enter the FREE drawing!

The federal government is offering residents of California some very healthy rebates through the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program (SEEARP) to purchase qualified clothes washers (rebate $100), refrigerators (rebate $200), and room/window air conditioners (rebate $50). These rebates are...

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Everyone should try to conserve at least 20 gallons of water a day. We are already using our water reserves to supply our everyday water because California's main water sources have been severely impacted by record dry conditions. This sortage is extremely critical.   Check this website for our list of things you can do to save water and energy, or give us a call at (310) 371-7222.

As we come to the end of April and attend the last Earth Day event, ask yourself if you are following the three R's (let’s use a plastic milk container as an example):  Are you reducing - Buy only what you need and use all of it;  Are you reusing - use it as a watering can for indoor plants or cut it in half and use the bottom half to hold small items;  Are you recycling - take the cap off the container and toss both into the recycle bin, where they’ll be made into something else that’s useful rather than be buried in a landfill for thousands of years.

Despite the rainfall this winter, drought conditions still exist in California.  Unlike past droughts, the limited water supply may continue over the next decade.    It is so important that we all practice the wise use of clean drinking water, a limited resource we cannot afford to waste.  You can achieve substantial savings by following simple conservation practices.   Check with your city for local ordinances and conservation programs, and check this website and our calendar for conservation workshops, or give us a call at (310) 371-7222.

Gas Company customers can receive a $200 rebate for a tankless water heater.  Tankless will save you money every month on your utility bill, but the downside is it doesn’t necessarily save water.  Is tankless the best way for your family to heat water?   Give us a call at (310) 371-7222 before you start your project and we will give you information that will help you make the best decision possible.

During the month of April we celebrate Earth Day and our environment.   One of the easiest ways to honor our environment is to stop flushing prescription, over-the-counter medications and veterinary medicines down the toilet.  Check with your local law enforcement agency to see if they have the Safe Drug Drop-off containers for your use.   Unused portions could also be taken to a household hazardous waste collection center or event (no controlled substances allowed) or put in a sturdy, securely sealed container, then in a trash can where children and animals can't reach them. Check our calendar for local HHW roundups or give us a call at (310) 371-7222.

If your water heater is more than 10 years old, replace it with a new EnergyStar qualified natural gas water storage unit, and get a $30 rebate. It must have an Energy Factor of .62 or greater. To save even more money on your monthly bill, wrap the unit and hot water pipes with an insulating blanket. Call us before you buy and we'll send you a list of qualified models (not all EnergyStar qualified units qualify for a rebate.)

Do you own or manage a restaurant? The Gas Company is offering generous rebates on energy efficient commercial foodservice equipment in 2010. The rebate for a double rack oven with a cooking efficiency rating of equal to or greater than 50% is $2,000 per unit . The single rack oven with the same rating has a rebate of $1,000 per unit . That's a lot of biscuits! Call us for a complete list of qualified products at (310) 371-7222.

A whole house fan installed in your attic will pull hot air up and out, allowing you to quickly and efficiently cool your entire house - an ancient principle with modern rewards.  Whole house fans use about 1/10th the electricity of comparably sized air conditioners. SCE will help you pay for the installation with a $50 rebate. Using a whole house fan to pre-cool or cool your home instead of using central A/C is good for your pocketbook and good for the environment (a lot less greenhouse gas.)

A drop of water down the drain seems insignificant.   A drip the width of the tip of a ballpoint pen (1 mm) can waste up to 750 gallons of water per month.  A drool (1.5 mm) can waste 3,000 gallons in a month, and a drool (3mm stream) can waste 12,000 gallons per month.  These little drips, dribbles, and drools of water can add up to a flood, which can typically be fixed by replacing a bad rubber washer!

Location:  20700 Avalon Blvd., Carson

Visit us at our exhibit booth!

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Commercial Kitchen Owners/Managers:  Did you know if you lower the lid and cover braising pans and steam kettles, you will save up to 40% of the energy used.  Residents AND commercial kitchen managers:   Heat only to the temperature required; do not turn thermostats on high in an attempt to get equipment to heat up to cook food faster.

Location: 
West Basin Municipal Water District
17140 S. Avalon Blvd., #210
Carson, CA   90746

Topics:
HOW on Soil, Planting and Irrigation: Setting up the irrigation for each plant; mulching the garden; programming the irrigation controller to establish the garden; stake trees.

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Location: West Basin Municipal Water District 17140 S. Avalon Blvd., Suite 210 Carson, CA  90746 Topics: HOW on Maintenance: Review the plants and their care and pruning needs in the different zones. Determine plant water requirements for a few irrigation zones. Staking Trees if not done in HO...

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. There is an old wives’ tale that says “never give your sweetheart something with a plug .” But, if the plug is attached to an EnergyStar® qualified product, what better way to say “you are very special to me.” Your loved one isn't the only one who deserves something special on Valentine's Day. Give a gift to the earth, too, by not throwing out your valentines, reuse them instead!

Were you chagrined to hear your sprinklers come on during the recent rains we've been having?  Call SBESC and find out about landscaping with "Smart Controllers."  Smart Controllers have sensors built in that measure the moisture of the soil, and do not come on during rainy periods.  Call us at (310) 371-7222 to find out how you may be qualified to receive a free controller through a program of West Basin Municipal Water District.

Wednesday is Earth Day. Celebrate our planet by following the three R's (using a 2-liter soda bottle as an example): Reduce - Buy only what you need and use all of it; Reuse - use it as a watering can for indoor plants or cut it in half and use the bottom half to hold items; Recycle - instead of trashing the top, take it with other recyclables to a collection point where it will be made into something else.