SBESC

If you have an electric storage water heater and are planning to replace it in 2010, purchase one with an Energy Factor of .93 or greater, and you can receive a $30 rebate from Southern California Edison. Call us before you purchase for a list of qualifying EnergyStar models (310) 371-7222.

On Tuesday SBESC will begin the 2009 Holiday Light Exchange in our Lawndale office at 15901 Hawthorne Blvd., Suite 400.  Simply bring in two strands of old, working incandescent holiday light strings and receive two new LED strings, FREE.   You have the choice of multi-color or bright white strands of EnergyStar rated, 33 ft long, 100 bulb strings.  As always, while supplies last it is first come, first served.

Washing clothes is a weekly task for most households. If a new washing machine is on your holiday wish list, there are currently rebates for you to consider. The Gas Company offers a $35 rebate for high efficiency (HE) washing machines for residents, and there are also rebates for HE washers used in a business such as a hotel or hospital. Additionally, water agencies are also offering concurrent rebates. Pick out your model and call us (310-371-7122) before you buy and we will help you determine rebate eligibility.

Did you know . . . if you have a swamp cooler, or evaporative cooler, at work to keep the place comfortable, you can make the unit more energy efficient by adding an evaporative fan controller. SCE Express Efficiency has a cool $75 rebate. Click here for more information.

Feel the chill in the air recently? Fall and winter weather is almost here. The Gas Company offers $.15 per sq.ft. for attic or wall insulation and $200 per unit for a new EnergyStar Central Natural Gas Furnace with a 92% AFUE. Do you see dirt streaks around your register? Could be a sign of a leak somewhere in the ducting. Better get it checked out. No reason to keep the spiders in the attic warm this winter while your kids shiver.

October is Energy Awareness Month! This year's theme encourages everyone to see themselves as a piece of the puzzle fitting into the big picture. Download the 2009 poster to promote energy awareness all year long. Where do you fit into this puzzle? You can start by having your family take an on-line survey for your energy usage at home. There is even a website where you can calculate your own carbon footprint. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to find these links. Send an email to SBESC and let us know what you found out.

Here are more tips for water-wise living in Southern California. The next time a plumber visits, have them check your household water pressure, and if it is more than 80 psi, ask the plumber to install a pressure regulator. Secondly, put food coloring in the toilet tank and see if it enters the bowl without flushing. If it does, replace the flapper. A leaky toilet wastes 30-50 gallons per day. Last, use the garbage disposal less and garbage can more. Consider composting. Look for composting workshops on your city's calendar.

Here are five tips about your dishwasher. First, don't pre-rinse - uses extra water and energy and will make your glassware cloudy when the detergent finally works on it. Next, the amount of detergent you use should depend on how dirty the dishes are, not how many there are. Third, you may think you know how to load, but check the manual anyway because, Four, when a load doesn't come out clean its usually because the dishwasher wasn't loaded correctly. Lastly, use the normal cycle because it is the most efficient one of all.

Room by room: Energy efficiency in bathrooms and bedrooms uses many of the same techniques found in other parts of the house. CFL's, faucet aerators, low-flush toilets, caulking around exterior windows and doors all play a part. Additionally, by installing a ceiling fan in the bedroom you might not need the central air conditioner in the summer, and if you reverse it during the cold months it will help push the warm air down to where you are. If you place lamps in the corners of the room, the light will bounce off two walls, not just one. Next week: Five things you never knew about dishwashers.

Room by room: How can you make your kitchen and laundry energy and water efficient? If your refrigerator is old, replace it with an ENERGY STAR qualified model and get $50 from SCE and free pickup. Replace your 10 years old or older clothes washer with ENERGY STAR qualified models and get a $35 rebate from The Gas Company. New high-efficiency washers can use less than half the water of older inefficient models (use full loads!) Rebates are also available on ENERGY STAR dishwashers (ditto full loads.) CFL's work great in the kitchen, too. Finally, install water aerators at the sink. Next week: Bathrooms and bedrooms.

Room by room: How can you make your living room energy efficient? Start with the front door. Go outside after dark and if you can see light around the edges when it's closed, it needs weather stripping. Make sure your windows are adequately caulked. Replace light fixtures and lamps with ENERGY STAR qualified CFL bulbs, keep the fireplace damper closed when not in use, and when you replace your television, do not purchase a plasma screen. LCD flat panels use way less energy. Next Week: Kitchen and Laundry with water saving tips.

Labor Day Weekend is coming up and lots of stores will be having appliance sales. Be sure you purchase EnergyStar qualified models because they will save you money over the life of the appliance. If you are replacing your refrigerator, call us to find out how to collect $50 for your old (working) one, including FREE pickup! We also have rebate information on new dishwashers.

Southern California Gas currently has cash rebates for its business customers covering a variety of equipment, including space heating boilers, tankless water heaters, storage water heaters, commercial pool heaters, steam traps and more. 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.

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 is serious! Click here to go to our list of things you can do to save water and energy. If you have any questions, call us at (310) 371-7222.

Here are some basic safety tips for seniors from Southern California Edison: Have a battery-operated flashlight easily available at all times; place electrical cords out of the flow of traffic to avoid tripping; be sure that your electrical outlets and switches have cover plates to avoid being shocked by exposed wires; unplug small appliances when not in use; if you use a heating pad, turn it off before going to sleep. For information on special programs that can help reduce your monthly bill, give us a call at (310) 371-7222.

Here in California, homeowner "Bob" has a 2,800 s.f. home and spends $3,000 in a six month period using a central air conditioner to cool his home. His neighbor, homeowner "Nancy" uses a whole house fan instead and spends $300 during the same six month period. SCE has a $50 rebate on a whole house fan for homeowners with central air conditioning or a heat pump system. Call us at (310) 371-7222 to find out more information.

When it's hot, people like ice in their beverages. Commercial ice machines use 20-25 gallons of water to produce 100 pounds of ice cubes; some models can use up to 90 gallons to produce 100 pounds of ice cubes. Machines that make ice flakes , on the other hand, consume far less, about 15-20 gallons of water to produce 100 pounds of ice flakes. There are rebates available for new ice machines. If you are considering a replacement, call us at (310) 371-7222 for more information.

Here are some tips for saving water during this drought: Set lawn mower blades one notch higher because longer grass means less evaporation. Check to see if your toilets are leaking by putting a few drops of food color in the tank. If the water in the bowl turns color without flushing , you have a leak and it needs to be fixed. Finally, when eating out turn your water glass upside down if you don't want water. This not only saves the water you don't drink, but also the water (and energy) used to wash your used glass.

Programmable thermostats aren't just for heating your home during winter months. They can also help you keep a lid on your central air conditioning cooling costs during the summer. Take it a step further and sign up for SCE's Summer Discount Plan to save even more. Give us a call at (310) 371-7222 and we will show you how.

The 4th of July is prime time for appliance sales. If this is on your to-do list be sure to purchase ENERGY STAR qualified models. They will cost more than other lesser models, but the price tag isn't the only number to consider. Your new appliance will pay you back over its lifetime by giving you a reason to celebrate every month when your utility bills arrive. Call us if you need help finding ENERGY STAR qualified models. Speaking of celebration, have a safe and happy 4th of July, and be sure to observe your local fireworks ordinances.

Visit our booth this weekend, June 27 and 28, at the Riviera Village Summer Festival (corner Avenue I and Catalina Avenue). In addition to all the latest information on water conservation and tips about saving energy, including rebates, we will have two electric Local Use Vehicles (LUV) and information about how you can participate in the upcoming LUV demonstration project.

If you have central air conditioning, take advantage of SCE's Summer Discount Plan 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 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.

Installing a programmable thermostat will allow you to set the temperature for comfort while you're at home and save energy when you're away. For example, Monday through Friday program the heat to come on half an hour before you rise and to shut off about the time you leave. Set it to come on half an hour before you are due to come home, then turn off just as you retire. Saturday and Sunday schedules can be programmed, too. Set it, and forget it!

An old toilet can use up to seven gallons of water every time you flush. New ones use 1.6 gallons or less. Single-family residents have access to FREE high-efficiency toilets through West Basin's high-efficiency toilet (HET) give-away program events throughout the year sponsored by the District Directors. Call us at (310) 371-7222 for the next event in your District. Certain restrictions apply.

Do you own or manage a restaurant? The Gas Company is offering tremendous rebates on commercial foodservice equipment in 2009. 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.

If your water heater is more than 10 years old, consider replacing 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 with an insulating blanket. Call us before you buy and we'll send you a list of qualified models.

With lingering drought conditions in California it is so important that we all practice the wise use of clean drinking water, a limited resource we cannot afford to waste. Unlike past droughts, the limited water supply may continue over the next decade. You can achieve substantial savings by following simple conservation practices. Check with your city for local ordinances and conservation programs, and check our calendar for conservation workshops.

Hot weather is coming, and we all know heat rises. A whole house fan installed in your attic will pull that hot air up and out, allowing you to quickly and efficiently cool your entire house. Whole house fans use about 1/10th the electricity of comparably sized air conditioners. SCE will help you pay for the installation with a $100 rebate. Using a whole house fan to pre-cool or cool your home instead of using central A/C could save you up to $50 on your summer bills and prevent 172 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the air. Now, that's hot!

During spring break buy your movie and event tickets online and print them at home. Print-at-home tickets use plain copy paper, which is easier to make into recycled paper than the paperboard used for printed tickets. Some 1.4 billion movie tickets are sold annually in the U.S., and almost every one of them goes to waste. Source: "The Green Book", Three Rivers Press, and available for viewing in our library.

The Gas Company is offering a $200 per unit rebate on Energy Star qualified natural gas furnaces. They must have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 92%. Your C-20 contractor will be able to assist you in choosing the qualified equipment. Or, give us a call at (310) 371-7222 and we can provide a list.

The Gas Company's expanded array of new energy-efficient equipment rebates for restaurants and other food service customers offer significant savings on the purchase of new equipment, and long-term savings on energy bills. Southern California Edison also has generous programs available. Additionally, West Basin has a Cash for Kitchens program which offers a free water audit to qualifying facilities. Call SBESC at (310) 371-7222 for more information on these programs and to schedule a FREE water audit.

There is an Irish urban myth that says the tops of plastic bottles should not go in the recycle bin. The truth is, plastic tops can go into the bin separately, just don't screw them back on the bottle. When a sealed plastic bottle goes through the crushing machine at a recycling facility, the pressure can cause it to explode. So, caps off, and toss both the bottle and the lid into the recycle bin separately

Statistics show that as much as 50% of commercial water is used for irrigation. New technology such as Smart Controllers and Rotating Nozzles are a common sense solution to over-watering and excessive run-off, proving it is possible to conserve water and still enhance the health and beauth of our landscapes. REBATES for smart irrigation system controllers and rotating nozzles for pop-up spray heads are available. It's easy to participate. Call us at (310) 371-7222 for more information.

Unused prescription and over-the-counter medications that are put in drains or flushed down the toilet pollute the environment. Unused portions should 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.

If you have an electric storage water heater and are planning to replace it with another electric unit in 2009, purchase one with an Energy Factor of .93 or greater, and you can receive a $30 rebate from Southern California Edison. Call us for details

Join us at the FREE Lamp Exchange at the South Bay Galleria this coming weekend, February 21 and 22. If you are an SCE customer you may bring up to ten lamps (leave the shades at home) and exchange them for the same type of lamp. For example, exchange a desk lamp for a new energy efficient desk lamp. Click here for more details.

Reuse and recycle - even your Valentine's Day cards. The City of El Segundo has cleverly come up with things you can do to recycle your cards. Click here for the flyer.

If you will be remodeling any part of your home this year, and your walls are not currently insulated, The Gas Company is offering a rebate of $.15 per sq ft for new R-13 (minimum) wall insulation. Kitchen remodels are particularly good candidates because often they are stripped down to the studs, making new wall insulation a no-brainer.

"More light for less money" makes ENERGY STAR qualified lighting a bright idea. ENERGY STAR qualified torchieres remain cooler than halogen torchieres making them safer, use less energy than halogen torchieres and can save you up to $125 over the life of one bulb. Always look for the ENERGY STAR symbol.

Scroll down our home page and find the links to the home on-line surveys for SCE and The Gas Company. Calculating how much you can save is an excellent way to start the year!

SCE is offering a $50 rebate on ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator. In addition, they will pick up your old, working one and give you a check for another $50.00! Click here for details.

While doing your post-holiday clean up, put all your hazardous household waste material (HHW) in a box and take it to one of the HHW and E-waste round-ups scheduled for this month. This could include old batteries and spent cfls as well as old computers and television sets. Check our January calendar for days and locations.

Only a couple of days left in 2008, but you still have time to collect a rebate from The Gas Company if you buy and install before December 31! $35/unit for an EnergyStar qualified clothes washer or $30 for an EnergyStar qualified dishwasher and $.15 / sq. ft. for wall and attic insulation. Happy New Year!

Are you gifting your sweetie with a new clothes washer or a new dishwasher this year over the holidays? You still have time to collect a rebate from The Gas Company if you buy and install before December 31! $35/unit for an EnergyStar qualified clothes washer or $30 for an EnergyStar qualified dishwasher will buy you a nice dinner for Valentine's Day.

Still time to purchase and install insulation and get some of it back from the Gas Company through rebates. Attic insulation must be R-30 and the rebate is $0.15 per square foot. Wall insulation must achieve a minimum rating of R-13 and the rebate is $0.15 per square foot also. Call us at (310) 543-3022 and we can explain the conditions and direct you to a rebate form.

Still time to receive a $30 per unit 2008 rebate from the Gas Company if you just replaced your gas water heater. If it has an Energy Factor (EF) of greater or equal to .62, and it was purchased and installed in 2008, you qualify. Call us at (310) 543-3022 and we can direct you to a rebate form.

If you're buying candles this year, consider those made from soy, palm, or pure beeswax instead of paraffin wax candles. Since paraffin is a petroleum product, they may contain benezene or acetone which can pollute indoor air with unhealthy fumes and soot. Naturally based candles are the green choice because they're made with renewable resources, burn cleanly, and are biodegradable.

Visit a Farmer's Market and opt for foods that are produced locally for your Thanksgiving table this week. By purchasing from a local vendor, you're not only getting fresher food but you are reducing your family's carbon footprint by eliminating the energy used to truck food in from faraway places, as well as the need for packing materials - which is very cool. Happy Thanksgiving!

Stay hydrated! Bring your own reusable water bottle filled with filtered water from home every time you go to the gym. You could save an average of $200 per year as well as 14 pounds of plastic.

If you are planning to upgrade your television to a flat screen, chose a 32" LCD panel over an equal sized plasma screen and you will save about 275 kilowatt-hours of energy and $25 per year.

Bring us two old strands of energy-guzzling incandescent holiday lights, miniatures are ok, too, and we'll exchange them for two FREE strands of LED holiday lights.

We have some big dinners coming up with friends and family over the holiday season. Be sure your dishwasher is completely full before you run it, and don't pre-rinse your dishes before putting them in. Set on the air-dry setting, and if you do all of these things you will not only save energy, but also up to 20 gallons of water per dish load, or 7,300 gallons over a year. (If you don't have a dishwasher, turn off the tap while you scrub.) If you are looking to replace your dishwasher, give us a call for rebate information.

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. Call us for details.

Feel the chill in the air recently? Fall and winter weather will soon be here and it's time to evaluate how well your home will protect your family against the elements. The Gas Company offers $.15 per sq.ft. for attic insulation and $200 per unit for a new EnergyStar Central Natural Gas Furnace with a 92% AFUE. If you do nothing else, clean or replace your furnace filter. It's a simple and effective solution to fix energy INefficiency.

For 100 years we've used "incandescent" bulbs to light our homes. They are incredibly inefficient. Only about 5% of the energy supplied to them is convered into light, the rest goes to making heat. Every time you switch to a CFL you save 62 pounds of C02 emissions and $45 in energy costs over the life of the bulb. Many stores have "point of purchase" incentives. Pick up a pack and start saving money and the environment!

You will lower your electric bill by washing your clothes in cold water. Front loading washing machines use 30 gallons of water less per load than top loading models.

An old toilet can use up to seven gallons of water every time you flush. New ones use 1.6 gallons or less. Single-family residents have access to FREE high-efficiency toilets through West Basin's high-efficiency toilet (HET) give-away program events throughout the year. Call for locations. Program subject to funding.

Labor Day Weekend is coming up and lots of stores will be having appliance sales. Be sure you purchase EnergyStar qualified models because they will save you money over the life of the appliance. If you are replacing your refrigerator, call us to find out how to collect $50 for your old (working) one, including FREE pickup! We also have rebate information on new dishwashers.