Can you believe 2014 is already coming to a close? This year flew by! Thankfully we feel that SBC has a whole lot to show for it. From our 20th Anniversary Conference, Peak Innovation: The Next 20 Years, to the launch of the Sierra Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partnership (Sierra CAMP), to the Sierra Small Business Development Center and Peak Innovation Center, our plates were definitely full.

Read on below to find more of what we're excited to have coming up in 2015 - including a free Sierra CAMP webinar, new jurisdictions in our Climate Planning Program, new lighting technology, and more! Plus, there's still time to support SBC programs with an end-of-the-year donation - click here to learn more.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a very happy new year!

Free Sierra CAMP Webinar

SBC is excited to be hosting a free webinar on Wednesday,

January 7, 2015 at 11:00 am where we will present the draft

governance model for the new Sierra Nevada Climate Adaptation & Mitigation Partnership (Sierra CAMP).

Sierra CAMP will catalyze leaders from government, business, academia, and community groups to come together to share information and best practices, leverage efforts and resources, avoid duplication, identify critical needs and strategies, and develop funding strategies to meet those needs. As the effects of climate change become ever-more apparent in our region, it's critical that we bring together leaders from across the state to help our communities both adapt to and mitigate the outcomes.

We'll be reaching out to you in 2015 with invitations to join Sierra CAMP but as a first step we are developing a governance model that empowers a diverse network of Sierra stakeholders. During this webinar, we'll present our draft model and invite your thoughts and feedback. Register here.

And don't forget to "like" and "follow" Sierra CAMP's new Facebook and Twitter accounts!

New Jurisdictions Join SBC Climate Planning Program

This past month our Climate Planning team has been busily recruiting for our 2015 programs, presenting in front of City Councils and Boards of Supervisors up and down the Sierra.

We are excited to be working with the City of Sutter Creek and Mariposa County on developing energy action plans in 2015. Both jurisdictions have signed on to our PG&E partnership program, building upon the great work we have already done together in previous years developing GHG inventories.

These local governments will find out how they can most effectively reduce their energy use and related costs. Also, we will be working with Nevada City, Loomis, Plymouth, Jackson and Amador County to design how best to implement their energy action plans, which will be completed by the end of the year. Please keep on the lookout for a public draft of these energy action plans coming soon.

Ring in 2015 with New Energy Savings from Tubular LEDs

As the days continue to grow shorter this year, we rely more on lights which means using more energy. Thankfully, there's new technology becoming available to help curb some of that energy use. One new technology is tubular LEDs, or TLEDs, which replace linear fluorescent light bulbs. Sierra Nevada Energy Watch (SNEW) is pleased to announce that Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will be providing incentives to help cover the cost of these lamps-which use about half as much energy while providing superior light quality- beginning January 1, 2015.

If you are a small or medium business owner with a PG&E commercial electric account and are interested in seeing how much you could save on your energy bill, contact SNEW to have one of our experienced project managers come by and give you a no-cost lighting audit!

For El Dorado, Nevada, or Placer County: contact SBC's Truckee office 530-582-4800

For Mariposa, Calaveras, Tuolumne, Amador or Alpine County: contact SBC's Sonora office 209-532-7200

Call for 2015 Green Drinks Hosts

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SBC established a Central Sierra Nevada Green Drinks Chapter in 2012, beginning with only a few participants and growing this year to our largest event of over 80 participants! Green Drinks is a place where people learn about innovative business ideas and local success stories. It's a great way to network and support the amazing businesses we have in Tuolumne and Calaveras County. The meetings make for interesting interactions and you come away with new connections, information, ideas...and a great feeling.

Hosting an event is easy and a great way to showcase your business. If you'd like to be part of the 2015 program, or be on the mailing list to receive event notices, contact Emily Dondero (209.532.7200) or Brenda Gillarde (925.788.7742).

Keep Your Home Warm This Winter with Tips from Energy Upgrade California

With the passing of daylight savings, it's time to prepare your home for colder temperatures. Keeping your home warm - and keeping your utility bill low - actually can go hand in hand.

There are many ways you can prepare your home for the winter weather. Simple things like properly sealing windows and doorframes could drastically decrease your energy demand and keep the warm air inside. Checking your furnace filter monthly during heavy winter use and replacing it when dirty can reduce energy usage and prolong the life of your furnace.

For homeowners looking for a more comprehensive approach to managing their energy use, the Energy Upgrade California� Home Upgrade Program is for you. This program takes a whole-house approach to energy upgrades that will make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and save you money.

There is also an income-qualified program called the Energy Savings Assistance Program that helps renters and homeowners with no-cost energy efficiency solutions. Qualified homeowners may be eligible for appliance upgrades and installation for products such as energy-saving furnaces, energy efficient refrigerators, and air conditioning units.

Information about these programs and many more can be found at EnergyUpgradeCA.org. This site is your source for information, tools, and programs that YOU can implement today to efficiently manage energy and make your home more comfortable.

Simple steps can lead to big results. We're all in this together. We can all take part in helping California stay golden for generations to come.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to join us on Facebook or Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates!