Green Grilling Use gas, propane or electric grills, which aren't perfect but burn more efficiently and cleaner than charcoal or wood. If you have a charcoal grill, make sure you burn natural lumps, not briquettes, and don't use more than you need

San Diego Green Homes Tour Looking for South Bay Homes Do you have a unique sustainable home project in San Diego County that deserves the spotlight? The annual San Diego Green Homes Tour is sponsored by the San Diego Green Building Council and looking for homes in the South Bay area. The tour will take place October 21 st from 10 am until 4 pm and volunteers will be provided to help guide visitors. If you are interested you can learn more and submit your homes application online at: www.sdgreenhomestour.org .  The application period will be ending shortly so please send in your application as soon as you can.

Save Energy at Home This Summer We understand that no one likes higher-than-expected energy bills. Here are some tips to reduce energy use during the warmer months - without sacrificing your family's comfort.  Tilt blinds up and close drapes on windows that receive direct sunlight. Open windows in the evening to let cooler air in when safe. Run your ceiling fan while your A/C is on; this will allow you to raise your thermostat about 4 degrees while maintaining the same level of comfort. Enable "power management" on all computers and turn off when not in use. Wash clothes in cold water. About 90 percent of the energy used in a clothes washer goes to water heating. Postpone using heat-producing appliances like the oven, dishwasher and clothes dryer until after 9 p.m. On hot afternoons, consider leaving home and going someplace cool like the shopping mall, movie theater or library.  Check out SDG&E's one one minute video tips for more energy-saving ideas on cooling, weatherization, refrigerators, home electronics, indoor/outdoor lighting and pools.

Create a NatureScape Chula Vista residents are encouraged to create a NatureScape in their yards and gardens to provide a beneficial habitat for bees, birds and other wildlife while conserving precious resources, especially water. Creating NatureScapes consists of applying five steps of natural yard care to create a water conserving, sustainable landscape. The five steps include: 1) building healthy soils by applying compost; 2) planting right for your site; 3) WaterSmart irrigation; 4) toxic-free alternatives for pest control; and 5) natural lawn care - grasscycling. This approach takes a bit more planning but over time offers significant savings in labor and water costs. The City of Chula Vista has taken the first steps to relaunch the NatureScape Program, thanks to a recent grant from Sweetwater Authority’s Water Efficiency Education Program (WEEP). The City is pleased to partner with Sweetwater Authority and plans to be able to showcase NatureScape demonstration gardens throughout Chula Vista in the years to come. A new website - chulavistaca.gov/clean/naturescape - has been developed to educate residents about creating a NatureScape. The website also provides numerous online learning opportunities via links and resources. Future workshops for residents are being planned and details will be shared in the coming months. Residents who create a NatureScape may be eligible to receive designation of their yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the Natural Wildlife Federation. For more information visit the website or contact the Conservation Section at conservation@chulavistaca.gov or 619-409-3893.

Free Energy Seminars and Tools at SDG&E Energy Innovation Center Are you looking for no-cost ways to learn more about how you can save energy? Try visiting SDG&E’s Energy Innovation Center for one of their no-cost seminars, access their tool and book lending library, visit their commercial demonstration kitchen (if you are in the commercial food service industry) or even host your energy efficiency and sustainability related meeting. You can review their full list of seminars and other resources at their web page: sdge.com/energy-innovation-center Some seminar highlights below: Benchmarking for Restaurants: Unlock Energy and Cost Savings - 7/25/2018 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM  Building Science Principles Certificate – ONLINE If you have any question you can contact the center through email at seminars@sdge.com or by phone at 1-800-644-6133.

Bulky Item Pick-up & Landfill Passes   Bulky Items Chula Vista residents with curbside service can have up to ten (10) bulky items (appliances, mattresses, furniture, etc.) removed per week free of charge, but no more than 60 items in a 90-day period. Schedule your pick-up at least 24 hours before your service day. Call Republic Services at (619) 421-9400.

Landfill Passes Residents with a current account receive two (2) landfill and yard waste passes per year and each pass is valid for 60 days. Call (619) 482-4024 for additional information on the passes.

Increase Heating & Cooling System Performance Increase the comfort of your home and the savings in your wallet through quality care of your heating and cooling system. The AC Quality Care Program provides you with specially trained contractors to keep your heating and cooling systems running at top performance. Sign up and you'll receive a $250 initial rebate. You'll also get the option to receive a comprehensive system assessment and improvement analysis, the cost is $50, but the improvements could save you hundreds of dollars each year. The assessment includes: A comprehensive inventory and assessment of your heating and cooling system Energy efficient improvements, such as cleaning the condenser coil and changing the air filter Installing an efficient fan control device A diagnostic report that provides you with a roadmap to make informed decisions when considering advanced improvements of your system - in some cases, you may be eligible for rebates up to $1,250 Learn more at  acqualitycare.com .

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