February 2021
Save Water, Energy, Money and the Environment
West Basin Re-Launches Change & Save to Provide Rebates and Water-Saving Devices to Residents

West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) announced the launch of phase two
of its Change & Save program, a conservation and rebate program designed to reduce residential water and energy use, helping to lower utility bills for qualified residents.

For a limited time, West Basin is offering additional free water-saving device kits and rebates of up to $500 for qualifying high-efficiency clothes washers. In response to ongoing COVID-19 health regulations,
West Basin adapted the in-home water evaluation portion of the program to be conducted utilizing a simple online evaluation form.

“The Change & Save program has successfully provided more than 500 families in our service area with access to water-saving products and one of the largest rebates in the country for high-efficiency clothes washers,” said West Basin's previous Board President Gloria D. Gray. “We are excited to continue the program and look forward to serving even more families in 2021.”
Click the graphic above to discover Metropolitan Water District’s portal for water-saving rebates and grants, landscape classes, water-wise garden inspiration, and tons of helpful tips.
Upcoming Virtual Tours: Food Waste Recycling Program (February 18 & 20)
Click flyer below for information about the upcoming virtual tours
Metro Tackles Food Insecurity
During the COVID-19 health crisis, one in four L.A. County households are experiencing food insecurity, representing an estimated 873,000 households. To help address this issue, Metro worked with First 5 LA, Antelope Valley Partners for Health, Para Los Niños, and other Best Start Community Network partners to deliver food and other necessities to families in need utilizing resources from its Mobility On Demand (MOD) partnership with Via.

Also, learn about other Metro programs such as Vanpool and ExpressLanes.
SoCalGas Offers Tips and Tools to Help Customers Save Money on Utility Bills

SoCalGas has offered energy savings tips and tools to help customers save money on their utility bills. During cold weather, like experienced over the last several weeks, it is possible to use three to seven times more natural gas than in summer months as your home heater responds to your thermostat settings and your water heater works harder to keep water hot. SoCalGas works to secure the best prices for the natural gas it supplies to customers. The cost customers pay for natural gas is what the utility pays. The utility also offers customer assistance programs that help people with bill discounts and provide free home improvements that help conserve energy and save money.
Resources for Public Agencies

SoCalREN is here to help public agencies to lead their communities towards a safe, secure, resilient, affordable, and sustainable clean energy future. View past newsletters, fact sheets, case studies, regulatory information and external resources to help your public agency work toward its energy efficiency project goals.
Looking for more comprehensive support? SoCalREN uses project guidebooks to help public agencies complete energy efficiency projects.
Saving Water Helps in More Ways than One
Conserving water goes beyond just saving water; it plays a vital role in conserving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). This is one of the main conclusions of a landmark study conducted by UC Davis in collaboration with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

The study, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, shows that customer-focused water conservation programs are just as cost-effective (and in some cases, are more cost-effective) as energy efficiency programs in reducing electricity use, GHGs and other energy-intensive operations. 
FREE Virtual Eco Gardener Classes: Edible Gardening and Drought-Tolerant Plants (February 23 and 25)
With more time for home projects, why not plant a garden that saves
water while creating a productive ecosystem? The WRD Eco Gardener
program teaches participants about the multiple benefits of planting a
sustainable garden through a series of 1-hour classes.

Click flyer below to register and for more information about the upcoming virtual classes.
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Help is Here

To encourage LA County residents to stay home during the pandemic, Household Hazardous/Electronic Waste Collection Events have been temporarily suspended starting January 16, 2021.

Sanitation Districts hope to resume this free service in the near future and will make an announcement when the program restarts.
S.A.F.E. (Solvents / Automotive / Flammables / Electronics) Center locations and days/hours of operation in Los Angeles can be found here
Help Torrance Improve Wayfinding and Signage

This plan will provide an inventory of existing signage on Torrance city streets and to plan for new, or upgrade existing, wayfinding signage across the city. A comprehensive inventory and assessment of all traffic and wayfinding signage in the city will help improve mobility, safety, and efficiency for all modes of transportation. The plan will help achieve goals for sustainable travel by emphasizing signage that helps people travel to and from a new Metro Green Line light rail station currently under construction, which will provide improved connections to destinations in the South Bay and across the Los Angeles region. Improved wayfinding will also help enhance the city’s identity and sense of place for residents and visitors alike. 
On the Go
News for Southern California Commuters: January / February 2021
Learn about opportunities for ridesharing, public transportation, and the benefits that an Employee Transportation Coordinator (ETC) can offer your workplace. This monthly newsletter addresses the broad audience of commuters that rely on transportation agencies from Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and Ventura County.
California Green Business Network (CAGBN)
California Green Business Network Helps Businesses Through Uncertain Times
The California Green Business
Network quickly switched to virtual
assistance for small businesses and
is helping them adapt during this
challenging economic time. We will
be critical in helping SMBs increase
efficiency, bring in customers, and
cut costs so they can bounce back.
Businesses in Torrance and Hawthorne can join the CAGBN by contacting Martha Segovia: (310) 371-7222 martha@southbaycities.org
SBCCOG General Assembly Sponsors
SBCCOG’s General Assembly is an annual public forum that engages elected officials, private and public organizations, general public, and other South Bay stakeholders during a program composed of exhibitors and guest speakers, speaking individually and in panels, presenting content unified under a central theme. 
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Register for our upcoming 21st annual
virtual General Assembly!
Learn more about South Bay sub-region and its member cities/areas here
Interested in becoming a volunteer at SBESC? Fill out an application here
 Links to Partner Resources En Español:
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