August 25, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Want to save water--and reduce your bill?

Residents of San Diego’s unincorporated areas can pick up rain barrel systems for half-price ($30.35 + tax) this Saturday morning. The system is designed to connect to a roof downspout and gutters.  Residents who don’t qualify for the subsidy can buy a rain barrel system for $60.69.

By Joan Casanova, for Bonnie Plants

August 11, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- You might think the end of summer means bidding farewell to fresh, homegrown veggies. Not so – many cool-season crops hit their heyday as autumn temperatures drop, and some even taste better when nipped by a light frost.

 
By Rachel Ford
 

July 28, 2010 (San Diego) -- Green architecture is hot right now. For San Diego architect Simi Razavian, who developed techniques in her ,Middle Eastern homeland, it's also a way of life.
 
Designing homes that utilize energy saving construction and passive solar design is a simple solution to save energy and money, while making homes more comfortable year-round. The concept is ideal for East County’s sunny climate. But according to Razavian, many local architects don't understand these concepts or how to incorporate them seamlessly with design.

Review by Miriam Raftery
 

July 17, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Thirsty for ideas to use less water yet still have attractive landscaping?

Water-Wise Plants for the Southwest (Cool Springs Press, 2010) offers a wealth of practical solutions ideal for homeowners in San Diego County, where drought, cutbacks in water supplies and rising water rates have become a way of life. Editor Diana Maranhao sought advice from four experts: Nan Sterman, Mary Irish, Judith Phillips, and Joe Lamp’l. All are garden writers; the first three have expertise in specific geographic areas (California, Arizona, New Mexico) while Lamp’l provides green gardening tips.

 “I believe that the PACE program is critical to stimulating our local and statewide economy. I’m glad to see this lawsuit filed so that this novel program can continue.” --San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, joining Brown at today's press conference in San Diego

July 14, 2010 (San Diego) – California Attorney General Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown today filed a lawsuit against mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for blocking the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs nationwide.  View a video of today's press conference in San Diego:

 
July 3, 2010 (San Diego) -- Congressman Bob Filner (D-San Diego) applauds the announcement of a $9 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to a UC San Diego led consortium for research into use of algae for biofuels.
 
According to a San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) analysis, research on algal biofuels employs 410 scientists and other workers in San Diego and provides nearly $28.8 million in payroll and $56.2 million in economic activity for the region.  Direct spending on algal biofuels, combined with the additional jobs and spending in related service industries is currently responsible for 784 jobs, $44.6 million in wages and $108.3 million in economic output in the San Diego region.

June 18, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) –  In the hotly contested Governor's race, last week Republican Meg Whitman refused to debate Democrat Jerry Brown, challenging Brown to release a plan to improve California's economy. Now Brown, former Governor and current Attorney General, has responded by releasing a detailed eight-point action plan for investment in renewable energy technology and creation of over half a million green jobs--a plan  he calls the "key to our economic future."  See Brown's detailed plan here or scroll down for highlights. 

Whitman's economic plan relies on tax cuts, tax incentives and spending cuts which she contends will boost the economy.  She has also called for repeal of AB 32--a step that leaders at Clean Tech San Diego (a nonprofit formed by prominent San Diego business leaders to make our region a world leader in green-tech industries) say would cripple the emerging green and clean-tech industries in California.

 
 
By Rachel Mahoney
 
June 17, 2010 (San Diego) – Southern California’s use of solar energy is the third highest in the world--and East County has the “ideal climate for solar,” said Ross Williams, manager of operations at Home Energy Systems (HES), one of two local companies participating in SolarDay 2010 this Saturday, June 19, at Balboa Park. Sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy, the event will feature open houses and information on  economic and environmental advantages of renewable energy sources over imported fossil fuels.
 
“With the oil spill in New Orleans there is going to be a big push for clean energy," said Addison Heugel, executive director of SolarDay 2010. 

By Michael Russell
http://SDsustainableFuture.com

June 14, 2010 (San Diego)--At a recent Home Energy Professionals meeting at the California Center for Sustainable Energy (http://energycenter.org) PACE Program Manager, Jeremy Hutman, enlightened a group of Energy Efficiency Auditors about new developments in the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs in San Diego.

June 12, 2010 (San Diego) -- San Diego River Park Foundation and Friends of the Mission Valley Preserve are teaming up again to continue habitat restoration efforts in the Mission Valley Nature Preserve.
 
Volunteers are urgently needed to help eradicate non-native plant species that prevent beneficial native vegetation from providing food and shelter to endangered birds and other local wildlife. Removal of the non-native plants also helps to save thousands of gallons of water each day, according to organizers.

 
May 31, 2010 (Bonita) – An update on climate change will be presented by leaders of Citizens Climate Lobby on Thursday, June 10th at the Bonita Library, 4375 Bonita Road.
 
Citizens Climate Lobby hosts monthly national conferences and trains volunteers to speak to elected officials, the media, and local organizations on climate change issues.

 
Tecate Mission International, a well-known outreach ministry on the U.S. side of the Tecate border crossing, will celebrate the installation of an energy-saving array of nine racks of sun-tracking solar panels with a “Solar Energy Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony” at 3 p.m. on June 3. Dignitaries from both sides of the border are expected to attend, along with officials of rural fire departments and local business leaders. The public is invited to the event, which will feature music and refreshments. Representatives of AET Solar will be on hand to explain how the system works and answer questions on how solar systems can reduce monthly utility bills.
 
“Compared to fixed mounting systems, these tracking systems are able to follow the sun throughout the day, turning the panels from east to west, and providing as much as 30% more savings than fixed arrays,” said Bob Carson, president of AET Solar of Santee, which installed the system.

May 25, 2010 (San Diego) -- Students from the Renewable Energy Leadership Institute (RELI) demonstrated their newly-learned skills to the San Diego Unified School District Board today, unveiling an electric go-cart and solar charging station.

The RELI pilot program was conceived under leadership of school board member Shelia Jackson to generate excitement among high school students about career opportunities in the renewable energy industry.

Lakeside’s EcoTectura designer Michael Monterey teams up with eco-planner Jim Bell

May 21, 2010 (San Diego) -- Need a green career upgrade or an affordable green dream home? Want near zero or net zero energy bills, super low maintenance, and millennial durability?

Jim Bell and Michael Monterey, two of our region’s top experts on green design, have teamed up to offer information on their innovative new materials and designs for natural heating and cooling as well as ultragreen sustainability in areas with high temperature fires, earthquakes, high winds, mold, and termites. In other words, design elements ideal for East County!

May 21, 2010 (Bonita) – Alan Ridley, former Clean Cities Coordinator, San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition, will give a presentation based on the book The Party’s Over by Richard Heinberg. The free program will be held Monday, May 24 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Bonita-Sunnywide Branch Library, 4375 Bonita Road in Bonita. Learn about clean fuel lternatives to our oil addiction.

Oil and utility industry-backed measures seek to rollback global warming bill and restrict local governments' abilities to purchase clean energy

May 17, 2010 (San Diego) – Two energy measures drawing controversy this election season will be topics of discussion at an event Tuesday evening hosted by the Sustainability Alliance of Southern California.

Featuring Spanish Language Garden Tours, Ms. Smarty Plants™ Explores Plant Adaptations!, Straw Bale Construction Workshop, Introduction to Greywater Systems, Summer Extended Hours and Garden Discovery Camp!

May 17, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) —The Water Conservation Garden invites the public to enjoy its 2010 spring and summer events. Classes  help residents save water and money by focusing on water smart landscaping techniques and plants. Classes are taught by experts and topics include lawn removal, water-smart landscape design, backyard composting, irrigation design and gardening for children. Pre-registration is required for all classes. To enroll call 619-660-0614 x 10. For details, scroll down.

 
May 11, 2010 (San Diego) – Starting this month, the State of California hopes to entice homeowners to replace their old water heaters with solar-powered systems. Under the California Solar Initiative Thermal Program, rebates up to $1,875 will be available for people who switch from natural gas or electric water heaters.

Company credits AB 32 as incentive for expansion; plans to add 100 manufacturing jobs—and is attracting other green firms
 

By Richard Darvas
 

May 10, 2010 (Otay Mesa) -- Clean-tech industries are a “wave of the future for San Diego,” declared San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders after a tour of Siliken Renewable Energy’s solar manufacturing plant, located roughly two miles north of the Mexican border in Otay Mesa.

Company executives have announced a massive 50% expansion in the clean-energy provider’s Otay Mesa workforce operations.

 
May 12, 2010 (San Diego) – National Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 21st. Locally, SANDAG and the San Diego County Credit Union have teamed up to offer prizes and info for commuters who register at www.iCommuteSD.com. Registrants will be eligible to win an electric bicycle, spa gift certificate and more – plus a free Bike to Work Day T-shirt when you print out your receipt.

By Rachel Ford
 

May 10, 2010 (New Jersey) -- Imagine switching compost bins instead of sides on the tennis court? Planting vegetables in place of goals in the net. That’s exactly what Princeton High School kids in New Jersey are doing. In an elective program, they can choose to take Gardening in place of traditional PE classes.

First came green roofs; now edible walls join pioneering urban farming trends

By Gayle Falkenthal

May 8, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- Plenty of people told Jim Mumford he was nuts building a green roof project in the middle of a Kearny Mesa industrial park. Three years later, the roof is thriving and Mumford’s GreenScaped Buildings is a pioneering venture and he's earned a reputation as leader in this segment of the green building industry.

Ironically, it was the destruction of his Muth Valley home near Barona in the 2003 Cedar wildfire that got East County resident Mumford thinking about the environmental future and more seriously about sustainable growing practices.

May 5, 2010 (Lakeside) - Hundreds of runners and walkers will gather this Saturday in Lakeside to celebrate the 3rd Annual Run for the San Diego River 5K Trail Run and Walk. The event starts at 8 a.m. with registration at 6:30 a.m and celebrates local efforts to preserve and restore the biological integrity and beauty of the San Diego River in Lakeside.

Employees Illegally Dumped Pesticides and Hazardous Chemicals

May 3, 2010 (San Diego) -- San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis (photo, left), California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. and 18 other District Attorneys throughout the state announced today that a $27.6 million settlement has been reached with Wal-Mart for violations of environmental laws and regulations. It is one of the largest environmental settlements of this type brought by a prosecuting agency in U.S. history.

A free e-waste recycling is being held at Helix Charter High School on Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Document shredding is also available for $10 per bankers box.

Proceeds from this fundraiser will go to the school's Speech and Debate Team.

April 30, 2010 (El Cajon)—The City of El Cajon invites the public to its 13th year of receiving the Tree City USA award and the 21st Annual Arbor Day ceremony. Festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m., next to the Ronald Reagan Community Center, located at 195 East Main Street. In celebration of Arbor Day, over 125 trees will be planted at El Cajon Parks, public grounds, parkways and schools.

San Diegans are invited to celebrate spring with a bloom of activities at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on Saturday, April 24, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The College’s Nursery, run by Ornamental Horticulture students, will feature a large selection of ornamental plants, including drought tolerant varieties and the iconic Matilija poppy, or “fried egg plant”. Horticultural demonstrations will highlight the department’s programs throughout the day.

April 19, 2010 (Crest CA) -- The Earth Discovery Institute at Crestridge Ecological Reserve is hosting a Spring Festival celebrating Art and Kids on April 24, 2010 from 9 to 12:00 a.m.

 
By Jim Wiegand, wildlife biologist
April 17, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- The controversy surrounding wind farms in America has been brewing for over 25 years. The debate centers around the use of the deadly propeller style wind turbines and the large death toll to what are supposedly protected species. One of these species, the federally protected golden eagle, has been at the forefront of this debate from the beginning.

This is for good reason, because at Altamont Pass California, 50-75 golden eagles have been killed each year in the blades of the prop wind turbine. This killing has been taking place for over 25 years. Dr. Shawn Smallwood the foremost expert of bird mortality at the Altamont Pass wind farm estimates that 2300 golden eagles have been killed by the spinning turbine blades.

 
April 16, 2010 (San Diego)-- Barona Resort & Casino announced yesterday that it has achieved Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings (LEED™-EB) rating system. Barona is the first tribal resort in the nation to earn the internationally recognized certification for the design and operation of high performance green buildings.