Quite simply – Americans tend to agree that we should regulate our CO2 pollutants, we are supportive of rebates for purchases of solar and fuel efficient vehicles, and among other areas we are electing more officials to urge action on global warming. Visit wwwAmericanProgress.org to read the full article and see some helpful charts.

To do your part in making a switch to cleaner energy, you can register for a free solar assessment today at OpenNeighborhoods.net

TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit that unites the power of trees, people and technology to grow a sustainable future for Los Angeles. Simply put, their work is about helping nature heal our cities. They will have their acclaimed “Watershed in a Suitcase” on hand to illustrate the role that trees play in harvesting rainwater in our urban watershed.

Stop by to learn about the experiences you can have with them as well. Have you been up to their park and enjoyed the trails? It is a great afternoon of easy hikes with the kids. Did you know that they have an amphitheater with summer programs?

Writing is known to be a restorative tool that reduces stress and bolsters the immune system, so come join us for what promises to be a transformative experience. Instructor Karin Gutman has been working with writers for 10 years helping them to discover, develop and write their life-based stories. She also teaches at UCLA Extension Writers’ Program.

For more information, visit: www.writetoheal.com

Sign up before December 3, 2010 to learn more:

• Free solar assessment of your home or business
• Group pricing of solar panels with 20-30% discount
• Residential/commercial solar rebate
• 30% federal tax credit
• Immediate savings on your electric bill with solar lease

Program Details

SELECTED INSTALLER: After a competitive bidding process, Open Neighborhoods has selected Martifer Solar USA for community-wide solar installations and group solar discounts in the Los Angeles area until December 3rd.  Based in West LA, Martifer Solar is major solar installer and has completed numerous local installations including Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, the Pasadena Unified School District and numerous residential homes throughout Los Angeles.

PRICING: Martifer Solar USA is offering all-inclusive residential and commercial pricing starting at $4.78/Watt (DC) for fully-installed American-made SolarWorld panels, including web-based performance monitoring.  Group pricing may drop to $4.22/Watt DC based on total participation.

ELIGIBILITY: The program is open to residential and commercial customers of both LADWP and SoCal Edison. Renters – please note that property owner contact information is essential for a free solar assessment.

FINANCING:

• Residential

1. Zero down lease – available through Apollo Energy (LADWP customers) or Sun Power (SoCal Edison customers) with no upfront costs and immediate electric bill savings for qualified installations.
2. Cash purchase: 3-payment schedule
3. Same As Cash: all payments and any interest deferred for 6-12 months (up to $45,000)
4. Home Equity line of Credit-  a line of credit through home owner’s bank will offer most attractive rates.
5. Solar Loan -  a solar-friendly bank like Bank of America may provide financing for the project.

• Commercial
  

1. Commercial Lease – Property lease panels until the end of the lease term and will have an opportunity to buy the system out right after the end of the term.
2. Cash – Property owner pays cash for project installation.
3. Line of Credit- financed with line of credit in which building was purchased.
4. SolarLoan from Bank – Martifer will work with client to get best rate possible.
5. SoCal Edison commercial customers may also qualify for revenue-generating power-purchase agreements (PPA) in which a third-party company will buy the system and components and take all rebate and tax credits.  The system buyer sells energy to the commercial property energy at a lower cost.

Solar Carport System

SOLAR PRODUCTS: Martifer Solar is offering the same all-inclusive group pricing for ground or roof-mounted panels, solar carports and shade structures.  Where applicable Martifer Solar may also include its proprietary solar tracking sysem that follows the sun’s movement through the sky and improves productivity of solar generation by up to 25% higher.

LOCAL EVENTS: Open Neighborhoods is offering solar workshops and information sessions across the Westside to present information on green power purchasing options, available solar tax credits and utility rebates, and the economics of how solar results in immediate electricity savings.

Sign up today to get notified about our local events and workshops — and learn how you can save on your electric bill with no upfront costs.

Along with a 30% federal tax credit and utility rebates you can now own panels for a fraction of their actual cost. Or you can avoid any upfront costs and realize instant savings with a monthly lease payment that is less than your electric bill. The program is open to residential and commercial customers of LADWP and SoCal Edison.

We will be conducting a series of events and workshops in the coming months in Santa Monica, Venice, Culver City, Mar Vista and Del Rey.

Sign up now to receive a free solar assessment. Come learn details tomorrow August 13th for a candlelight evening in the garden at Earl’s Gourmet Grub’s Fish Fryday in Mar Vista — 6pm to 9pm at 12226 Venice Boulevard. RSVP to eat@earlsgourmetgrub.com.

Come celebrate the re-launch of the site as Los Angeles’ leading source for news on the effort to green and clean our county’s transportation system.

To celebrate the “re-launch,” LA Streets Blog is throwing a party and fundraiser in West L.A. on August 25th. The party starts at 7:00 at 11555 National Boulevard and will feature drinks and munchies served in a casual atmosphere. Who’s coming? Some Streetsblog royalty: Sierra Club leader Darrell Clarke, Move L.A.’s Denny Zane and the Green L.A. Girl herself to name a few.

The suggested cost of admission is $20 with a $5 discount for students. All this is on a sliding scale…Streetsblog isn’t going to turn anyone away that wants to hang out. You can pay at the door or in advance via PayPal.

Drinks, munchies, a raffle, a chance to hang out with cool people…and all for $20 ($15 for students). Naturally, these are suggested donations, you won’t be turned away anyone if you want to get down with Streets…blog.

You can donate at the door or through PayPal or JustGive through the Streetsblog website at http://la.streetsblog.org/

For our transit riding friends, The Big Blue Bus Line 8 runs from both UCLA and Santa Monica right by the St. Andrews. Look for the stop at National and Federal.

http://www.bigbluebus.com/busroutes/location/index.asp?routeid=8

Let’s party! Because the next day it’s back to work…

Visit the Mar Vista Community Council Green Booth this Sunday

Please stop by any time between 9 am and 2 pm as they will be able to answer questions on electricity consumption of lighting and how solar power can transform your home energy costs and reduce your carbon footprint by 1/3.

At Open Neighborhoods we were inspired by Gore’s clean energy challenge, and soon launched a petition drive in Mar Vista to build support for a neighborhood goal of 100% clean electricity by 2018.  We also began organizing with other homeowners to negotiate a group discount on solar installations for our homes.

In 2009 the GoSolar Mar Vista community solar program soon became the largest group solar installation in LADWP history, with 33 solar installations and over 105kW of electricity generation.  Mar Vista is now generating 1.75% of its electricity through solar power — and the neighborhood has officially adopted a goal of 100% clean electricity by 2018.

In recognition of the two-year anniversary of Gore’s climate challenge we are excited to announce new green power communities in neighborhoods including Santa Monica and Del Rey. Petition drives are now underway in these neighborhoods to build support and awareness of the 100% clean electricity goal.  Using a new service provided by EarthAid.net, residents can link up their utility accounts to compare electricity use and earn rewards for energy savings. Culver City and Venice green power community websites will be launching soon.

We have just received a number of exciting proposals from leading solar installers for a second community solar program to begin this August. The four-month program will offer solar workshops and information sessions, free solar assessments – and a rigorous selection process ensuring the best group rate and qualified solar installer available for residential and commercial solar installations. For more information about the GoSolar 2010 community solar program visit www.openneighborhoods.net/gosolar.

The EPA’s Green Power Communities program recognizes cities, towns and villages in which the local government, businesses, and residents collectively buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA’s guidelines for buying clean renewable energy.
Benefits of participating in the EPA program include national recognition, expert resources and media/communications support.

All green power purchasing is completely voluntary under the program, and the EPA recognizes three kinds of green power purchases: onsite generation, utility-provided green power and renewable energy credits.  Visit www.marvistagreenpower.org to learn about green power purchasing options and take the Green Power Pledge!

Mark your calendar for the Wise Power Use Expo on September 28th from 6 to 9 pm. at the solar-powered Windward School in Mar Vista to learn more about the EPA program and how you can switch to 100% clean electricity through energy conservation and clean, renewable power.

Bring your kids to the booth! PPC will be bringing veggie seeds to give to them and demonstration plants so they can learn about what we can all grow in our own gardens.  Watch this video of children in a learning garden PPC helped create at New School West preschool.

Poet and writer Lewis MacAdams, founder of Friends of the Los Angeles River, said “This is an important day, one we’ve been working toward for years. It is a day when the EPA has essentially redefined the L.A. River and its values. In other words, starting today, a flood control channel is only one of its many characteristics.”

U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said “We want the L.A. River to demonstrate how urban waterways across the country can serve as assets in building stronger neighborhoods, attracting new businesses and creating new jobs.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas subsequently announced the purchase of a four-acre portion of the Compton Creek riverbed from Crystal Casino and Hotel. The stretch of creek bottom been devastated by decades of storm runoff and illegal dumping and is now controlled by the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

Currently residents can water for 15 minutes at a time on Mondays and Thursdays, before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. The DWP will be examining a plan to allow irrigating three times a week, up to eight minutes per session on specific days based on those living in even- and odd-numbered addresses.

Composting is a fun and easy way for grown ups and children alike to do something good for our environment.  Composting reuses and recycles our resources and reduces waste.  Learn how to turn your organic waste; like paper, food scraps and yard trimmings into rich organic nutrients for your garden.  Children of all ages are encouraged to attend and learn how to help!  Everyone is welcome, whether you are thinking about starting to compost or an old pro who can share your experiences with the community.

You will learn the following:

1. What is compost?

2. How do you set up and start your compost?

3. What can and cannot be composted?

4. How do you care for your compost?

5 What can you do with your compost?

Class fee is $20, which will include a copy of the “Kids Can Compost” book, an illustrated how-to guide to composting.

Members of their Time Bank can trade two hours of their time in exchange for the class and book.

RSVP by June 23rd to Wen-Chia Parker, wenchia@gmail.com .The Venice Learning Garden is located at 13000 Venice Boulevard.