Green Scene

RAMONA LIBRARY’S SO GREEN IT’S GOLD

County Library is Recognized for Sustainable Design with LEED Gold Certification



September 2, 2011 (Ramona) -- The Ramona Library sits on the town’s historical main street, and some residents have visited on horseback. But proof the library belongs to the future came this week when it became one of a handful of public buildings in the region to achieve LEED Gold Certification, an internationally recognized standard for sustainable, environmentally-friendly building design.
 

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SDG&E PRESENTS $71k CHECK FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN NEW POLICE STATION

 

August 24, 2011 (El Cajon) -- At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, August 23rd, San Diego Gas & Electric representatives presented a sizeable check to the El Cajon City Council. The check for $71, 340.00 was for the City’s hard work and leadership in energy efficient building for the new El Cajon Police Station.


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LOCAL PARTICIPANTS SOUGHT FOR GLOBAL STUDY ON WIND FARM IMPACTS

 

Can chickens provide early warnings of wind turbine health dangers?

 

By Miriam Raftery
August 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Like those proverbial canaries in the coal mine, chickens near wind farms may provide early clues to potential harm to health of humans and animals. That’s the contention of Hamish Cumming, a farmer battling proposed wind turbines near his home in Australia.

 

He has written a letter to East County Magazine seeking help from people living near wind farms locally (and in other locations) to document cases of shell-less eggs, dead chickens, or other animals that suffer internal hemmorrhaging.


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HELP PLAN LA MESA’S COMMUNITY GARDEN: AUGUST 31 AT HELIX HIGH


August 20, 2011 (La Mesa) – Do you live, work or attend school in La Mesa? The city invites you to help plan and build a community garden. A meeting will be held Wednesday, August 31 from 6-8 p.m. at the Helix Charter school campus, 7323 University Avenue, Room 1300, La Mesa.

“Tell us what you would like to see there and how you would like to help with the garden,” an invitation from the City states.


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WHAT A HOOT! OWL PROWL AT MISSION TRAILS

August 11, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Join Mission Trails Regional Park's trail guide and resident birder, Jeanne Raimond, for a special evening guided walk in search of resident owls on August 12 and August 19.

 

 

Meet at 7:30 p.m. in the dirt parking lot on the corner of Bushy Hill Drive and Father Junipero Serra Trail, across from the Kumeyaay Lake Campground entrance.

 


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NOVAMENCO CONCERT AT WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN AUGUST 13

An evening of music under the stars

 

August 11, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) -- NovaMenco, a National Smooth Jazz Flamenco Fusion group will take center stage at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College on Saturday, August 13 at 6:30 p.m.


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GATHER ALL YOUR PLANT KNOWLEDGE IN ONE PLACE


Looking for a new plant for your garden or architectural endeavor?

 

By Matt Kopjak

 

August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--Choosing the right plant for your garden can be a daunting task, but with Plants-Pedia you can sift through 48,000 plants from the USDA plants database and narrow down your choices, complete with charts and images. You can filter your options by growth period, soil texture, lifespan, shade tolerance, temperature, toxicity, fire tolerance, drought tolerance and more, depending on your needs. This tool is simple enough for the average gardener and has enough advanced options to be useful for even the most experienced botanist.


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STUDY FINDS SEMPRA CROSS-BORDER TRANSMISSION PROJECT COULD COST 15,000 U.S. JOBS & $300 MILLION IN LOST TAXES; SEMPRA CALLS STUDY “BIASED”

By Miriam Raftery

August 1, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Sempra Energy has asked the U.S. Department of Energy for a presidential permit to construct a cross-border transmission line called Energia Sierra Juarez to import electricity from Sempra facilities in Mexico. The line would cross the border near Jacumba in San Diego’s East County.
 


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PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT ON LARGEST HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AIMED AT “BALANCING” RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT & DESERT CONSERVATION

 

July 31, 2011 (Sacramento) -- The Federal and State Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT) launched a joint environmental review for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP or Plan) that seeks to streamline permitting of renewable energy facilities for seven counties in the California desert, including San Diego and Imperial Counties.

 

Public meetings are set for August 16 and 24, with written comments encouraged for those who cannot attend.


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MAYOR SANDERS ANNOUNCES GROUP SAVINGS PROGRAM FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES & SOLAR INSTALLATIONS

 

“Reduce then Produce” part of San Diego Summer of Energy Independence

July 26, 2011 (San Diego) — San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced today a new citywide program that provides special savings on home energy efficiency upgrades and solar energy installations. It's all part of the San Diego Summer of Energy Independence. The program is now under way; to participate, homeowners must sign up by October 20, 2011.


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POWERLINK OPPONENTS FILE APPEAL

July 22, 2011 (San Diego's East County)-- Opponents of the Sunrise Powerlink have appealed a lower court decision in their federal lawsuit challenging construction of the project across federal lands to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and are preparing an opening brief, a spokesman for plaintiffs’ attorneys has informed ECM.


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CONGRESSWOMAN SUSAN DAVIS SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ENERGY BILL THAT SHE SAYS WOULD HURT SAN DIEGO’S CLEANTECH INNOVATION

 

by Shannon Michael

July 21, 2011 (Washington D.C.) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has issued a press release blasting an energy spending bill that seeks to gut funding for clean energy, including biomass and solar programs. The bill would hit San Diego hard, since it has a large concentration of clean technology companies, Davis indicated. 

“San Diego has 767 clean technology companies and has become an innovation hub, especially in solar power, energy storage, and advanced biofuels,” said Davis. “If we’re going to remain competitive in the global economy, we must invest in clean energy innovation.” According to the San Diego Association of Governments, the algae energy section alone provides the region with 410 direct jobs and $108 million in economic activity each year.


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HUNDREDS BENEFIT FROM CLEAN ENERGY AND WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM


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GET A FREE ORGANIC GARDEN—AND HELP TO BUILD IT

 
July 11, 2011 (San Diego) – Victory Gardens San Diego (VGSD) has kits available to help you start an organic garden – and they’re free to those who cannot afford to buy one. (Others may purchase one for a suggested donation in the $150-$350 range, depending on size). Chose from a raised planter bed or in-ground beds for your garden. In addition to getting plants, irrigation, gopher prevention materials and more, you will also receive a site visit from a project manager and get free advice from experts on how to grow fresh vegetables and fruits in your new garden.
 

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SDG&E SIGNS RENEWABLE CONTRACTS FOR NEARLY 200 MW OF GREEN ENERGY

 

 
 
 
July 11, 2011 (San Diego) – Since January 1, 2011, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has added more than 1,200 megawatts (MW) of clean, green energy to its renewable portfolio. Today, the utility announced it has signed two more contracts: a 25-year power purchase agreement for 150 megawatts (MW) of solar power with Solar Gen 2 LLC and a one-year contract for 40 MW of geothermal power with Silicon Valley Power.
 

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SHEAR JOY: SUMMER FRUIT PRUNING WORKSHOP


  
June 30, 2011 (La Mesa) -- On Saturday, July 9, La Mesa Live Well and Grow is holding a free Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop from 12:00 to 2:00pm. The Workshop will be held in the La Mesa Police Department Community Room at 8085 University Avenue.
 
Learn about new garden volunteer and educational programs in and around La Mesa including gardening classes, backyard garden builds and fruit tree harvesting for donation to nonprofits serving neighbors with limited incomes. 
 

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HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT WHILE HELPING SAN DIEGO KIDS: RECYCLE E-WASTES JUNE 25-26

 

June 16, 2011 (El Cajon) -- In order to create a cleaner environment for our community, the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce is hosting an electronic waste [e-waste] recycling collection event on Saturday and Sunday June 25 and 26, 2011, in the parking lot of Westfield Parkway, directly in front of the Best Buy, from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. 


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SDG&E ADDS MORE THAN 235 MW OF SOLAR POWER TO ITS RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO


 

June 16, 2011 (San Diego)    San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced it has signed two new renewable contracts -- one with a subsidiary of San Diego-based enXco and the other with Arlington Valley Solar Energy II, LLC (a subsidiary of LS Power Development, LLC) for a combined total capacity of up to 237 megawatts (MW) of solar energy. 

The Catalina Solar project to be developed by enXco will have the capacity to generate up to 110 MW from the sun, starting with delivery of 50 MW by the end of next year and the remaining 60 MW by June 2013. 

  


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WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN OWLETS NAMED JUST BEFORE TAKING FLIGHT

 

Local elementary school names wild owlets and wins their own owl nesting box with spycam!

 

June 14, 2011 (Lakeside) –The four owlets of Hoot and Holla, a mated pair of wild barn owls at The Water Conservation Garden, have fledged the nest (or taken their final flight into the wild) as of June 7, 2011.   Unbeknownst to them, the owlets have been observed by a loyal group of fans 24-hours a day via a live infrared Owlcam at www.thegarden.org, since they were eggs laid by Holla in mid-February of this year. 


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Fundraiser Thursday for La Mesa's Environmental Festival and K-12 Contest

June 13, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Take your family to dinner and at the same time support the fourth annual "Sustain La Mesa" Enviromental Festival and the "Our Planet, Our Home" K-12 Environmental Literacy and Art Contest, organized by the City of La Mesa's Environmental Sustainability Commission.

Print and bring the flyer to Souplantation, (9158 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa 91942) between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Souplantation will donate 20% of sales. (A printiable flyer can be downloaded from the Souplantation link here.)

 


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“DUMP THE PUMP” DAY JUNE 15

 

June 11, 2011 (San Diego) – The average car emits 12,000 pounds of C02 pollution each year – the weight of an adult elephant! Metropolitan Transit Service and the San Diego Zoo have teamed up to urge San Diego County residents to leave their cars at home and ride public transit on national “Dump the Pump” Day this Wednesday, June 15.


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FREE COMPOSTING AND MANURE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS

 

June 11, 2011 (Ramona/Lakeside) On two different dates, there will be workshops to help people learn how to save money, improve soils, protect waterways, and grow healthy plants. In Ramona, the workshop will be at the Ramona Library on June 18th from 12:30-2:00 p.m. On June 25th the workshop will be from 3:00-4:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Polo Club.


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SOPHIE'S GARDENS NOW OPEN

 

Flowers, herbs and other plants on sale to public

 

June 2, 2011 (El Cajon) -- St. Madeline Sophie's Center how has a Certified Organic Garden program that includes a full citrus orchard, flower gardens, a passive-solar greenhouse, a propagation house, ornamental trees, shrubs, herbs, and a worm farm.

 

The Garden Program cultivates more than strong, healthy plants; it is a vocational training ground where professional horticulture managers help students reap the benefits of developing physical and mental skills, social relationships, teamwork, self-esteem, and a sense of community and accomplishment.

 


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EXPLORE MISSION TRAILS DAY OFFERS FREE FAMILY FUN SAT. MAY 21

May 20, 2011 (San Diego) -- Adults and kids alike can enjoy a wealth of free and fun activities this Saturday, May 21 during Explore Mission Trails Day at Mission Trails Regional Park.  Activiteis include guided nature walks, outdoor recreation demonstrations, rock climbing wall, crafts, face painting, a star-gazing party, free pony rides, as well as visits with live birds of prey, reptiles and other animals, and much more.

 


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COUNTY LAUNCHES FIVE GARDEN EDUCATION CENTERS

 

Centers Offer Free Gardening Classes as Part of the Healthy Works Initiative

 

May 19, 2011 (San Diego County) -- Want to learn how to plant and maintain a garden? County officials and community partners announced five Regional Garden Education Center locations today at Olivewood Gardens in National City. Olivewood is one of five sites where residents can take free classes to help them to start or maintain school gardens as well as teach residents how to convert lawns, yards and small spaces into fruit and vegetable gardens.

 

In addition to Olivewood Gardens, centers are located at: Solana Center in Encinitas, San Diego Youth Services at Spring Valley East Community Center, the International Rescue Committee locations in City Heights and Wild Willow Farm, and Education Center in south San Diego.

 

 


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SHAREHOLDERS QUESTION EASTMAN KODAK’S POSITION WITH U.S. CHAMBER

 

La Mesa financial advisory firm will present resolution at annual stockholders meeting in Carlsbad

 

May 9, 2011 (San Diego's East County) – Blue Summit Wealth Management ih La Mesa, a national leader in socially responsible and sustainable financial services, has been asked to represent shareholders with over $30 billion in assets under management at Eastman Kodak’s annual shareholder meeting in Carlsbad on May 11th. 

 

Judy Seid, founder of Blue Summit and author of the "Good Money" column in ECM, will present a resolution to address what shareholders believe is a misalignment between Eastman Kodak’s leadership on issues such as the environment and climate change and the company's role as a member of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has fought against climate change legislation and emissions regulations.


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GREEN BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM MAY 26

May 8, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – Looking to start a green business—or find a job in a green industry?

 

Learn the keys to success at the Green Business Symposium hosted by Cuyamaca College on May 26th.  For program details and information on registration, scroll down.

 

The Green Potential

 


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RIVER DAYS ROLL OUT THIS WEEKEND

San Diego River Park Foundation announces a series of events to raise funds for establishing trails, parks, gardens and visitor centers along the 52-mile-long San Diego River. The events include San Diego Days, San Diego RiverFest, and a Healthy River Run.

San Diego River Days May 7-8 and 14-15 offer community events along the 52-mile San Diego River from the mountains near Julian to Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach. Activities include bike rides, cleanups, mountain hikes, planting along the river, educational venues, along with nature and history walks. At the conclusion of River Days on May 15, the San Diego River Park Foundation and more than 50 organizations of the San Diego River Coalition join together with families from throughout the county for RiverFest.


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NEED MONEY? “GRANTWRITING FOR SUCCESS: SOURCES & STRATEGIES” WORKSHOP OFFERS NATIONAL EXPERT’S TIPS MAY 6 IN SAN DIEGO

 

Jan McAdams, national grantwriting expert with over $125 million in funded grants and sponsorships, will speak at event sponsored by Heartland Coalition/UnitedGREEN

 


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EARTH DAY 2011: A BILLION ACTS OF GREEN

April 22, 2011 (The World) – Happy Earth Day! This year, organizers are encouraging people around the world to help create “ A Billion Acts of Green” – actions of environmental service and advocacy aimed at preserving our environment and our planet.


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