Southern California Green Real Estate Blog

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1. Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees and 7000 gallons of water. (EPA)

   Every year, enough paper is thrown away to make a 12 foot wall from New York to California. (The Worldwatch Institute)

   Recycling paper uses 80% less water, 65% less energy, and produces 95% less air pollution than virgin paper production. (The Worldwatch Institute)

   Global paper use has grown more than six-fold since 1950. One fifth of all wood harvested in the world ends up in paper. (The Worldwatch Institute)

   It takes 2 to 3.5 tons of trees to make one ton of paper. Pulp and paper is the 5th largest industrial consumer of energy in the world, using as much power to produce a ton of product as the iron and steel industry. (The Worldwatch Institute)

   In some countries including the United States, paper accounts for nearly 40 percent of all municipal solid waste. Making paper uses more water per ton than any other product in the world. (The Worldwatch Institute)

   Comment by The Energy Coalition — August 9, 2008 #

2. I am writing to you today about joining our CBS 2 and KCAL 9�s community network for the LA area.

   I can certainly understand that it may seem a bit strange that a third party company is contacting you on behalf of CBS. I invite you to visit http://cbs2.com/ site when you have a chance so that you can check us out from CBS�s point of view. Look for the light bulb banner, along the right column under the LA stock index that says �Make CBS2.com a Part of your Blog�. We launched this network at the beginning of the year that through CBS 2 covers the best in LA specific news, sports, lifestyle, politics, arts, culture, and organizations in the area.

   Here are some live examples of local member sites in currently in CBS 2�s local network, with more examples listed on CBS2.com itself:

   http://www.lakermad.blogspot.com/
   http://labuzzblog.com/
   http://www.anews1.com/losangeles/los_angeles.html
   http://www.trojanwire.com/

   Each widget that you see on these sites includes a companion banner advertisement, and from these our member sites earn revenue on a CPM basis for every impression of the widget they receive. Currently, members earn anywhere from about one to three dollars per thousand impressions received, depending on the amount of traffic members provide during certain ad campaigns.

   To learn more information about our program, see additional examples, or to sign up to join, please click or paste this address:

   http://www.syndigonetworks.com/pvn/verticals/cbs-losangeles/

   You can also go to this link directly from CBS 2�s/KCAL 9�s site as well.

   Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns- I would be happy to help.

   Thank you so much for your time!

   Comment by Bree Zimmerman — August 10, 2008 #

3. NOMINATE “REBUILDING NEW ORLEANS GREEN” FOR MEMBERS PROJECT ‘08!
   Dear friend,

   For the past nearly 3 years, so many people like you have helped me and Global Green begin to make the green rebuilding of New Orleans a reality.

   Today, I want to invite you to help me further the green rebuilding of New Orleans even more by nominating the Rebuilding New Orleans Green project for American Express Members Project ‘08. American Express is offering $2.5 million dollars in funding total to support exciting and innovative ideas that make a difference in the world.

   Just after Hurricane Katrina, I put forth a vision, and there was an amazing response - from our staff, longtime supporters, and from many new donors as well. Thanks to that positive response, we have been able to accomplish so much. But with the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Katrina upon us, it is so clear there’s still much to be done: to rebuild New Orleans with its citizens AND still grasp the opportunity to build sustainably.

   What we are doing in New Orleans is serving as a model for the nation, whether it’s how to increase energy efficiency in schools and homes, or how green building is a critical solution to global warming.

   Our showcase green affordable housing initiative in the Lower Ninth Ward is well under underway and our first home is open as a visitor center. But we still need to raise $5 million dollars to complete the 22 units of housing and the community center, as well as the ongoing operations there.

   You can help by nominating the Rebuilding New Orleans Green project TODAY!

   Please forward this on to as many people as you can - the more people that nominate the project, the better chance we have to complete our vision for a green New Orleans!

   Sincerely,
   Matt Petersen
   President, Global Green USA

   Comment by Matt Petersen — August 10, 2008 #

4. Thank you for your update email. We have several vacation rentals in the High Desert of Joshua Tree, Ca. next to Joshua Tree National Park. if you have any clients that are looking for short getaways for the week or weekend. http://www.joshuatreehighlandshouse.com

   We also have a 9.5 acre estate with two houses & pool next to BLM land bordering the National Park located between J.T. & 29 Palms, Ca. Presently listed with Windemere Realty in Yucca Valley ,Ca. Asking price $449,000

   Sincerely,
   James Berg
   Frederick Fulmer
   760 366 3636

   Comment by James Berg — August 10, 2008 #

5. California continues to see steady population growth, placing five cities on the list of the 25 fastest-growing large municipalities in the country between 2006 and 2007, according to new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

   According to the report, Victorville, Calif. saw a population increase of 9.5 percent to 107,232 in 2007, putting the San Bernardino County city second on the list of the nation’s fastest-growing large cities with populations of 100,000 or more. New Orleans ranked number one on the list, with a population increase of 13.8 percent to 239,124 after a seeing its population in 2005 dwindle to half in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

   The other four California cities that made the list are Bakersfield; Irvine; Moreno Valley; and Visalia.

   Comment by C.A.R. — August 24, 2008 #

6. we shouldn�t regard our cars � not to speak of the oil they run on � as the be-all and end-all of American society. We should also recognize that history has a way of casually demolishing institutions that seem impregnable, and the internal combustion automobile is surely one of these. Something better, simpler and kinder to the earth is no doubt on the way, assuming that we�re smart enough to welcome it.

   Comment by Arrol Gellner — August 29, 2008 #

7. Are you Prepared for a Disaster?

   With concern that businesses and residents are not properly prepared for earthquakes, the Southern California Earthquake Center has organized the Great Southern California Shake Out. The group has dedicated Nov. 12-16 to educate the region, and especially businesses, about how to prepare for earthquakes. The week’s events will include the nation’s largest earthquake drill on Nov. 13 and the Los Angeles Earthquake Get Ready Rally on Nov. 14. Businesses can register for the earthquake drill at http://www.shakeout.org. Next month, drill organizers will release a 16-page booklet outlining seven steps businesses can take to survive and recover from an earthquake or other disaster.

   Did you know that falling furniture or objects caused 55% of injuries during the Northridge quake (UCLA study)? To check your earthquake preparedness IQ, take the quiz at: http://www.daretop repare.org/why.

   Comment by C.A.R. GREEN TIP — September 8, 2008 #

8. CALIFORNIA: KEEP LOADED GUNS OUT OF CARS
   URGE GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER TO SIGN SB 1171

   Dear California Brady Campaign Member,

   Thanks in part to your phone calls, SB 1171 is on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk. This legislation will close a bad �loophole� in current law and keep loaded guns out of cars.

   CALL GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TODAY AT 916-445-2841
   Tell him: “I Urge You to Sign SB 1171:
   Keep Loaded Guns Out of Cars and Off Our Streets and Highways.”

   Did you know that it is perfectly legal for a person to drive on many stretches of Interstate 5 with a loaded handgun in their car? This is crazy and it must stop. Loaded guns in cars put other drivers and our police officers in danger. Imagine the agitated driver stuck in a traffic jam who has his loaded gun readily available.

   We are only one step away from enacting this law! Here is what you can do to help:

   CALL GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER TODAY AT 916-445-2841
   Tell him: “I Urge You to Sign SB 1171: Keep Loaded Guns Out of Cars and Off Our Streets and Highways.”
   Forward this e-mail to friends, family, and colleagues in California.
   Click here to contribute to our efforts in California and across the country.
   For more information on this legislation or to get involved locally in the gun violence prevention movement, please contact the California Brady Campaign Chapters.

   Thank you for helping to reduce gun violence in California. Please call Governor Schwarzenegger today!

   Sincerely,

   Sarah Brady, Chair

   Comment by Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence — September 8, 2008 #

9. http://www.pluginamerica.cmarket.com.

   Support Plug In America by purchasing something special. The holidays are coming soon! Many of these offerings are not available in stores. For instance, you can help out with a new movie by Chris Paine, ride in an electric boat, and you can dine with board member and actress Alexandra Paul.

   Comment by Plug In America — September 19, 2008 #

10. The Chevy Volt is a plug-in electric vehicle that will drive up to 40 miles without ever using a drop of gasoline — which, according to government data, would be enough to handle approximately two-thirds of American commuters’ daily drives. The first vehicle in GM’s “E-Flex” family, the Volt will be powered by an electric motor, which draws its energy from on-board batteries. The batteries, in turn, will be re-charged by a small internal combustion engine that will run on gas, diesel or ethanol. When not in use, the batteries will be re-charged by simply plugging the Volt into a standard electrical outlet.

    Comment by Gloria Huang — November 15, 2008 #

11. Goals
    The New York Times Building at 620 Eighth Avenue was developed and constructed with
    three goals in mind:
    • To enhance the way we work by creating a comfortable and efficient workspace for
    Times Company employees.
    • To serve the Times Company’s long-term operational needs as an owner/user.
    • To reflect the Company’s values and make a meaningful contribution to New York City.
    The building was designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Renzo Piano in association
    with FXFOWLE Architects. The New York Times Company interior office space was
    designed by Gensler.

    Comment by The New York Times Building — January 16, 2009 #

12. The thrust of the Clean Energy Stimulus and Investment Assurance Act of 2009 is to create green-collar jobs and revitalize the economy through clean energy investments. Section 506 of the bill, offers property owners a 30 percent tax credit for qualified green roof expenses. The tax credit applies to both new and retrofit projects, but it requires that at least 50 percent of the roof area be covered with vegetation.

    Comment by Nigel F. Maynard — February 7, 2009 #

13. Thank you for contacting me to express your support for including housing market reforms and foreclosure prevention measures in the recently enacted economic recovery bill. I certainly appreciate hearing your suggestions and would like to share with you what was included in the final version of this legislation.

    Like you, I am extremely concerned about this severe economic crisis, which has been caused in part by the declining housing market. Last year, there were 837,665 foreclosures filed in California alone, an increase of more than 100 percent over 2007.

    As you know, on February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1) into law. This important legislation represents a significant investment by the Federal Government in an effort to create jobs and improve our Nation’s aging infrastructure. The bill also makes a major commitment to stabilizing the housing market and assisting hardworking Americans. Specifically, the bill will:

    Allow first-time homebuyers to receive a tax credit worth up to $8,000 for homes purchased after January 1, 2009. Recipients of this credit will not have to repay it.

    Provide the Public Housing Capital Fund with $4 billion to help local public housing agencies address a $32 billion backlog in capital needs.

    Provide the HOME Investment fund with $2.25 billion for state and local governments to acquire, construct, and rehabilitate affordable housing.

    Invest $2 billion in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program to allow state and local governments to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed properties to reduce blight in communities.

    You may be interested to learn that I joined Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) in introducing an amendment to the Senate-version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that would have extended the $729,750 maximum conforming loan limits through 2010. However, this amendment was not included in the final version of the bill passed by the Senate.

    It is critical that Congress work with the new Administration to restore the American dream of home ownership and this bill is part of that effort. Please know that I will keep your comments and suggestions in mind should further legislation to address our country’s housing crisis come before the Senate.

    Once again, thank you for writing. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

    Sincerely yours,
    Dianne Feinstein
    United States Senator

    Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ENewsletterSignup.Signup.

    Comment by Senator Dianne Feinstein — March 5, 2009 #

14. New studies and reports point to green building as one of the growing bright spots for the U.S. economy, according to the U.S. Green Building Council
    In fact, as economic experts call for a recovery plan focused on green jobs and infrastructure, as consumers look to live in more economically sustainable homes, as businesses strive to cut operating costs, and as our national security needs depend on an end to reliance on foreign energy sources, green buildings’ ability to deliver solutions to these pressing challenges promises to change the way we view the building industry.

    Comment by Jacki Ueng — March 7, 2009 #

15. the archetypal green city is Curitiba, Brazil. When architect and urban planner Jamie Lerner became mayor in 1972, he quickly closed six blocks of the city’s central business district to cars, delighting residents and business owners alike. Today the pedestrian-free zone is three times larger and serves as the heart of the bustling metropolis. Lerner also put in place a high-tech bus system, greatly reducing traffic, energy usage and pollution; the move also encouraged density around transit hubs and thus preserved open space in other areas that would have likely turned into suburbia. Today the bus system still goes strong, and three-quarters of the city’s 2.2 million residents rely on it every day.

    Comment by AmericanTowns.com — March 9, 2009 #

16. We will likely see a cap-and-trade model in the United States for limiting carbon emissions in order to reach a low-carbon economy. In fact, Obama has already stated that he will implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, and we can expect incremental changes leading up to that goal.

    In a low-carbon economy, organizations must report their carbon emissions – including those from their buildings – and they need to put the right systems in place now. Technology is the key to those systems. For example, technologies exist today that help organizations measure, manage, and reduce their environmental impact and report on every detail of their improvements so the public knows how funds are being spent.

    Organizations need to evaluate their technology strategies now in order to be in the right position to receive stimulus funds, use them wisely, meet financial reporting mandates, and prepare for near-term environmental legislation.

    Comment by George Ahn — April 17, 2009 #

17. California has adopted the world’s first rule to cut carbon emissions from automotive fuels.

    The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved the Low Carbon Fuel Standard calling for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from California’s transportation fuels by 10% by 2020.

    The new regulation is aimed at diversifying the variety of fuels used for transportation. It is expected to boost the market for alternative-fuel vehicles and achieve 16 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2020.

    Comment by SustainableBusiness.com News — May 16, 2009 #

18. Choosing a Low-Carbon Car

    The June issue of SOLAR TODAY, published by the American Solar Energy Society, is now online.

    In “How to Choose a Low-Carbon Car, 2009,” SOLAR TODAY’s Seth Masia offers advice on what to look for when evaluating the new low-carbon hybrids and electric-drive vehicles that are arriving in showrooms.
    http://www.solartoday-digital.org/solartoday/200906/

    Comment by Brooke Simmons, ASES — June 1, 2009 #

19. Over 650 researchers and practitioners from diverse fields participated in passionate debate and discussion on cities and climate change, coming together for a very relevant and urgent agenda.

    Comment by World Bank — August 20, 2009 #

20. AB 32 AUTHOR DEFENDS CLIMATE CHANGE LAW

    Senator Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica) one of the original and strongest proponents of California Climate Change laws has penned an article responding to recent criticisms of the law. In an effort to make sure our members understand both side of the argument, here is a piece by the author.

    “When AB 32, California’s landmark global warming law, was being debated in the legislature, a coalition of polluters and their misguided allies opposed the bill. This week these same opponents, who have also fought against clean air and water quality laws, are unveiling an initiative to suspend AB 32, predicting the sky will fall if the law is implemented. They predict that thousands of Californians would lose their jobs, and it will crush small businesses. There are even blaming the current loss of jobs on AB 32, but new emission reductions don’t even begin until 2012, and then are gradually phased in by 2020.”

    Comment by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica) — February 5, 2010 #

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