“The Postal Service is one of the greenest mailing and shipping companies in the world,” said Thomas G. Day, chief sustainability officer. “We offer more than a half-billion eco-friendly mailing and shipping supplies, free package pickup and holiday cards printed on recycled paper available in 2,000 Post Offices, and the Postal Service is leading the adoption of green practices by engaging our employees, customers and suppliers.”

The Postal Service offers customers options to help reduce their carbon footprints, just as it consistently seeks ways to reduce its own environmental impact. 

Read the rest of The U.S. Postal Service Keeps the Holidays Green With Eco-Friendly Shipping

Solar panels on the roof of the Watershed Exhibit are just one of the reason the Aquarium of the Pacific was named a Green Business by the Office of Sustainability.

After a thorough application and auditing process, the City of Long Beach Office of Sustainability has named the Aquarium of the Pacific in its Green Business Recognition Program.

In its final feedback report to the Aquarium, the Office of Sustainability included recognition for the institution’s most progressive, environmentally conscious practices. These included green building practices, purchasing sustainable products, using solar panels and natural light to reduce energy consumption, promoting the use of mass transit and biking, purchasing sustainable seafood, maintaining an active employee green committee, providing climate change information to the public, and implementing meatless Mondays in the staff cafeteria.

Read the rest of City of Long Beach Names Aquarium of the Pacific a Certified Green Business

Rainwater harvesting is a way to conserve water while also reducing local pollution.

Residents who want to learn how harvesting rainwater can lower water bills and reduce stormwater pollution are invited to attend a free presentation at the Long Beach Main Library, 101 Pacific Avenue, on Saturday, October 29, from 2 – 4 pm.

“Rainwater harvesting is an innovative way to conserve water, irrigate landscaping and reduce the amount of pollutants that stormwater brings to our beaches and shorelines,” Mayor Bob Foster said.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Long Beach Water Department and the Long Beach Permaculture Guild, the event will feature information about innovative water conservation programs.

Read the rest of Free Presentation Explains How to Harvest Rainwater, Reduce Pollution

Molina Family receives the Conservation Award from the Aquarium of the Pacific. Pictured: Aquarium of the Pacific President & CEO Jerry Schubel, Michelle and John Molina, Janet Watt, Faustino and Martha Bernadett, and Mario and Theresa Molina.

The Aquarium of the Pacific honored the Molina Family and Molina Healthcare, Inc. as the recipient of its 2011 Ocean Conservation Award during the Aquarium After Dark event on June 11, 2011. The Ocean Conservation Award is given annually to those who contribute significantly to ocean conservation and environmental education. 

Read the rest of Aquarium Presents Ocean Conservation Award to Molina Family and Molina Healthcare

Wednesday, October 5, CEO Eric Woolery-Grimm, and other members of the team at Sustainable Now Technologies, will detail the evolution of renewable fuel production, and demonstrate their energy conversion machine, which will make it possible for consumers to produce their own algae-based fuel.

Read the rest of SH Company Demonstrates System to Turn Algae into Eco-Friendly Fuel

CSULB Recreation Society transforms several parking spots into temporary green spaces during Park(ing) Day. Photo of 2010 event by Nancy Mathews.

The Recreation Society at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) will host its third annual PARK(ing) Day event on Friday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Parking Lot 15, which is adjacent to the campus’ College of Business Administration building.

Created in 2005, PARK(ing) Day is an annual, worldwide event that invites citizens everywhere to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good.  Its intent is to challenge people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure.  Since its inception, PARK(ing) Day has blossomed into a worldwide grassroots movement and, in 2010, included more than 800 “PARK” installations in more than 180 cities in 30 countries on six continents.

Read the rest of CSULB Recreation Society Sets Up Green Spots on Campus Lots During PARK(ing) Day

The Water Replenishment District (WRD), the groundwater management agency for south Los Angeles County, recently announced the launch of its new animated Squirt educational water conservation series. www.wrd.org/safe

Squirt is the latest WRD water hero to aid in the District’s groundwater protection efforts.

Read the rest of WRD to the Rescue — Squirt is Here!

Yoshino Rosalia Jasso

Miss Yoshino Rosalia Jasso, age 17, has been chosen as a State Finalist in the National American Miss California Pageant to be held August 7, 2011, at the Anaheim Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, California.  The National American Miss pageants are held for girls ages 4-18, and have five different age divisions.  Yoshino Rosalia will be participating in the Teen age division and will be modeling for the Formal Wear competition, a “first-ever” gown designed by her that includes an over-skirt created with plastic bags.

Read the rest of Green Teen to Showcase Creative Fashions in Bid for Miss California Crown

Government policies and industry trends for electric vehicles and alternative transportation.

The California Green Transportation Collaborative is holding a workshop focusing on government policies and industry trends affecting transportation alternatives in California with a focus on electric vehicles on Friday, June 10th from 8 am to 12:30 pm at the Port of Long Beach Board Room, 925 Harbor Plaza, Long Beach.

“I am pleased to be a part of this discussion as the Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee,” said Lowenthal.  “I think everyone will find something of interest during this discussion, including how we will train the workforce to work on the up and coming electric vehicles that will be hitting our workplaces in the very near future and the movement of freight up the I-710 freeway on an electric guideway.” 

Read the rest of Workshop Explores Government Trends in Green Transportation

Reusable bags aren't the only way to go green.

A recent vote in Long Beach to ban carry-out bags represents another example that being environmentally conscious has never been more on the minds of Americans than it is today. If you also consider the imposed 10 cent charge on paper and recyclable carry-out bags at all food market stores, convenience, pharmacies, drug stores and Long Beach farmers markets, it should make you want to utilize every possible resource to do your part in conservation. I always like to take an extra cloth bag to the beach with me, not just for my own trash but in the event that I find trash someone else has left behind. It’s the little things that make you feel like you’ve contributed.

And the cost of apathy continues to mount.

Read the rest of Shopping Bags Aren’t the Only Way to Go Green at the Grocery Store

Acceptable e-waste items include old televisions, computers, monitors, printers, VCRs, cell phones, DVD players, and microwave ovens. There is a limit of five tires per vehicle, and no rims will be accepted. Please no hazardous waste. 

Read the rest of Long Beach to Recycle E-Waste and Used Tires on May 7, 2011

“This is an outstanding opportunity to create incentives and public investment that will help revitalize the community and transform it into an environment where people are encouraged to use public transit and ride bikes,” said Mayor Bob Foster. “I am looking forward to the public’s participation in the process to ensure that these plans reflect the needs and desires of our residents.” 

Read the rest of Compass Blueprint Grant Supports Sustainability Plans on Long Beach Blvd

The Committee of 300 adopts Veterans Park. The group will host monthly clean-ups.

The Committee of 300 of Long Beach is excited to announce its partnership with the City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine by “adopting” Veterans Park located at 101 E. 28th St. The first park clean-up will take place on Feb. 12 at 10:00 a.m. and will continue on subsequent second Saturdays of every month.

6th District Councilman Dee Andrews is joining in the celebration of the partnership and will be on hand as will representatives from Councilman James Johnson’s office whose district the park borders.

“This year our board of directors has placed a strong emphasis on community service, and we’re very thankful to have gotten the support from city council members as well as from the Parks, Recreation and Marine department to help us make this happen,” said Committee President Salvador Farfán.

Read the rest of Red Coats Adopt Veterans Park and Plan First Clean-up Event

Sustainability initiatives from the USPS include free eco-friendly packaging for postal customers.

Lean Green Teams helped the Postal Service reduce energy, water, solid waste to landfills and petroleum fuel use, saving the agency more than $5 million in 2010. Environmental policies also helped the Postal Service recycle more than 222,000 tons of material—an increase of nearly 8,000 tons over the prior year—which generated $13 million in revenue, and saved an additional $9.1 million in landfill fees.

“Across the country, postal employees are participating in more than 80 cross-functional Lean Green Teams that are producing significant results in energy reduction and resource conservation,” said Emil Dzuray, acting Chief Sustainability Officer.

Lean Green Teams build on the Postal Service’s efforts to create a culture of conservation and on its long history of environmental and socially responsible leadership. The teams are helping mesh low-cost and no-cost sustainable practices with performance management systems to help the Postal Service meet the following reduction goals by 2015:

• facility energy use 30 percent
• water use 10 percent
• petroleum fuel use 20 percent
• landfill waste 50 percent.

The Postal Service is on track to achieve these goals, according to Dzuray, and plans to deploy Lean Green Teams nationwide by 2012.

“With nearly 32,000 facilities, a presence in every community, and the largest civilian fleet in the nation, we know how important our efforts are to make a positive impact on the environment,” Dzuray added. “Our employee green teams are an important part of building a conservation culture and reducing our carbon footprint.”

As part of its green efforts, the Postal Service buys sustainable materials and works to reduce the amount of consumables it buys. The agency first developed a “buy green” policy more than 12 years ago, and has a goal to reduce spending on consumables 30 percent by 2020. In 2009, its consumables spending decreased 16 percent from the previous year. Additionally, the Postal Service is working to increase the percentage of environmentally preferable products it buys by 50 percent by 2015. These are products that are bio-based, have recycled content, are eco-labeled and are energy and water efficient.

The Postal Service is the only mailing and shipping company in the world whose shipping supplies and postage products have earned Cradle to Cradle CertificationCM , meaning they are designed with materials that are safe for human health and the environment. The agency has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle, 10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo, and the Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year.

For more information about the Lean Green Teams or the U.S. Postal Service’s other sustainability initiatives, visit usps.com/green.

Special Open House and Great Prices on Treats & Treatments

A new level of elegant but affordable sustainably minded beauty and wellness care has arrived in Long Beach. Hudavi Wellness Spa at 5550 7th Street in Long Beach 90804 www.hudavispa.com kicks off its grand opening with a very special green minded Open House & Wellness Fair this January 29 and 30th. From 2-5pm guests will have the opportunity to “sample” an array of Hudavi’s signature treatments at very special prices to start your New Year off right:

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The grant will help support GGR’s efforts to foster artistic expression in children while supporting education about sustainability and organic gardening. GGR’s first garden was constructed at Whitman Elementary School in Cerritos, and now GGR is bringing its efforts home to Long Beach and adding an artistic element that will be used both as a learning device and as a beautification technique. The Connected Corridor funding will allow GGR to hold an art competition open to Long Beach artists and pay the winners for their contributions, fueling the idea that earning a living as an artist can be a viable option. With the help of Evan Kelly of LBCreative!, there will be an official art opening and a public showing for the selected artists at a local gallery, to be held in mid-November. To closely align with GGR’s garden program, the murals will depict community or garden scenes and will be later transported to Roosevelt to accompany the raised gardens that GGR and the students will have already planted.

Read the rest of Connected Corridor Grant Plants Seed For Growing Green Roots Sponsored Art Project at Roosevelt Elementary School

Alumni members from the 2008 Leadership Long Beach Institute program carried out the tree-planting task as part of their community service project component for the completion of the program. Over 200 volunteers, including Leadership Long Beach classmates and alumni, local residents, council members, City of Long Beach staffers, cub scouts, boy scouts, students, artists, and business owners, showed up for the tree planting on Saturday, April 26, 2008. The trees were planted in a little more than an hour and continue to beautify part of the Atlantic Corridor

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?” On Monday, January 17th Leadership Long Beach and the Third District Council Office of Gary DeLong will be hosting a community tree-planting event along Palo Verde Avenue at Anaheim Road from 9AM to 11AM as part of MLK National Day of Service. LLB Alumni, many who are leaders in the community, will work side-by-side with our neighbors to initiate this worthwhile beautification activity.

Leadership Long Beach values and encourages active participation in the community through volunteerism and will demonstrate this principle on the National MLK Day of Service in Long Beach. This year Leadership Long Beach and the Third District Council Office will be planting 65 new trees along Palo Verde Avenue. We ask community members to donate a few hours of their time to help us green and beautify our neighborhood. Bring your enthusiasm, a shovel, if you have one, and dress comfortably. Interested people should register online.

Read the rest of Community Tree-Planting Event Scheduled For MLK National Day of Service

Each year, an average of 250 tons of holiday trees are recycled in Long Beach. This year, Disney on Ice is helping the Environmental Services Bureau promote the importance of recycling and remind residents that recycling Christmas trees in Long Beach is easy.

Disney on Ice performers will be at the Long Beach Police North Sub-Station, located at 4891 N. Atlantic Avenue, on Tuesday, January 4, 2011, 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Residents who bring their in Christmas tree for recycling and a camera for photos will have the opportunity to meet the performers and take a picture with Mickey or Minnie Mouse.

Read the rest of Join Mickey Mouse for Free Christmas Tree Recycling in Long Beach

TTSI President Victor La Rosa, alongside mayors Antonio Villaraigosa and Bob Foster, speaks about the coming of a "totally green truck fleet", to be instilled.

Two new non-polluting trucks powered by zero-emission plug-in electric/hydrogen fuel cells will soon hit the road in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles in a demonstration of the cutting-edge green technology.

In an agreement with El Segundo-based Vision Motor Corp., one big-rig truck and one terminal tractor will be put to work for 18 months, with an anticipated start in early 2011. They will be tested under typical conditions for these short-haul vehicles. Each port has agreed to provide $212,500 from their Technology Advancement Program funds toward the cost of the $1 million project.

“This is another example of how the ports’ Clean Air Action Plan is continuing to look for new technology that can contribute further clean air improvements,” said Richard D. Steinke, Port of Long Beach Executive Director. “We’re looking forward to seeing how these vehicles perform.”

Read the rest of Ports to Test Non-polluting Fuel Cell Trucks Project will demonstrate hydrogen-powered short-haul vehicles

To encourage shoppers and businesses to forego use of single-use bags in favor of reusable bags, the City of Long Beach will be distributing 1,500 free reusable bags at the following locations, while supplies last:

Read the rest of Join Heal the Bay and Go A Day Without a Bag

Photo by B. Baltimore Brown

Through a new delivery program, the Office of Sustainability is extending the benefits of mulch to residents throughout the City.  Mulch from City tree trimming operations is now available by request to Long Beach homeowners.

“The Mulch Home Delivery Program provides a chance to bring environmental stewardship home to residents throughout the City of Long Beach,” said Sustainability Coordinator Larry Rich. “This program will contribute significantly to our continued efforts to achieve one of the highest waste diversion rates in the nation.”

Every year the City of Long Beach produces an average of 12,000 tons of green waste from standard tree trimming maintenance.  The City works to place mulch on vacant property owned by the City and the Redevelopment Agency as a part of Operation Mulch-A-Lot, which prevents this valuable material from being discarded by reusing it locally.  In 2009-2010, Operation Mulch-A-Lot placed 6,000 tons of mulch on vacant City lots and in parks.  While Operation Mulch-A-Lot is a successful, innovative program, it leaves a significant amount of mulch unused.  Mulch from City tree trimming operations offers a number of landscaping advantages including weed reduction, added nutrients, soil temperature moderation, water retention, improved soil structure, beautification, and improved root systems.

Read the rest of City of Long Beach Introduces Mulch Home Delivery Program to Homeowners

The Technology Advancement Program, or TAP, is a jointly created and funded initiative launched in November 2006 to accelerate the commercialization of port-related emission reduction technologies through testing and demonstration projects.  The program is a key component of the San Pedro Bay Ports’ Clean Air Action Plan — a landmark initiative aimed at developing mitigation strategies to reduce air emissions and health risks while allowing port development to continue.

Read the rest of EPA Awards Long Beach Port Technology Program

““I would like to thank the participants and congratulate all of the winners of the energy efficiency opportunity drawing,”” said Mayor Bob Foster. “This is a great opportunity to showcase examples of energy efficiency in our community.”

Read the rest of LB Awards More Than $50K in Prizes to Energy-Efficient Residents

The vote bans stores from giving consumers single-use plastic bags. Store will also be required to charge 10 cents each for paper bags. The ordinance, which will go into effect  July 1, 2011, will not affect the 88 cities within county boundaries such as Long Beach.

As part of its approval, the Board supported an amendment by 4th District Supervisor Don Knabe which revised the definition of “reusable bag” to include language that a reusable bag can be cleaned or disinfected, not just machine washable.

Read the rest of L.A. County Votes to Ban Plastic Bags

Read the rest of Go Green Auto Rally Instructs Drivers How to Be Green Behind the Wheel