A Guide to Greening Your Home and Household Hazardous and Electronic

Waste DisposalPresented by the South Bay Association of REALTORS® and Sanitation Districts of Los

Angeles County2013

22833 Arlington Avenue, Torrance California 90501(310) 326.3010 FAX (310) 325.7451

www.SouthBayAor.com

Introduction: Why Efficiency MattersBy almost any measure, Southern California and the Greater Los Angeles area have grown immensely in the last several decades – so much that our water and energy resources are facing greater constraints each day. Meanwhile, scientists around the world continue to monitor the causes and effects of global climate change and study ways for us to reduce our “carbon footprint” in order to preserve the environment.

You too can do something about conserving water and energy resources – right here and right now. In the process, you can save money on water, electricity, heating, cooling bills and help protect the environment.This booklet gives ideas on how you can save water and energy right away in your home. Each page offers several tips – some are easy and inexpensive, while others provide some investment on your part, but provide much greater benefits and savings to you.

You should use this book if you:• Areinterestedinbuyingahome.• Areconsideringsellingyourhome.• Wanttolowerutilitybillsinyourhome.• Arerentingahome,andpayinghighutilitybills.• Areconcernedabouttheenvironment.• Areremodeling,upgradingorupdatingyourhome.

The following pages offer links to web sites and other resources for immediate rebates and special offers, as well as longer term ideas for saving money and protecting the environment.

Please share this booklet with your friends and family, with your REALTOR®, and with members of your community.

Ideas for Savings: Throughout Your Home• Insulate your home and caulk/weather-strip around

exterior doors and windows to reduce both cooling and heating costs

• Save energy and money when you install efficient light bulbs and fixtures. From time to time, manufacturers and retailers provide special discounts on ENERGY STAR® qualified lighting products. See the last page of this booklet for more information.

• Learn more about the EPA water labeling program called WaterSense. It provides information on devices that use water efficiently. You can find more information on WaterSense at the back of this booklet.

• Replace an old, inefficient room air conditioner with an ENERGY STAR® qualified unit.

• Install R-13 or higher thermal resistance insulation in exterior walls and R-30 or higher insulation in ceilings and attics.

• Replace your central air conditioner or heat pump with an ENERGY STAR® qualified model, or consider a whole house fan.

• Replace lights and lamps with energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs that can last up to 9 years and use up to 75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs OR replace with ENERGY STAR® qualified light emitting diode (LED) bulbs that can last up to 22 years and use 75% less electricity than incandescent bulbs.

• Install ENERGY STAR® qualified dual-pane windows to help insulate your home and reduce heating and cooling bills.

• If you are remodeling don’t forget to consider recycled content products and look for low VOC paints, sealants, coatings, and adhesives to protect your indoor air quality.

Ideas for Savings: Outside• Did you know that as much as 30-70%

of residential water use is for irrigating outdoors? Replace a portion of your lawn with California Friendly plants. This can save you up to 1,800 gallons of water per month.

• Plant a water-saving California-friendly garden. Save water, save money on your water bill and on high gardening costs.

• Plant shade trees on the east and west sides of the home to save energy on your

air conditioner and increase interior comfort. Your air conditioner will not have to work so hard.

• Install a pool or spa cover to minimize heat loss due to evaporation.

• Install an energy-efficient multi-speed pool pump motor.

• Install rotating sprinkler nozzles to prevent over-watering. These nozzles use 20% less water than conventional spray heads. Place nozzles 4” in from the edge of a garden bed and adjust them carefully to avoid watering the sidewalk.

• Install a “smart” sprinkler controller that determines the correct amount of water based on your plants and the weather conditions.

• Collect rain water from your gutters in “rain barrels” to use when the weather dries out.

• Let water sink into the ground by installing a depression in your landscape where water can pool called a “rain garden”

• Cover your flower or vegetable beds with 1-3 inches of mulch to retain moisture and foster healthy soil.

• Compost your kitchen scraps and use the product of your compost as fertilizer.

 

Use a water shut-off hose nozzle

Sweep driveways with a broom instead of hosing

Water Tip

Ideas for Savings: Kitchen and Laundry• Install 1.5 gallon per minute (gpm) high-efficiency kitchen faucet aerators in sinks

– it can save 5 gallons of water per day.

• Install a tankless water heater. An Energy Efficient Electric Water Heater may qualify for a rebate. Go to www.sce.com. A High Efficiency Natural Gas Storage Water Heater may qualify for a rebate. Go to www.socalgas.com.

• A new ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerator may qualify for a rebate plus free pick up of old refrigerator. Go to www.sce.com.

• Replace your 10+ year old clothes washer and dishwasher with ENERGY STAR® and WaterSense qualified models.

• New high-efficiency clothes washers can use less than half the water of older inefficient models.

Use full loads in the dishwasher and clothes washer. Wash clothes in cold water.

Water Tip

Take a 5 Minute Shower

Turn off water while brushing your teeth and shaving

Water TipIdeas for Savings: Bathroom• Install a 1.5-2.0 gpm high-efficiency

shower head – it can save 5 gallons of water per day.

• Install a 1.0 gpm high-efficiency faucet sink aerator and turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving – it can save 5 gallons of water per day.

• Upgrade an old standard toilet to a High-Efficiency Toilet (HET), that uses 1.28 gallons per flush or less as compared to older models that use 3-7 gallons per flush – it can save up to 28 gallons per day.

Ideas for Savings: Bedrooms and Hallways• Ensure attic access doors seal

properly with weather stripping.

• Be aware of electronic devices that are in stand-by mode. Stand-by mode charges could add up to 10% of your electric bill. Plug your devices into a surge-protected energy strip and turn it off when the devices are not in use.

Ideas for Savings: Home Office/Entertainment/Play Room• Use an ENERGY STAR® qualified digital television that uses 30% less energy than

regular televisions.

• Insulate your home and caulk/weather-strip around exterior doors and windows to reduce both cooling and heating costs.

• Be aware of electronic devices that are in stand-by mode. Stand-by mode charges could add up to 10% of your electric bill. Plug your devices into a surge-protected smart energy strip. Smart strips automatically turn off peripheral equipment like printers or DVD players when your computer or television powers down.

• Look for ENERGY STAR® monitors which are 20% more efficient on average.

• Use ENERGY STAR® computers to save up to $144 in electric costs each year. Augment your savings by utilizing your computers power management settings.

Ideas for Savings: Living Room• Close fireplace damper when not in use or purchase a fireplace draft stopper.

Ideas for Savings: Garage• Using an electric vehicle (EV) can save you money at the pump, reduce your local

travel emissions by 88% and reduce our nations dependence on foreign oil.

• Install an EV charging station in your garage to make driving an EV fun and easy.

Are you ready to take it to the next level? Maybe it is time to start thinking about getting rid of hazardous household waste that cannot be disposed of in your trash.

Some Examples of What You CAN Bring to a HHW Collection:

• Motor oil, oil filters, brake fluid• Used antifreeze• Paint, paint thinner, turpentine• Cleaners with acid or lye• Pesticides or herbicides• Household batteries or car bat-

teries• Pool chemicals• Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), old

TVs, misc. electronics• Mercury thermometers or ther-

mostats• Used Needles or Sharps (In a

Sharps container or sturdy box

What You CANNOT Bring to a HHW Collection:

• Explosives• Ammunition• Radioactive Materials• Trash• Tires• Business Waste• White Goods (stoves, fridges, etc.)• Controlled Substances

NOTE: Any and all Electronic Waste collected is sent to a facility within the State of California that certifies that it is 100% demanufactured and recycled in a stringent and environmetally accept-able manner to the commodity level in the United States. No Electronic Waste collected at these events is sent over-seas.

The Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program (HHW) gives Los Angeles County residents a legal and cost-free way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals that cannot be disposed of in the regular trash.

How Should You Prepare?

• Bring the items you wish to dispose of in a sturdy box preferably in their original, labeled containers.

• Do not EVER mix products together.• It is ILLEGAL to transport more than 15 gallons or

125 pounds of hazardous waste in your personal vehicle.

• Be prepared to leave your containers. Because of permitting requirements, and the volume of people that utilize the program, items such as gasoline cans WILL NOT be returned.

Permanent HHW Collection Centers:

The City of Los Angeles operates seven permanent HHW Collection Centers which are available to all Los Angeles County Residents:

• Gaffey Street S.A.F.E. Center (San Pedro)• LA City - Glendale S.A.F.E. Center (Glendale)• Hyperion S.A.F.E. Center (Playa del Rey)• Washington Blvd S.A.F.E. Center (Boyle Heights)• Randall Street S.A.F.E Center (Sun Valley)• UCLA S.A.F.E. Center (West Los Angeles)• Nicole Bernson S.A.F.E. Center (Northridge)

For More Information:

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

Public Information Section (800) 238-0173

Use a REALTOR®

Only real estate licensees who are members of the National Asso-ciation of REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. REAL-TORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.www.southbayaor.com

Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

The Sanitation Districts protect public health and the environ-ment through innovative and cost-effective wastewater and solid waste management, and in doing so convert waste into resources such as recycled water, energy, and recycled materials.

The Sanitation Districts are a public agency created under State law to manage wastewater and solid waste on a regional scale and consist of 23 independent special districts serving about 5.4 million people in Los Angeles County. The service area covers approximately 815 square miles and encompasses 78 cities and unincorporated territory within the county.

About the South Bay Environmental Services Center

The mission of the South Bay Environmental Services Center is to serve the region’s constituents as the central clearinghouse for en-ergy efficiency information and resources, and significantly increase the availability of information and resources to the people in the South Bay region to help them save water, energy, money, and the environment.www.sbesc.com