Wise Power Use Expo

The MVCC Green Committee invites you to the Wise Power Use Expo

2010-09-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Councilman Bill Rosendahl and the MVCC Green Committee invite you to join us at the Wise Power Use Expo on November 3^rd, 6:30 PM at the Windward School.

Learn easy ways to save electricity and money in your own home!

Chris Paine, director of "Revenge of the Electric Car" (Spring, 2011) and co-founder the media project "Counter-Spill", will share how he transformed an original Mid 20th Century Modern home into Marrakesh House - a model for sustainable living in the 21st century.

Kevin O’Donnell (thread collaborative) will present a module from The Climate Project that speaks to why we need to worry about getting off coal and convert to renewable energy. See his presentation here.

Nancy Barba (Sustainable Works, BKi) will offer us a blueprint on the part we can play individually to get our community off coal. She will speak to the easy changes we can make in our homes and business to reduce our electricity consumption and walk us through the numbers on roof top solar – the cost and the expected pay back.

André Villaseñor (Southern California Sustainability Coordinator in the EPA L.A. Field Office) will tell us what it means for Mar Vista to become an EPA Green Power Community. See his presentation here.

Electricity rates have already gone up and we know that they will go up further in the months ahead. Guest speakers will help us learn how to lower our electrical use and what our options are for renewable energy.

LOCAL resources will provide information on energy saving solutions with special discounts and FREE exciting energy conservation raffle items.Table presenters will present solutions to conserve electricity or convert to renewable energy – and all will offer significant discounts to the community and donate incredible raffle items like whole house energy audits. We will all learn why this is an important issue and what we can do to help - and access solutions on the spot!

We are holding it in the gymnasium at the Windward School at 11350 Palms Avenue in Mar Vista. Windward is one of the first schools in California to receive a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Schools verification.

Table presentations will open at 6:30 pm and speakers will be at 7:30.

Chris Paine

2010-09-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

Chris Paine's award winning documentary feature film Who Killed the Electric Car? premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006 before its worldwide release by Sony Pictures Classics. Nearly 5,000 pure electric cars were collected and destroyed by GM, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and many others despite the efforts of activists to save them. Three years in the making, the film's murder mystery spin on an almost unreported story captured public attention and stimulated substantive change in the industry.

Five years later, electric cars are back… with a vengeance. Revenge of the Electric Car (Spring 2011) is the new documentary from director Chris Paine — who took his film crew around the world to chronicle the resurgence of electric cars. From backyard mechanics converting Porsches to electrics, to the multi-million dollar Silicon Valley startup Tesla Motors, to deep behind closed doors at two of the world’s biggest car makers; Revenge of the Electric Car tells the electrifying story of the race to bring EVs back from the dead — just as the perils of the oil age are the deepest they’ve ever been.

Chris will share the journey that became Marrakesh House - an original Mid 20th Century Modern home that he purchased in 2007 and transformed into a model for sustainable living in the 21st century. Marrakesh House is a private residence that doubles as venue for art, music and culture in the surrounding community. Paine rarely wavered in his commitment to remodel the 4,300 square-foot house using environmentally friendly guidelines.

He will be joined by project manager, noted LEED AP, Shellie Collier of Homagedesign. Their team succeeded in making most changes to the house in accordance with the motto ‘reduce/reuse/recycle’. According to Collier, this motto means “using as much existing material as possible in order to significantly lower the carbon footprint during the remodeling process.” Paine ensured that measures were taken to harness the renewable, sustainable energy of the bright Southern California sun by installing roof panels to generate solar power for both plug-in electric vehicles and the residence itself.

Kevin Foster O’Donnell

2010-09-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

Kevin Foster O’Donnell educates from local, regional, and national platforms, including UCLA Extension and FMI, AIA, ASID, IRDC, and NeoCon events. Through The Climate Project (TCP), Kevin trained with Al Gore to present An Inconvenient Truth, the basis of book and movie. Kevin custom-tailored the show with current technologies and strategies that can lead to a more stable global climate, which was later adopted as TCP’s official Built Environment Module.

Kevin has worked in the retail industry for more than twenty years, championing cutting edge design, carefully integrated architecture and store décor, creative brand development, insightful business strategy, inventive conceptual approaches and innovative use of materials and production methods via key projects for Tesco’s Fresh & Easy, Whole Foods Market, The Kroger Co., and Wegmans.

Kevin runs the design and consulting studio thread collaborative. The thread team researches, develops, designs, and writes about innovative strategies to achieve sustainable building development.

Nancy Barba

2010-08-27T05:50:00.000-07:00

Nancy Barba, a Los Angeles native, is committed to a sustainable future. Nancy began her career by volunteering her time at environmental nonprofits while simultaneously working on her BS in Business Administration at Cal State Long Beach. There she explored environmental issues through classes in renewable energy, sociology and the environment. She is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design accredited professional and has taught environment classes at the Pathways program at UCLA Extension. Nancy currently works for Bevilacqua-Knight, Inc. (BKi), an energy efficiency consulting firm whose Los Angeles office will be managing the Energy Upgrade California Program in the Los Angeles County. Previously Nancy was the Director of the Residential Greening Program. In that capacity she was responsible for the marketing, curriculum, and development of the Green Living Workshop. Under her direction the program grew to serve the Los Angeles community with the largest workshop participation in the program's history. She lives in Venice where she grows her own tomatoes and feeds the composting worms weekly.

André Villaseñor

2010-08-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

André Villaseñor has 15 years of experience as an environmental professional both abroad and in the U.S. He lived and worked in Chile for three years where he coordinated environmental impact studies for airport expansions and mining projects. He served as a U.S. Peace Corps Habitat Conservation Specialist in Ecuador where he worked with community members on sustainable small business enterprises and restoration of the Amazon rainforest. His work in Southern California includes three years at the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority as an environmental compliance specialist.

He has worked at the U.S. EPA since 2005 where he serves as the Southern California Sustainability Coordinator in the L.A. Field Office. He currently works with local governments on climate action.

He has an M.S. in Environmental Science and an M.A. in International Environmental Policy.

In his spare time, Mr. Villaseñor enjoys guerrilla recycling, vegetarian cooking, and exercise.

Pacific Sales/Best Buy - Energy Star Dishwasher!

2010-08-08T12:20:00.000-07:00

Pacific Sales/Best Buy has added a Frigidaire Energy Star Dishwasher to the raffle items! It has a stainless steel exterior and is a tall tub design for large capacity - Model#FFDB2407LS. Wow!! It's not too late to pre-register to get two chances to win this!

Sierra Pacific Raffle Item - $4,600 French Doors!

2010-08-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

Sierra Pacific has donated an amazing raffle item - a Patina Green aluminum clad pine French door with a custom radius window above - valued at over $4600!
Stop by their table at the Expo and learn how windows and doors can make a difference in the energy efficiency of your home.

$1,000 FREE Gift Certifcate Raffle Prize from Constant Solar!

2010-08-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Constant Solar has donated a $1,000 Gift Certificant as a raffle prize for some lucky attendee at the Expo! As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the federal government has expanded tax credits and created cash grants for solar electric generating systems. By combining the federal incentives, with local / state rebates and tax credits, customers often receive more than 60% off the total installed cost of their solar systems. In most cases, the incentives can be paid directly to Constant Solar, reducing your upfront out-of-pocket expense. When you add this incredible raffle item, there just won’t be a better time to install solar!

You can enter the raffle early - simply RSVP for the Wise Power Use Expo and get a bonus of a second raffle ticket the night of the Expo. Winners will be announced at the event and must be present to claim prize.

As a special offer to ALL attendees, Constant Solar is offering a free web-monitoring devise! See details on the coupon below. To qualify, visit their table at the Expo to sign up for a free consultation.

Constant Solar as been designing solar electric generating systems since 1989 and are now in their 10th year as a California licensed and registered full-service solar provider. They are family owned for two generations and their owners still supervise and inspect every project, no matter what size. They are also based in Mar Vista!

Open Neighborhoods - Go Solar 2010!

2010-08-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

Open Neighborhoods is currently presenting a four-month community GoSolar program that offers free solar workshops and information sessions where participants will be eligible to receive a free solar assessment on their home or business and an opportunity to take advantage of unbeatable solar pricing due to group discounts, rebates and incentives. The program is open to residential and commercial customers of both LADWP and SoCal Edison and includes options to lease or purchase solar power. The GoSolar 2010 runs through December 3rd, 2010. Interested participants can sign up to request a free solar assessment prior to the program end date.

They will be donating a free Energy Saving Kit from EarthAid as a raffle item! These items would retail for $72.00 and would pay for themselves in 10 months – and save you close to $100 a year in electricity every year they are in use! The kit will include -

Stop by their table to learn about:
Free solar workshops
Group purchasing discount
Residential or commercial
Immediate savings on your electric bill
Free Solar Assessment

Free $100 Gift Certificates from Ferrufino Interiors and Budget Blinds!

2010-08-07T14:38:00.000-07:00

Free $100 Gift Certificates from Ferrufino Interiors and Budget Blinds!

To enter the raffle simply RSVP for the Wise Power Use Expo. Winners will be announced at the event and must be present to claim prize.

You can save electricity through proper window treatments! Ferrufino Interiors and Budget Blinds have each donated a $100 gift certificate to be redeemed toward the purchase of any window treatment. This certificate could also be used on an upholstery project since recycling isn't just for plastic, glass, and metal. You can save energy by giving your vintage, beloved furniture a second life through the magic of re-upholstering.

Everyone attending the Expo will also be offered a discount of 15% on Hunter Douglas Energy Saving Shades and 10% off any drapery or upholstery project with Ferrufino Interiors.

Take advantage of natural light. Keep the house cooler in summer and warmer in winter simply by opening and closing the appropriate draperies and blinds. No better time than now, with a variety of discounts being offered at this longtime, local supplier.

Win a FREE $499 Whole House Performance Audit!

2010-08-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Carbon Reduction Services will raffle a FREE Whole House Performance Audit – a $499 value!

To enter the raffle simply RSVP for the Wise Power Use Expo. Winners will be announced at the event and must be present to claim prize.

The Whole House Performance test covers a house of up to 2500 sq/feet with 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, a single HVAC unit, a single Water Heater, a gas stove and a fireplace. It's a very thorough analysis of a home and its performance as a system. They produce a full report that outlines everything inspected and identifies specific areas of concern in order of importance. The primary objectives of a Whole House Performance test are Energy Efficiency, Health & Safety, Indoor Air Quality and the bonus is of course that one saves on Energy Expenses.

Visit CRS at the Expo to learn how you can have an energy audit and retrofitting to identify all the possible savings in your home. Learn how to operate your home in the most efficient way to save electricity and money while you reduce your Carbon Footprint.

This disconnected return air duct was found in a very upscale home in Pacific Palisades and underscores the importance of Health & Safety and Indoor Air Quality that can be improved with the blower door test (also pictured) and is just one part of the Whole House Performance Test. Could something like this be hiding in your home?

They will have a number of items that will help us to see how we are losing money and electricity. These will include an HVAC duct, a kill-a-watt device, a blower door and a smart meter.

FREE Analysis of an Energy Storage System

2010-08-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

ICeL will be raffling a FREE analysis of a proposed energy storage system for a specific residential or light commercial application. Keep It Simple - if you want to retrofit your renewable energy setup with iCeL technology or add a state-of-the-art auxiliary power supply to your home, there is an iCeL System for you.Through a simple process, any properly trained electrician can retrofit a home with the most basic iCeL System in just a few hours. To enter the raffle simply RSVP for the Wise Power Use Expo. Winners will be announced at the event and must be present to claim prize.

Integrated Energy Storage Systems will store electrical energy from wind, solar, fuel cell and the grid using integrated cells of electric lithium. These systems allow the owner to shave peak loads thus reducing their overall use and cost from the grid. They give back up power if the grid is down or in emergencies like an earthquake. Normal solar systems back feed the grid and automatically shut down if the grid goes down for grid safety reasons. ICeLs also allow your solar systems to run in an emergency during sunny days and keep energy storage for use when sun is not out or at night.

See ICeL at the Wise Power Use Expo – they will have samples of the energy storage units, with pictures and diagrams of existing systems. They will also have educational diagrams of how energy storage works with solar or other alternative energy solutions.

Sustainable Works

2010-08-05T15:49:00.000-07:00

Have you taken the Sustainable Works Green Living Workshops? A Green Living Workshop consists of ten or more individuals who meet once a week for an hour and half for six weeks to learn about concepts of sustainability. During the workshop meetings our participants learn how to incorporate sustainable practices into their everyday lifestyles, improve their quality of life, and save money while saving resources.

Sustainable Works is a nonprofit organization committed to providing Environmental Education and Action driven results to students, residents, businesses, and the community at large. Their programs illustrate that everyone can begin taking positive steps to lower their ecological footprint, protect our local and global environments, improve human health, and ultimately save money in the process.

The Residential program offers a 6 week Green Living Workshop which covers 6 topic areas. Participants learn about environmental problems on a global, national and local scale and then review and take action on ten related solutions. During the Energy meeting, the encourage participants to implement energy saving solutions such as; replacing incandescent light bulbs with more energy efficient CFLs or LEDs, paying attention to heating and cooling in their homes and increasing the efficiency of appliances, which, in the past has helped participants save almost 10% on their energy costs.

LA Beyond Coal!

2010-08-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

The Sierra Club will have a table at the Expo to help us all learn how we can help their campaign to get LA Beyond Coal! The MVCC passed a motion to send a letter supporting their campaign to the LA City Council as have the neighborhood councils in Greater Griffith Park, South Robertson and Toluca Lake. Stop by their table to find out how we can make a difference!

Win a FREE $400 insulating shutter from Danmer Custom Shutters!

2010-08-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know that shutters go well beyond being decorative? They can save up to 35% on our home energy bills. The energy conservation is so significant that we can qualify to earn up to $1,500 in Federal Tax Credits!

Danmer Custom Shutters will be a table presenter at the Expo and demonstrate the conservation benefits of shutters - and how to make the best environmental choice as well.

Some lucky attendee will win the raffle prize they are donating - a shutter with a retail value of up to $400! To enter the raffle simply RSVP for the Wise Power Use Expo. Winners will be announced at the event and must be present to claim prize.

Shellie Collier of Homage Design

2010-08-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

Shellie Collier of Homage Design has over fifteen years of experience in green project management, renovation, new construction, and architectural restoration. With this background she is able to consult from a builder’s perspective, while having a full knowledge of green building techniques and materials. In addition, Shellie has studied elements of sustainable design through both biomimicry and permaculture.

Shellie was Project Manager for the Marrakesh House, a sustainable cultural event space. The main principals of the Marrakesh house were energy efficiency, water efficiency, re-use, indoor air quality, and renewables. The house also features a four seasonal food garden. This is a perfect example of where nature and technology can co-exist.
Ms. Collier is one of a select few LEED for Home representatives in California. She is currently guiding 32 projects through the LEED for Home process and has completed 16 LEED projects that achieved the Platinum rating. Throughout the state of California, she is ushering Custom homes, Condominiums, Mid-Rise, Multi-Family Complexes, as well as a 16-unit Foster Care Facility through the LEED for Homes process. Shellie is a green consultant for multiple development and architecture firms in Los Angeles and is a Green Point Rater and Certified Green Building Professional. She has been a guest speaker for many organizations and community events including Alt Build and the Green Building Advisor Program, and has lectured at Santa Monica College for their new Green Building Advisory curriculum.

Weatherization Analysis from Modaa Inc!

2010-08-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

MODAA INC. provides weatherization services and helps eliminate the need for more energy waste. We insulate, seal, and tighten the building envelope. By doing so we save our clients money and energy. WWW.MODAAINC.COM is a full service construction company based out of Sherman Oaks, CA. Our holistic approach helps provide sustainability within our homes, offices and the overall environment. Our goal is be cautious of the materials in the products we bring into our projects. Please visit our website for more information on the company, how to videos, and industry tips and benefits.

Modaa Inc. is a proud and proactive supporter of the ongoing sustainability initiative through the USGBC, LEED certification and community involvement. Their team is keen on gaining the latest knowledge and educating their clients with ways they can improve their living environments and ultimately, lifestyles.