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SPECIALIZED FINANCIAL SERVICES ENABLE
CITY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO GO SOLAR
After a
rigorous selection process, Solar Santa Monica has selected
four financial partners who will make available a variety of
loans aimed specifically at financing the installation of
solar systems and energy efficiency upgrades to homeowners
and business owners. Having lenders who understand solar—its
long life, its steady income stream and its value to the
property—is essential to getting the kind of financing that
will turn Santa Monica residents’ solar projects into
reality.
These financial services are now available through Solar
Santa Monica:
- secured and unsecured financing through certified
contractors;
- “green” and sustainable lending;
- innovative, tax-based financing for large commercial
and municipal projects; and
- lending exclusively for small businesses.
Solar Santa Monica participants receive a thorough, no-cost
energy efficiency and solar assessment as a first step. This
assessment is performed by a qualified expert who serves as
an “honest broker” throughout the process, helping the
participant understand all options, including financial. If
a resident or business owner wants a solar proposal,
Solar Santa Monica will refer one of its preferred
providers, a pre-qualified group of experienced solar
contractors. Those who elect not to install solar are
offered referrals and discounts on products and
services such as air conditioning, efficient appliances or
specialized contractors.
For more information, call Solar Santa Monica at
(310) 458-4992, or check out our website at
solarsantamonica.com
| SANTA MONICA IS A
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY |
CITY RELEASES THIRD ANNUAL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
CARD
The
 2007
Sustainable City Report Card is a snapshot of a larger
on-line report (www.smedpd.org/scpr)
describing the city’s progress in eight sustainability goal
areas. Released in September, the Report Card highlights
improvements and challenges in these areas, as well as many
successes over the past year. Notable achievements for
2006/2007 include:
- SUCCESS WITH
SOLAR: Solar Santa Monica has
created the potential to become a net-zero
energy city through deployment of energy
efficiency and solar energy into the community.
Twenty solar projects were installed last year!
- COLLECTING
COMPOSTABLES: The city’s food
waste composting program kept more than three
million pounds of food waste from local
restaurants out of the landfill last year.
- HELPING
HOUSEHOLDS: The Household
Hazardous Waste Facility has kept more than
133,000 pounds of hazardous materials out of the
landfills. And this year, satellite battery
collection sites were established throughout the
community.
- BEAUTIFUL
BEACHES: Santa Monica voters
approved the Clean Beaches and Ocean parcel tax
to fund a comprehensive, 20-year plan to improve
water quality in Santa Monica Bay.
- BIKING IS BIG:
Our innovative, free bike valet program parked
16,310 bikes at events around the city,
the BIKE Santa Monica map was released and the
design of Exposition Bike Way is underway.
Santa Monica’s sustainability efforts were among the first
of their kind in the nation and have served as a model for a
growing number of communities, academic institutions and
businesses. Visit
www.smepd.org for more information. |
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GET READY FOR
2008 TEEN FILM FESTIVAL
Attention, teen
filmmakers! The third annual Santa
Monica Teen Film Festival celebrates and
rewards the talents of young filmmakers
with a competition open to all high
school students and youth ages 12 to 18
years. Submit your short film (2-25
minutes in length, any genre) between
February 11 and May 16, 2008 and then
find out who the winners are the weekend
of June 20-22. Check out
www.santamonicateenfilmfestival.com
for details, including an entry form.
GREEN BUSINESS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM:
The Little Engine that Could
Certified green businesses all share the
same belief— that providing quality
products and services to the community
while minimizing their impact on the
environment and human health will bring
business success. A collaborative
project of the City of Santa
Monica,
 Convention
& Visitors Bureau, Chamber of
Commerce and Sustainable Works, the
Santa Monica Green Business
Certification Program (GBC) has
continued to gain momentum and members
since its introduction in the fall
of 2006. Through a rigorous assessment
and evaluation of numerous business
practices—from office paper use and
landscaping to energy efficiency and
transportation—the GBC program certifies
and recognizes those businesses in our
community which have met established
standards for conserving resources,
preventing pollution and building a
sustainable community.
In the past year, several new
participants have joined the green
business community, including a yoga
studio, a health and beauty products
retailer, a hotel, a wine bar/ seasonal
kitchen and even the Santa Monica
Convention and Visitors Bureau. Green
businesses are easily recognized by
their GBC window decals and the GBC logo
printed on their promotional materials.
We invite you to support Santa Monica’s
certified green businesses; learn about
them and their environmental profiles at
www.smgbc.org.
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