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OCTOBER 2010 NEWSLETTER |
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Law Library is Closed for Columbus Day
All locations of the Law Library will be closed Monday, October 11th, in observance of Columbus Day. See our other holiday closures here. The courts are also closed on this day. Normal hours of operation will resume Tuesday, October 12th.
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Spotlight on Energy Awareness Month
October is National Energy Awareness Month. Since its first presidential proclamation in 1991, government entities have partnered with businesses, associations, and concerned citizens to promote public awareness of energy consumption and efficient use of energy.
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) website provides checklists that outline ways to conserve energy within your facilities, in your office, and at home.
It also provides materials and ideas for energy awareness activities, campaigns, and partnerships designed to encourage other federal agencies to promote energy-saving practices at their facilities. The Energy Savers
website provides homeowners with tips on how to reduce their energy use at home and on the road and save money in the process and help make the environment clean.
The Energy Star website is another great resource for finding ways to start saving energy at your workplace. It provides tools that test your Energy IQ, shows you small steps you can take to save energy without leaving your desk, and how to host a brownbag to help employees learn how to save energy and reduce office waste. You'll also learn how other organizations are making a difference by taking the Energy Star Challenge.
The Energy Policy and Initiatives Center (EPIC) website is an excellent source of legal information on energy policy issues affecting California and the San Diego region. Its Legislative Center webpage provides an up-to-date listing and summary of California's energy-related legislation. Anyone interested in keeping up with new laws on energy-related topics can sign up to receive email updates on the EPIC website. Recently, EPIC released a report evaluating the potential effects of Prop. 23 on California's recent greenhouse gas reduction measures.
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Fluorescent vs. Incandescent, light bulbs, that is...
Want to save the environment and pad your wallet while doing it? Switching to fluorescent light bulbs, as many of you already know, is an excellent way to reduce your monthly utility bills. But did you know that fluorescent bulbs consume up to 75% less energy, produce up to 70% less heat, and can last up to 10 times longer than incandescent light bulbs? If every American home replaced just one incandescent light bulb with a fluorescent bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes and prevent the release of harmful emissions equal to about 800,000 cars. In addition, recent technological advancements have added new features to fluorescent lighting, including bulbs that are dimmable, three-way compatible, and able to turn on instantly.
So why not make the switch? While this information alone seems incentive enough to take action, SDG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission have been making things increasingly affordable and convenient. Every month, SDG&E hosts "Lighting Turn-In" Events at various locations throughout San Diego County. This month, events will be held in La Mesa at the Annual Environmental Festival on Saturday October 9, 2010, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and in Chula Vista at the Reynolds Desalination Facility on Saturday, October 16, 2010, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. At the events, each household can exchange up to five (5) incandescent bulbs for fluorescent bulbs and up to two (2) halogen lamps for energy-efficient lamps once per year. SDG&E offers several different types of bulbs and lamps, but the offer is available on a first come, first serve basis... so don't be late! For more information, visit SDG&E.
What about decorations for the holidays? Believe it or not, SDG&E also hosts annual LED Holiday Light Exchange Events, which allow residents to exchange three (3) incandescent holiday light strands for multi-colored energy-efficient LED strands at no cost. The LED lights shine brighter, last up to 100 times longer, cost up to 90% less to operate, and are much cooler, reducing the risk of fire hazard. Details for this year's event are forthcoming, so be sure to check in later in the year.
Attendees of last year's holiday events received a complimentary Home Energy & Water Savings Kit. The Water Savings Kit includes three faucet aerators and a low-flow shower head, which maintain water pressure while reducing water usage up to 11%. The free kit is still available, so order online today.
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New Resource & Materials Added to the Collection
This month's featured resource:
2010 California Green Building Standards Code Published by the California Building Standards Commission
The 2010 California Green Building Standards Code (also known as CALGreen) is the first regulatory code of its kind to be adopted statewide. The Code goes into effect January 1, 2011 and will ensure that all residential, commercial, hospital and school buildings will be constructed using environmentally advanced construction practices. The new code is Title 24, Part 11 of the California Code of Regulations. The code will require:
- 20% mandatory reduction in indoor water use
- Separate water meters for nonresidential buildings' indoor and outdoor water use
- Diversion of 50% of construction waste from landfills
- Mandatory inspection of energy systems (i.e. heating, air conditioning, mechanical equipment) for nonresidential buildings over 10,000 sq. feet.
- Low-pollutant emitting interior finish materials such as paints, carpet, vinyl flooring, and particle board
The law library has the print version of the code but it is also available on the California Building Standards Commission website.
New Materials Added to the Collection
The Law Library regularly adds new materials to its collection. To see the new books added to our collection in the last month, click here.
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Upcoming Classes for October & November
Pre-registration is required for all classes, as seating is limited. Please sign up by calling the appropriate branch location.
For a complete description of the classes and the most up-to-date information, visit our Class Calendar.
The following classes are free to Law Library members and $5 for non-members.
OCTOBER
Main Branch (619) 531-3900
North County Branch (760) 940-4386
NOVEMBER
Main Branch (619) 531-3900
North County Branch (760) 940-4386*MCLE Participatory Credit hour(s) available for these classes.
The San Diego County Public Law Library is a State Bar approved MCLE provider.
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Lost & Found
A valuable item was found in the Main library's lower reading room last March. We had hoped someone would claim this item, but so far, no one has, so we are asking YOU if you lost something in the library. If this rings a bell, describe the item to the Circulation Desk staff. If it's yours, we know you want to get it back!
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Director's Message
This issue is devoted to help spread the word about thinking and going green.
The law library is committed to do its part in promoting public awareness of wise and efficient use of energy and support the County's green initiatives. In preparation for our renovation and temporary closure of the downtown branch, we have been actively reviewing the collection and sending outdated materials to other libraries or - when they are not wanted - to a recycling center.
Our renovation will contain many improvements to the building's infrastructure to bring it up to modern standards for the possibility of getting a green building certification. Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized verification system that recognizes when a building was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. We are almost at the point where the construction documents will be made available to potential contractors; when we are given the "green light" about certain structural proposals and the cost estimates associated with them we will be better able to determine whether a LEED design is possible.
Outside the library, many wonderful things can be done in support of the County's green initiatives. By donating a few hours in October, you can help clean and restore one of San Diego County's most important wetlands, protect the ocean and improve local roads in a green way - all at the same time. By joining WiLDCOAST, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting coastal ecosystems, you can help clean up the Tijuana River Valley estuary in four separate Saturday-morning events in October. Contact WiLDCOAST at (619) 423-8665, ext. 211, or at wildcoast.net, to find out how to volunteer, to get additional information and exact locations.
For those of you who are wondering what song is going through my head these days, it is the Youngblood's Get Together:
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!
Between that and Burt Bacharach tunes, life is good. Today, one of my staff asked if I was always so happy. It is Friday. I am alive. I have health, family, good friends, and I love my job. So the answer is yes.
Please drop me a line with your comments on the renovation, the future of books and libraries, or whatever is on your mind. I want to hear from you.
John Adkins, Director of Libraries
We shape clay into a pot, but it is the empty space within
that holds whatever we want.
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Cartoon by Stu Rees
Stu's Views are "Cartoons About Law and Lawyers." Stu Rees is a local entertainment lawyer who represents mostly visual arts creators.
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We hope you've enjoyed our newsletter! If you are a guest and would like to subscribe, please CLICK HERE.
We're hard at work on the next edition. In the meantime, please visit us online at www.sdcpll.org or stop by one of our four locations.
For more information or to send comments about this newsletter, contact Victoria Williamson, Asst. Director, Strategic Directions & Development.
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