In Southern California, it costs more to produce electricity in the summer, when energy demand is at its peak, and less to produce electricity in the winter, during periods of lower demand. When you use energy wisely, you’ll be saving money and the environment.

That’s why the City of Irvine and Southern California Edison (SCE) are partnering to encourage energy efficiency and conservation.

Using energy wisely in our everyday lives is a smart way to ensure our planet and its natural resources are protected. Simple changes to your daily routine on how and when you use electricity can make a difference.

For example, switch off unnecessary lights and at the end of the day turn off office equipment. Even using your washing machine, dryer or dishwasher before noon or after 6pm can help conserve energy when demand is at its highest.

Energy management is the first and best way to manage your energy use not only at home, but at work too. It can help create a brighter future for us all. By becoming more energy conscious, you’ll help California conserve valuable energy resources now and well into the future.

The City of Irvine is participating in the Orange County Transportation Authority’s Bike to Work, which encourages commuters throughout Orange County to ride their bikes to work the week of May 14-18.

Commuting to work is the number one cause of carbon emissions and vehicle exhaust is the number one form of pollution in our air shed. Choosing to cycle instead, even for part of the time, can have dramatic results.

Commuters who pledge to bike to work at least one day during the event week, will receive a $24 discount coupon to Jax Bicycles and will be automatically entered into a countywide raffle to win other great prizes! To pledge, visit octa.net/bike.

Visit cityofirvine.org/bikeways to download a City of Irvine bikeways map of visit mapmyride.com to access a searchable database of online mapping tools.

For more information, visit octa.net/bike or contact Meera Sawhney at 949-724-7449 or by email at msawhney@cityofirvine.org.

Cummins Cal Pacific

Edwards Lifesciences

Resources Global Professionals

Troutman Sanders LLP

Orange County United Way

Irvine Used Oil and Oil Filter Program’s partnership with O’Reilly is providing you with another great promotion.  Here are two O’Reilly coupons, one for you and one for your neighbor, for a free oil filter! Bring this coupon into O’Reilly and exchange your used oil filter for any new oil filter of your choice. Don’t forget to give the other coupon to your neighbor so they can enjoy this environmentally friendly offer too! Be sure to take advantage of this coupon soon before supplies run out.

Visit O’Reilly Auto Parts in the Culver Plaza to enter the Irvine Used Oil and Oil Filter Program Raffle by signing up for our e-newsletter and pledging to recycle your used oil filters. You’ll be eligible to win one of five O’Reilly $50 gift cards awarded from February through May 2012.

Any resident that has recycled their oil filter during the promotion at the O’Reilly store and entered their name into the recycling log will automatically be eligible to win the grand prize $250 O’Reilly gift card at the end of May.

So, don’t forget to head over to O’Reilly Auto Parts after your next oil filter change and sign up for the raffle! With so many opportunities to benefit, everyone comes out a winner: you, your neighborhood, your city, and the environment!

Our city plays host to a number of regular car shows and car events for all of you car enthusiasts. Representatives from our Used Oil and Oil Filter Recycling Program will be present at some of these events. So, don’t be shy – come talk to us! We would love to hear what you think about our community program. And there’s no need to hunt around for information, here’s a handy list of these upcoming car shows and auto club meetings.

Event or Club – Meeting time and location:

• Cars and Coffee – gathers weekly on Saturday mornings at 7905 Gateway Blvd, Irvine, CA 92618
• Car & Bike Show – every Sunday from 11am-2pm at the Great Park Farmers Market
• Imports @ UCI – every Tuesday night at 7pm at Lans/Boomers parking lot at Harvard & Michelson
• Irvine Nissan Meet – every Wednesday night at the Tapioca Express: 5408 Walnut Ave. #G Irvine, CA 92604
• SoCal Subies – at Irvine Spectrum, see online calendar and forum for more details
• VW Jamboree The Original – meets once on August 19, 2012 at Oak Canyon Park, Irvine Lake

To obtain a FREE used oil container, call the Irvine Recycles hotline at (949) 724-7669.

Do you change your own oil? If so, you already know to collect your used oil and take it to a nearby collection center. However, DID YOU KNOW you should bring in your used oil filters as well? Used oil filters contain about a pound of steel and over a cup of oil, even after draining. It’s vital we keep these non-renewable resources out of the trash and in use.

Therefore, to help make Irvine greener and cleaner, we’ve started the Used Oil Filter Recycling Movement, and in the next few months, observant do-it-yourselfers will begin to notice ways to get involved. At your local Irvine O’Reilly Auto Parts store in Culver Plaza, you can enter a free raffle contest for the chance to win $50 gift cards every month! Also, you might see us at the next car show or car club event you attend.

Through future editions of the Used Oil and Oil Filter e-Newsletter, you’ll receive two coupons: one for you and one for your neighbor. Bring your coupon to the participating Irvine O’Reilly Auto Parts store, along with a used oil filter, and you may exchange the old filter for a new one of your choice, for FREE! Then, share the second coupon with another Irvine resident. Also, be on the lookout for Mr. Oil Filter’s television debut, where he’ll join you in spreading the message that used oil filters are recyclable!

Don’t forget to tell your friends and neighbors they can also be a part of these promotions by signing up for our e-Newsletter.

Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Assembly Bill 341 (AB 341) requiring the state of California to increase its diversion rate to 75% by 2020. The law applies to commercial properties and multifamily communities who generate more than 4 cubic yards of commercial waste per week or is a multifamily residential dwelling of 5 units or more to arrange for recycling services on and after July 1, 2012.

New state regulations will require most businesses to contract for recycling services by July 1, 2012. A copy of the regulations can be found at CalRecycle. To ensure businesses are prepared, the City of Irvine offers a free recycling assistance program to any Irvine business. This program is designed to help businesses start or expand recycling and waste minimization programs. In many cases, recycling programs can save a business money. Every business generates trash, so now is a great time to determine the best recycling program for your business and possibly reduce your trash bill every month.

In addition to businesses, the new state regulations also require apartment communities and multi-family housing with five or more units to recycle. Many Irvine multi-family communities currently offer recycling programs to its residents.

Recycling is good for the environment, good for business and good for your bottom line. Take advantage of this free recycling assistance program today and learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle. For more information about the program, questions about the regulations, or to find out if your business falls under the regulatory threshold, call the City’s Recycling Hotline at 949-724-7669.