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Save Money & the Environment while Supporting "Made in America" Solar
For Pacific Blue Solar, and their partner, SolarWorld, being made in America means more than simply assembling foreign components in the USA, which does little to benefit the economy. By carrying out the entire value chain in the United States, they are creating American manufacturing jobs not only at SolarWorld factories but at suppliers' factories as well. As the largest U.S. solar manufacturer for more than 35 years, SolarWorld is uniquely recognized as America's solar leader. They meticulously carry out the most important steps in the solar production process on U.S. soil - from sourcing and manufacturing to assembling and hiring. Every Pacific Blue Solar install features top-producing SolarWorld panels. Free consultations are available. Pacific Blue Solar 259-1004

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Perform Full-Service Preventative Maintenance on your Cooling System so You can Chill
Your cooling system is most likely the highest energy-using appliance in your home during the hot days of summer. There are ways to help your system run more efficiently during peak-usage periods. Having your comfort system serviced immediately, if you didn't do it in the spring, is a wise choice. A professional HVAC service technician can provide the proper inspection of the system to be certain the system is running properly. Clogged filters, low refrigerant levels, duct leakage, improper air balance and clogged evaporative coils are some of the reasons a system may not be running efficiently, causing the system to work harder, drawing more energy usage.
GW Richardson Heating and Air Conditioning Nate-certified technicians can provide full-system preventive maintenance for a reasonable cost so you can be confident that you'll stay cool - and your bills stay lower - this summer.
GW Richardson Heating & Air 295-0115

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When it Comes to Drought-friendly Landscape Design, do More
In 2014, Canyon Country resident Jim Leong designed and installed his own California-friendly landscape. For his project, Jim removed approximately 1,100 square feet of grass in his front yard and replaced it with a variety of drought-tolerant plants and permeable gravel. Leong's wife added design touches by including a ceramic turtle and a fossil ammonite from Morocco.

Jim said that one of the most important things to keep in mind is plant selection. You need to pick plants that cannot only tolerate the heat, but can also tolerate the sometimes below-freezing temperatures we experience in the Santa Clarita Valley. For that reason, he chose plants like barrel cactus, blue fescue, bottle palm, myoporum and agave.

What Jim likes most about his updated yard: the look, ease of care/maintenance and, of course, water savings. And, if it ever got to the point where we were severely limited in water usage for lawn watering, his yard would nevertheless still look good. To learn more about Jim's project, including the materials he used, visit www.clwa.org/doing-more/jim-l .

For more information and more inspirational lawn replacement projects, visit www.clwa.org/conservation/diy-lawn- replacement/im-doing- more.